Xi Jinping's Speech at the 100 Anniversary Conference of the Communist Youth League of China (May 10, 2022)

Members of the Communist Youth League, young friends and comrades:
Youth breeds infinite hope, youth create a better tomorrow. A nation can only prosper if it hopes for youth and eternal youth.
Today, we are here to celebrate the 100 anniversary of the founding of the Communist Youth League of China. It is to encourage the youth of the Communist Youth League to forge ahead on the new journey of realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
First of all, on behalf of the Party Central Committee, I would like to extend my warm congratulations and sincere greetings to all members of the Communist Youth League and the Communist Youth League organizations and cadres at all levels!
Communist Youth League members, young friends, comrades!
The Chinese nation is an ancient nation with a long history and vicissitudes of life, and it is a youthful nation that is constantly striving for self-improvement and vigorous. In the long history of civilization for more than 5000 years, the Chinese nation has always had the tradition of "heroes coming out of youth since ancient times", the feeling of "the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves forward", and the belief that "the youth is strong, the country is strong, and the youth progress is the country's progress". Always have the expectation of "hope on you. For thousands of years, the power of youth, the surging of youth, and the creation of youth have always been the majestic force that promotes the Chinese nation to move forward bravely and stand among the nations of the world!
The fate of youth has always been closely linked with the times. After the Opium War in 1840, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. The country was humiliated, the people were suffering, and the civilization was dusty. The Chinese nation suffered unprecedented disasters. Group after group of people with lofty ideals are struggling to save the country and the people, and a large number of advanced young people have awakened in the "awakening age. The great May Fourth Movement promoted the spread of Marxism in China, opened the prelude to the new democratic revolution, and also marked that Chinese youth became the vanguard of promoting social change in China.
Once the power of youth is awakened and advanced ideas are spread, the land of China quickly presents a vigorous revolutionary new atmosphere. In the close integration of Marxism-Leninism with the Chinese workers' movement, the Communist Party of China came into being. Once the Communist Party of China was born, it focused its attention on the youth and placed the hope of revolution on the youth. The first major of the Party has specifically studied the establishment and development of the Youth League as a preparatory school for the Party. On May 5, 1922, under the direct care and leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Communist Youth League of China was established. This is a milestone in the history of the Chinese revolution and the history of the youth movement!
It is the initial mission of the Communist Youth League to unswervingly follow the Party and fight for the Party and the people. Over the past 100 years, under the strong leadership of the party, the Communist Youth League has not forgotten its original aspirations, kept its mission in mind, and walked in the forefront of the youth. It has organized and guided generations of young people to strengthen their beliefs and follow the party closely, in order to strive for national independence, the liberation of the people, and the realization of national prosperity and prosperity. The people's happiness contributed to the passionate youth movement in the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
During the period of the new democratic revolution, the Communist Youth League widely spread Marxism, used advanced ideas to enlighten the youth, gathered youth strength, United and led the Youth League members to actively participate in the anti imperialist and anti feudal workers' movement, peasant movement and student movement, actively participated in the revolutionary armed forces led by the party, and charged into the battle in the great struggle to overthrow the warlords, resist Japan and save the nation, and overthrow the reactionary rule of the Kuomintang. With the shadow of swords and bullets, the vast number of Youth League members are loyal to the party, have withstood the test of life and death, contributed their youth and established important meritorious deeds to the victory of the Chinese revolution!
During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Communist Youth League actively participated in the most extensive and profound social changes in the history of the Chinese nation, formed youth commandos, youth reclamation teams, and youth literacy teams, carried out activities to learn from Lei Feng, and united and led the broad masses of youth members to inspire "dare to teach the sun and the moon." The lofty sentiment of "changing the sky" shouted the resounding slogan of "dedicating youth to the motherland", marching to science, marching to difficulties, showing the spirit of daring to struggle and hard work. Difficulties and hardships, thousands of difficulties and dangers, the vast number of youth members take the initiative to take the initiative and bravely shoulder the heavy burden, where there is the most difficult, where there is the banner of the regiment, where there is a need, where there is the figure of youth members, contributing youth to the construction of the motherland, established an important merit!
