Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Qu Qingshan, head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Jiang Shuping, director of the Third Research Department of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee

Yang Mingwei, director of the International Communication and Exchanges Bureau of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee

Liu Ronggang, deputy director of the Seventh Research Department of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee

Chairperson:

Xing Huina, person in charge of the Press Center for the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the CPC, and deputy head of the International Press Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee

Date: 

June 27, 2021

Xing Huina:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to this press conference held by the Press Center for the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). After a magnificent historical journey, the CPC is about to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Today, the press center is holding its first press conference to brief the media on the Party's history and literature work in the new era and take your questions. Present at today's conference are: Mr. Qu Qingshan, head of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee; Ms. Jiang Shuping, director of the Third Research Department of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee; Mr. Yang Mingwei, director of the International Communication and Exchanges Bureau of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee; and Mr. Liu Ronggang, deputy director of the Seventh Research Department of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee. Now, let's give the floor to Mr. Qu Qingshan.

Qu Qingshan:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. As the Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups are celebrating the centenary of the CPC, I am delighted to meet you at this press conference to introduce the progress we have achieved in work related to the Party's history and literature in the new era. Especially noteworthy are the achievements we have made since the establishment of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee. On behalf of the institute, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your concern and support for our work over the years.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to Party history and literature work. General Secretary Xi Jinping has given a series of important expositions on the Party's history from the perspective of the overall and strategic development of the Party and the country in the new era. These important expositions have comprehensively reviewed the glorious journey of the CPC in uniting and leading the Chinese people to make remarkable achievements. He has thoroughly summarized the theoretical breakthroughs, valuable experience, and great spirit the Party has forged during each historical period. The expositions have elaborated on the Party's contribution to the Chinese nation, China's wisdom and solutions for solving problems facing humanity, as well as the bright prospects for the course of the Party and the Chinese people. On Feb. 20, the CPC Central Committee decided to launch a campaign on Party history study and education among all Party members. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, setting out clear requirements for the campaign. He required all Party members to study the Party's history with a view to improving their understanding, commitment, integrity and conduct. He wanted the campaign to help them acquire fresh insights, solve practical issues and break new ground. General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the Party's history, rich in connotations and profound in thought, have provided a fundamental guideline for the campaign and in Party history and literature work in the new era. 

In March 2018, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core made a major decision to establish the Institute of Party History and Literature to promote the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and the overall development of the Party. The CPC Central Committee proposed to coordinate Party historical research, the compiling of literature and translation. This would establish a comprehensive system for the Party's theoretical research, and create a high-end platform for the Party's historical and theoretical research. This major decision has led to a profound and transformational restructuring of the Party history and literature work. Since its establishment, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee has followed the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. With a view to better serving the central task of economic development and the overall interests of the country, we have made targeted and coordinated efforts to ensure solid progress in every field of our work, including Party history research, literature compilation and translation. As a result, we have continued to make new advances in the Party's history and literature work in the new era. Since the establishment of the institute, we have made our efforts in the following aspects:

The first is to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and make new progress in the compilation, research, translation, and publicity of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important works.

In recent years, we have prioritized the compilation and publication of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important works, as well as research on and publicity of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In collaboration with other organizations, we have compiled and published the first three volumes of the well-known "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," "Extracts of Xi Jinping's Important Discourses on Staying True to the Party's Founding Mission," and another book for the educational campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission". We have compiled and published 66 of General Secretary Xi Jinping's works, including "On Ensuring Party Leadership Over All Work," "On Continuing to Comprehensively Deepen Reform," "On Ensuring Every Dimension of Governance Is Law-based," "Extracts of Xi Jinping's Discourses on the Chinese Dream: A Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation," "A Compilation of Xi Jinping's Important Discourses on Fighting Against Formalism and Bureaucratism," and "A Compilation of Xi Jinping's Important Discourses on Coordinating Epidemic Prevention and Control with Economic and Social Development." We have continued to deepen research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and completed a number of key research projects including the study on General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions regarding the great struggle, great project, great cause and great dream. To facilitate the dissemination of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important works, we have published a series of theoretical articles in major Party newspapers, periodicals and media platforms. We have compiled these articles and published five volumes of "A Collection of Essays on Studying Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era."

In recent years, we have applied a combination of measures to explain the Party's latest theories to international audiences. In accordance with the unified arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, we sent delegations to some African countries including Togo, Cote d'Ivoire, and Zambia, where we successfully promoted and explained the main ideas of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially the vision of building a community with shared future for mankind. In these English-speaking and French-speaking countries, we held launch ceremonies and symposiums for the English and French versions of "On Promoting the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity." We have also translated "A Compilation of Xi Jinping's Important Discourses on Coordinating Epidemic Prevention and Control with Economic and Social Development" into multiple languages and introduced them to other countries. These books have been well-received internationally. For example, I led delegations to Togo and Cote d'Ivoire in West Africa, where we received a warm welcome. These measures are part of our efforts to establish a working mechanism for international communication.

Second, we focused on the research of the Party history and theory and made progress in editing and translating of major works as well the publicizing and educating about Party history.

In recent years, we have promoted the compilation of basic literature about Party history, including the "The 90 Years of the Communist Party of China," the most comprehensive, systematic, and authoritative literature about Party history with the longest publication span. We have also published the chronicle of major events since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the chronicle of major events of the 40 years since reform and opening-up, the chronicle of the People's Republic of China, and the chronicle of the CPC in 100 years. The chronicle of the CPC in 100 years contains around 100,000 words. The news of its publishing will be aired on tonight's Xinwen Lianbo and distributed to major media outlets, including Xinhua news agency, in the following three days.

The chronicle covers major events of the CPC since its founding in 1921 and ends with the item of the opening of the Museum of Communist Party of China this month. We have made progress with the editing and compilation of the anthology, biography, and chronicles of the old-generation revolutionary leaders like Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun. We edited and published the anthology of major literature since the 18th CPC National Congress (Part One, Two, and Three)," and the anthology of the major literature since the 19th CPC National Congress (Part One)." We are making progress with the translation and publishing of the second edition of "Complete Works of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels," published the second Chinese edition of the "Complete Works of Lenin", and working on separate volumes of the works of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin, as well as their respective photobiographies. We successfully completed multi-language translation tasks for the major documents of the national two sessions as well as other documents for plenary sessions of the CPC. Moreover, we have been progressing with the collection and digitalization of materials for Party history and literature, and accelerating the process for the second phase of the compilation of Marxist literature. Here, I'd like to share with friends from the media that we have collected six original manuscripts of Karl Marx's letters written to his publisher regarding to the publication of the French version of Das Kapital. The precious manuscripts are now on display at the Museum of the Communist Party of China.

