Xi Jinping commemorates Long March anniversary in Beijing

Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Great Hall of the People on October 22 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Long March. During the address, Xi called for upholding the centralized and unified leadership of the Party and maintaining absolute Party control over the military.

Xi emphasized the need to remain prepared for major challenges and described the historical event as a period where the Party faced a critical juncture of survival. The speech highlighted the importance of the spirit of the Long March in driving China toward its goals of national revitalization and modernization.

Analysts note that the speech, which was one-third the length of his address for the 80th anniversary, focused significantly on strengthening the military. The Long March, occurring between 1934 and 1936, was a strategic retreat by the Red Army that saw the leadership rise under Mao Zedong.