China's President Hu Jintao has lauded Mao as the founder of the nation, at a seminar to mark the 110th anniversary of Mao's birth. Hu said that Mao should be commemorated by the continued development of China in line with Marxist ideology, and its developments in Mao Zedong thought, Deng Xiaoping theory and the Three Representations. The following is the text of a speech by CCP Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao at a forum commemorating late Chairman Mao Zedong's 110th birth anniversary in Beijing on 26 December, carried by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China news agency)
Beijing, 26 December: Speech at a forum in commemoration of Comrade Mao Zedong's110th birth anniversary (26 December 2003)
Today, we hold a grand gathering here to commemorate the 110th birth anniversary of Comrade Mao Zedong, the chief founder of the CCP Chinese Communist Party , the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the PRC People's Republic of China , as well as a great leader of the people of all ethnic groups in China.
Comrade Mao Zedong was a great Marxist; a great proletarian revolutionary, strategist, and theorist; a great patriot and national hero in modern dayChina; and a great man of his generation who led the Chinese people tothoroughly change their destinies and the face of their nation. In his earlyyears, he joined the revolution and rose to become the core of the party'sfirst generation central leading collective during the protracted and arduousrevolutionary struggle. He made illustrious historical contributions to thevictory of China's new democratic revolution, the success of the socialistrevolution, the progress of socialist construction, the Chinese nation'sindependence and rejuvenation, and the Chinese people's liberation andwell-being. The most outstanding and greatest contribution made by Comrade MaoZedong in his life was in leading our party and people to identify the correctpath of the new democratic revolution, completing the task of fightingimperialism and feudalism, founding the PRC, establishing a basic socialistsystem, and proceeding from reality in China in exploring the path of buildingsocialism in order to create the basic premise and lay a solid theoretical andpractical foundation for old China to keep pace with the trend of developmentof the times and to move rapidly towards prosperity.
Faced with special national conditions characterized by a population whose overwhelming majority was peasants, by the widespread existence of scattered small-scale farming and small-scale production, and by aggression and oppression by Western great powers, in a semi-colonial and semi-feudal large Eastern country like old China, Comrade Mao Zedong and other founders of the CCP had to pay close attention to China's conditions as well as the circumstances of the times as they searched for a revolutionary path and strategy that was commensurate with China's actual situation and carried out a scientific theoretical summation in order to truly apply Marxism-Leninism to guiding China 's revolution, whose conditions were vastly different from those analysed by Marx, Engels, and Lenin for proletarian revolution in Western capitalist countries. This was an extremely crucial issue that had a bearing on the success of China's revolution, as well as an extremely complicated issue in the history of proletarian revolution. Comrade Mao Zedong creatively applied the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism to conducting an in-depth analysis of the state of Chinese society and the class situation; identified the nature, target, mission, and impetus of China's revolution through arduous practice and exploration; proposed a two-step strategy for achieving socialism by way of the new democratic revolution; drew up a general line for the new democratic revolution; and charted the revolutionary course of encircling the cities from the countryside and ultimately securing victory throughout the country. During the protracted struggle of the revolution, Comrade Mao Zedong and his comrades-in-arms founded a proletarian party armed with the Marxist-Leninist revolutionary theory and style, a people's army that valiantly fought for the cause of liberating the people under the party's absolute leadership, and a united front that unified an overwhelming majority of the people throughout the nation in waging joint struggles. Our party relied on these three magic weapons in uniting and leading the people to fight bloody battles and wage tenacious struggles, ultimately securing victory in the new democratic revolution and achieving national independence and liberation for the people, which was the long-cherished wish of several generations of Chinese in the modern era. The PRC 's founding ended once and for all a century-long dark history of oppression, enslavement, and aggression against the Chinese people; a dark history of disunity and dire poverty in old China; and a dark history of several thousand years of feudal and autocratic rule in China. The Chinese people rose to their feet, and a new era of development dawned in the Chinese nation.
