Published by ChinaMNC · Gushi

What a High-Level Beijing Commemoration Signals for Foreign Founders Operating in China

A practical reading of the October 22 commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Long March, held at the Great Hall of the People, and what the tone of official messaging means for foreign founders registering and running companies in China.

A High-Level Event, and Why It Matters to Founders

On October 22, a major commemorative meeting marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech. The event was attended by Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, with Zhao Leji presiding.

Foreign founders may reasonably ask why a historical commemoration deserves attention when they are focused on entity registration, tax filings and hiring. The answer is that official messaging of this kind sets the tone for how policy priorities are framed and communicated across the system in the period ahead. For operators, reading that tone carefully is part of sound market intelligence, alongside tracking the specific regulations that govern company formation and daily compliance.

What the Official Message Emphasised

History as a source of direction

Xi described the Long March, spanning October 1934 to October 1936, in which the Red Army's First, Second and Fourth Front Armies and the 25th Army took part. He noted that the march covered more than ten provinces over some 25,000 li, broke through encirclement by more than a million enemy troops, and achieved a strategic shift northward to resist Japanese aggression. He said the victory carried great significance for the Party, the state and the military, and had a profound influence on the process of national rejuvenation.

He stressed that revisiting history is about drawing wisdom and strength for moving forward. He attributed the victory to correct Party leadership and the establishment of Comrade Mao Zedong's core position, to firm revolutionary will and conviction, to independence and seeking truth from facts, and to the support of the broad masses of the people.

The 'Long March spirit' and the present phase

Xi said the Long March created an extraordinary human miracle and forged a great Long March spirit, which he described as an important part of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists and a source of strength for overcoming difficulties. He noted that in the 90 years since, the Party has led the people through successive 'long marches' in revolution, construction and reform, and that since the 18th Party Congress socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has been achieved on schedule, and the country is now working toward the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernisation.

The Five Requirements and Their Practical Reading

Xi set out 'five musts' for carrying forward the Long March spirit and walking the new long march. In the order presented:

• Stay true to the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose, fully implement the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, remember the original mission, and rely on the people to create new achievements.
• Advance high-quality development to meet the people's growing needs for a better life, coordinate the 'Five-Sphere Integrated Plan' and the 'Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy', pursue effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy, and promote common prosperity for all.
• Carry out the great struggle with many new historical features, better coordinate development and security, and overcome difficulties and risks with a sense of historical initiative.
• Build the people's military into a world-class military, uphold the Party's absolute leadership over the military, meet the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army on schedule, and modernise national defence and the military to a high standard.
• Uphold Party leadership and strengthen Party building, continue full and rigorous Party self-governance, and ensure the Party remains the strong leading core of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Zhao Leji, who presided, said the speech reviews the great course of the Long March under Party leadership, summarises its significance, explains the reasons for victory, and sets out the 'five musts'. He described the speech as strongly political, thoughtful and instructive, and called for it to be studied and implemented.

How Founders Can Use This Reading

Align planning with stated priorities

The emphasis on high-quality development, coordination of development and security, and common prosperity indicates the themes likely to shape policy communication. Founders preparing market-entry documents, business plans or government-facing presentations should describe their activities in terms that connect to these themes where accurate, rather than relying on generic growth language.

Treat compliance as strategic

The pairing of development and security is a reminder that regulatory expectations around data, operations and reporting are part of the operating environment, not an afterthought. Build compliance review into your China entity's calendar from registration onward, and keep documentation of filings and approvals.

Watch official channels for signals

Speeches at this level do not create registration rules, tax rates or licensing requirements. Concrete obligations come from specific laws, regulations and local implementing rules. Use high-level messaging to understand direction, and confirm every operational step against the competent authority's published requirements and qualified local advice.

Attendance and Scale

The event was attended by members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee based in Beijing, vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission, vice chairmen of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, state councillors, the president of the Supreme People's Court and vice chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. About 3,000 people took part, including leading officials from central Party, state, military and mass organisations and from Beijing, representatives of central committees of democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and personages without party affiliation, representatives of veteran comrades, representatives of PLA and Armed Police personnel, and representatives of residents of the capital.

For foreign founders, the practical takeaway is not to read this event as a change in company law or investment rules, but as a clear statement of the framing within which policy will be communicated. Pair that reading with direct verification of registration, tax and licensing requirements before committing capital.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.