In recent years, we have conducted Marxist theoretical research and development projects such as the research on the governance laws of the CPC, research on contemporary Marxism in foreign countries, research on the major historical contributions and experiences of the CPC since its founding, and major projects of the National Social Science Fund. We have also strengthened the construction of think tanks to provide an important reference for the decision-making of the CPC Central Committee.

In recent years, according to the unified arrangement and deployment of the CPC Central Committee, we successfully completed a series of major tasks such as celebrating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), co-organizing large-scale achievement exhibitions themed on commemorating the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up and the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, and jointly produced a large-scale documentary, "On the Great Road." We held activities to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Volunteers entering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fight in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, and other major historical events and birthdays of major historical Party figures. This is the second major aspect of our work.

Third, we have remained committed to the overall plans of the Party and the state, and strived to make new achievements in celebrating the centenary of the CPC, the education of the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening-up, and the history of socialist development.

In recent years, with a strong sense of political responsibility and historic mission, we have made every effort to promote our key tasks. We edited and published Xi Jinping's book on CPC history and the compilation of selected discourses of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao on the history of CPC and jointly compiled and published the brief history of the CPC. These three books provide basic teaching materials for the whole Party to carry out education of Party history.

Campaigns of Party history education are widely launched. We conscientiously completed the tasks assigned by the team of Party history education campaign sent by the CPC Central Committee. We jointly compiled a series of books on the revolutionary spirit of the CPC and participated in the preparation of the exhibition on the history of the CPC themed on "staying true to our founding mission." We have also used new media platforms to launch audio works such as Xi Jinping's book on CPC history and the brief history of the CPC. We have produced a large-scale original column, " Daily Readings: A Hundred Years of CPC History," and jointly launched a 100-episode mini-documentary, " A Will of Iron," which reached total page views of 2.5 billion and received wide acclaim.

In recent years, we have continuously strengthened the overall planning and guidance of local Party history and documentation work. In accordance with the unified deployment of the CPC Central Committee and the work arrangements of CPC committees at all levels, Party history and documentation departments at all levels have carried out in-depth practical research on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in different localities. They have also accelerated the editing and compilation of basic works and educational materials on local Party history and actively participated in education campaigns at local levels so as to contribute to the overall plans of the Party and the state.

In the past century, the CPC has remained true to its original mission in building its solid foundation against all odds, and in making remarkable achievements. Learning from the past and looking to the future, we believe that we must study and summarize the Party's history well, inherit and carry forward the Party's valuable experience, keep in mind our past struggle, fulfill our missions and responsibilities, and draw wisdom and strength from the Party's history. Standing at the historic crossroad of the "Two Centenary Goals", we are more convinced of our goal of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and building China into a modern socialist country in all respects thanks to backing by the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and the concerted efforts of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people. Thank you. My colleagues and I are ready to answer your questions.

Xing Huina:

Thank you for the introduction, Mr. Qu. The floor is now open to questions. Please identify the media organization you represent before raising questions.

China Media Group: 

It is widely recognized that the Chinese people have made remarkable achievements under the leadership of the CPC. What do you think have been the Party's major contributions over the past 100 years? Thank you.

Qu Qingshan:

This is a question that is both important and has attracted wide attention.

From 1921 to 2021, the CPC has undertaken a splendid journey. In the past century, the Party has achieved many victories through trials and tribulations with the support of the Chinese people. How did we navigate those difficulties and win those victories? In my opinion, it is the CPC that has united and led the people to write a magnificent historical chapter with blood, sweat, tears, courage, wisdom, and strength. Looking at the great contributions made by the CPC to the Chinese nation and the Chinese people in the past 100 years, I think we can understand and grasp them from the following four aspects, which I will summarize into four profound changes.

The first "profound change" refers to the CPC's great contribution to the country, which completely changed China's miserable fate of being poor and weak and bullied and humiliated since the advent of modern times. China's modern history began in 1840. After the Opium War, China had gradually transformed from a feudal society to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal one. Due to foreign aggression and the feudal government's corruption, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. Therefore, the task of anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism became the major goal of pursuing national independence and the liberation of the people since modern times. Since its founding, the CPC has united and led Chinese people in toppling the three mountains of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucrat-capitalism through a bloody, 28-year battle and the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), which opened a new epoch in Chinese history. Thanks to more than 70 years of unremitting efforts, China's economic, technological, national defense, and comprehensive national strength have ranked at the forefront of the world. In 2010, China's economic aggregate ranked second in the world. As its international status raised unprecedentedly, the Chinese nation, with an entirely new posture, stands tall and firm in the East. This is the first "profound change" I wanted to discuss, which is in terms of contribution to the country.

The second "profound change" refers to the CPC's great contribution to the Chinese people, which completely changed Chinese people's miserable position of being oppressed, enslaved, and exploited. Under the leadership of the CPC, Chinese people realized liberation and became their own masters. In the old society, the Chinese people, especially the farmers who accounted for the vast majority of the population, became increasingly impoverished and even went bankrupt and suffered from hunger and cold without any political rights. Since the founding of the PRC, the Chinese people have become the masters of the country, society, and their own destinies. The people's sense of gain, happiness, and security has been enhanced continuously, and the essence of common prosperity has gradually been reflected in real life. The average life expectancy of the Chinese people has increased from around 35 years before the liberation to 77.3, which is the epitome of historical change. This is the second "profound change."

