Chinese President Xi Jinping led the observation of a moment of silence for the revolutionary heroes who gave their lives during the 1934-1936 historic Long March and in revolutionary struggles across China at an event commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March held in Beijing on Thursday.
Under the proposal of Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, all attendees to the event stood up and observed a moment of silence for the fallen heroes.
From October 1934 to October 1936, the Red Army marched through more than 10 provinces during the Long March, opening up a new chapter in the Chinese revolution, Xi said when addressing the event.
"I hereby, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, and on behalf of the whole Party, the entire military, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, would like to pay high tribute to Comrades Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and other veteran revolutionaries who led the Red Army in accomplishing this historic feat, to the Red Army officers and soldiers who fought bloody battles during the Long March and who persisted in revolutionary struggles in various places, to the people of all ethnic groups who supported the Red Army during the Long March back then, especially those in the revolutionary base areas, and to all surviving Red Army veterans!" Xi said.
Around 3,000 people attended the gathering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
The Red Army soldiers, forerunners of today's People's Liberation Army, began their strategic retreat in 1934. They endured raging rivers, snow-capped mountains, and vast grasslands -- some marching as far as 12,500 kilometers -- before finally reaching Yan'an in Shaanxi Province in northwest China in 1936, where they established the CPC headquarters before the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.
Xi leads observation of moment of silence for fallen Long March heroes at anniversary commemoration
The legacy of the Long March can inspire countries around the world with its experience on building a more peaceful and prosperous future for all, a vision that continues in China's modern governance, according to David Bromwich, former chair of the New Zealand-China Friendship Society.
This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, a remarkable revolutionary feat achieved under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
From October 1934 to October 1936, the CPC-led Red Army broke through the encirclement of Kuomintang forces, crossed more than 10 provinces, and braved raging rivers, snow-capped mountains and treacherous grasslands before finally completing their epic 12,500-kilometer military maneuver.
In an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG), Bromwich drew on China's historical experience to further reflect on what the Long March spirit means for today's world. He believes that different countries and societies can draw on these historical lessons to build consensus, promote cooperation and create a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.
"So, learn from the conviction of the Red Army, of the Communist Party, and what they did for the people, and take the people with you in that vision, I think it's the lesson to the world," said Bromwich.
Emphasizing that the spirit of the Long March continues to resound, the former Friendship Society chair praised China's modern approach to governance under the leadership of Chinese president Xi Jinping.
"The rest of the world, 83 percent of the world, is looking to China. Xi has statements like a 'harmonious global community.' It's not competing, it's not exploitation, and it's basically a peaceful approach to global governance, absolutely," Bromwich said.
"We see the world in this 21st century, not as China's world, but as China sharing the world. So I think that is what is happening, and that's a continuation from the Long March. Firstly, it was in communities in China. It spread to the whole of China. People share that vision. Now, without being aggressive and without dominating and informing people how to behave, the rest of the world is starting to pick up on that harmony, peace, prosperity," he said.
Long March spirit offers lessons for peaceful, prosperous world: friendship advocate
