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

LONG-LASTING INSPIRATION

The Zunyi Meeting was the first time the CPC made important political and military decisions independently, without interference from the Comintern -- an international communist alliance mainly controlled by the Soviet, with the CPC just a branch.

"This not only marked a turning point but also represented a historic leap toward the Party's independence and autonomy. Since then, the CPC has become increasingly steadfast on the path of independence and autonomy," said Li Zhongjie, vice-chairman of the Chinese Society of the History of the CPC.

The spirit of the meeting also inspires the Party to overcome severe difficulties and remain undaunted in the face of great challenges.

In 2015 and 2021, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, visited Guizhou.

Xi said that of all the places the Red Army reached, it spent the longest time and had the most extensive presence in Guizhou, leaving later generations an enduring spiritual legacy.

The Zunyi Meeting's distinct features, including the establishment of the correct CPC Central Committee leadership, as well as innovative formulation and implementation of strategies that suited the Chinese revolution's characteristics, still have significance today, according to Xi.

"No matter how times or conditions alter, we need to deeply understand the original aspiration and mission of communists from the spirit of the Long March and the Zunyi Meeting," Li Zhongjie said.