The third "profound change" refers to the CPC's great contribution to the Chinese nation, which completely changed the future of the entire nation. Before the founding of the PRC, the Chinese nation was constantly bullied by imperialist powers. The CPC united and led our people in the pursuance of national independence through unyielding struggle and in completely abolishing all unequal treaties and imperialist privileges imposed on China. In modern Chinese history, imperialist countries, big or small, have invaded China numerous times, and signed a variety of unequal treaties. The founding of the PRC achieved a tremendous transformation for the Chinese nation, which went from being mocked as the "Sick Man of Asia" to standing up. In the new era of China's reform and opening-up and the building of socialist modernization, the Chinese nation has achieved another tremendous transformation: from standing up to growing prosperous. Nowadays, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, and the Chinese nation is expected to achieve a new tremendous transformation as it will go from being prosperous to growing stronger. The Chinese nation will embrace bright prospects in realizing rejuvenation. This is the third "profound change."

The fourth "profound change" refers to the CPC's great contribution to the world. Some researchers generalized this part as the CPC's great contribution to world socialism, while others summarize it as the CPC's great contribution to the cause of peace and progress of mankind. Others conclude that it is the CPC's great contribution to Marxism. I would like to say that it is the CPC's great contribution to the world, which changed the development trend and pattern of the world. The CPC is a political party that strives for happiness of the Chinese people as well as the cause of human progress. Since its founding, the CPC has had its own goal, while keeping the world's well-being in mind. Its original aspiration and mission was to seek happiness for the Chinese people, rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and progress for humanity. Therefore, the CPC always adheres to the principle of independence, firmly upholds the interests of developing countries and equal rights for countries no matter big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor, and resolutely opposes colonialism, hegemonism, and power politics. The CPC holds high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the world. In my opinion, the CPC's great contribution to world socialism is making socialism with Chinese characteristics become the mainstay of world socialism, and injecting great vigor and vitality into scientific socialism in China in the 21st century. It provides new options for countries and nations worldwide to pursue rapid development while maintaining independence. It offers Chinese wisdom and approaches to solve problems in the face of humankind.

As I just mentioned, in 2019, I went to Togo and Côte d'Ivoire to promote the French version of "On Building a Human Community with a Shared Future." During the event, the Togolese president met with me and said he loved President Xi Jinping's books so much that he kept a copy by his bed, carried one when he went abroad, and read an article every day. The president also said that President Xi's books provided lots of wisdom for countries like Togo on how to develop and pursue the happiness of the people. I took 100 books to each of the two countries I visited, which were handed out immediately. I gave a presentation during the event and deeply felt that these books were very popular. That's my answer to this question, thank you.

Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group:

Although it has gone through a century of history and been in power for a long time, the CPC has always maintained its youthful vitality. What are the reasons behind this, and what valuable experience can it share? Thank you.

Qu Qingshan:

Ms. Jiang Shuping will answer your question.

Jiang Shuping:

Thanks for your question, which raises a very important point. Looking back at history, there have been many political parties in the world. Some of them were vibrant when they stepped on the stage of history and some were prominent after seizing political power. However, later they gradually faded and even disappeared from the historical stage. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "After making a good start, we should ensure that the cause achieves fruition." How the CPC has maintained its vitality as a century-old party has become a hot topic in society. To find the reasons, I think we should deeply understand the "four always'" that the CPC has promoted over the past 100 years.

First, the CPC has always walked at the forefront of the trends of the times. As we always say, "The trend of the world is surging forward. Those who follow the trend will prosper, and those who go against it will perish." Over the past 100 years, the CPC has always analyzed and grasped the trends of the times based on the basic principles of Marxism. It has properly dealt with the relations between China and the world, and grasped and made good use of various historical opportunities. It has the courage to keep up with the trends of the times and always walks at the forefront of the times, leading the Party and the people to achieve continuous victories. In order to embark on a new journey and forge ahead in a new era, we should accurately grasp the new development stage, deeply implement the new development philosophy, and accelerate fostering of the new development dynamic. Only when we seize the initiative of the trends of the times, can we win the future.

Second, the CPC has always been on the front lines of tackling difficult problems and overcoming challenges. The great cause is always fraught with difficulties and obstacles, and requires innovation. Over the past 100 years, being unafraid of difficulties and sacrifice, the CPC pressed forward with an indomitable will and blazed new trails. In face of the complex and fast-changing international environment, and arduous tasks in terms of domestic reform, development and stability, we must carry out a great struggle with new historical features. With our spirit to fight and our improved ability in handling critical challenges, defusing critical risks, overcoming critical resistance and solving critical contradictions, we will create a new chapter of adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. 

Third, the CPC has always protected the people's fundamental interests. Standing on the people's side represents the CPC's fundamental political stance, and is what distinguishes a Marxist political party from other political parties. For 100 years, the CPC has felt mutual affinity, shared the joys and sorrows, and united and worked hard with the people. The CPC guided the peasants' fights against landowners and the redistribution of their land to the poor peasants for the people's fundamental interests; led people in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and expelled the Japanese aggressors for the people's fundamental interests; overturned the Kuomintang government led by Chiang Kai-shek and founded the People's Republic of China for the people's fundamental interests; guided people in socialist reform and campaigned to lift the country out of "poverty and blankness" for the people's fundamental interests; and carried out reform and opening-up, advancing the socialist modernization for the people's fundamental interests. These efforts have shown us that only by putting people front and center, and adhering to the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, can the CPC win the support of the people and thus have unexhausted power. 

Fourth, the CPC has always been improving itself. In every historical period of socialist revolution, construction and reform, the CPC has emphasized strengthening its Party building, which is the requirement of the Party to purify, perfect, reform and upgrade itself. Since reform and opening-up, the CPC has conducted a series of study activities such as the Party consolidation; the Three Emphases education on theoretical study, political awareness and good conduct; the Theory of Three Represents; the Party's advanced nature; the Scientific Outlook on Development; mass line; work to gain a good command of the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and General Secretary Xi Jinping's policy addresses and to meet Party standards; and activities concerned with keeping in mind the original mission of the Party. These activities have played an important role in maintaining the Party's purity and advanced nature, and improving the Party's leadership and ability to govern. As long as we strengthen the Party building with a spirit of innovation and reform, ensure that the Party exercises effective self-supervision and practices strict self-governance, and follow the leadership core, the CPC can shoulder the major responsibilities to lead the Chinese people to achieve national rejuvenation, and ensure the solid leadership core of the CPC in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Thank you. 

