One hundred years ago this July, Mao Zedong and around a dozen other delegates gathered together in secret to form a new political party. The name of the party is The Chinese Communist Party.
From 1921 till now, a lot of things have changed, but the Chinese Communist Party, which today boasts more than 95 million members equivalent to almost 7% of China’s entire population has remained an ever present fixture.
The party and President Xi Jinping have much to crow about on the party’s centenary, as it arrives at perhaps the most confident moment in the history of the party and the People’s Republic, formed in 1949 after the communist’s civil war victory.
Xi, 68, is set to deliver a speech linking the Communist Party’s 100th anniversary to China’s return to wealth and power, making the case that the party with him at the top is the nation’s best hope for more growth.
The celebration of longevity is well-timed for Xi. He’s expected to break party norms by seeking a third term as leader at a twice-a-decade party congress next year. Staying on would allow him to continue working toward his pledge to build a “modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious” by 2049.
“In the past 100 years, our party has stayed true to its mission, led the people to blaze a great trail, achieved great success, forged a great spirit and accumulated valuable experience,” Xi proclaimed at a ceremony Tuesday in Beijing. “We have written a splendid chapter in the history of Chinese nation and the history of the social progress of mankind.”
Although Xi’s grip over domestic politics is stronger than ever, China’s rise is facing increasing resistance from the US and its allies. They are accusing the president of leading it down a more confrontational and authoritarian path.
