BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the Central Military Commission (CMC) held a grand gathering at the Great Hall of the People on the morning of Aug. 17 to commemorate the birth centenary of Comrade Jiang Zemin, a great Marxist, proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist and diplomat, and an exceptional leader for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese president and chairman of the CMC, delivered an important speech, stressing the need to deeply cherish the memory of Jiang's towering achievements, thoroughly learn from his noble demeanor, and inspire the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to continuously advance the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, as well as Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, attended the gathering.
The atmosphere in the magnificent auditorium of the Great Hall of the People was solemn. Above the rostrum hung a banner which read "Gathering to Commemorate the Birth Centenary of Comrade Jiang Zemin." At the center of the backdrop was a giant portrait of the late leader, with the lettering "1926-2026" beneath it. Another banner hung on the second-floor observation deck read: "Rally Closely Around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at Its Core. Hold High the Great Banner of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Adhere to the Party's Basic Theory, Basic Line and Basic Policy, and Strive Unremittingly to Build a Great Country and Advance National Rejuvenation on All Fronts Through Chinese Modernization."
At 10 a.m., the gathering opened to the resounding strains of China's national anthem.
In his important speech, Xi noted that Jiang lived a glorious life and a life of fighting and struggle, and worked tirelessly throughout his life to contribute to the cause of national independence and the liberation of the people, and to the prosperity of the country and the well-being of the people. Xi said Jiang played a leading role in making impressive and new progress in socialist material, political and cultural-ethical advancement and Party building, made indelible contributions to safeguarding the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, breaking new ground in reform and opening-up in all respects, achieving overall moderate prosperity in people's livelihoods, and successfully advancing the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century, and won the love and esteem of the whole Party, the entire military and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, as well as the wide acclaim of the international community.
Through his revolutionary career that lasted for over 70 years, especially his great practices leading to the great achievements of the Party and the country following the fourth plenary session of the 13th CPC Central Committee, Jiang fully demonstrated his great talent, bold vision, critical role, and art of leadership as a Marxist statesman, and fostered noble demeanor that is always invaluable for us to learn from and always inspires us to move forward, Xi said.
Jiang remained steadfastly committed to communist ideals, devoted himself to the Party and the people, and worked hard for the cause of the Party and the people unswervingly, Xi noted. He called on all Party members to draw strength from Jiang's firm political conviction, never forget the original aspiration and the founding mission, foster firm belief in Marxism, conviction in communism, and confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and remain committed to the Party's basic theory, line and policy.
All Party members were urged to be self-aware to enhance the "Four Consciousnesses" of maintaining political integrity, thinking in big-picture terms, following the leadership core, and keeping in alignment with the central Party leadership, reinforce the "Four-sphere Confidence" in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and observe the "Two Upholds" for General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position on the CPC Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and for the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership.
Xi also called for efforts to adhere to the overall leadership of the Party and the centralized, unified leadership of the Central Committee, persevere with full and rigorous Party self-governance, and ensure that the Party remains the strong leadership core in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Xi stressed that Jiang stood firmly on the side of the people, cared about their well-being and shared their concerns, and made decisions and advanced the work based on the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people. Xi called for learning from Jiang's deep and genuine commitment to serving the people, keeping firmly in mind that the country is the people and the people are the country, upholding the people-centered development philosophy, and fostering and putting into practice a correct view of political performance. He called for standing firmly on the people's side, strengthening the awareness of being a public servant, following the Party's mass line in the new era, relying on the people to create history, and making solid progress in promoting the well-rounded development of individuals and the common prosperity of the entire population.
Moreover, Jiang remained committed to emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times, Xi pointed out. Responding to the demands of the times and the needs of practice, Jiang continuously advanced innovation in theory, institutions, science and technology, culture and other fields. Party members should learn from Jiang's innovative spirit of keeping up with the times, integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's specific realities and fine traditional culture, and constantly opening up new ground for adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. These efforts should promote further deepening reform and opening-up across the board, advancing the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance, stimulating creativity within the entire Party and society, and providing sustained impetus for economic and social development.
