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Jiang's Speech at Meeting Marking 90th Anniversary of 1911 Revolution
Jiang Zemin Gives Speech at Meeting Marking 90th Anniversary of 1911 Revolution
Following is the full text of a speech by Chinese President Jiang Zemin at a meeting in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 held at the Great Hall of the People Tuesday.
Comrades and Friends,
Ninety years ago in China, revolutionaries led by Dr. Sun Yat- sen launched the Revolution of 1911, which greatly influenced China's history. It is of great immediate significance for us to cherish the memory of this historic event and the monumental exploits of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and other democratic revolutionaries now in the first year of the 21th century when the Chinese people are approaching the strategic goals for the third stage of the modernization drive.
The Revolution of 1911 had profound social and historical roots, and it was the inevitable product of the people's indomitable struggle amidst the acute social conflicts in modern China. Beginning in the 1840s, China was gradually reduced to a semi- colonial and semi-feudal society. In face of the barbarous aggression of Western imperialist powers and the decadence of the Qing Dynasty, the unyielding Chinese people repeatedly waged epic struggles. During these struggles, they came to realize that to make their country and people prosper, they must first attain national independence and the people's liberation. At that time, the Qing Dynasty represented China's reactionary feudal forces and was an instrument by which the Western imperialists dominated China. Without removing this obstacle, it would be impossible for the Chinese people to obtain liberation and happiness. The Revolution of 1911 reflected the deep longing of the people of that time to win national liberation and rejuvenate China.
This revolution overthrew the reactionary feudal government of the Qing Dynasty, ended the autocratic monarchy that had reigned in China for thousands of years, and established the Republic of China. It liberated the thinking of the Chinese people tremendously and broadened the horizons of the Chinese progressives, who were seeking ways to save the country and people. Although the Revolution of 1911 failed to change the semi-colonial, semi-feudal nature of Chinese society or to free the people from their bitter fate, it was national, democratic, anti-imperialist and anti-feudal in character. It opened the floodgates of progress in China, forever destabilized the reactionary rule, and encouraged the people to struggle valiantly for national independence and liberation and for a strong and prosperous country.
The Revolution of 1911 holds a very important position in modern Chinese history, and it is a great milestone in the Chinese people's struggle to change their own destiny through revolution.
Dr. Sun Yat-sen was a great figure in history, who stood in the vanguard of his times, and he was a great patriot and a great pioneer of the Chinese democratic revolution. He devoted his whole life to national independence, democracy, freedom and people's welfare. He advocated adapting oneself to world trends and meeting the needs of the masses, and he declared war on the monarchy, which had been considered sacred and inviolable for thousands of years, and on all reactionary forces that impeded social progress. Dr. Sun was the first to voice the slogan, "Regenerate China." He hoped that China would catch up with the advanced countries in the world and worked hard to help attain this lofty goal. In spite of many dangers, difficulties and setbacks, he kept on fighting and faithfully kept his word: "I shall press forward with indomitable will; the more setbacks I experience, the more determined and persistent I will become." He regarded arousing the masses and allying in common cause with those peoples of the world who treat us as equals as the quintessence of his 40-year revolutionary career, and he bequeathed it to those revolutionaries who succeeded him. Dr. Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary thought and action had an earthquaking and far-reaching impact on modern and contemporary China. This is where the great spirits of both the Revolution of 1911 and the Chinese people lie.
The historic contributions that Dr. Sun Yat-sen and the other participants of the Revolution of 1911 made to the Chinese people will shine through the ages! Those high-minded people who fought heroically and laid down their lives in the Revolution of 1911 deserve the remembrance and reverence of the Chinese people for all eternity! Their revolutionary spirit will always be a powerful driving force of China's progress! After the Revolution of 1911, the revolutionary torrent of the Chinese people surged irresistibly forward. The New Culture Movement and the May 4th Movement of 1919 erupted successively. Soon after, the Communist Party of China was founded in the process of integrating Marxism-Leninism with the Chinese workers' movement. At this point, the revolution of the Chinese people entered a new stage. Dr. Sun Yat-sen brought about cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party for the first time. He established the three great revolutionary policies of alliance with Russia, cooperation with the Communist Party and assistance to peasants and workers, gave new meaning to his original Three People's Principles, and formulated a new Three People's Principles. After Dr. Sun Yat-sen passed away, the Chinese Communists carried on his revolutionary spirit, fought alongside everyone who was loyal to his cause, and united and led the people of all ethnic groups in an arduous and bitter struggle. They defeated the reactionary forces from home and abroad, achieved victory in the new democratic revolution, and founded the People's Republic of China.
The Chinese Communists are always loyal successors to the revolutionary cause initiated by Dr. Sun Yat-sen and have always regarded the cause for which they fight as a continuation and development of the Revolution of 1911. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have made great achievements in the new democratic revolution, socialist revolution and construction, and in the ongoing reform and opening up, which have become the focus of worldwide attention. They continue to fulfill and extend the great aspirations of Dr. Sun Yat-sen and all other revolutionary predecessors. In commemorating the 90th birthday of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in November 1956, Comrade Mao Zedong said: "It is only 45 years since the Revolution of 1911, but the face of China has entirely changed. In another 45 years, that is, by the year 2001, at the beginning of the 21th century, China will have undergone even greater changes."