China Arab TV:

During the 100 years since its foundation, the CPC has become the largest political party in the world. What are the reasons behind the CPC's fast development? 

Jiang Shuping:

Thank you for your question, which is indeed well worth thinking about during the centenary of the CPC. After the conclusion of the 19th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping paid a special visit to the old site of the First CPC National Congress in Shanghai and the Red Boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province. In a speech, citing an ancient saying, "to start is easy, while to conclude as planned is demanding," General Secretary Xi Jinping presented the glorious history of the CPC from small to big, and from weak to strong. By Dec. 31, 2019, statistics show that there were 91.914 million Party members, and the number of the Party organizations at primary levels numbered 4.681 million. That is to say, the CPC has become the largest Marxist ruling party in the world, from a party with just over 50 members. 

The CPC is the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the Chinese people, and the Chinese nation. The Party's highest ideal and ultimate goal has been the realization of communism since its founding, and has taken the happiness of the people and rejuvenation of the nation as its aspiration resolutely. That is why the CPC has such great appeal, strong cohesion and a long-lasting ability to guide. For example, during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the CPC bravely fought on the front lines, bringing hope of salvaging China from subjugation, and playing a pivotal role in the whole nation's resistance against Japanese aggression. People yearned for Yan'an, where the CPC Central Committee was located at that time. Many young people with aspirations spared no efforts to travel to Yan'an. By the Seventh CPC National Congress in 1945, the CPC had become a national party with 1.21 million members. 

During the past 100 years, generation after generation of Party members, with strenuous efforts and being unafraid of death, advanced dauntlessly in wave upon wave, and continued working hard, fully displaying exemplary roles. During revolutionary times, countless Party members sacrificed their lives. Throughout world history, no party in any other country has made such huge sacrifices as the CPC to achieve national independence and liberation of the people. In peacetime, Party members have strived to build a modern socialist country, serving the people wholeheartedly instead of seeking enjoyment. Since early 2020, all Party members, answering the call of the CPC Central Committee, have been fighting on the front line and accepted their responsibilities in the anti-epidemic fight. Their deeds served as flags which united people to overcome difficulties, and drew groups of advanced members closer to Party organizations. Emulating the Party members, they consciously accepted the inspection of the Party. Various levels of Party organizations have approved the advanced members among medical workers, police and community workers to join the Party in time. From the time of war to today's fight against the epidemic, the CPC has enlarged itself in overcoming difficulties. 

The CPC consists of advanced members, and values the quality of the Party members while enlarging their number. The CPC will improve its Party building work, retain its advanced nature and purity, and remain as a powerful leadership core in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Thank you. 

China Daily:

One of the important tasks of the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee is to compile and publish important works of General Secretary Xi Jinping, and research and publicize Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. What work has the institute done in this regard? What have been the results? Thank you. 

Qu Qingshan:

Thank you for your questions. I will answer them. The major and basic responsibility of the institute is to compile and translate the important works of General Secretary Xi Jinping, and to study and disseminate Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee consists of the former Party Literature Research Center of the CPC Central Committee, the former Party History Research Center of the CPC Central Committee, and the former Central Compilation and Translation Bureau. The tasks of compiling, publishing, studying and interpreting works of General Secretary Xi Jinping, previously undertaken by the former Party Literature Research Center of the CPC Central Committee, have been our important work since the inception of the institute. 

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, focusing on what kind of socialism with Chinese characteristics the new era requires us to uphold and develop, and how we should go about doing it, has constantly innovated in theory on the basis of practice, and initiated Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The institute, keeping up with the theoretical innovation of the CPC Central Committee, and reflecting the scientific connotations, core ideas and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in a holistic and systematic way, has compiled and published the important works of General Secretary Xi Jinping. The works can be categorized into the following types: comprehensive articles, themed collections of articles, and extracts of expositions. Over the past several years, we have compiled 66 works of General Secretary Xi Jinping, of which 41 have been published since March 2018, when the institute was founded. 

For example, in accordance with General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on the Chinese Dream, we have edited and published Xi Jinping: The Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. Centering on the five-sphere integrated plan, which promotes coordinated economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological advancement, as well as the four-pronged comprehensive strategy, which makes comprehensive moves to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, deepen reform, advance law-based governance, and strengthen Party self-governance, we have also edited and published Xi Jinping: Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects."

The report of the 19th CPC National Congress notes that specifying eight fundamental issues and upholding 14-point fundamental principles are important parts of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Regarding this, we have edited and published some themed collected works of General Secretary Xi Jinping, such as On Ensuing CPC Leadership over All Work, On Continuing to Comprehensively Deepen Reform, On Ensuring Every Dimension of Governance is Law-based, On Building a Human Community with a Shared Future, as well as, Xi Jinping: Holistic Approach to National Security.

Based on General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on relevant work, we have edited and published compilations of discourses of Xi Jinping on taking tough action against the practice of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism, on forestalling risks and challenges, and responding to emergencies, and on coordinating epidemic control with economic and social development, to name a few. We have also edited other works of General Secretary Xi Jinping to cooperate in the campaign on Party-related learning and education. For example, regarding the initiative to raise awareness of the need to stay true to the Party's founding mission, we have worked with relevant departments and edited the book of extracts from the discourses on "staying true to our founding mission" by Xi Jinping. As part of this year's Party-wide campaign on Party history learning and education, we have also worked in accordance with the deployments being made by the CPC Central Committee and edited and published General Secretary Xi Jinping's works such as On the History of the CPC.

These important works highlight the development and main content of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, vividly recording the great endeavors of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core to rally the Party and the Chinese people and lead them to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. We have also provided basic textbooks for the Party and all sectors of the society to study and put into practice Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Thank you.

Xinhua News Agency:

As we know, the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, which was put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping, has attracted worldwide attention and aroused strong resonance. I would like to know that what efforts the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee has made in terms of international communication? What are the plans for the future? Thank you.

Qu Qingshan:

You've raised an important question. Mr. Yang will have the floor.