In the new period of reform and opening up and socialist modernization, the Communist Youth League adapts to the strategic shift of the work center of the party and the state, emancipates the mind, and is determined to forge ahead. A large number of creative activities with strong youthful atmosphere, such as the Youth Civilization, and the protection of the Mother River, unite and lead the broad masses of League members and young people to issue the strong voice of the times of "uniting and revitalizing China, standing bravely on all fronts of modernization, showing the spirit of daring to work and leading the fashion. In the reform and innovation, the construction of the four modernizations, the vast number of Youth League members and young people have bravely made great contributions to the reform and opening up and the socialist modernization drive!
In the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Communist Youth League actively participates in the magnificent practice of great struggles, great projects, great undertakings, and great dreams, insists on being upright and innovative, working hard, comprehensively deepening its own reforms, and uniting and leading the broad masses of youth members to fight in the battle field of poverty alleviation. Climb hard in scientific and technological research positions, charge in the front line of emergency rescue and disaster relief, fight in the front line of epidemic prevention and control, and control, in the post of defending the motherland, we can rush out and stand up at the moment when the party and the people need it most, showing a spirit of self-confidence, self-improvement, vigorous and promising. "Clear love, only for China" has become the strongest voice of contemporary Chinese youth from the heart. Great dream, great mission, the majority of youth league members consciously take on the important task, go deep into the front line of the grassroots, let youth bloom in the Chinese dream of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and contribute to the historic achievements and historic changes in the cause of the party and the country. Established an important feat!
Times are different, the youth of the same origin. For a hundred years, the Chinese Communist Youth League has always been united with the party and struggled with the party, united and led the youth of the league members to write loyalty in the cause of the party and the people, spread youth on the journey of national rejuvenation, and engrave glory in the history of history.
History and practice have fully proved that the Chinese Communist Youth League is worthy of being the vanguard of the Chinese youth movement, worthy of being the party's loyal assistant and reliable reserve army!
Communist Youth League members, young friends, comrades!
The more we move forward and climb upward, the more we must be good at drawing wisdom, boosting confidence, and increasing strength from the road we have traveled. Over the past 100 years, the Communist Youth League has been firm in its ideals and unswerving in its determination, and has formed valuable experience. This is an important follow for the Communist Youth League to face the future and make new achievements.
-- The century-long journey has shaped the foundation of the Communist Youth League's adherence to the Party's leadership. Without the Communist Party of China, there would be no Chinese Communist Youth League. Since its birth, the Communist Youth League has taken the banner of the party as its banner, the will of the party as its will, and the mission of the party as its mission. It has deeply integrated the leadership of the party into its blood, forming a fundamental difference from other youth organizations. Characteristics and distinct advantages. Listening to the party and following the party has always been the political life of the Communist Youth League. The party's call and the league's action have always been the political beliefs of generations of Communist Youth League members. History has fully proved that only by adhering to the leadership of the party can the Communist Youth League unite and lead the youth forward and push the Chinese youth movement forward in the correct political direction.
-- The century-long journey has shaped the political soul of the Communist Youth League in adhering to its ideals and beliefs. The organization of young people by the Communist Youth League is a combination of firm faith and scientism inspired by ideals and beliefs. The first Congress of the Communist Youth League clearly put forward the lofty ideal of building a communist society, showed the distinct banner of socialism, and lit up the lamp of ideal and the light of faith in the hearts of generations of young people. This is the most fundamental and lasting cohesion of the Communist Youth League. History has fully proved that only by always holding high the banner of communism and socialism can the Communist Youth League form the strongest unity, forge the most effective organization, and always unite the youth under the banner of the party's ideals and beliefs.
