History is the best textbook. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xi Jinping has repeatedly called for efforts to draw nourishment from Chinese revolutionary history and fine traditions. These enduring spiritual legacies have provided the Chinese Communists with inexhaustible force for action.

Valuable spiritual legacy

▲Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Henan on September 16-18, 2019. The pictures shows that on the afternoon of Sep. 16, Xi came to the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery in the Capital of the Hubei, Henan and Anhui Soviet Areas in Xinxian County, Xinyang City, to pay homage to the revolutionary martyrs monument and to present a flower basket to the revolutionary martyrs.

As soon as I came here, I remembered the evocative years of the revolutionary war. On this red land of Yimeng, countless heroic sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, who moved us to song and tears, were born. The deeds of the six Yimeng sisters, the Yimeng mother and the red sister-in-law of Yimeng are quite touching. As with the spirit of Yan’an, the Jianggang Mountains spirit and the Spirit of Xibaipo, the spirit of the Yimeng old revolutionary base area is also a precious spiritual legacy of the Party and the country. We should continuously carry forward it in combination with the conditions of the new era.

——A speech by President Xi during his visit to the Cemetery of the Revolutionary Martyrs of East China in Linyi, Shandong on November 25, 2013

With a long history of struggle and fine revolutionary traditions, our Party keeps up with the pace of the times and is good at advancing with the times. For Party building, we must adhere to the combination of inheritance and innovation, and develop the Party's glorious tradition and excellent conduct in light of the conditions of the times. Both the fine traditions and ethical standards left by the older revolutionaries and communists during the Yan'an period and the resulting spirit of Yan'an are the enduring spiritual legacies of our Party.

——A speech by President Xi while he listened to the report on the work of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and the Provincial People’s Government on February 15, 2015

The most invaluable asset left to us future generations during the Jinggangshan period is the spirit of the first revolutionary base in the Jinggang Mountains that spans time and space. Today, we must, combining with the conditions of the new era, persist in resolutely pursuing ideals, seeking truth from facts, breaking new grounds, working hard to tackle critical issues, and relying on the people for victory, so as to bring the Jinggang Mountains spirit to life in the new era. Each of Party members and officials, especially officials at all levels, should take their ideals and beliefs as a light to illuminate the road ahead, navigating through the course with the rudder in the right direction, and transform them into persistent pursuit of goals, unremitting progress in their own work, and steadfast perseverance in lofty sentiments, and the courage to take responsibility for overcoming difficulties and obstacles. We should, proceeding from reality, emancipate our minds, forge ahead, and be good at addressing various problems head on with reform ideas and methods. We should maintain the inherent quality of hard work, keep up the traditional virtues of diligence and thrift and the noble ethics of honesty and public-spiritedness, always think ahead, do practical things, and resolutely do our part at the critical moment. We should practice the Party’s tenet in real earnest and endeavor to improve our capabilities to publicize, organize and serve the people.

——A speed by President Xi while he listened to the report on the work of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and the Provincial People’s Government on February 3, 2016

The enclave in the Hubei, Henan and Anhui soviet areas is our Party’s important Party building base, where the spirit of Jiao Yulu, the spirit of building the Hongqi Canal, the spirit of the Dabie Mountains and others were derived and are all valuable spiritual legacies of our Party. To promote thematic education, it is necessary to make the broad range of Party members and officials learn to stay true to the mission and take on responsibility in receiving the red education, and strive to push forward the great cause of the revolutionary martyrs who fought and sacrificed for it.

——A speech by President Xi while he listened to the report on the work of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee and the Provincial People’s Government on September 18, 2019

Over a hundred years of extraordinary struggle, generations of Chinese Communists have worked hard with tremendous tenacity, and a huge swath of the revolutionary martyrs who faced death unflinchingly, a phenomenal legion of tenacious heroes, and a strong bench of advanced models with selfless dedication have come to the fore. It is them who shaped the Jinggang Mountains spirit, the spirit of the Long March, the spirit of the Zunyi Meeting, the spirit of Yan'an, the spirit of Xibaipo, the spirit of the revolutionaries at the Red Crag, the spirit of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, the spirit of resisting the United States and Aid Korea, the spirit of the national defense scientists, the spirit of the special economic zones, the spirit of combating the flood, the spirit of disaster relief, the spirit of combating COVID-19 and other great spirits, making up the spiritual pedigree of the Chinese Communists. The fact that our Party remains in its prime after a century and grows and multiplies without end after enduring hardships is just in such a powerful spirit of revolution and desperation.