Yang Mingwei:

Thank you for your attention to our international communication efforts concerning General Secretary Xi Jinping's works. In recent years, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the international communication of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, highly valuing the translation and publication of works of General Secretary Xi Jinping. Efforts made in this regard can bring international society closer to the rich implications of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and help them understand, in an objective manner, the governance philosophy, practices, and achievements of the CPC. It can also help to promote communication between China and the rest of the world on governance experiences as well as exchange and mutual learning among societies. I will take General Secretary Xi Jinping's book On Building a Human Community with a Shared Future as an example and give you a brief introduction accordingly. The book is edited and published by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee.

Since being published in China in 2018, we have translated and published it in English, French, Japanese, and Russian. Its multi-lingual publication and distribution are very significant for foreign readers to have an in-depth understanding of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the rich implications of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, as well as China's diplomatic policies. We also held a book launch ceremony for its French version and a press conference on the English version, which has already been covered by Mr. Qu. In Africa, we chaired and held a high-level forum on the China-Africa community with a shared future and symposiums on the French and English versions of General Secretary Xi Jinping's book On Building a Human Community with a Shared Future, introducing this important piece of work in various ways.

In addition, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee has translated and published a book of General Secretary Xi Jinping's discourses on coordinating epidemic control with economic and social development in English. The book aims to offer foreign readers an in-depth understanding of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions, including putting people's lives and health first and building a global community of health for all. It also covers China's practices in successfully coping with the COVID-19 epidemic. The Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee also translated and published an offprint on General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech in English at a grand gathering that marked the country's accomplishments in poverty alleviation and honored its model poverty fighters. The offprint offers foreign readers an insight into the CPC's efforts to unite and lead the Chinese people and make great contributions to the undertaking of global poverty alleviation, China's poverty-alleviation path, and theories with Chinese characteristics, as well as the Party's aspiration and mission. 

These important works from General Secretary Xi Jinping have attracted much attention and won widespread acclaim from the international community. Just now, Mr. Qu also briefed this topic. For example, foreign dignitaries and scholars have applauded and highly acknowledged General Secretary Xi Jinping's book On Building a Human Community with a Shared Future and his concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity. They noted that, as the world's major economic and political power, China has put forward and also carried out the building of a community with a shared future for humanity and the Belt and Road Initiative, and these refreshing concepts and initiatives are of great significance to the future development of the world. The concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity, which was put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping, is visionary and profound, and has attracted worldwide attention and aroused strong resonance among various countries, especially those in Africa. The rich implications of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy do not only offers Chinese solutions to global issues facing humanity, but also enrich and innovate theories of international relations and concepts of mankind's development. Thank you.

Guangming Daily:

As a specialized institution for the Party's history and theoretical research, what role does the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee play in Party history learning and education? What specific work have you participated in? Thank you.

Qu Qingshan:

I'll take your questions. Since the campaign on Party history learning and education began, the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee has supported Party history learning and education as our major political task. We have fully leveraged our professional advantages and resources to provide all-around services for Party history learning and education. We have been working on the following aspects.

First, we have edited and compiled authoritative textbooks for Party history learning and education. For example, as I introduced just now, we have compiled General Secretary Xi Jinping's book on the history of the CPC as well as the book of selected remarks of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, on the Party's history. We have also participated in editorial work on A Concise History of the Communist Party of China. To our knowledge, the total circulation of these three books has amounted to 140 million so far, winning widespread acclaim from all sectors of society.

Second, we have selected and appointed our experts to give lectures on Party history. Fourteen Party history experts from our institute have been appointed to join the central lecturing group and give lectures on Party history across the country. Fourteen out of a total of 25 group members are from our institute. Our experts have traveled to 15 provincial-level regions and held 110 lectures either under the arrangement of the CPC Central Committee or upon the invitation of central ministries or local government bodies. Group members also went to universities, neighborhoods, enterprises, factories, and villages and interacted, discussed, and communicated with Party members, cadres, and the public, regarding questions that they had about Party history learning and education. In addition, other Party history experts from our institute have also held over 200 lectures for various regions, departments, and government bodies upon their invitation.

Third, we have organized the writings of key theoretical articles. The leaders and some experts of our institute wrote more than 10 important articles for People's Daily, Guangming Daily, Economic Daily, and Qiushi magazine, while others also wrote dozens of articles for other newspapers and periodicals. I myself wrote two articles for Guangming Daily in its CPC History page, both were featured prominently. In February this year, I published an article titled "A Hundred Years of Glory of the Communist Party of China," which spanned a whole page. In June, I published another article, "A Hundred Years of History and Its Historical Initiative of the Communist Party of China," which spanned another whole page. As far as I know, these two articles have played a positive role in the Party history study and education and have greatly enriched people's knowledge of the Party's history.

Fourth, we have launched various new media products, including products delivered over the internet. We produced a large-scale original column titled "Daily Readings: A Hundred Years of CPC History" online, which was featured by many media platforms. So far, more than 1,700 websites and 43,000 accounts on new media platforms such as WeChat and Weibo across the country have reposted it and total views have reached 2.13 billion. We also worked with the National Radio and Television Administration, and the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee to produce the micro-documentary series "A Will of Iron," which features 100 episodes in total and every episode is several minutes long. The series received many positive reviews and its current views total 2.46 billion, providing rich materials for carrying out the Party history learning and education.

Fifth, we have done a good job in reviewing and quality control. In the first half of this year, we reviewed as many as 768 manuscripts submitted by relevant departments, with a word count of about 268 million and more than 33,000 pictures. Reviewing these manuscripts required a heavy workload. Party history experts have worked overtime and were strict and responsible for completing the review of a large number of book manuscripts in time for the celebration for the centenary of the founding of CPC. In addition, we also examined more than 80 major themed exhibition projects, and more than 30 films and TV works regarding significant themes. At present, more than 200 people in our institute have undertaken more than 100 tasks concerning compiling, writing, and producing themed exhibitions, books, and film and television works for the centennial of the founding of the CPC.

Sixth, we have coordinated and guided the local-level Party history and literature departments to better perform their functions. In order to help the Party history and documentation departments of local level act in a coordinated manner, our institute provided professional guidance for them. The local party history and literature departments accelerated the compilation of local Party history works and the Party history educational textbooks. Additionally, they actively participated in the local party history publicity work and used local red resources to play an active role. These are my answers. Thank you.

