Wednesday marks the 90th anniversary of the Zunyi Conference, an event considered as a crucial turning point in the history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which established the leadership of Mao Zedong in the Party's Central Committee and left an enduring spiritual legacy.
Held in Zunyi of southwest China's Guizhou Province in January 1935, the three-day conference was attended by 20 members of the CPC and saw the formation of a new CPC Central Committee, the supreme decision-making body of the Party that began to solve China's practical issues.
It came at a crucial time as Communist forces were facing defeat in their fifth battle against the Nationalist enemy’s encirclement campaign in the early period of their year-long trek, known as the Long March.
"The conference solved the most pressing military and organizational problems at that time, put an end to the rule of left-leaning dogmatism within the Party, and established Mao's leadership in the Central Committee and the Red Army," said Zhang Xiaoling, Deputy Director of Zunyi Conference Memorial Museum.
After reflecting on the challenges it faced, the Party applied what it described as Marxist-Leninist principles with China’s realities and also moved to correct errors in military affairs.
The top leader Mao changed the crippled strategy, breaking the Red Army into several columns in order to confuse the enemy. The critical decisions made at this landmark conference are believed to have secured the eventual triumph of the CPC and the Red Army.
"The conference saved the Party, the Red Army, and the Revolution. It was a vital turning point in the Party's history, marking the beginning of the CPC stepping up its political maturity," explained Zhang.
Now, the location of the historic conference has become an important cultural heritage site and has seen a museum established, serving as spiritual source for CPC members and a key place for patriotic education. "The connotation of the Zunyi Conference is about firm conviction, upholding truth, independence, and unity, which has great significance for us today. The conviction that China advances the socialist modernization; the truth of Marxism and socialism with Chinese characteristics; the independence in the cause of national rejuvenation; and the unity to create great undertakings," said Yu Furen, Deputy Director of the CPC History Research Office of Guizhou.
Watershed event in history of CPC marks 90th anniversary
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Tuesday that mediation efforts of the Pakistani side regarding the Middle East tensions are in the common interests of all parties.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Beijing.
During their talks, the two sides exchanged views on current international issues and regional conflicts.
Wang welcomed the visit of the Pakistani side to Beijing for discussion on easing tensions in the Middle East, just after its holding of a quadrilateral foreign ministers' meeting in Islamabad.
He said China supports and looks forward to Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation and resuming peace talks. This process is no easy task, and Pakistan's mediation efforts are in line with the common interests of all parties, Wang added.
He noted China is willing to make joint efforts with Pakistan to end the hostilities as soon as possible, create opportunities for peace and open the window for peace talks.
On bilateral ties, Wang said this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, calling on both sides to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and constantly advance the building of a China-Pakistan community with a shared future.
For his part, Dar said the Pakistan-China friendship is precious and deeply rooted in people's hearts, adding that Pakistan is willing to work with China to promote the continuous development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Dar thanked China for supporting Pakistan's mediation of the situation in Iran, adding that the current conflict has disrupted international energy supplies and caused heavy damage to developing countries.
Noting that solutions can only be found through negotiation, Dar said Pakistan is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to push all parties to start peace talks as soon as possible and restore regional peace.
The two sides also put forward a five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East region:
I. Immediate cessation of hostilities: China and Pakistan call for immediate cessation of hostilities and utmost efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to all war-affected areas.
II. Start of peace talks as soon as possible. Sovereignty, territorial integrity, national independence and security of Iran and the Gulf states should be safeguarded. Dialogue and diplomacy is the only viable option to resolve conflicts. China and Pakistan support the relevant parties in initiating talks, with all parties committing to peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from the use or the threat of use of force during peace talks.
III. Security of nonmilitary targets. The principle of protecting civilians in military conflict should be observed. China and Pakistan call on parties to the conflict to immediately stop attacks on civilians and nonmilitary targets, and fully adhere to International Humanitarian Law, and stop attacking important infrastructure, including energy, desalination and power facilities, and peaceful nuclear infrastructure, such as nuclear power plants.
IV. Security of shipping lanes. The Strait of Hormuz, together with its adjacent waters, is an important global shipping route for goods and energy. China and Pakistan call on the parties to protect the security of ships and crew members stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, allow the early and safe passage of civilian and commercial ships, and restore normal passage through the Strait as soon as possible.
V. Primacy of the United Nations Charter. China and Pakistan call for efforts to practice true multilateralism, to jointly strengthen the primacy of the United Nations, and to support the conclusion of an agreement for establishing a comprehensive peace framework and realizing lasting peace based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
Pakistan's mediation efforts in common interests of all parties: Chinese FM
