Xi Jinping attended the conference commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victorious Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army.
and delivered an important speech

2026-10-22 Source: “Study in China” Learning Platform

The grand commemorative conference marking the 90th anniversary of the victorious Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was solemnly held in Beijing.

Xi Jinping delivered an important speech.

Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng attended; Zhao Leji presided.

On October 22, a grand commemorative conference marking the 90th anniversary of the victorious Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yao Dawei.

BEIJING, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) — A grand commemorative conference marking the 90th anniversary of the victorious Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was solemnly held on the morning of the 22nd at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech, emphasizing that only by remembering history can we forge a brighter future. He called on the entire Party, the armed forces, and all the people of China to rally even more closely around the CPC Central Committee, vigorously carry forward the great spirit of the Long March, press ahead with unyielding determination, and continuously advance the great cause initiated by our revolutionary forebears, striving to create new glories on the new Long March.

On October 22, a grand ceremony marking the 90th anniversary of the victorious Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, and others attended the event. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Huanchi.

Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi, members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, along with Vice President Han Zheng, attended the conference.

The Great Hall of the People was filled with a solemn yet enthusiastic atmosphere. Above the rostrum hung the banner for the “Conference Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army.” At the center of the backdrop shone the resplendent emblem of the Communist Party of China, below which read the inscription “1936–2026.” Ten red flags were arrayed on either side. On the second-floor balcony, a slogan proclaimed: “Closely unite around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core; fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; carry forward the great spirit of the Long March; forge ahead on the new Long March; and strive tirelessly to advance the cause of national rejuvenation and build a strong country through Chinese modernization!”

At 10:00 a.m., Zhao Leji declared the commemorative meeting open, and all attendees rose to sing the national anthem.

On October 22, a grand commemorative conference marking the 90th anniversary of the victorious Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yue Yuewei.

On October 22, a grand commemorative conference marking the 90th anniversary of the victorious Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Huanchi.

Amid warm applause, Xi Jinping delivered an important address. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, and on behalf of the entire Party, the armed forces, and the people of all ethnic groups across the country, he paid profound respects to veteran revolutionaries such as Comrades Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, and Zhu De, who led the Red Army in accomplishing the historic feat of the Long March; to the Red Army officers and soldiers who fought bravely during the Long March and persevered in revolutionary struggles throughout the country; to the peoples of all ethnic groups who supported the Red Army’s Long March, especially those in the various revolutionary base areas; and to all living veteran Red Army soldiers. He then proposed that everyone rise to observe a moment of silence in memory of the revolutionary martyrs who heroically gave their lives during the Long March and in revolutionary struggles across the land.

Xi Jinping pointed out that from October 1934 to October 1936, our Party led the First, Second, and Fourth Front Armies of the Red Army, together with the Twenty-Fifth Army, in the great Long March—an epic undertaking that shook the world and will be immortalized in history. The Red Army traversed more than ten provinces, covering a staggering 25,000 li, while defeating the concerted encirclement and pursuit of over a million enemy troops. This campaign decisively thwarted the Kuomintang reactionaries’ plot to annihilate the Chinese Communist Party and the Red Army, successfully accomplished the strategic shift northward to resist Japan, and ushered in a new phase for the Chinese revolution. This earth‑shaking revolutionary feat holds profound significance in the history of our Party, our country, and our armed forces, and has exerted a far‑reaching influence on the course of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This heroic epic, stirring mountains and rivers, will forever be inscribed on the monument of the Chinese revolution and remain etched in the hearts of hundreds of millions of people.

