The story of the Chinese Red Army's victory in the Long March is one of perseverance in the face of enormous odds which can resonate with people around the world and inspire everyone to overcome immense difficulties, according to Drew Garvie, leader of the Communist Party of Canada.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March (1934-1936), a military maneuver carried out by the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army that later became a defining chapter in modern Chinese history. The trek came to symbolize endurance and determination as troops crossed some of China's harshest terrain to establish a new revolutionary base, with some marching as far as 12,500 kilometers. The epic military expedition laid the groundwork for the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
In an online interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), Garvie said that while the Long March is often discussed purely from a military perspective, its wider historical impact is often not fully appreciated.
"It's often talked about in those terms, in terms of military terms. However, the political significance is sometimes underplayed. For the communist movements, I think that it's not just simply a strategic retreat. It was a decisive moment that preserved the revolutionary movement in China and strengthened its connections to the Chinese working people. And that's how our party sees it," he said.
Reflecting on the broader resonance of the Long March, Garvie pointed to the enduring tale of overcoming the odds and triumphing in the face of adversity which can strike a chord with people all around the world.
"I think it's just because of the story of perseverance in the face of enormous odds [which] demonstrates how determination and collective sacrifice can hold things together if there's a firm commitment to liberation and it can overcome immense difficulties. So I think people around the world, including in Canada, are inspired by this," he said.
Garvie also urged more young people to learn from the spirit of not giving up when confronted with extraordinary hardships and striving to secure a better future.
"I want young Canadians to read closely into the history and just how tremendous the odds and the scale of the Long March were. And through that, understanding that when there's a real commitment to fighting for a better world and for liberation, people are able to endure extraordinary hardship and win. And the Long March shows how ordinary working people can do very extraordinary things when led by an effective force like the Communist Party of China and also by, underneath that, scientific socialism and a belief that society can be changed for the better," he said.
Long March story of perseverance in face of odds can inspire world: Canadian communist party leader
