Published by ChinaMNC · Longkou

What a Major National Anniversary Says About China's Policy Direction — A Briefing for Foreign Founders

A ChinaMNC briefing for foreign founders on the policy signals in a high-level national anniversary event in Beijing, and what it means for company registration and operations in China.

A High-Level Event Worth Understanding

On the morning of October 22, a major commemorative gathering took place in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March. According to the official report, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech. Senior leaders Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended, and Zhao Leji presided over the meeting.

For foreign founders registering or operating a company in China, events of this kind are not merely ceremonial. They reveal the priorities, vocabulary and institutional direction that shape policy implementation at national and local levels. Below is a practical reading of what the official report says — and how to interpret it without overreaching.

Setting the Scene

The report describes a solemn and formal atmosphere in the auditorium. A banner above the rostrum read "Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March," with the CPC emblem at the center of the backdrop and the years "1936–2026" beneath it, flanked by ten red flags. A slogan on the second-floor balcony called for unity around the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core, implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carrying forward the great Long March spirit, and striving for national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.

The report states that about 3,000 people attended, including leading officials from central Party, state, military and mass organizations and from Beijing Municipality, 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 from across the capital.

What Was Said

In his speech, Xi extended respect to the older-generation revolutionaries who led the Red Army, to Red Army commanders and fighters, to the people of all ethnic groups who supported the Long March, and to surviving Red Army veterans. He proposed a moment of silence for martyrs who died during the Long March and in revolutionary struggles elsewhere.

Xi noted that from October 1934 to October 1936, the Party led the Red Army's First, Second and Fourth Front Armies and the 25th Army in the Long March, which spanned more than ten provinces and covered 25,000 li, broke through encirclement and interception by over a million enemy troops, declared the total failure of the Kuomintang reactionaries' scheme to eliminate the Communist Party and the Red Army, achieved a strategic shift northward to resist Japanese aggression, and opened a new situation for the Chinese revolution.

He emphasized that revisiting history is about drawing wisdom and strength. Looking back after 90 years, he said, the victory of the Long March was inevitable and embodied the path to victory of the Party and the people's army. That path, in his account, was walked through correct Party leadership — with the establishment of Mao Zedong's core position described as decisive — through firm revolutionary will and ideals, through independence and seeking truth from facts in applying Marxism to China's concrete realities, and through the support of the broad masses.

Xi described the Long March as having created extraordinary miracles and forged the great Long March spirit, which he said demonstrates the power of loyalty, truth, justice and unity, forms an important part of the spiritual lineage of Chinese Communists, and remains a valuable source of strength.

He stated that the Long March's history has never receded and its road keeps extending. Since victory 90 years ago, he said, the Party has led the people through repeated great marches in revolution, construction and reform. 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 building a great modern socialist country and realizing the second centenary goal through Chinese-style modernization.

He set out five requirements for carrying forward the Long March spirit on the new journey: uphold the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; steadfastly promote high-quality development and meet people's growing needs for a better life, advancing the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, pursuing both qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy and promoting common prosperity; undertake great struggles with many new historical features, better coordinate development and security, and overcome difficulties and risks; accelerate building the people's army into a world-class military and realize the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army on schedule; and uphold Party leadership and strengthen Party building, advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Zhao Leji, who presided, said the speech reviews the Party's leadership of the Long March, summarizes its significance, reveals the path to victory, explains the historical value of the Long March spirit and sets out the "five musts." He called for studying and implementing the speech, uniting around the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core, and striving for national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.

Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

• Policy vocabulary matters. Terms such as high-quality development, coordination of development and security, and Chinese-style modernization recur in official communications. Expect them to appear in local implementation documents, industrial guidance and compliance expectations.
• Leadership continuity is emphasized. The report stresses Party leadership and discipline. For companies, this generally translates into predictable but firm expectations around regulatory compliance and alignment with national priorities.
• Development and security are paired. Founders should expect continued attention to data, cybersecurity, and operational resilience alongside growth incentives.
• Institutional formality signals seriousness. High-level meetings set the tone for how lower-level authorities interpret and execute policy in the following period.

What This Does Not Tell You

This report is a political and commemorative account. It contains no new rules on foreign investment, company registration, taxation or licensing. Founders should not read specific operational requirements into it. Instead, treat it as background context when engaging with local authorities, industrial parks and service providers, and confirm all requirements against the actual regulations and guidance issued by the relevant agencies.

ChinaMNC regularly tracks official publications so that foreign founders can distinguish general policy direction from concrete compliance obligations.

How ChinaMNC Can Help

Foreign founders who want to register a company in China, understand sector-specific requirements or plan ongoing operations can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp or WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for assistance with company registration and operating support in China.

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