Xi Jinping emphasized that revisiting history is meant to draw wisdom and strength for forging ahead. Ninety years later, as we once again look back on that period of both hardship and glory, we come to a deeper understanding: the victory of the Long March was inevitable, embodying the decisive path to success that has carried the Party and the People’s Army forward with unyielding resolve. This great road to victory was paved by the Party’s correct leadership; the Party’s sound leadership and the establishment of Comrade Mao Zedong’s core position were of decisive significance to the triumph of the Red Army’s Long March. It was also forged through unwavering revolutionary will: revolutionary ideals and convictions can unleash boundless power capable of vanquishing formidable foes and shaking mountains, and a force united by lofty aspirations and steadfast faith is invincible. Moreover, this path to victory was charted through independence, self-reliance, and seeking truth from facts: only by closely integrating the fundamental principles of Marxism with China’s concrete realities can we solve China’s problems and demonstrate its profound vitality. Finally, it was made possible by the support of the broad masses of the people: the people have always been the source of strength and the staunch backing of the Party and the People’s Army. As long as we remain deeply rooted among the people and maintain an inseparable bond with them, the cause of the Party will be invincible.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the Long March of the Red Army created an extraordinary human miracle and forged the great spirit of the Long March. Where the spirit resides, there lies strength. The great spirit of the Long March fully embodies the power of loyalty, the power of truth, the power of justice, and the power of unity. As an important component of the Communist Party of China’s spiritual lineage, it transcends time and space, remains ever relevant, and will forever be a precious asset and a powerful driving force inspiring us to overcome difficulties and forge ahead with courage.

Xi Jinping emphasized that the history of the Long March is far from over, and the path of the Long March continues to unfold. Since the victory of the Long March 90 years ago, the Party has united and led the people in undertaking one great Long March after another across the historical periods of revolution, construction, and reform, achieving one great victory after another. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. Through the concerted efforts of the entire Party, the armed forces, and all ethnic groups across the country, the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has been accomplished as scheduled, and the cause of the Party and the country has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic transformations. As we embark on a new journey, we are committed to fully building a modern socialist country and realizing the second centenary goal, advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the new journey is a long expedition filled with glory and dreams, and represents a new Long March for the Party and the people. To carry forward the great spirit of the Long March and forge ahead on this new Long March, we must steadfastly uphold the Party’s ideals, beliefs, and fundamental principles; fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; keep our original aspiration and mission firmly in mind; and rely closely on the people to create new historic achievements. We must unswervingly promote high-quality development, continuously meet the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life, coordinate the overall layout of the Five-sphere Integrated Plan, and advance the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy, so as to achieve both qualitative improvements and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy and to promote common prosperity for all the people. We must courageously engage in the great struggle characterized by many new historical features, better balance development and security, and, with a spirit of historical initiative, overcome difficulties, confront risks, and rise to challenges, ensuring that the giant vessel of national rejuvenation cuts through the waves and sails steadily toward far‑reaching horizons. We must accelerate efforts to build the People’s Armed Forces into a world‑class military, always uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces, achieve the centenary goals for building the military on schedule, and advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces with high quality. We must uphold the leadership of the Party and strengthen Party building, persistently promote comprehensive and strict Party self‑governance, and continuously enhance the Party’s capacity for self‑purification, self‑improvement, self‑innovation, and self‑elevation, thereby ensuring that the Party remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

While presiding over the conference, Zhao Leji pointed out that General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech reviewed the great journey of our Party leading the Red Army on the Long March, summarized the profound significance of the Long March’s victory, revealed the decisive principles underlying the Party and the People’s Army’s resolute advance, and elucidated the historical value of the great spirit of the Long March. The speech also set forth five clear requirements for carrying forward this spirit and forging ahead on the new Long March. It is highly political, ideological, and instructive; we must study it carefully, gain a deep understanding of its essence, and ensure its thorough implementation. All Party members, the armed forces, and the people of all ethnic groups across the country should rally even more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, uphold Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guiding principle, deeply appreciate the decisive significance of the “two establishments,” strengthen our “four consciousnesses,” bolster our “four confidences,” and practice the “two safeguards.” We must carry forward the great spirit of the Long March, tread the new Long March with determination, and strive unremittingly to advance the cause of national rejuvenation and the building of a modern socialist country through Chinese‑style modernization.

The congress concluded to the stirring strains of “The Internationale.”

Members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission, Vice Chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, State Councilors, the President of the Supreme People’s Court, and Vice Chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference attended the meeting.

Approximately 3,000 people attended the conference, including leading officials from the central Party, government, military, and mass organizations, as well as principal leaders of the central committees of the democratic parties, heads of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, representatives of non-affiliated personages, veteran comrades, officers and soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force, and representatives of the capital’s various sectors of the public.

Editor-in-charge: Tong Jing