These enduring spiritual legacies are both adaptive and resilient across time and space, epitomizing the Party’s firm belief, fundamental tenet and fine style of work. As condensed essence of the great character and morals of hard work, dedication and sacrifice and pioneering efforts and enterprising of the CPC members, they have been deeply infused into the soul of our Party and all the Chinese people, providing a rich source of nutrition for our Party to be founded, prosperous and stronger.

——A speech by President Xi at a campaign on Party history learning and education among all Party members on February 20, 2021

Drawing spiritual strength

▲Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected Guizhou on June 16-18, 2015. The picture shows that on the afternoon of June 16, Xi was gazing at the photos of the participants of the Zunyi Meeting on the wall when he visited the room of the Zunyi Meeting. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Xueren

As an important meeting marking a great turn with far-reaching significance in the history of our party, the Zunyi Meeting has left a valuable legacy and important insights in terms of adapting the basic tenets of Marxism to China’s actual conditions, adhering to the path of independence, sticking to the correct political principles, policies and strategies, and building a strong, mature central collective leadership, among others. Therefore, we must make good use of the historical experience of the Zunyi Meeting and let the spirit of the Zunyi Meeting shine forever.

——A speech by President Xi while he visited the site and museum of the Zunyi Meeting on June 16, 2015

Eighty years ago, the Communist Party of China led the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army to overcome numerous difficulties and dangers, and successfully completed the world-famous 25,000-li Long March. This great feat will forever go down in the annals of the Chinese revolution and the Chinese nation. The victory of the Long March speaks clearly to the great spiritual power of revolutionary ideals. Now, times and conditions have changed, but the ideals and cause we the CPC members strive for have been unchanged. We must bear in mind the great achievements of the Red Army, promote the great spirit of the Long March, conduct extensive education on patriotism and revolutionary traditions, and guide the broad range of Party and non-Party members to highlight the importance of fostering stronger confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics. With tenacious struggle, we should united as one to forge ahead on a new Long March journey toward achieving the Two Centennial Goals and the Chinese dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

——A speech by President Xi while he visited the "Heroic Epic, Immortal Monument—A Themed Exhibition Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Long March by the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army" on September 23, 2016

Our Party was founded for the people, and always maintains close ties with the people, shares good and bad times with the people and is part of the people of one heart with the people. With these in mind, it will always be in the service of the people to fulfill its mission. The spirit of the Jinggang Mountains and the spirit of the Soviet area, harboring the original aspiration and mission of the CPC members, have created the great revolutionary spirits of the CPC. These great revolutionary spirits, across time and space, never go out of style. They are an inexhaustible spiritual impetus that drives us to remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind.

——A speech by President Xi while he listened to the report on the work of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and the Provincial People’s Government on May 22, 2019,

Shanxi, a place with a glorious revolutionary tradition as well, is home to the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army and is one of the main battlefields of the War of Resistance Against Japan, where the Shanxi-Suiyuan, Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei, and Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan anti-Japanese bases were established. The great victory of Pingxingguan and the Hundred-Regimental Campaign are famous around the world. The spirit of the revolutionary base area in the Taihang Mountains and the spirit of persistence in the Lüliang Mountains are the precious spiritual legacies of our Party. These must be fully explored and tapped to provide a spiritual drive for the development of Shanxi with wide cross-sections of historical culture and revolutionary resources.