Xi also highlighted Jiang's broad vision and keen grasp of the major trends, which enabled him to assess situations in the overall development of China and the world as well as from the overall interests of the Party and the country. Jiang also advanced the cause of the Party and the country with a series of major decisions and important measures that carried significance to the world and the future.
The Party and the people should learn from the far-sighted strategic thinking of Jiang, Xi said. It is imperative to pursue a strategy of national rejuvenation amid global changes of a magnitude not seen in a century, advance the great struggle, the great project, the great cause, and the great dream, ensure coordinated implementation of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan to promote coordinated progress in the economic, political, cultural, social and eco-environmental fields, and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy which highlights building a modern socialist country in all respects, driving reform to a deeper level, fully implementing the rule of law, and strengthening full and rigorous Party self-governance, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, move faster to create a new pattern of development, and make solid progress in promoting high-quality development. It is important to add more positive energy to world peace and development by implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative and striving for the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Xi noted that Jiang demonstrated decisive leadership in tackling risks and challenges and overcame difficulties and obstacles with great resolution at major historical junctures and critical moments, thereby opening up broad space and creating a favorable environment for China's modernization drive. It is necessary to learn from his extraordinary courage and vision, be more mindful of potential dangers, build up thinking to deal with worst-case scenarios, better coordinate development and security, get ready to withstand high winds, choppy waters, and even dangerous storms with a tenacious fighting spirit and superb ability to struggle, and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests in a bid to write a new chapter in sustaining the two miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability.
Through sustained efforts over the years, the cause of the Party and the country has been thriving, and the people have been enjoying peace and security with continuously improving livelihoods. The prospects for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation are bright, and the dream for which generations have worked tirelessly is becoming a reality step by step, Xi emphasized. He called on the whole Party, the entire military, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to stay closely rallied around the CPC Central Committee, hold high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, remain confident and strive to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, thereby continuing to create better lives for the Chinese people and writing an even more splendid chapter for the Chinese nation.
When presiding over the gathering, Li Qiang pointed out that the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping reviewed Jiang's life of glory and struggle, spoke highly of the indelible contributions Jiang had made to the Party and the people, and systematically summarized his lofty bearing. In the speech, Xi called for earnest study of Jiang's unshakable political faith, sincere devotion to the people, forward-looking innovative spirit, far-sightedness and strategic thinking, as well as resolute and extraordinary courage.
Xi's speech is of political, ideological and theoretical significance, Li said, calling for all to gain a thorough understanding of its essence and earnestly implement its spirit. "We should rally more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era," Li said.
Li said the whole Party should gain a deep understanding of the "Two Affirmations" of Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and of the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, enhance the "Four Consciousnesses," bolster the "Four-sphere Confidence" and act on the "Two Upholds," so as to strive unremittingly to advance the cause of building a great country and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.
The gathering concluded to the solemn tunes of "The Internationale."
Also present at the event were: Wang Yi, Yin Li, Shi Taifeng, Liu Guozhong, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, Li Hongzhong, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, Chen Wenqing, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Lanqing, Zeng Qinghong, Li Changchun, He Guoqiang, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan, Zhang Gaoli, leaders of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the NPC, the State Council, the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the National Committee of the CPPCC and the CMC, as well as comrades who have retired from leading posts.
The participants also included leading officials of central Party and government departments, the military and people's organizations and of the Beijing Municipality; responsible chiefs of the central committees of the non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and representatives of non-party personages; members and alternate members of the CPC Central Committee present in Beijing; members of the NPC Standing Committee and members of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee in Beijing and representatives of veteran cadres and old comrades; Jiang's relatives, former staff members who once worked alongside him and representatives from his hometown as well as delegates to a symposium on Jiang's life and thought; representatives from all civilian sectors of the capital, and representative officers and soldiers of military units stationed in Beijing. About 6,000 people attended the gathering in total.
Prior to the event, Xi and other leaders cordially met with Jiang's family members and posed for group photographs with them. ■