-- The century-long journey has shaped the Communist Youth League's efforts to devote itself to national rejuvenation. The theme of the Party's struggle is the direction of the League's action. The Communist Youth League closely follows the central task of the party in different historical periods, unites and leads the broad masses of Youth League members to actively participate in the magnificent practice of the people, bravely be the vanguard and dedication in the journey of national rejuvenation, and play the role of fresh force and commando, so as to make the realization of national rejuvenation become the grand mainstream of China's youth movement. History has fully proved that only by firmly grasping the theme of striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can the Communist Youth League unite all the youth forces that can be united and sing the magnificent song of youth.
-- The century-long journey has shaped the source of vitality for the Communist Youth League to take root among the youth. The Communist Youth League has experienced a hundred years of vicissitudes and is youthful. It relies on always taking root in the majority of young people, always focusing its work on the majority of young workers and peasants and ordinary youth groups, and connecting the hearts of young people with the youth. The party sticks together. History has fully proved that only by constantly drawing nutrients and gaining strength from the fertile soil of the broad masses of young people can the Communist Youth League become a caring person that the broad masses of young people can trust, rely on, and cannot do.
Communist Youth League members, young friends, comrades!
Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country have made concerted efforts to successfully achieve the first centenary goal and build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way on the land of China. We are moving forward in high spirit towards the second centenary goal of building a modern and powerful socialist country in an all-round way.
The realization of the Chinese dream is a historical relay race, and contemporary youth must strive to be the first on the track of national rejuvenation. The times always entrust the historical responsibility to the youth. The Chinese youth in the new era are born at the right time and shoulder heavy responsibilities. The stage for displaying their talents is extremely broad, and the prospects for realizing their dreams are extremely bright. At the meeting to celebrate the 100 anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, members of the Communist Youth League and representatives of young pioneers loudly shouted the youth oath of "please rest assured of the party and the strong country has me. This is what Chinese youth should look like in the new era, and it is also what the party's youth organization must have.
On the new journey, how to better unite, organize, and mobilize young people to strive for the realization of the second centenary goal and the realization of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a must for the Chinese youth movement and youth work in the new era. A major issue to be answered. The Communist Youth League must strengthen its leadership, organization, and service capabilities, unite and lead the youth of the league members to grow into good young people in the new era who have ideals, dare to take responsibility, can endure hardships, and are willing to struggle, and use the energy and creativity of youth to stir up the national rejuvenation. The surging spring tide, with the wisdom and sweat of youth to create a better China!
Here, I give the Communist Youth League a few hopes.
First, persist in educating people for the party and always become a political school that leads the ideological progress of Chinese youth. Only with lofty aspirations can we climb high and look far, and only with the world in mind can we make great achievements. Fiery youth requires firm ideals and beliefs. Our party named the league with "communism" in the hope that the party's youth organization will always stand on the high ground of ideals and beliefs, arm the youth with the party's scientific theory, inspire the youth with the party's original mission, and guide the youth with the party's glorious banner. The party's fine style shapes youth. Chinese youth in the new era are more confident, self-reliant and full of speculative spirit. At the same time, they are also faced with the realistic influence of various social thoughts. They will inevitably encounter ideological confusion in ideals and reality, doctrine and problems, self-interest and altruism, ego and self, nation and world. They need more in-depth and meticulous education and guidance, observe society with a keen eye, Think about life with a clear mind, create the future with the power of wisdom. As a school for young people to learn socialism and communism with Chinese characteristics in practice, the Communist Youth League should focus on politics, start from ideology, and proceed from the characteristics of young people, and help them to make up their minds and aspirations early. from the bottom of their hearts to cultivate trust in the party, confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and belief in Marxism. Based on the fundamental plan of having successors to the party's cause, firmly grasp the fundamental task of training socialist builders and successors, and guide the broad masses of young people to continuously enhance their ambition, backbone, and confidence to be Chinese in the baptism of thought and in practice. let the revolutionary fire be passed on from generation to generation!