During the protracted practice of revolution and construction, the Chinese communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, promoted the Sinicization of Marxism and developed a scientific guiding ideology with distinctive Chinese characteristics, which has come to be known as Mao Zedong Thought. Mao Zedong Thought used original theories to enrich and develop Marxism-Leninism during the new democratic revolution, the socialist revolution and construction, the construction of a revolutionary army, the development of military strategy, national defence construction, the formulation of policies and tactics, ideological and political work, cultural work, diplomatic work, and party building. The conditions of the times and the practice of the people gave birth to Mao Zedong Thought, and Mao Zedong Thought guided and pushed forward Chinese society. Mao Zedong Thought is the creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism in China, a correct theoretical principle and summation of experience regarding China's revolution and construction that has been proven in practice, and a crystallization of the CCP's collective wisdom. We must hold high the great banner of Mao Zedong Thought at all times and under all circumstances.
Mao Zedong's emergence in China is the pride of the CCP, the Chinese people, and the Chinese nation. In his glorious life, which was devoted to waging tireless struggles for the Chinese people, Comrade Mao Zedong displayed the political foresight, staunch revolutionary conviction, consummate art of struggle, and remarkable and superb leadership skills of a great revolutionary leader. He left behind the charisma of a great man of his generation in the magnificent historical scroll of China's revolution and construction and in the motherland's 9.6m-sq.-km enchanting land. Not only did he win the love and veneration of the whole party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country but he also commanded the reverence of all progress-seeking people in the world. As a great historical figure, Comrade Mao Zedong belonged to China as well as the world. Comrade Deng Xiaoping said with deep feeling: "Without Comrade Mao Zedong's brilliant leadership, it is highly probable that the Chinese revolution would still not have succeeded today. The people of all ethnic groups in China would still be under the reactionary rule of imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, and our party would still be waging a bitter struggle in darkness." Comrade Jiang Zemin pointed out profoundly: Comrade Mao Zedong "was a great leader who grew in the midst of the people; he will always belong to the people. Comrade Mao Zedong's revolutionary spirit has strong rallying power; his great character has a soul-stirring influence; and his scientific thought has an extraordinary appeal." Comrade Mao Zedong's revolutionary practice and splendid achievements have been entered into the annals of the Chinese nation's history. His name, thought, and spirit will forever inspire us to continue pushing Chinese society forward.
The CCP and the people of all ethnic groups in China will always venerate and cherish the memory of Comrade Mao Zedong! Comrade Mao Zedong will forever live in our hearts!
Comrades and friends!
In its 80-odd-yearstruggle, our party has gained this fundamental experience: that we shouldconstantly keep pace with the evolving and changing actual situation and theconditions of the times, persist in integrating the basic tenets of Marxismwith China's concrete reality, and continuously chart the path for the partyand the people to carry forward their cause. After Comrade Mao Zedong'spassing, our party adhered to this fundamental experience, continued to promotethe development of Marxism in China, and continued to unite and lead the peoplethroughout the country to advance the great cause pioneered by Comrade MaoZedong and other revolutionaries of the older generation.
Under Comrade Deng Xiaoping's leadership, ourparty successfully held the Third plenary session of the 11th CCP CentralCommittee in December 1978. The plenary session established the guidingprinciples of emancipating the mind, setting the train of thought in motion,seeking truth from facts, and looking ahead in unity; decided to shift thefocus of work of the party and state towards socialist modernization; andadopted a strategic policy decision to carry out reform and open up. Theplenary session marked a great turning point of profound and far-reachingsignificance in the party's history and resolved the two interconnected majorhistorical issues of correctly assessing the historical status of Comrade MaoZedong and Mao Zedong Thought and of establishing a correct path for China to achieve socialist modernization in light of new current and historical experiences.Comrade Deng Xiaoping stressed: The most crucial issue is to uphold and developMao Zedong Thought. At present and in the future, we must hold high the bannerof Mao Zedong Thought. At the same time, he stressed that Mao Zedong Thought is a scientific system, that we must accurately understand and apply Mao ZedongThought in its entirety, and that we must continue to advance the cause ofsocialism. Under the leadership of the party's second-generation centralleading collective with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as the core, our party developedthe basic line of taking economic construction as the central task, upholdingthe Four Cardinal Principles, and upholding reform and opening up during thegreat practice of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization; charted anew path for building socialism with Chinese characteristics; and injected newand great vitality into China's great cause of socialism and nationalrejuvenation. In the new historical