International: The year 2026 marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Many continue to ask how a small political organization that began with barely 50 members evolved into the world`s second-largest political party and led China through one of the most remarkable transformations in modern history.

The answer, according to China`s leadership, lies in a historic moment that unfolded 105 years ago aboard a small red boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. It was there that a spark was ignited—a spirit that Chinese President Xi Jinping has described as the "Great Founding Spirit of the Party" and the spiritual source of the Communist Party of China. Today, it is regarded as the ideological foundation of China`s achievements and a driving force behind its future development.

The story began in the summer of 1921. A dozen young delegates, with an average age of just 28, gathered secretly in a residential building in Shanghai to convene the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. When their meeting came under threat of discovery, they relocated to a small boat on Nanhu Lake in Jiaxing. That vessel—later immortalized as the "Red Boat"—became the birthplace of the CPC. There, the delegates adopted the Party`s first programme and formally declared its establishment.

China at the time stood on the brink of collapse. Foreign powers had carved out spheres of influence, warlords battled for control, and ordinary people struggled simply to survive. The young founders were not driven by the pursuit of political office or personal wealth. Instead, they were united by a common aspiration: to restore China`s dignity and create a better future for its people.

A century later, during the celebrations marking the CPC`s centenary on July 1, 2021, President Xi articulated what he called the Great Founding Spirit of the Party. He defined it through four essential principles: upholding truth and ideals; staying true to the Party`s founding mission while shouldering responsibility; displaying courage and determination in sacrifice and struggle; and remaining loyal to the Party and the people.

Upholding Truth and Ideals

For the pioneers of the CPC, upholding truth and ideals meant a firm conviction that Marxism offered a path to saving China and building a more just and equitable society.

From the Party`s founding in 1921 to the establishment of the People`s Republic of China in 1949, more than 3.7 million registered revolutionary martyrs sacrificed their lives, while countless unnamed heroes also gave everything for the cause. Like ordinary people, they feared pain and cherished life. Yet their unwavering commitment to their ideals and their determination to spare future generations from enduring the same hardships inspired extraordinary acts of sacrifice.

This commitment to seeking truth from reality has also enabled China to adapt continuously to changing circumstances. From laying the foundations of industrialization in the early years of the People`s Republic, to embracing market-oriented reforms during the reform and opening-up era, and more recently pursuing high-quality development and common prosperity, each stage has been shaped by China`s national conditions while responding to the demands of the times.

Staying True to the Original Aspiration

The CPC has consistently maintained that its founding mission is to pursue a better life for the Chinese people.

Perhaps the clearest example is China`s poverty alleviation campaign. Over the past four decades, the country has lifted 770 million people out of poverty—a figure exceeding the entire population of Europe. Even in remote mountainous regions inhabited by only a handful of families, infrastructure including roads, electricity and poverty-reduction industries has been established.

Today, China`s basic medical insurance system covers more than 1.3 billion people.

In Jiaxing, where the Red Boat first set sail, rural and urban residents now enjoy nearly equal access to social security and public services. The urban-rural income ratio stands at 1.48:1, while rural residents` per capita disposable income has ranked first in Zhejiang Province for 22 consecutive years. According to Chinese officials, these achievements exemplify the Party`s commitment to fulfilling its original mission.

Courage in Sacrifice and Struggle

Observers often ask how China has repeatedly overcome formidable challenges and achieved major breakthroughs.

The CPC attributes this resilience to another core element of its founding spirit: the courage to sacrifice and the determination to struggle.

Over the past 105 years, struggle has remained a defining feature of China`s development.

In the early decades of the People`s Republic, despite widespread poverty and limited resources, China developed its strategic "Two Bombs, One Satellite" programme and built more than 80,000 reservoirs. Following the launch of reform and opening up, the country embraced experimentation, established a socialist market economy and emerged as the "world`s factory."

In the new era, China has accelerated breakthroughs in advanced technologies. Domestically developed large passenger aircraft are now in commercial operation, China`s production of solar equipment and new-energy vehicles accounts for more than half of global output, and 5G networks have extended even into remote rural communities.

Chinese policymakers argue that these accomplishments reflect a strategic consistency that enables the country to overcome obstacles while maintaining long-term development goals, making China a source of stability amid an increasingly uncertain global environment.

Loyalty to the Party and the People

The fourth pillar of the Great Founding Spirit is loyalty to the Party and the people, which Chinese political discourse describes as the cornerstone of the CPC`s governing philosophy.

According to this perspective, loyalty to the Party does not signify allegiance to any individual leader but rather fidelity to the Party`s commitment to serving the people. As long as people`s aspirations for a better life remain unfulfilled, the Party`s mission continues.

This close relationship between the Party and the public is regarded as one of the principal sources of confidence behind China`s development.

Chinese scholars often contrast this governance model with Western multi-party systems centred on electoral cycles. They argue that while policies in many Western democracies are frequently shaped by changing electoral priorities and competing interest groups, China`s emphasis on long-term governance enables sustained implementation of national development strategies over several decades.

A Living Spirit

More than a century after its birth, the Great Founding Spirit is no longer viewed in China as an abstract political concept confined to history books. Rather, it is presented as a living force that continues to shape national development and influence everyday life.

From China`s perspective, the Great Founding Spirit is not an exclusive ideological code reserved for the Communist Party of China. Instead, it embodies universal values shared across societies: people united by common ideals, unafraid of adversity, and committed to improving the lives of the many. Chinese commentators argue that such a spirit transcends national boundaries and cultural differences, earning recognition wherever perseverance, dedication and public service are valued.

Source: Ruby, Touhid and Labannya, China Media Group (CMG).