Symposium Commemorating the 120th Anniversary of Comrade Liu Shaoqi’s Birth Held in Beijing

　　On the morning of November 23, the CPC Central Committee held a symposium commemorating the 120th anniversary of comrade Liu Shaoqi’s birth. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, emphasizing the firm faith in struggling for communism for life encourages generation after generation of communists to forge ahead in spite of difficulties. The historical relay baton has been passed to us. We are standing at a new historical starting point to carry out the great struggle, build the great project, promote the great cause and realize the great dream. This is inheritance and development of the great cause for which Liu Shaoqi and other old-generation revolutionaries carried out struggle all their lives.

　　The symposium was attended by members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Keqiang, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng; and chaired by member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Zhanshu.

　　In the speech, Xi Jinping first said: We are gathering here ceremoniously with great respect to commemorate the 120th anniversary of comrade Liu Shaoqi’s birth, deeply cherish the memory of his indelible contributions made for the cause of the Party and people, recall his glorious career of struggling tirelessly for national independence, people’s liberation, national strength and people’s happiness, learn from and inherit his lofty spirit and encourage the whole Party and all Chinese ethnic groups to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, secure the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and keep fighting to realize the Chinese dream of the Chinese nation’s great rejuvenation.

　　Xi Jinping pointed out: Comrade Liu Shaoqi was a great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, politician and theorist, a main leader of the Party and country, an elder statesman who participated in the founding of the People’s Republic of China and an important member of the Party’s first-generation central leading group. Comrade Liu Shaoqi’s reputation  is closely linked to the splendid history of struggle of the Chinese people, the Communist Party of China and the People’s Republic of China. He meditated deeply on and made painstaking efforts for the cause of China’s revolution and building, rendered meritorious service in the fields of the economy, politics, military affairs, culture, education, diplomacy and Party building, and was deeply loved by the whole Party, the whole army and all ethnic groups.

　　In the speech, Xi Jinping emotionally reviewed comrade Liu Shaoqi’s glorious life of selfless dedication to Chinese revolution and construction. He emphasized: Comrade Liu Shaoqi struggled tirelessly for decades without stop, occupying an important place in the history of our Party and the history of the Chinese nation’s great rejuvenation. Comrade Liu Shaoqi with softy character and sentiment was, is and will be a glorious example that the Chinese communists and the Chinese people should learn from. Comrade Liu Shaoqi’s reputation and contributions will be remembered by the Chinese people forever.

　　Xi Jinping pointed out: Comrade Liu Shaoqi is a glorious example of remaining true to our original aspiration and being loyal to the Party. The original aspiration that communists stick to is firmly believing in communist ideals and being loyal to the cause of the Party and people forever. Faith in the heart makes action powerful. Today, we are learning from comrade Liu Shaoqi to firmly bear in mind that ideals and faith are the foundation of communists’ lives and the political soul of communists. We should work to consolidate the foundation and soul, combine lofty communist ideals with the common ideal of communism with Chinese characteristics and the things we are doing, enhance the consciousness of maintaining political integrity, thinking in terms of the big picture, following the leadership core and keeping in alignment with the central Party leadership, strengthen the confidence in the path, theory, system and culture, stick to communists’ ideals and faith and struggle for communism all our lives.

　　Xi Jinping emphasized: Comrade Liu Shaoqi is a glorious example of upholding truth and seeking truth from facts. Sticking to freeing our minds, seeking truth from facts, upholding truth and correcting mistakes is an important guarantee for the continuous victory of the cause of the Party and people. Today, we are learning from comrade Liu Shaoqi to always seek truth from facts, bravely face problems and be ready to stick to truth and correct mistakes at any time. Only by doing this can we build the Party into a Marxist ruling party always staying at the forefront of the times, supported by the people wholeheartedly, boldly carrying out self-revolution, able to withstand all tests and full of vitality and let the Marxism of China in the 21st century show stronger and more convincing power of truth.

　　Xi Jinping pointed out: Comrade Liu Shaoqi is a glorious example of being willing to assume responsibility and carrying out creation bravely. Communists must bear the burden of reforming the society and the world, dare to shoulder responsibilities and should face difficulties bravely. Today, we are learning from comrade Liu Shaoqi to stick to the priority of the Party’s principles, the Party’s cause and the people’s interests and have the courage to take resolute actions in the face of major issues of principle, stand out in the face of difficulties, step forward in the face of dangers, shoulder responsibilities in the face of mistakes and struggle resolutely in the face of evil trends. Every communist should have a strong sense of mission, shoulder the responsibilities that should be borne, follow the requirements of the times, practice and people, carry out work creatively and resolutely implement the Party’s lines, principles and policies.

　　Xi Jinping emphasized: Comrade Liu Shaoqi is a glorious example of studying diligently and combining knowledge and practice. Attaching importance to study is our Party’s successful experience in promoting development of the cause. Today, we are learning from comrade Liu Shaoqi to boost the trend of study, create a strong atmosphere for being good at study and carrying out practice bravely in the whole Party, build a learning Marxist party and promote the building of a major learning country. Learning skills is the primary ability that leading cadres must have. Meanwhile, we should be good at applying what we have learned in actual work and strive to realize combination of knowledge and practice, promotion of practice with knowledge and pursuit of knowledge with practice.

　　Xi Jinping pointed out: Comrade Liu Shaoqi is a glorious example of caring for people and being clean. Every communist, no matter how high his position is, is a servant of the people. Today, we are learning from comrade Liu Shaoqi to always stick to the people’s standpoint, put the people at the highest place in our hearts, always maintain the close bond with the people and take it as a fundamental duty to seek happiness for the people. All comrades in the Party should always firmly bear in mind that our power is endowed by the Party and people for doing things for the Party and people and can only be used to eliminate the Party’s worries, do things for the country and seek benefit for the people. There must be a barrier to limit us in what we say and do. We should never seek privileges and personal gains by abuse of power and always be loyal, clean and responsible.

　　While chairing the symposium, Li Zhanshu said General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech reviewed comrade Liu Shaoqi’s great and glorious life, highly evaluated comrade Liu Shaoqi’s splendid achievements and called on Chinese communists and Chinese people to learn from comrade Liu Shaoqi’s lofty character and lofty spirit. The speech is of major significance to guiding our Party to keep pushing forward the great cause opened up by comrade Liu Shaoqi and other old-generation revolutionaries and sticking to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. We should conscientiously study, deeply comprehend and earnestly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide, rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core and strive to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, achieve the great success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era and realize the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

　　At the symposium, President of Central Research Institute of Party History and Literature Leng Rong, Secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee Yang Zhenwu, member of the Central Military Commission and Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission Miao Hua and Secretary of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee Du Jiahao spoke successively.

　　Secretaries of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, some leading cadres of the NPC Standing Committee, CPPCC and Central Military Commission, comrades in charge of the related central Party, political, military and mass departments, Beijing Municipality and CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, comrade Liu Shaoqi’s relatives and old friends, former working personnel around him and representatives of his hometown attended the symposium.