Second, consciously assume responsibility and always become the vanguard force in organizing the permanent struggle of Chinese youth. Struggle is the brightest background of youth, and action is the most effective sharpening of youth. Have a responsibility to bear, youth will shine. Young people are always the new, the most innovative enthusiasm, the most innovative power. The development of the cause of the party and the people is inseparable from the hard work and dedication of generations of aspiring young people. Only when youth is highly compatible with the cause of the party and the people, the spectrum of youth will be broader and the energy of youth can fully burst out. Young people are the most energetic, aggressive and least conservative group in society, which contains infinite power to transform the objective world and promote social progress. The Communist Youth League should unite and lead the broad masses of Youth League members to be the trendsetters of the new era, consciously listen to the call of the party and the people, have the "great of the country" in mind, take on the mission and task, display their aspirations and make contributions in the new world of the new era, strive to be the dreamer of great ideals, strive to be the new force of great cause, and let youth bloom in the places where the motherland and the people need most!
Third, the heart is attached to the vast number of young people and has always been the strongest bridge between the Party and the youth. The Communist Youth League is a group organization under the leadership of the Party and an organization of young people themselves. The greatest advantage of the regiment lies in its presence at the grass-roots level and its presence among young people. It is necessary to closely follow the lifeline of serving the youth, fulfill the political responsibility of consolidating and expanding the youth mass base of the party in power, not only tell the party the temperature of the youth truthfully, but also fully pass on the warmth of the party to the youth. We must do everything possible to do practical things and solve problems for young people, take the initiative to think about what young people think and what they are anxious about, and fully rely on the resources and channels given by the party to provide real help to young people, so that the majority of young people can truly feel the love of the party. Around, care is right in front of you!
Fourth, be brave in self-revolution and always become an advanced organization that follows the party and walks in the forefront of the times. For the Communist Youth League, what kind of youth organization to build and how to build it are fundamental and major issues. "The regular system cannot be changed, it cannot be done in one way or another, and it cannot be used for sword." Only when the Communist Youth League has the courage to revolutionize itself can it keep pace with the progress of the times, the development of youth, and the innovation of practice. It is necessary to implement the party's overall leadership in all fields of the entire process of work, follow the path of socialist group development with Chinese characteristics, focus on the goal of continuously maintaining and enhancing the political, advanced, and mass nature, and promote the in-depth development of the Communist Youth League reform. We should be sensitive to grasp the pulse of youth, explore new ideas and new models for the construction of grass-roots organizations of the Youth League according to the new changes and new characteristics of youth work and life style, drive the Youth Federation and the Federation of students to hold high the banner of patriotism and socialism, and constantly consolidate and expand the patriotic United front of youth. It is necessary to consciously benchmark the experience and practices of comprehensively and strictly governing the party, strengthen self-construction with the spirit of reform and innovation and the style of being strict and practical, be strict with the management of the league, and radiate the high-spirited and upward style of the Communist Youth League in all-round and high-standard forging!
"Everything in life must be done by oneself. A small step is a small step." The pursuit of progress is the most precious trait of young people and the most ardent hope of the party and the people. The majority of Communist Youth League members in the new era should be models with lofty ideals and firm beliefs, take the lead in learning Marxist theory, establish the lofty ideals of communism and the common ideals of socialism with Chinese characteristics, consciously practice the core values of socialism, and vigorously promote the spirit of patriotism; Be a model of hard study and innovation, take the lead in gaining a foothold, practice hard skills, strive for excellence, and strive to become the backbone of the industry and a young pioneer, take the lead in facing difficulties and overcoming difficulties, so as not to believe in evil, not afraid of ghosts, and hard bones; to be a model of hard work and selfless dedication, take the lead in standing on the people's stand, be down-to-earth, truth-seeking and pragmatic, bear hardships first and enjoy later, be willing to be a screw that will never rust; to be a model of advocating morality and strict discipline, take the lead in upholding morality, public morality, strict private morality, strictly abide by law, and strictly, and strictly fulfill the obligations. The majority of Communist Youth League members must earnestly accept political training, strengthen political forging, pursue political progress, actively move closer to the party organization, and aim to grow into a qualified party member as the goal and honor.