China Youth Daily:

We know that the CPC has always attached great importance to the study and education of Party history for young people and emphasized the need to make good use of red resources and inherit the red gene. I want to know what the Party history and literature department does in terms of promoting the Party history learning and education targeting young people. Thank you.

Qu Qingshan:

Mr. Liu Ronggang, please take this question.

Liu Ronggang:

Thank you for your question. Young people are the future of China and the hope of the nation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has stressed that we should make great efforts in educating the young people, focus on telling stories about the Party, revolution and heroes, and deeply cultivate love for the Party, the country and socialism, so that the traditions of revolution and the spirit of patriotism can be passed on from one generation to the next. Party history is the most vivid and convincing textbook and it is also an important vehicle to pass down the Party's revolution traditions and bloodline. Carrying out in-depth Party history learning and education through various forms is an important way to pass down the Party's revolution traditions and bloodline. The Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to young people's Party history education, adapting it to the cognitive characteristics of young people, and continues to promote innovation in its content, form, and methodology. Here, we have mainly done the following types of work:

First, we provided rich resources for young people to carry out Party history learning through careful arrangement. The Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, China Central Television, China Education Television, and other units, compiled textbooks about the "Four Histories" (CPC history, the People's Republic of China history, the history of China's reform and opening-up, and the history of China's socialist development) for the students of the country's universities, colleges, and middle and elementary schools. We also organized a nationwide Party history knowledge competition and a red stories telling national competition among college students, produced "The Flag—Voices from Chinese Youth" and other columns, and carried out themed education campaign "Learning Party History Through Films, Speaking to the Party from the Bottom of Hearts," which provided strong support for the smooth implementation of Party history education for young people.

Second, we are digging deeper into red education resources, popularizing knowledge of the Party history, and enhancing the effectiveness of the Party history education for young people. The central and local Party history and literature departments took the initiative to organize and carry out Party history publicity and education activities for young people, such as opening a study column and holding the "Lesson One" course for elementary and middle school students. We launched a "Party History Story Library" for young people through new media platforms, created artworks on the subject of Party history. Through various forms, we guided young people to relive the glorious course of the CPC and inherit the great revolutionary spirit.

Third, we innovated educational methods to give play to the important role of the internet in young people's study and education of Party history. Just now, Mr. Qu Qingshan introduced some examples. The Institute of Party History and Literature has launched an 11-episode micro-documentary series entitled "'Eleven Writings' that Witness Original Aspirations and Missions," a 100-episode micro-documentary series "A Will of Iron," and the large-scale original column "Daily Readings: A Hundred Years of CPC History," among other multimedia products. They were adapted to the form and requirements of new media communication, thus received a strong response from young people.

For a long time, we have been conscientiously organizing and doing our best to improve the pertinence and effectiveness of the Party history education for young people, so that they can feel the Party's great journey and brilliant achievements more closely. We will sum up our good experiences and practices in a timely manner, play a greater role in the Party history education among young people, and contribute to the inheritance of the Party's revolution traditions and the cultivation of the next generation of socialist builders and successors. Thank you.

People's Daily:

General Secretary Xi Jinping recently visited an exhibition on CPC history themed "staying true to the founding mission" and stressed bearing in mind the course of the Party's struggles, shouldering the historic mission and drawing strength from the Party's history to forge ahead. May I ask, what strength can we draw from the century-long history of the CPC to forge ahead? Thank you.

Qu Qingshan:

Let me answer this question. The People's Daily reporter raised a very good question. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized this when he visited the exhibition on CPC history themed "staying true to the founding mission." I think it is very important for us to comprehend this question when carrying out the Party history study and education.

As General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized, the Party's history is the most vivid and convincing textbook. Carrying out the Party history study and education is to use the Party's course of struggles and great achievements to inspire a fighting spirit and define the country's direction; use the Party's glorious tradition and fine work style to strengthen faith and gather strength; use the Party's practice and creations as well as historical experience to enlighten wisdom and temper the character; educate and guide the whole Party to learn CPC history in order to know the reasoning behind decisions, enhance conviction, advocate morality, and make actions through practice; and, finally, draw wisdom and strength from the Party's century-long history of struggle to forge ahead.

Since I have been engaged in the study of Party history for many years, my own experience is that there are two main realms in the study of Party history. The first is to study the Party history and know what it is. To know what it is, is to gather knowledge of the Party's history. The second level is to learn the Party's history and to know why it is like it is. We can get inspired through the process of pursuing knowledge. The CPC history research is a very useful discipline. Some people think it is not practical or that it is useless, but I think it is very important. You need to learn Party history to get to the second level and to acquire wisdom. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that the Party's history is the most vivid and convincing textbook. Studying Party history will draw the wisdom and strength to forge ahead, which I believe is the purpose of carrying out the Party history study and education.

The "four learnings" are demands of the CPC history learning and education. General Secretary Xi Jinping said that learning CPC history to know the reasons, learning the CPC history to enhance conviction, learning CPC history to advocate morality, and learning CPC history to make action into practice. My understanding of these four respective learnings is: to draw the power of ideas through learning CPC history; to draw the power of faith through learning CPC history; to draw the power of morality through learning CPC history; and to draw the power of practice through learning CPC history. Therefore, I think when we carry out the study of Party history, we draw four kinds of wisdom and strength from the Party via study and education.

First, we draw wisdom and strength from ideology through learning the Party's history. On Feb. 20, during his speech at the launch meeting of the campaign on Party history learning and education, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that ideology is strength. Over the past 100 years, the CPC continuously integrated Marxism-Leninism with China's realities, adapted Marxism to the Chinese context, and achieved many theoretical innovations, including Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Our Party's century-long history is a history of continuously integrating Marxism with China's realities and creating and developing new theories by adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. Our theoretical innovations build on past achievements and move with the times, demonstrating a unique advantage of our Party.