period, the Chinese communists, withComrade Deng Xiaoping as their chief representative, integrated the basictenets of Marxism with the new reality and the characteristics of the times,carried on and developed Mao Zedong Thought, and pooled the wisdom of the wholeparty and the people throughout the country in creating Deng Xiaoping Theory.Deng Xiaoping Theory seizes the fundamental issues of what is meant bysocialism and how to build socialism, thoroughly reveals the essence of socialism,systematically answers a series of basic questions regarding socialistconstruction in China, and raises our understanding of socialism to a newlevel. Deng Xiaoping Theory represents a new stage of development of Marxism in China as well as a banner that initiates and guides the constant advancement ofthe cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, serious political turmoil occurred in both the international and domestic arenas. Serious complications arose with regard to the world's socialism, confronting our country with new, tremendous difficulties and pressures in developing the cause of socialism. Our party found itself at yet another major historical juncture. The party's third-generation central leading collective with Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core relied heavily on the whole party and the people throughout the country; upheld the line, guiding principles, and policies implemented since the Third plenary session of the 11th CCP Central Committee; and united and led the whole party and the people throughout the country to defend and develop the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In the 13 years from the fourth plenary session of the 13th CCP Central Committee to the 16th national party congress, we calmly dealt with a succession of unexpected international events that had a bearing on our country's sovereignty and security, conquered difficulties and dangers in the political and economic spheres or in the natural world, withstood one trial after another, eliminated all kinds of interference, and ensured that the ship of reform, opening up, and modernization ploughed through the waves and sailed in the right direction. The cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics displayed even greater vitality and dynamism. The Chinese communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their chief representative, held high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory; promoted theoretical innovation with the great political and theoretical courage of Marxism; pooled the wisdom of the whole party and the people throughout the country in applying a series of closely interconnected and interrelated new ideas, new views, and new theses to further answering the questions of what is meant by socialism and how to build socialism; creatively answered the questions of what party to build and how to build the party under the new historical conditions; and founded the important thinking of the "Three Representations" san ge dai biao; on the importance of the Communist Party in modernizing the nation - representing the demands for the development of advanced social productive forces, the direction of advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of the greatest majority of the people . The important thinking of the "Three Representations" reflects the new demands imposed on the work of the party and state by developments and changes in the world and China today, serves as a powerful ideological and theoretical weapon for strengthening and improving party building and for promoting the self-improvement and self-development of socialism in our country, and acts as a fundamental guiding principle for achieving the magnificent goal of building a well-off society xiao kang she hui in an all-around manner.
Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, DengXiaoping Theory, and the important thinking of the "ThreeRepresentations" are the guiding ideology that our party must uphold overthe long term. Although Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and theimportant thinking of the "Three Representations" were formed in theface of different historical tasks during the different historical periods ofrevolution, construction, and reform in our country, they are all infused withthe worldview and methodology of dialectical materialism and historicalmaterialism; represent the fundamental interests of an overwhelming majority ofthe people; are a scientific system of thoughts formed by our party during theprotracted course of practice, which originates from the same source and yetadvances with the times; and are the most valuable intellectual asset that wemust cherish at all times. In holding high the banner of Mao Zedong Thought,Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the important thinking of the "ThreeRepresentations", constantly opening up new vistas for the cause ofsocialism with Chinese characteristics, and constantly ushering in a new stageof development of Marxism in China, the most important thing is to alwaysadhere to the living soul of this scientific system of thoughts as well as theMarxiststand, viewpoint, and method. Basically, it means persisting in emancipatingthe mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times; upholding theparty's mass line; and persisting in following our own path independentl
