90 years on, Long March's legacy inspires China's progress in the new era

NEW LONG MARCH

Guizhou, where the Red Army regrouped and thrived during its most challenging times, has harnessed the Long March Spirit to drive its development.

Once considered the "poorest" province, Guizhou has made remarkable progress, lifting over 9.2 million people out of poverty within a decade by 2021.

Through unremitting efforts in ecological conservation, the province -- home to the largest area of rocky desertification in China -- saw its forest coverage rise to 63 percent by the end of 2023. From 2011 to 2021, Guizhou's economic growth ranked among the top three in provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland for 10 consecutive years.

"The progress we've seen in Guizhou is a real testament to carrying forward and translating the spirit of the Zunyi Meeting into action," said Liao Zhengwei, a former official at the archives bureau of Tongzi, a once poverty-stricken county in Zunyi.

Guizhou's development trajectory reflects the broader course of China's advancement to attain the Two Centenary Goals and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, which is labeled as the New Long March.

The Two Centenary Goals refer to: completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the CPC's centenary in 2021, and building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful when the PRC marks its centenary in 2049.

A great number of difficulties need to be handled at this critical juncture, including taking the economy to a high-quality development track.

Take Guizhou for example. After decades of rapid growth, the province now confronts more profound and complex challenges, including uneven economic growth, insufficient consumption demand, weak scientific and technological innovation, as well as government debt and financial risks.

China, too, is facing challenges that are more complicated, with sluggish global economic growth posing threats to global trade, and rising protectionism seeking to curb its development.

All these problems must be solved by adopting new strategies.

In July 2024, at a key meeting, the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted a resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization.

The main goals of the new round of reforms, as stated in the communique, are to keep enhancing and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and to modernize China's system and capacity for governance, so as to build China into a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century.

Marxism theorist Xia Jinglei noted that, in order to fulfill these goals, people should further learn the historical experiences from the Zunyi Meeting, which illuminate that in the new era, the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics must be independently and autonomously followed, instead of copying the Western system.

"Sometimes to the east, sometimes west, sometimes on main roads, sometimes on side roads, sometimes on beaten paths, and sometimes on new ones. But there's only one goal: to win battles when conditions are in our favor." This passage, explaining the Red Army's military strategy during the Long March, is displayed on the exhibition board at the memorial museum, prompting visitors to ponder and reflect.

Today, the conference room of the Zunyi Meeting stands as a proud beacon of history. Visitors from across the country can now embark on a "cloud visit," immersing themselves in a virtual journey to that historical moment.

Just a 10-minute walk away, a stage play called "Great Turning Point," crafted with holographic phantom technology, vividly transports viewers back 90 years. Since its premiere on Jan. 15, 2024, the show has attracted over 280,000 spectators.

"The play really brings those tough but glorious times to life," said Ms. Mai, a visitor from Guangdong province. "It's far more touching than watching a TV series. We should always be grateful and keep those revolutionary pioneers in our hearts."