The Party's history has made it clear that a strong and innovative theory makes for a strong and innovative party. While carrying out the Party history learning and education campaign, we should learn from its significant achievements, arduous journey, historical experience, and good traditions to have a profound understanding of why the CPC is so capable. I think the guiding ideology of the CPC offers a powerful intellectual tool that distinguishes our Party from other political parties. During his days in Yan'an, Comrade Mao Zedong reiterated in his speeches and articles that Marxism represents the supreme wisdom of humankind. Our Party represents the working class, and is also the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. Marx and Engels stressed that as philosophy finds its material weapon in the proletariat, so too the proletariat finds its spiritual weapon in philosophy — that is, Marxist philosophy's dialectical and historical materialism. Marxism represents the supreme wisdom of humankind, and the working class became the most promising class with the emergence and development of large-scale mechanized industry. So, in my opinion, our Party boasts powerful thoughts and theories superior to those of other political parties. This is why the CPC is so capable. 

After the Revolution of 1911, party politics were introduced to China, which resulted in two upsurges in the establishment of political parties. How many political parties and organizations were set up at most? The day before yesterday, the State Council Information Office released a white paper titled "China's Political Party System: Cooperation and Consultation," which cited a conclusion universally recognized by researchers that more than 300 parties and party-like political groups were set up in China at that time. While another popular theory says the figure is 680. Among the several hundred political parties, the CPC is the only one that made significant achievements in the end. The CPC, founded in 1921, was quite a "small" organization at that time. Just now, Ms. Jiang Shuping quoted a saying from Chinese ancient philosopher Zhuangzi: "All great things have simple beginnings." The saying was also quoted by Comrade Mao Zedong during his speech at the preparatory meeting of the 7th CPC National Congress. How "simple" it is when the CPC was established, with only 50-plus Party members and more than a dozen delegates. Among the 13 delegates, of whom the average age was 28 — the oldest was 45-year-old He Shuheng from Hunan province, and the youngest was Liu Renjing, a 19-year-old student from Peking University. Comrade Mao Zedong was 28 years old at the time. The first CPC National Congress was convened in a building in the French concession area of Shanghai. After being harassed by a police spy, the delegates moved to a boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, in Zhejiang province, where they concluded the meeting. As "simple" and "small" as this beginning was, the Party has since achieved epic accomplishments in China. On Sept. 16, 1949, 28 years after the initial meeting, Comrade Mao Zedong wrote an article titled "The Bankruptcy of the Idealist Conception of History," part of a series of articles he wrote to criticize Dean Acheson's white paper on China. In this article, he reviewed the Party's 28-year-long journey during which the CPC united and led the Chinese people to make unprecedented achievements. Fifteen days before the founding ceremony of the PRC, he drew the conclusion that the founding of the CPC was an epochal event in China's history. Over 28 years, the CPC had grown from a "small" organization to a party that united and led the Chinese people to overthrew the rule of imperialism and feudalism and realized China's independence and the people's liberation. 

Therefore, we should draw wisdom and strength from ideology through learning the Party's century-long history. What's more, we should understand why Marxism works and how it was introduced to China. The Communist Manifesto published in February 1848 marked the birth of Marxism. From then on, a half-century passed before the name and academic viewpoints of Karl Marx were reported in the press in China. According to research, the name of Marx was first translated into Chinese in 1899 by a British missionary Timothy Richard in an article published in Wanguo Gongbao (The Review of the Times), a monthly publication run by Christian Literature Society for China in Shanghai. The article, titled "Da Tong Xue (A Study of Common Good for All)," was jointly written by Timothy Richard and a Chinese editor named Cai Erkang. We still use his version of the translation to this day. Later, between 1903 and 1905, some Chinese scholars such as Liang Qichao also wrote articles to introduce Marx. Liang fled to Japan after the "Hundred Days' Reform" was defeated. There, he produced a journal called Xinmin Congbao (New Citizen), in which he wrote short articles to introduce some of Marx's viewpoints. He wrote excellent articles with solid Chinese writing skills but his translation skills were not as good as Timothy Richard's. It's for this reason that we don't use Liang's version of the translations today. If I didn't explain it here, you might not have even known that the name "Maikashi" in Liang's version represents Karl Marx.

When the first CPC National Congress was convened in 1921, the Party only had more than 50 members. This small party held a secret meeting and took Marxism-Leninism as its guiding ideology. It had been more than 20 years between 1899 to 1921, and it took over 70 years from the birth of Marxism to its acceptance and application by the Chinese people. The reason why Marxism could come to China and be accepted by the Chinese people is that the Chinese people need it and it has indeed played an important role in leading China to make fundamental achievements in socialism with Chinese characteristics. The past 100 years have proved that Marxism works well in China and it's a powerful ideological tool and banner of the CPC.

Another question is why socialism with Chinese characteristics works well in China. This is a big question. Why can the CPC succeed, why can Marxism work, and why can socialism with Chinese characteristics do well? These three questions are interrelated and of great significance. Figuring them out can provide profound historical inspiration and powerful strength in thinking and spirit to motivate the Chinese people and the Chinese nation to move forward. This is amid our embarking on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country, striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation after having fulfilled the first centenary goal. 

Second, the wisdom and power of faith. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that Communists' faith in Marxism, socialism, and communism is their political soul and sustains them in all tests. The reason why the CPC has stood up in the face of many setbacks and made great achievements boils down to its noble ideals and lofty pursuits. It was also thanks to a large number of revolutionary martyrs who faced death unflinchingly, heroes who struggled tenaciously, and role models of selfless dedication in the endeavor of the Party. This is also a glorious page in the history of our Party.

Let me give you some examples. The first is Xia Minghan, who you surely know, and who wrote a poem before his execution. Xia was only 28 years old when he sacrificed his life in 1928. Both his father and grandfather had been officials in the Qing Dynasty, meaning that Xia came from an affluent family. He joined the revolution not to earn a living but because of his faith. After the failure of the Revolution in 1927, the CPC Central Committee sent Xia to Hubei province for his duties. He was arrested by the enemy shortly after his arrival in Wuhan, Hubei, and put to trial and killed three days later. After he was escorted to the execution ground, the executioner asked if he had anything more to say. He asked for a writing brush and paper, and wrote down four lines in one go, which is the famous poem: "Let them cut off my head, I will not abandon my faith. Though you kill Xia Minghan today, numerous will follow my way."

