Chinese President Xi Jinping attended a commemorative gathering in Beijing on Thursday morning marking the 90th anniversary of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March, according to Xinhua News Agency. The event was held at the Great Hall of the People, where Xi, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a major address. Xinhua reported that roughly 3,000 people attended, including senior officials from central Party, state and military departments, representatives of Beijing municipal authorities, leaders of other political parties and the national federation of industry and commerce, non-party figures, veterans, and delegates from the People's Liberation Army, the armed police and the capital's general public.
The hall was decorated for the occasion, with the event's title displayed above the stage, the Party emblem centered on the backdrop, and the numerals "1936–2026" placed beneath it, flanked by ten red flags, Xinhua reported. A banner on the second-floor balcony called for unity around the Party leadership and for carrying forward what it described as the spirit of the Long March in pursuit of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.
Why it matters
The Long March is a foundational episode in the history of the Communist Party of China, and anniversaries of its conclusion are treated as moments for the leadership to frame national priorities. Xinhua reported that Xi used the occasion to link the events of nine decades ago to the country's current development agenda, including high-quality growth, common prosperity, national security and military modernization. The speech, carried at a time when the Party is pursuing its second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country, was presented as guidance for the road ahead rather than a purely historical reflection.
A tribute to the marchers and a recounting of the campaign
At the start of his address, Xi paid respects on behalf of the Party Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, as well as the Party, the military and people of all ethnic groups, to the older generation of revolutionaries — naming Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De — who led the Red Army in what he called a historic undertaking, according to Xinhua. He also honored the Red Army commanders and fighters who fought during the march and those who kept up revolutionary struggle elsewhere, the people of all ethnic groups who supported the march, particularly in the revolutionary base areas, and all surviving Red Army veterans. He asked those present to stand and observe a moment of silence for the martyrs who died during the march and in revolutionary struggles around the country.
Xi described the campaign as spanning October 1934 to October 1936, when the Party led the Red Army's First, Second and Fourth Front Armies and the 25th Army, Xinhua reported. He said the force crossed more than ten provinces over some 25,000 li, broke through the encirclement and pursuit of more than a million enemy troops, and demonstrated the failure of the Kuomintang reactionaries' attempt to wipe out the Communist Party and the Red Army. According to the report, he described the march as having completed a strategic shift northward to resist Japanese aggression and opened a new phase in the Chinese revolution, calling it an event of great significance in the history of the Party, the state and the military, with a lasting influence on the process of national rejuvenation.
Xi sets out the lessons of the march and the tasks ahead
Xinhua reported that Xi told the gathering that revisiting history is meant to draw wisdom and strength for moving forward. He said that looking back on those years nine decades later reinforced the view that the Red Army's victory was inevitable and embodied the principles by which the Party and the people's army advanced. He attributed the victory to correct Party leadership, saying the establishment of that leadership and of Mao Zedong's core position was decisive; to firm revolutionary will, arguing that ideals and convictions can generate power capable of overcoming strong enemies; to independence and seeking truth from facts, saying Marxism can only address China's problems and show vitality when closely combined with the country's concrete realities; and to the support of the broad masses, whom he described as the enduring source of strength and backing for the Party and the army.
The president said the Long March produced extraordinary feats and forged a spirit that demonstrates the power of loyalty, truth, justice and unity, according to Xinhua. He described that spirit as part of the Party's spiritual lineage, transcending time and remaining a valuable source of motivation for overcoming difficulties.
Xi also argued that the Long March has never been confined to the past, noting that in the 90 years since its victory the Party has led successive undertakings in revolution, construction and reform. He said that since the 18th Party Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has been met on schedule, and the country is now working toward the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.
In setting out what he called the requirements for the new journey, Xi said the Party must hold to its ideals, convictions and purpose, implement the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and rely on the people to create new achievements, Xinhua reported. He called for steadfast pursuit of high-quality development to meet the people's growing needs for a better life, coordinated progress across the country's overall layout and strategic layout, economic growth that improves in quality and expands in reasonable volume, and movement toward common prosperity for all. He urged readiness to undertake struggles with new historical characteristics, better coordination of development and security, and a proactive approach to difficulties, risks and challenges. He also called for accelerating the building of a world-class military, upholding the Party's absolute leadership over the armed forces, meeting the centenary goal of military development on schedule and advancing national defense and military modernization to a high standard. Finally, he stressed upholding Party leadership and strengthening Party building, including continued full and rigorous self-governance, so that the Party remains the firm leading core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Zhao Leji presided over the meeting, Xinhua reported. He said Xi's speech reviewed the Party's leadership of the Red Army's march, summarized the significance of its victory, explained the principles behind it, and set out the historical value of the Long March spirit, including five requirements for carrying it forward on the new journey. Zhao described the address as politically, ideologically and practically important and called for it to be studied and implemented.
The commemoration follows a pattern of major anniversary observances in Beijing, and further official commentary on the speech is likely to appear in state media in the coming days.
