Strive hard for Chinese nation's rejuvenation

History is like both a mirror and a textbook. A hundred years of great changes since the 1911 Revolution, from the opening shots of the revolution in Wuchang to China's dramatically changing modern landscape today, are rich with historical and realistic significance and guided China in the course of its future development.

Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered a keynote speech at the ceremony marking the centennial anniversary of the 1911 Revolution. He expounded upon how the event brought rejuvenation to the Chinese nation and looked forward to the bright prospects of China's further renewal. He believes that the event will surely inspire all Chinese at home and abroad to work together for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The 1911 Revolution opened the door to the torrent of China's progress and explored a path for the development and progress of the Chinese nation. It will always be a significant landmark in the great course of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Over the past 90 years, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in struggle as the most unswerving supporter of the revolutionary cause pioneered by Sun Yat-sen and his closest cooperator and most faithful follower. Since the revolution, the Party has achieved the success of the New Democratic Revolution, founded the People’s Republic of China, completed the transition from a new democratic society to a socialist society, carried out large-scale socialist construction and moved ahead with the great cause of reform, opening-up and socialist modernization.

The Party and the Chinese people have always remembered Sun and other pioneers in the 1911 Revolution since the establishment of the Party. They have learned and popularized the pioneers’ spirit of struggle, inherited and advanced their ideal of developing a modern country, achieved the independence of the Chinese nation and the emancipation of the masses that were long sought by the Chinese people and numerous revolutionists, begun a new epoch of the development and progress of the Chinese nation and achieved remarkable accomplishments in modernization construction.

The Chinese nation's struggles, suffering and glory over the past 100 years have proven that in order to achieve the great rejuvenation of the nation, the Chinese people must hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China as well as the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Party must hold high the great banner of patriotism, make great efforts to enhance national solidarity and vigorously promote the great unity of Chinese compatriots at home and abroad. Furthermore, it should also hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation and adhere to the path of peaceful development as well as the win-win strategy of opening-up.

While marking the centenary of the 1911 Revolution, people should clearly realize that although modernization in China has reached an unprecedented level, the basic reality that China is still in the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a long time to come has not changed. The Party must grasp and make full use of all strategic opportunities, further implement the scientific outlook on development, continue to emancipate the mind, adhere to the policy of reform and opening-up, and vigorously promote social harmony and the country’s modernization drive.

Looking back at the past 100 years, we can deeply feel that the people on the mainland and the Taiwan Island are linked by blood, and are facing a historic opportunity to achieve common development and prosperity as well as the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Peaceful development of cross-strait relations has become an important part of the rise of China. Achieving reunification by peaceful means serves the fundamental interests of all Chinese, including Taiwan compatriots, and is the common wish of all Chinese people.

After over 100 years of struggles, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become an irreversible and unstoppable process. Under the banner of rejuvenating the nation, all Chinese people should continue to work hard together and devote themselves to the great cause of rejuvenating the nation with contributions that will make Sun and other pioneers of the 1911 Revolution proud.