Chinese leader Xi Jinping marked his ruling Communist Party’s 100th anniversary with rousing appeals for national unity and defiance against foreign pressure, a rallying cry for one-party rule aimed at reinforcing his authority for years to come.
Officials have also used the grandiose festivities to underscore Mr. Xi’s clout as he prepares for a twice-a-decade party congress next year where he is expected to claim a third term as party chief and pick new lieutenants.
In a Thursday editorial, the party’s official mouthpiece, People’s Daily, called on the party’s 95 million members and the Chinese people to unite more closely around Mr. Xi’s leadership in striving to make China a rich, advanced and truly global power by 2049, the 100th anniversary of Communist rule.
The Communist Party and the Chinese people “Welcome all helpful suggestions and constructive criticism,” Mr. Xi said.
In the months before July 1, the party’s designated anniversary date, Mr. Xi directed a nationwide campaign to promote the party’s past glories.
Former leader Hu Jintao and other retired party elders attended the ceremony, though 94-year-old Jiang Zemin, who was the party’s general secretary from 1989 to 2002, was absent.
The Chinese Communist Party “Always represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people,” Mr. Xi said, not privileged groups or special interests.
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