Xi calls for new achievements as China marks Long March anniversary

President Xi Jinping addressed a major gathering in Beijing on Thursday to mark nine decades since the Red Army's Long March, one of the most significant events in modern Chinese history. The Long March, which took place from 1934 to 1936, saw communist forces undertake an arduous military retreat that became a defining moment in the Chinese Communist Party's struggle for power.

Speaking at the Great Hall of the People, Xi framed contemporary challenges as part of a continuing journey, invoking the metaphor of a 'new Long March' to characterize China's ongoing development efforts. He stressed that understanding historical achievements provides essential guidance for navigating future challenges and advancing national interests.

"Only by remembering history can we create a brighter future," Xi said during the commemoration ceremony. The anniversary celebration reflected the Communist Party's emphasis on historical narrative as a tool for maintaining political cohesion and legitimacy.

The 90th anniversary observance underscores Beijing's continued reverence for the Long March as a foundational element of party ideology and national identity. Such commemorative events typically serve to reinforce party unity and emphasize continuity between past struggles and present-day governance priorities.