This is what China is like today, 45 years after Comrade Mao Zedong made those remarks: His prediction that "China will have undergone even greater changes" has become entirely true! China today enjoys vigorous development and progress everywhere. The country's productive forces and overall national strength have improved considerably, and the people in general have a comparatively comfortable standard of living. The old days when China was weak and poor are gone forever. The country now enjoys national unity and solidarity among its ethnic groups; the patriotic united front is constantly expanding; and Hong Kong and Macao have returned to the embrace of their motherland. China's international standing and influence rise with each passing day, and the country has become an important force furthering world peace and development. In China today the socialist reform and opening up, and the modernization program we started under the leadership of Comrade Deng Xiaoping are now exhibiting tremendous vitality.
We can say with justifiable pride that the great rejuvenation of China that Dr. Sun Yat-sen and all other revolutionary predecessors longed for will surely happen!
Modernization will be basically completed by the middle of the century, turning our great motherland into a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and modern socialist country, and completely reinvigorating the Chinese nation. The attainment of this goal is the common aspiration of all sons and daughters of China at home and abroad. At that time, China will be able to contribute much more to mankind.
Reinvigorating China to ensure a happy life for more than a billion Chinese people is a great and noble undertaking. Its success depends on the unity, cooperation and common efforts of all the Chinese people. As sons and daughters of China, regardless of party or organizational affiliation, nationality, belief or domicile, if they are patriotic and share the great goal of Chinese rejuvenation, they should work together to accomplish the great historical mission of national reinvigoration.
Comrades and Friends!
Over the past half century, the Communist Party of China has made tireless efforts to reunify Taiwan with the mainland of our motherland. We have established the basic policies of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems." We have also stated the eight-point proposal for developing relations across the Taiwan Straits in the present circumstances to promote the peaceful reunification of the motherland. We want to stimulate dialogue and negotiations between the two sides of the straits under the one-China principle and promote personal contacts and economic and cultural exchange between the two sides. The principles and policies of the Communist Party of China concerning the issue of Taiwan are clear, and the Party is working sincerely for reunification of the motherland and for the well-being of all the people. All this not only conforms to the fundamental interests of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the Chinese nation but also is conducive to peace, stability and development in Asia and in the world as a whole.
The world today is undergoing profound changes. World multipolarization and economic globalization are significantly influencing the survival and the future of all peoples. A people will rise if it is unified; it will fall if it is divided. This is a truth that has been borne out by both past and present events. Our compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are all Chinese and are bound together by flesh and blood. All of us, no matter what party or organization we belong to, ought to share the great goals of peaceful reunification and national reinvigoration because attaining them will benefit the long-term development of the people of all ethnic groups, including those in Taiwan. If we keep these great goals in mind, we will have no reason not to discard our past enmity, overcome our objections to each other and discuss our differences. The one-China principle is the foundation for the development of cross-strait relations and for the realization of peaceful reunification; we must not evade or obscure it. Any success we achieve now in opening the three direct links (trade, mail, and air and shipping services across the Taiwan Straits), encouraging dialogue, and promoting peaceful reunification will have lasting benefits!
We are working for peaceful reunification with the greatest sincerity; we are also strongly determined to stop any attempt to split the country in the form of the "Independence of Taiwan." Let me once again appeal to the Taiwan authorities to put the national interest first, conform to the tide of history, and unequivocally accept the one-China principle. We urge them to conduct dialogue and negotiations under this principle, open up the three direct links across the Taiwan Straits, and improve cross-strait relations. Provided the Taiwan authorities accept the one-China principle, cross-strait negotiations can resume, and mutual exchange can make fresh progress. For our part, we will continue to follow the basic policy of "one country, two systems" and fully implement the eight-point proposal for developing cross-strait relations in the present circumstances to promote the reunification of the motherland. We will continue to facilitate dialogue and negotiations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits under the one-China principle, increase exchanges and dialogue with parties of all types and people of all circles in Taiwan that oppose the "Independence of Taiwan" and support reunification. Great efforts will be made to promote the exchange of visits by people on both sides and support economic, cultural and all other kinds of exchanges. We will do all we can to bring about peaceful reunification.
The Chinese people have a glorious tradition of safeguarding the unity of the motherland. For ages, this has served as a powerful force sustaining China's unity in the face of countless hardships. We firmly believe that through collective efforts of the sons and daughters of China, including our Taiwan compatriots, we will surely fulfill the sacred mission of reunifying the motherland.
Comrades and Friends!
Dr. Sun Yat-sen once said: "The tide of world events is mighty. Those who follow it prosper, whereas those who resist it perish." The reason we are commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911 today is to urge all the people of the country to carry on the patriotic spirit that the sons and daughters of China have always had and the spirit of advancing with the times that all our revolutionary forebears had. We will stay in the vanguard of the times, constantly blaze new trails, extend reform and development, promote the historical process of reunifying the motherland, and make even greater contributions to mankind.
Long live the great unity of the people of all ethnic groups in China!
Eternal glory to all martyrs of the Revolution of 1911!
Eternal glory to the great revolutionary pioneer, Dr. Sun Yat- sen!
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