For a long time, the vast number of League cadres have carried forward the fine tradition, conscientiously performed their duties and made important contributions to the party's youth work. League cadres must forge a political character of loyalty to the party, promote an idealistic spirit, have a clear mood, and be strong, so that people can feel the clarity and purity that young cadres should have. It is necessary to consciously practice the mass line, establish a firm view of the masses, integrate with the broad masses of young people, be young friends, not young "officials," and plan more for young people and less for themselves. It is necessary to cultivate a work style of taking on practical work, not to talk falsely, to do more practical work, to have the courage to go to the difficult environment and the front line at the grass-roots level to bear hardships, difficulties, heavy burdens, and dangers, to be honest and down-to-earth. It is necessary to cultivate the moral cultivation of honesty and self-discipline, fear in heart, precepts in words, stop in deeds, constantly temper willpower, perseverance, and self-control, and be a person who is dedicated to the public, upright, and spotless.
Communist Youth League members, young friends, comrades!
The revolutionary is always young. The Communist Party of China aspires to the great cause of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. Lenin once quoted Engels as saying: "We are the party of the future, and the future belongs to the youth. We are the party of the innovators, and always the youth are more willing to follow the innovators. We are the party of selfless struggle against the decadent old things, and always the youth are the first to devote themselves to the selfless struggle." Both history and reality have proved that the Communist Party of China is a party that always maintains its youthful characteristics and is always worthy of the trust and follow of young people.
On the journey to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Communist Party of China is the vanguard, the Communist Youth League is the commando team, and the Young Pioneers are the reserve team. Joining the team, joining the league and joining the party are the "trilogy of life" for young people to pursue political progress ". The Communist Party of China has always opened its doors to young people and warmly welcomes young people to continue to become the fresh blood of the party. The Communist Youth League should fulfill its political responsibility of leading the whole league, standardize and strengthen the working mechanism of the Young Pioneers to join the league and the Communist Youth League to join the party, and strive to promote the connection and connection of the party, league, and team education chains. Party organizations at all levels must attach great importance to the training and development of young party members, especially the training and development of party members from outstanding Communist Youth League members, to ensure that the red country will never change color.
Li Dazhao said: "the youth, the soul of the country." In the past, present and future, youth work is a strategic task in the party's work. Party committees (party groups) at all levels should devote great enthusiasm to studying the law of youth growth and the characteristics of the times, devote great energy to youth work, and be confidants of young friends, enthusiasts of youth work, and guides of young people. Party organizations at all levels must implement the system and mechanism of party building and team building, often study and solve major problems in the work of the Communist Youth League, enthusiastically care about and strictly require league cadres, and support the Communist Youth League to carry out its work creatively in accordance with the characteristics and laws of group work.
Communist Youth League members, young friends, comrades!
As early as more than two thousand years ago, Confucius said, "Young people are awesome, how can we know that those who come are not now?" Young people are the most worthy of love and expectation for the party and the country. Young people are like small trees that thrive on the earth. One day they will grow into towering trees and hold up a sky. Youth is like the rising sun, constantly accumulating energy, and there will always be a moment to spread light and heat all over the earth. The hope of the party and the country rests on the youth!
In 1937, Comrade Mao Zedong wrote an inscription for the establishment of the Northern Shaanxi Public School: "We must create a large number of people, and these people are the vanguard of the revolution. These people have a political vision. These people are full of the spirit of struggle and sacrifice. These people are frank, loyal, positive, and upright. These people do not seek self-interest, the only for the liberation of the nation and society. These people are not afraid of difficulties and are always firm and brave in the face of difficulties. These people are not arrogant, nor are they limelight, but people who are down to earth and rich in practical spirit. If China needs a large group of such pioneers, the tasks of the Chinese revolution can be solved smoothly." Today, the party and the people also need a large number of such vanguards, and the Party Central Committee earnestly hopes that the Communist Youth League can cultivate a large number of such vanguards. This is the ardent expectation of the party, but also the ardent expectation of the motherland and the people!
 

Reprinted from: People's Daily Online