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80 years on, the Long March remembered

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Eighty years ago, the Red Army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) arrived at their destination in northern Shaanxi Province after walking thousands of miles through the most inhospitable conditions of sinking mud, mountains and freezing weather conditions while being raided and chased by a stronger army. Suffering heavy casualties, the Red Army completed one of the most remarkable exploits in human history—the Long March.

Combination photo taken in 2016 shows Red Army veterans Fang Huai, Hao Yi, Li Guang, Ren Qun, Wang Chengdeng (from L to R, upper) and Yang Yisheng, Wang Fengwen, Wang Dingguo, Wu Qingchang and Zhao Renkuan (from L to R, lower).

The Long March was a struggle, a struggle of life and death. Chairman Mao Zedong once said, "The Long March is the first of its kind in the annals of history."It is also safe to say that there would be no New China without the Long March.

China has achieved remarkable achievements since the struggle was won; however, the march has never ended for the Chinese people.

At a gathering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, President Xi Jinping called for carrying forth the spirit of the Chinese Red Army in the Long March eight decades ago and moving forwards in "a new long march."

"No matter which stage our undertaking has developed to and how great the achievements we've made, we should carry forth the Long March spirit and advance in 'a new long march,'" he added.

“A nation that forgets its origins will find itself in a blind alley," Xi said.

Xi called on people to abandon complacency, the idea of seeking comfort and the reluctance to work hard or forge ahead.

Each generation has its own "long march," and they should proceed in their own way, Xi said.

Today, the Long March has become the source of inspiration for Chinese people and will definitely encourage generations to come. President Xi described it as "full of the spirit of idealism and dedication," and a "human epic composed of will and courage" and "an epic of humankind's unremitting efforts to pursue truth and brightness."

As people across the country celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Long March victory, they are not only remembering those who died for the Party and the country, but also reflecting on the spirit of the Long March.

President Xi said, "The great spirit of the Long March is the precious spiritual wealth that cost the Party and the people a hefty price of painful struggle. Across each generation, we must keep in mind, learn, and promote the great spirit of the Long March, preserving its strong spiritual strength that continues to motivate the Party, the state, the people, the military, and the nation to stride toward a brighter future."

By upholding the spirit of the Long March, the Chinese people are confident about their own development and prepared to fight for the realization of the "two centenary goals" and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

The legacy of the Long March must be cherished and the march will go on.

A former Red Army soldier tells stories of the Long March to children at the Zunyi Meeting Memorial Museum in southwest China's Guizhou Province. At the meeting, Mao Zedong regained his authority over the Party and the military. The meeting was seen as a critical turning point in the history of the CPC and the Red Army.