China marks 150th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth, stressing national integrity

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping, also Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a gathering to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 11, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping said that the best tribute to Sun Yat-sen is to continue the pursuit for a rejuvenated China that he had dreamed of.

Xi made the remarks here at a gathering to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth on Friday.

"The best way we commemorate Sun Yat-sen is to learn and carry forward his invaluable spirit, to unite all that can be united and mobilize all that can be mobilized to carry on the pursuit for a rejuvenated China that he had dreamed of," Xi, who is also Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said in a speech.

Born in 1866, Sun was the founder of the Kuomintang Party, and is a revered revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in overthrowing imperial rule in China.

CPC members are the firmest supporters, most loyal collaborators and most faithful successors of Sun's revolutionary undertakings, Xi said.

"Today, we are closer, more confident and more able to achieve national rejuvenation than ever before," Xi said.

"I call on all Chinese who revere Mr. Sun Yat-sen, including compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese, to unite, no matter their political affiliations," Xi said.

Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishanand Zhang Gaoli, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the event.

The gathering was chaired by Yu, also top political advisor.

NATIONAL INTEGRITY, REUNIFICATION

Xi said that Sun had staunchly championed the integrity of the country and unity of the nation.

"Sun Yat-sen unequivocally opposed any remarks or actions that attempted to split the country or the nation," Xi said in his speech.

Quoting Sun, Xi said that united, the people of the entire country benefit; disunited, people suffer.

It is the shared conviction of Chinese that China is a unified country, and it is this belief that ensures the continuation of the nation as a whole, Xi said, quoting Sun.

To achieve the complete reunification of the motherland is in the fundamental interest of the Chinese nation and it is common aspiration as well as sacred duty of all Chinese, Xi said.

The peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the correct path toward peace across the Strait, shared development and the improved well-being of compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Xi noted.

"We are ready to engage with any political Party, organization or individual from Taiwan, as long as they acknowledge the 1992 Consensus and recognize that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, no matter what they may have supported in the past," Xi said.

Xi called on compatriots from both sides across the Taiwan Strait and Chinese all across the globe to unite and oppose "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, saying the future of compatriots of both the mainland and Taiwan is closely intertwined with the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

China experienced more than 100 years of upheaval and struggle and this was still very fresh in the memories of Chinese, Xi said.

"It is our solemn commitment to the history and the people" to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to make sure that the country is never torn apart again, Xi said.

"Any attempt to split the country will be resolutely opposed by all Chinese people," Xi said, vowing "we'll never allow anyone, any organization or political Party to rip out any part of our territory at any time or in any form."

While presiding over the gathering, Yu called for uniting more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, holding high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and contributing more to the country's peaceful reunification and the Chinese nation's rejuvenation.

PATRIOTISM

Xi called on the Chinese people to learn from Sun's noble patriotism and devotion to the motherland.

Sun's tough life and prolonged struggle for the country, said Xi, taught him that reforming China must be based on the nation's reality and it must follow a development path suitable for China's national conditions.

As it has been proven by the history of both China and other countries,the prosperous nations are the ones that have found development paths suitable for their reality, Xi continued.

Today, to revitalize the Chinese nation, we need to carry forward patriotism, Xi said.

To love the country, the Chinese people should uphold the leadership of the CPC, the socialist system in China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics developed by the Chinese people under the CPC's leadership, he noted.

Xi added that the fundamental principles of the CPC and the Chinese people -- respecting the Chinese reality, learning from the outstanding achievements of all cultures and the independent development of the country -- should also be firmly adhered to.

Xi urged the Chinese people to strengthen confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

PUT PEOPLE FIRST

Sun cared deeply for the people, Xi said, and he was dedicated to helping them find happiness.

Time and time again, Xi said, Sun reiterated that the people were the greatest strength in the fight to achieve the goals of the revolution. Sun said that everyone should "work for the great cause, not just to secure an official post."

Any cause that goes against the will of the people would only result in alienating them and, thus, it would be doomed to fail, Xi said.

Xi called on all cadres to remain committed to putting the needs of the people first.

"We should ensure that the achievements of reform benefit every element of society, and strive for common prosperity by pooling the strength of our more than 1.3 billion people," Xi said.

Xi also spoke highly of how Sun continued to keep up with the times, learning from past experiences -- the successes and the failures -- and never stopped exploring.

"Today, we must be bold to adhere to the truth and correct mistakes, so as to promote innovation in all respects including theory, practice, system and culture," Xi said.

"If China prospers, we need to not only restore the status of our nation, but also shoulder great responsibilities for the world," Sun said 92 years ago.

Chinese people want growth, happiness and safety for themselves and for the people of the world, Xi said, reaffirming China's commitment to establishing a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and a community of shared destiny.

China will always be an advocate of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a caretaker of international order, said Xi.

China should calmly judge the profound and complex changes in international situation, understand the tough tasks of promoting reforms, development and stability in an all-round way, as well as make unremitting efforts, in order to break new ground in revitalizing the Chinese nation, Xi said.

Never assume that achieving our goals will be easy and smooth, Xi said, adding that China must keep its responsibilities at the forefront of its mind, and be prepared for major challenges, risks, difficulties and contradictions.