Beijing Youth Daily:

Today we have not only veteran Party members with a Party standing of over 50 years, but also young ones newly recruited into the Party. Could you share with us your stories of joining the Party? Why did you apply for Party membership? What were your original aspirations back then? Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

I suppose you all have something to share. Mr. Sui, please go ahead first.

Sui Senfang:

I am a veteran Party member with a Party standing of 55 years. I still remember when I first walked onto the campus of Tsinghua University for enrollment in 1964, I saw a large horizontal banner on the road that read "Tsinghua University—Cradle of Patriotic Engineers." I was excited because the dream I aspired to realize at Tsinghua was exactly to become a patriotic engineer serving the construction of the country. There were many outstanding Party members around at Tsinghua, and a team of counselors who were both senior students and Party members. They took care of newcomers like us not only in work and study, but also in life. They not only studied well, but also always served as role models with high political awareness. I admired them very much, and felt that I should be like them—be "both red and expert" (both socialist-minded and professionally qualified), aim high in the technology field, and win honor for the country. Therefore, I applied for Party membership, and joined it in my sophomore year. To become a socialist-minded and professionally qualified person who aims high in the technology field and wins honor for the country was my exact aspiration back then, and I have been striving for it over decades. Thank you.

Liu Jinhua:

I joined the CPC in 1969 when I was working at the Great Hall of the People. Although it has been many decades, I still have very fresh memories about joining. Premier Zhou Enlai often took part in activities at the hall, so he became familiar with the staff working there. Every time he came, he would ask us some questions about our work, study and daily lives. But his greatest concern was whether we'd joined the Party. It was difficult for those of us working at the Great Hall of the People to join the Party. Eligible candidates had to meet very high standards. I submitted a membership application four times, before finally, with the help of other comrades and through my hard work, I became a CPC member. I reported this to Premier Zhou and he was very happy. He told me: "It's not enough to join the Party in name. It's more important to join the Party in thought, which requires long-term efforts." I have always kept his words in mind. I understand that we join the Party once in our lifetime, but we must live up to the mission of the Party throughout our whole life. If we want to join the Party in thought, we must be committed to achieving the mission for all our life. Here, I can assure Premier Zhou that I will always remember his words. Thank you. 

Zhao Pubo:

I joined the CPC because of my tutor who is a veteran Party member. I was inspired by the exemplary and vanguard role that he, as a Party member, had played. I remembered that in the latter half of the training for the 43rd WorldSkills Competition, my tutor had an operation on a thyroid tumor. However, as head coach of the national team, and facing the important task of winning medals at the WorldSkills Competition, he came to the training base as soon as he was discharged from the hospital to help the athletes improve their welding skills. Thanks to my tutor's unremitting devotion and efforts, my colleague won the gold medal for welding at the 43rd WorldSkills Competition, which was a new breakthrough since China participated in such a competition. My tutor and colleague, who were both Party members, fulfilled their duties when the Party and the country needed them. They were examples that I should learn from, and also my heroes. Their exemplary deeds made me understand that the CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese working class and the Chinese nation. I wanted to become one of them, and become an excellent worker and a proud CPC member. Thank you.

Long Bing:

I'd also like to share my story. I participated in the rescue efforts during the flood of Hongze Lake in 2003. It was less than a year after I joined the army, and is still fresh in my memory. I saw a lot of CPC members working on the front line fighting the flood. They carried sandbags, fixed dike breaches and helped evacuate affected residents. I was deeply impressed by my squad leader, a young Party member who was then only 21 years old. He worked on the front line for several days in a row. His shoulders had many scrapes, and his hands were covered in blood blisters. Despite being extremely exhausted, when duty called, he still managed to bear the pain and rushed to the front line. I was awestruck by the CPC members and became eager to join this great organization. Since then, I became strict with myself, so that I could join the Party as soon as possible. In my hometown of Chayanpu township, and on my way to and from Wuhan, I saw a lot of CPC members working tirelessly on the front line, sparing no pain in the fight against the epidemic. They didn't fear hardship, tiredness or sacrifice. I was deeply touched by their courage. I expressed my desire to join the Party as soon as I came back from Wuhan. I became a Party member earlier this month, and my long-cherished dream came true while the Party is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding. This is my great honor, and I'm very excited about it. Thank you. 

Shou Xiaoli:

Next question, please.