We must persist in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times; continue to integrate the basic tenets of Marxism with China's concrete reality under the conditions of the new era; and constantly promote the Sinicization of Marxism. Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the important thinking of the "Three Representations" are all scientific theories of emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times; they are also our party's major achievements in persisting in emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times. Persisting in proceeding from reality in everything we do; linking theory with practice; constantly exploring a development path that fits China's conditions; determining the party's correct line, guiding principles, strategies, and tactics for leading the people to advance the development of their cause; and providing scientific guidance over the development of the cause of the party and people are decisive factors in maintaining our party's progressiveness and enhancing its creativity. We must continue to uphold the basic tenets of Marxism as our guidance, constantly examine new circumstances and solve new problems, and constantly promote theoretical innovation on the basis of new practice, so that all the party's theories and work embody the character of the times, embrace the law of things, and are full of creativity. We must uphold the unity of theory and practice, the unity of study and application, and the unity of succession and development, and closely integrate our efforts to study and research Marxism with the resolution of the practical issues of reform, opening up, and modernization in our country; the realization of the magnificent goal of building a well-off society in an all-around manner; the great new project of advancing party building; and the practical action of remaking the objective world and the subjective world. We must persist in taking the vivid practice of the broad masses of the people in building socialism with Chinese characteristics as the wellspring of theoretical innovation, in taking the realization and development of the fundamental interests of an overwhelming majority of the people as the goal of theoretical innovation, in taking the creative spirit of following the trend of the times and constantly advancing with the times as the driving force of theoretical innovation, and in taking the study and resolution of glaring problems that we encounter on our way forward as the focus of theoretical innovation in order to constantly open up new vistas for theoretical innovation, constantly make new progress in integrating the basic tenets of Marxism with China's concrete reality, and constantly enrich and develop Marxism. We must persist in doing everything for the sake of the masses, in relying on the masses in everything we do, and in building a party that serves the interests of the public and governs for the people in order to constantly serve, safeguard, and promote the fundamental interests of an overwhelming majority of the people. The requirements of doing everything for the sake of the masses, relying on the masses in everything we do, building a party that serves the interests of the public and governs for the people, turning the party's correct propositions into the conscious actions of the masses, and mobilizing the broad masses of the people on the widest possible scale to work in unity to achieve their own interests and build a good life for themselves offer a highly succinct answer to the fundamental question of whom the Chinese communists rely on and work for. Serving, safeguarding, and promoting the fundamental interests of an overwhelming majority of the people is always the supreme goal of all our party's struggles as well as a fundamental principle for our party to observe and handle issues. Having full trust in the masses, relying heavily on the masses, and maintaining flesh-and-blood ties with the masses is always the source of strength for our invincibility and the most decisive factor in the development of the cause of our party and state. The people are a fundamental driving force in making history. The overwhelming majority of people in China are the main players in the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, the creators of advanced productive forces and advanced culture, and the promoters of the coordinated development of socialist material civilization, political civilization, and spiritual civilization. We must arouse the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of the people to the fullest possible extent; draw on the wisdom and strength of the whole society and nation to the greatest possible extent; and mobilize and organize hundreds of millions of the masses on the broadest possible scale to throw themselves into the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must persist in coming from the masses and going among the masses; gain a deep understanding of the people's feelings; fully reflect the people's wishes; extensively draw on the people's wisdom; genuinely cherish the people's resources; constantly serve the people's interests; ensure that our party's line, guiding principles, policies, and all areas of work embody the people's interests; let the people enjoy the fruits of reform and development; and constantly safeguard and promote the people's economic, political, and cultural rights and interests. We must always keep in mind the fact that the interests of the masses are no trivial matter, and serve the fundamental interests of the people in all facets of reform, development, and stability, especially in showing concern for the production and livelihood of the masses. Leading cadres at all levels must firmly foster the spirit of wholeheartedly serving the people and sincerely showing responsibility towards the people; persist in exercising power for the people, showing concern for the people, and serving the people's interests; and start with those interests of the most immediate, deepest, and most direct concern to the masses in sincerely doing solid work for the masses, working heart and soul to resolve difficulties for the masses, and tirelessly performing good deeds for the masses.