——A speech by President Xi at the end of his inspection trip to Shanxi on May 12, 2020

I have repeatedly emphasized the need to carry forward the spirit of carrying the revolution through to the end, the revolutionary spirit of the older generation of revolutionaries that "the leftovers should be brave to chase the poor, and the overlords should not be fame", and the dauntless spirit of the CPC members that "our minds grow stronger for the martyrs’ sacrifice, daring to make the sun and the moon shine in the new sky", all of which are profoundly thoughtful. Imagine how great and difficult it is to realize socialist modernization in a country like China with a population of 1.4 billion! We should educate and guide all Party members to vigorously promote the red tradition and inherit the red gene, and sustain the spiritual legacy of the CPC members. We should always maintain the fearless spirit of struggle of the revolutionaries, and nerve ourselves to march on a new journey and forge ahead in a new era.

——A speech by President Xi at a campaign on Party history learning and education among all Party members on February 20, 2021

Promoting spiritual education

▲A campaign on Party history learning and education among all Party members was held in Beijing on February 20, 2021. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting and delivered an important speech. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Huang Jingwen

Recalling the past war years, the people of Jinzhai, with their fearless spirit of self-sacrifice, have made great contributions to the cause of the Chinese revolution. We should continue to follow the footsteps of the revolutionary predecessors and pass on the revolutionary legacy from generation to generation. Education on revolutionary traditions should start with children, with a focus on instilling knowledge and strengthening emotional cultivation, so that the traditions of revolution can be infused into our soul. We should guide the vast number of young people to develop a correct outlook on the world, life and values.

——A speech by President Xi while he visited the Revolutionary Museum of Jinzhai County in Lu'an, Anhui on April 24, 2016

Heilongjiang is more favorably positioned to strengthen ethical standards for officials within the Party. The spirit of the Northeast Anti-Japanese League, the Beidahuang spirit, the spirit of the workers in the Daqing Oilfield, and the spirit of the "Iron Man" have inspired generations of people. Today, we still have to resort to these spirits to educate the broad range of Party members and officials, guiding them to carry forward fine traditions and take the lead in promoting new healthy trends in the whole society.

——A speech by President Xi at the end of his inspection visit to Heilongjiang on May 25, 2016

The great spirit of the Long March is a vivid reflection of the revolutionary character of the CPC members, which we should continue to inherit and carry forward in combination with new realities. The new Long March to advance the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics must be continued and carried out for an extended time. Every generation of us should see our own long march through.

——A speech by President Xi during his visit to the Memorial of the Victory of Red Army’s Long March in Xiji, Ningxia on July 18, 2016

We should have a profound understanding of how hard are the red political power, New China and socialism with Chinese characteristics to come by. We should educate our Party members and officials, especially leading officials, to firmly adhere to the Party’s commitment to serving the public good and exercising power in the interests of the people, to develop a closer affinity with the people, to follow the Party’s mass line, to hone the political character of being loyal, clean and responsible, to be good servants of the people, and to work hard to fulfill the historical mission of the Party in the new era. The spirit of the first revolutionary base in the Jinggang Mountains and the spirit of the Soviet areas should be properly inherited and carried forward. Our efforts should be made to educate and guide the broad range of Party members and officials to keep firmly in mind the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment; to foster stronger confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and to bear clearly in mind the need to firmly upheld General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position in both the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole, and firmly upheld the Party Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership. We should consciously become a firm believer and loyal practitioner of the ideal of Communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

——A speech by President Xi while he listened to the report on the work of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee and the Provincial People’s Government on May 22, 2019

To carry out the campaign of Party history learning and education among all Party members is to educate and guide all Party members to take history as a mirror, to understand the great contributions and fundamental achievements that the Party has rallied and led the Chinese people to make to the Chinese nation, and to make clear where contemporary China stood historically. We should enhance historical consciousness, connect the miserable yet glorious past, the ever-changing present and the bright and magnificent future, hold on to the right direction amidst the turmoil, and practice bravery in the face of risks and challenges. Confidence and motivation should be inspired to strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Come rain or shine, we should move forward with unswerving determination to create historic achievements belonging to our generation.

——A speech by President Xi at a campaign on Party history learning and education among all Party members on February 20, 2021

Source: People's Daily Online