By XU WEI | China Daily

Updated: May 11, 2022

Young people urged to forge ahead on path of rejuvenation of Chinese nation

President Xi Jinping has put forward a new vision for the Communist Youth League of China, calling on the youth movement to better unite, organize and serve young people and encouraging the nation's youth to dedicate their wisdom and efforts to national rejuvenation.

In a speech at a ceremony in Beijing on Tuesday marking the 100th anniversary of the CYLC, Xi urged the nation's young people to forge ahead on the path of national rejuvenation, saying that young people in the new era were born at the right time and have great responsibilities.

The stage for young people to put their abilities to good use is more than broad, and the prospects for them to realize their dreams are more than bright, said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

He urged the Youth League to unite and lead its members, totaling 73.7 million by the end of last year and between the ages of 14 and 28, in firming up their ideals, shouldering their duties, enduring hardships and being ready to fight for national rejuvenation with strong motivation and creativity.

Young people from a wide range of backgrounds accounted for the majority of attendees at the celebratory meeting in the Great Hall of the People, including some representatives of the Chinese Young Pioneers, whose members are age 6 to 14. Attendees also included representatives of key national organizations.

The founding of the Youth League on May 5, 1922, was of monumental significance in the history of the Chinese revolution and the youth movement, said Xi.

Over the past 100 years, the Youth League has always stood and fought alongside the Party, and it has proved to be a worthy pioneer of China's youth movement, a faithful assistant of the CPC and its reliable reserve, he said.

He summed up the Youth League's key experiences over the past century, including adherence to the Party's leadership, upholding firm ideals and beliefs, dedication to national rejuvenation and remaining firmly rooted among the nation's young people.

The president set out his expectations for the Youth League in the new era, saying that it should always serve as a political school that leads the ideological progress of China's young people.

He highlighted the need for steadfast ideals and beliefs among the younger generation, noting that young people in the new era, while being more confident and adept in self-improvement and analytical thinking, face influences from various ideological trends.

It is inevitable for them to be confronted with confusion in various aspects, and thus they would require more in-depth and patient education and guidance, he said.

He called for the Youth League to help young people to build up their trust in the Party, confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics and belief in Marxism.

The organization should always serve as a pioneering force leading the younger generation to remain enterprising, he said, adding that the cause of the Party and the people cannot move forward without dedication from generations of aspiring youth.

"Young people are the most vigorous, enterprising and least conservative group in society, and they have in them infinite force to make the objective world better and promote social progress," he said.

The president encouraged the Youth League to lead its members in responding to the call of the Party and the people, bearing in mind major issues of the nation, shouldering their missions and tasks and living up to their potential.

The CYLC must assume the political duty of consolidating and expanding the Party's popular base among the younger generation, and provide concrete help to young people so that they can feel that the Party is always by their side.

He underlined the necessity for the Youth League to step up self-reform, including measures to strengthen its political consciousness, become more advanced and better represent the people.

Xi encouraged members of the Youth League to accept political training, step up their political development, pursue political progress and align themselves with the goal of becoming qualified Party members.

History and reality have suggested that the CPC has always been a party that has maintained its vigor and is worthy of the trust and support of young people, he said.

"Young people are like the rising sun, constantly accumulating energy," he said, adding that "the hopes of the Party and the country are pinned on the youth".

The meeting was also addressed by He Junke, first secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the CYLC, who said that Youth League members can always be found on the front line of poverty alleviation, scientific and technological innovation, fighting COVID and disaster relief.