Representatives of the Chinese Communist Youth League members and Young Pioneers salute the CPC and express commitment to the Party's cause at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, July 1, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday said celebrating the centenary of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) is to encourage its members to forge ahead on the new journey to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a ceremony marking the centenary of the CYLC in Beijing.
Comparing the realization of the Chinese Dream to a relay race, Xi called on young generations to strive for their best to help realize national rejuvenation.
Xi said the young people shoulder heavy responsibilities and have a broad space to give full play to their talents.
Comparing the realization of the Chinese Dream to a relay race, President Xi called on young generations to strive for their best to help realize national rejuvenation
Xi noted the founding of the CYLC is a milestone in the history of the Chinese revolution and the history of youth movement.
The CYLC was founded on May 5, 1922 under the direct leadership of the CPC.
Xi said the founding mission of the CYLC is to unwaveringly follow the CPC and strive for the Party and the people.
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Xi stressed that the CPC is a party that always maintains its youthful quality and is always worthy of the trust and following of young people.
A hundred years on from its founding, the Party is still in its prime, and remains focused on achieving lasting greatness for the Chinese nation, Xi said.
The CPC always opens its door to young people and warmly welcomes them to become the fresh blood of the Party, Xi added.
Xi said Party organizations at all levels should attach great importance to the cultivation and development of young Party members, especially from outstanding CYLC members, to ensure that the socialist country will never change its nature.
Xi also stressed that the Party's leadership, firm beliefs and convictions, devotion to national rejuvenation, and its deep roots in the country's young people are key to the past and future successes of the CYLC.
President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the third symposium on the development of the Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing on Nov 19, 2021. (SHEN HONG/XINHUA)
President Xi stressed that the Party's leadership, firm beliefs and convictions, devotion to national rejuvenation, and its deep roots in the country's young people are key to the past and future successes of the CYLC
Young Chinese people in the new era have bright prospects of realizing their dreams, said Xi.
A nation that places high hopes on its youth and maintains its youthful vigor can prosper, Xi added.
Bridge between Party and youth
Xi told the CYLC to always be a political school leading the ideological progress of young people.
Xi said the league is a school for young people to understand socialism with Chinese characteristics and communism in practice, adding that the league should help them aim high at an early age and cultivate the trust in the Party, the confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics and the belief in Marxism from the bottom of their heart.
Xi urged the CYLC to remain as the strongest bond between the CPC and the youth.
The greatest strength of the CYLC, as the youth's own organization, lies in its broad reach at the grassroots and its deep involvement with young people, Xi said.
He asked the CYLC to continue serving young people, fulfill its responsibility in consolidating and expanding young people's support for the Party's governance, and offer solid help to the young people.
Xi also urged the league to shoulder its responsibilities and always be a vanguard force in mobilizing China's youth in continuous endeavor.
The cause of the Party and the people entails the endeavor and devotion by generations of young people, Xi said, stressing that young people should devote their youth to great undertakings of the Party and the people.
In addition, Xi asked the league to unite and lead young people to follow the call of the Party and the people and work hard in places where the country needs them the most.
This photo dated May 22, 2020 shows flags of China on the Tian'anmen Square and atop the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. (XING GUANGLI / XINHUA)
The cause of the Party and the people entails the endeavor and devotion by generations of young people, Xi said, stressing that young people should devote their youth to great undertakings of the Party and the people
Xi called on members of the legue CYLC in the new era to build up firm beliefs, and boost their courage and skills to carry out struggles, among others.
Xi urged CYLC members to be patriotic and innovative, while not being misguided or intimidated by difficulties.
CYLC members shall also be hardworking and willing to make selfless contributions, said Xi, adding that they should promote virtue, perform good deeds and observe discipline.
Keep pace with times
Meanwhile, Xi also urged the CYLC to have the courage to carry out self-reform to maintain its status as an advanced organization that closely follows the CPC and keeps pace with the times.
Xi called for the CYLC to implement the overall leadership of the Party in the whole process of its work in all areas, follow the development path of people's organizations of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and further deepen reform.
The CYLC should explore new models of its grassroots organizations in light of the new changes in young people's work and life, lead youth and students federations in upholding the banner of patriotism and socialism, and constantly consolidate and expand the youth patriotic united front, Xi said.
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He also highlighted the need to strengthen self-building of the CYLC.