When writing back to centenarian veteran soldiers of the research society on the history of the New Fourth Army in Shanghai, Xi Jinping stressed the need to share more stories of the Communist Party of China (CPC), its glorious traditions and fine conduct to guide Party members to stay true to the founding mission, firm up their faith, and fight bravely.
On February 18th, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent sincere greetings and best wishes to centenarian veteran soldiers of a Shanghai-based research society on the history of the New Fourth Army in the reply to their letter.
“At a young age, you devoted yourself to the revolution, fighting bravely for the cause of the Party and the people. Now, as centenarians, you continue to concern yourselves with Party history education. This deep love for the Party is admirable,” Xi wrote in the reply.
Xi Jinping emphasized that China's revolutionary history is the best textbook for Chinese Communists. They have lived through the great historical strides. They have seen the nation stand up, become prosperous and grow in strength, and know better than others the Party’s original aspiration and founding mission. As the Party history learning and education was about to start, Xi Jinping hoped that the veterans will continue to make contributions by telling more stories of the Communist Party of China, and stories of the glorious traditions and fine conduct of the Party with regards to their own experiences, so as to lead Party members to stay true to the founding mission, firm up their faith, fight bravely, and make relentless efforts to fully build a modern socialist China in the new era.
Founded in 1980, the Shanghai-based research society on the history of the New Fourth Army has long been dedicated to the publicity and education of Party history and the history of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. More than 40 centenarian soldiers of the New Fourth Army, including Shi Ping and Cheng Yaxi, had written to President Xi Jinping. Based on their own experiences, they expressed the deep understanding of “only with the leadership of the Communist Party of China can China achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” In the letter they also gave a brief introduction to their participation in the publicity and education of Party history in retirement and showed their resolve to inherit the red gene, preserve the political character of Communists, and work tirelessly for the cause of the Party and the people.