Xi marks Sun Yat-sen’s 160th birth anniversary
SingTao · 6 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Beijing held a commemorative meeting on Thursday morning at the Great Hall of the People to mark the 160th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth, with President Xi Jinping attending and delivering a major speech. Other attendees included Politburo Standing Committee members Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. In his remarks, Xi described Sun as a great national hero, patriot and pioneer of China’s democratic revolution, and said the best tribute to him was to carry forward the cause of building a strong country and advancing national rejuvenation. Xi also tied Sun’s legacy to Chinese modernization, social development, broad patriotic unity and the goal of complete national reunification.
Key Points
- Xi said Chinese Communists were the firmest supporters, most loyal collaborators and most faithful inheritors of Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary cause.
- He said Chinese modernization and national rejuvenation form the “new Long March” and the necessary path to realizing Sun’s aspiration to rejuvenate China.
- Xi called for unifying patriotism with support for the Party and socialism, while maintaining confidence in China’s path, theory, system and culture.
- He said resolving the Taiwan issue and achieving complete national reunification is the Communist Party’s unwavering historic mission and a shared wish of all Chinese people.
- Xi said Beijing would adhere to peaceful reunification and “one country, two systems”, seek dialogue on the basis of one China and the 1992 Consensus, and leave no room for “Taiwan independence”.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, Xi’s renewed emphasis on “one country, two systems”, national unity and opposition to “Taiwan independence” places cross-strait policy at the centre of a high-profile state commemoration. The speech also linked patriotic unity, security and Chinese modernization in ways that help frame the political messaging likely to continue across the mainland and Hong Kong.