Another example is Yang Jingyu, who was sent by the CPC Central Committee to northeast China to fulfill his duty in 1929. He led the establishment of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army where he served as the commander and political commissar of the First Route Army. Later, after the encirclement and suppression of the Japanese army and its puppet army for five days and nights, Yang's brigade was heavily outnumbered by the enemy, and he became the only soldier left to fight to the end. Facing numerous opponents, Yang was persuaded by a villager to surrender in order to survive. Actually, if Yang had surrendered, the Japanese would have not only spared his life but also offered him a higher rank and asked him to eliminate the anti-Japanese forces. However, Yang said, "My fellow villager, if the Chinese people all surrendered, would China still exist?" Therefore, he fought to the end. The Japanese army were very puzzled by how Yang sustained himself in the deep mountains and forests in extremely cold weather, since the enemy besieged him for five days and nights and isolated the villagers from him, with no one bringing him food on the mountains. The Japanese army decided to dissect Yang's body to figure out what had given him strength. After the dissection, they surprisingly found that there was no grain in Yang's stomach, but instead, only undigested wild vegetables, bark, and cotton.

Another is Guo Yonghuai. As we all know, Guo was a scientist who contributed to China's development of atomic and hydrogen bombs, missiles, and manmade satellites. Guo Yonghuai, Yang Chen-Ning, and Deng Jiaxian were schoolmates at the National Southwest Associated University and all went to the United States for further study. Later, Yang Chen-Ning won the Nobel Prize in Physics and stayed in the U.S. Deng Jiaxian returned to China after receiving his doctorate degree. In December 1968, Guo Yonghuai flew back to Beijing from the west of China after important breakthroughs were made in thermonuclear explosion tests. The plane which Guo was aboard deviated from the runway while trying to land at Beijing Xiyuan Airport, and exploded, killing everyone on board. When the staff were cleaning up the site of the accident, they saw a number of charred bodies. Two bodies clung together so closely that they could not be easily separated. After the bodies were separated, a leather bag was found, in which there was a complete set of experimental data. Guo Yonghuai's work at that time was highly confidential and a security guard was assigned to protect him. During the air crash, Guo and his security guard hugged each other and protected the data. This is the story of Guo Yonghuai. 

On the north shore of the Qinghai Lake in the 1930s, the Chinese composer Wang Luobin drew inspiration and created a popular song "In a Faraway Place," which is one of the best-known Chinese songs of the 20th century. Later, an enterprise called Factory 221, which is China's nuclear weapons development base, was set up in Qinghai province. There were two tenets central to the work of the factory: doing earth-shattering research while concealing the existence of the research and researchers. The explosion of atomic and hydrogen bombs was world-shaking but the people behind the explosions lived in obscurity and even under assumed names. You may be familiar with the scientist Wang Ganchang. When he returned from the Soviet Union, he took up a research position at the factory. To keep his work a secret, he changed his name to "Wang Jing" and disappeared from the physics circle for 17 years. It was the dedication of these people that led to the development of China's atomic and hydrogen bombs, missiles, and manmade satellites. The development of these bombs, missiles, and satellites under such harsh conditions established China's status as a major country in the world.

There are many such figures in the history of our Party. The Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee conducted research into the spiritual pedigree of the CPC. We identified more than 100 kinds of spirits in different historical periods of the Party, involving various fields, places, and departments. The latest spirit is the "spirit of poverty alleviation," summarized by General Secretary Xi Jinping at a grand gathering to mark the country's accomplishments in poverty alleviation and honor its model poverty fighters, held by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council this February. Since reform and opening-up, more than 700 million people have been lifted out of poverty thanks to poverty alleviation efforts. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, nearly 100 million people have shaken off poverty and the Chinese nation has bid farewell to thousands of years of poor life. Nevertheless, over 1,800 comrades sacrificed their lives in fighting against poverty in grass-root units. They used their life, hard work, and sweat to accomplish the undertaking of eliminating poverty. 

Therefore, to conduct Party history learning and education is to strengthen the noble ideal of communism and the shared ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics and to better uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics under the new historical conditions. Only by learning the Party's history can we firmly keep in mind where our red political power came from and how the People's Republic of China was founded as well as better cherish socialism with Chinese characteristics pioneered by our Party and strengthen the "Four-sphere Confidence," namely, the confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Socialism with Chinese characteristics is a fundamental achievement made through the united efforts of our Party and people over the past 100 years. It is the lifeblood of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation and we must always uphold it unswervingly, cherish it all the more, and constantly enrich and improve it.

Third, the wisdom and power of the spirit. I've already talked about this and I won't repeat what I said previously.

Fourth, the wisdom and strength of practice. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the century-long history of the CPC is a history of acting on the Party's original aspiration and mission, and a history of the CPC being of one mind with the people, breathing the same breath as the people, and sharing weal and woe with the people. The state is the people and the people are the state. From Shikumen (a typical Shanghai house where the first CPC National Congress was held) to Tian'anmen Square, from Xingye Road (where the first CPC National Congress was held) to Fuxing (rejuvenation in Chinese) Road, all the efforts, struggles, and sacrifices made by the CPC over the past 100 years have been for the well-being of the people and the rejuvenation of the nation. By carrying out Party history learning and education, we need to combine the study of the Party's history and theories with the summarizing of experience, observing realities and advancing work so as to translate the results of the study into the driving force and achievements of our work.

We should also work diligently to solve real problems for the people, intensify the consciousness of public servants and devotion to the people, and continuously deliver solid results to and solve problems for the people in order to constantly enhance their sense of happiness and security. Comrade Mao Zedong said in Yan'an in the 1940s, that freedom is knowledge of necessity-this is the proposition of the philosophers of the past; freedom is knowledge of necessity and the transformation of the world-this is the proposition of Marxism. I agree with him. We Communists must walk the walk instead of just talking the talk. The ultimate purpose of understanding the world for us is to transform the world. We can obtain wisdom and strength from Party history learning and education. We should study the Party's history and grasp its thoughts to deliver real results and break new ground. I'll stop here. Thank you!

Xing Huina:

Thank you, Mr. Qu. Due to the time limit, today's press conference is hereby concluded. Thank you to our speakers and friends from the media.

Translated and edited by Zhang Liying, Zhang Junmian, Guo Yiming, Yang Xi, Lin Liyao, Zhang Rui, Liu Jianing, Fan Junmei, Zhu Bochen, Wang Yanfang, Li Huiru, Li Xiao, Xu Xiaoxuan, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.