We must persist in independently exploring a path of building socialism in China; know how to innovate on our own in light of our national conditions while actively drawing on the useful experiences of other countries; and constantly open up and develop the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The protracted practice of China's revolution, construction, and reform has fully proved that independently, self-reliantly, and steadfastly following a development path that suits China's conditions is our fundamental position, whether in the past, at present, or in the future. Due to different national conditions, it is inevitable that countries follow different development paths; it is impossible to have a fixed, constant model that is applicable to all countries and all eras. To achieve the magnificent goal of building a well-off society in an all-around manner and to realize socialist modernization in a large, developing Eastern socialist country with a population of more than 1 billion, we must follow a development path that suits our national conditions and mainly rely on ourselves in carrying out construction. The path that we must adhere to is the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics charted by Comrade Deng Xiaoping and upheld and developed by the party's third-generation central leading collective with Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core. To adhere to this path, we must uphold the CCP's leadership and the socialist system; uphold and constantly improve in practice various institutions, systems, guiding principles, and policies that help promote the vigorous development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and do a better job in achieving socialist modernization and bringing about the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation. To adhere to this path, we must uphold the development path of achieving influence and strength through peace, remain on friendly terms with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, actively carry out exchanges and cooperation with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, and make contributions to the noble cause of peace and development for mankind. The world today is an open world, and China's development is inseparable from the rest of the world. We must foster a broad worldview; take an overall view of the general trends of development in the world's economic, political, cultural, scientific and technological, and military affairs; persist in opening up to the outside world; actively draw on the useful achievements and experiences of the people in other countries in achieving economic development and social progress; and refrain from secluding ourselves from the rest of the world and having an exaggerated opinion of our own achievements. We fully respect the development paths chosen by other countries. We will never impose our will on other people, but we will also never allow other people to force their will on the Chinese people. The more we open up to the outside world and the more fierce international competition becomes, the more we need to uphold independence and self-reliance, make self-reliance the basis for propelling the development of our cause, and unremittingly wage arduous struggles and carry out pioneering work. No matter what changes occur in the international situation, and no matter what difficulties and dangers we encounter on our way forward, we must steadfastly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and safeguard national sovereignty and security.
An overview of the sweeping historical course of China's revolution, construction, and reform shows that the constant development of our great cause under our party's leadership is closely related to our party's steady movement towards maturity. To constantly promote social development and progress and to unite and lead the broad masses of the people to create a better life for themselves, our party must always represent the demands of the development of China's advanced productive forces, the forward direction of China's advanced culture, and the fundamental interests of an overwhelming majority of the Chinese people, so that it will always stand at the forefront of the times during the historical course of profound changes in the international situation, always serve as the backbone of the people throughout the country during the historical course of coping with dangers and trials at home and abroad, always serve as the strong leading core during the historical course of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country to constantly advance in the direction guided by Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the important thinking of the "Three Representations".
Comrades and friends!
Comrades and friends!
China is a great country with a civilization and history that is several thousand years old. The Chinese people are a great people who created a splendid culture, and the Chinese nation is a great nation inspired by the spirit of constantly seeking self-improvement. During the protracted course of history, the Chinese people surmounted countless difficulties and obstacles and created one miracle after another for this world through hard work and arduous pioneering work. We owe all our achievements in the great cause of building socialism to the concerted efforts of the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country and to the establishment and development of the socialist system in our country. History shows us that only the CCP can lead the Chinese people to establish a socialist system; only socialism can save and develop China; and only adherence to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics can bring about the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation. China's modern history, especially the history of our party leading the people to wage struggles, has repeatedly proven this truth. This truth is thoroughly embodied in Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, and the important thinking of the "Three Representations". As long as we constantly advance along the broad avenue charted by the Marxist truth, we can overcome all difficulties, conquer all dangers and challenges, and successfully achieve the glorious goal of socialist modernization.
History is a long river that flows incessantly. Today is the development of yesterday, and tomorrow is the continuation of today. Realizing the country's modernization, the motherland's complete reunification, and the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation is the great ideal of Comrade Mao Zedong, Comrade Deng Xiaoping, their comrades-in-arms, and hundreds of millions of revolutionary martyrs. They worked with the utmost dedication, advancing waves upon waves, to achieve this great ideal, composing a deeply moving and soul-stirring magnificent poem in the history of the Chinese nation. Today, the baton of history has passed into our hands. The best way for us to cherish the memory of Comrade Mao Zedong is to continue to advance the great cause painstakingly pioneered by revolutionaries of the older generation and continue to compose the epic of achieving the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation. This is a sacred mission bestowed on us by history. Our cause is great and arduous, and our future is bright and beautiful. All members of the CCP and the Communist Youth League, all socialist workers, all builders of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and all the people who deeply love the motherland must unite more closely, work with one heart and one mind, go all out to make the country strong, wage arduous struggles, forge ahead in a pioneering spirit, and courageously advance along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics towards the magnificent goal of building a well-off society in an all-around manner and the glorious prospect of achieving the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation!