Editor's note: Song Youwen is the vice dean of the School of Marxism Studies, Renmin University of China. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

In 1936, American journalist Edgar Snow introduced the Communist Party of China (CPC) to the world through his book Red Star Over China, answering why the CPC is capable of accomplishing great things with what he saw and heard. Today, 90 years after the victory of the Long March, a new generation of global observers is still seeking answers to this question. A survey conducted by CGTN among 12,000 respondents in 41 countries offers some insights: "strong and capable leadership" is the most common impression respondents have of the CPC, followed by "a positive force for global stability" and "a representative of the interests of developing countries."

The Long March is first and foremost a story about faith. In the face of overwhelming difficulties, Red Army soldiers pressed forward courageously because they firmly believed that their cause served a goal larger than individual lives. The principle of "placing the people's interests above all else" remains central to the CPC's identity today. The CGTN poll found that in 30 of the 41 countries surveyed, respondents believe that the CPC can better safeguard the country's overall and long-term interests than Western political parties. In Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Indonesia and Pakistan, more than half of respondents agree with this view. Putting the fundamental interests of the people and the nation above all else and holding firm to ideals and convictions are precisely the most solid political foundation of the CPC.

One of the most decisive moments in the Long March was the Zunyi Meeting in 1935. At that meeting, the CPC broke free from the shackles of rigid dogma, chose a path grounded in reality, and opened a new stage in which the Party would act on its own initiative to address practical problems concerning the Chinese revolution. This habit of self-reform has continued to this day and has been integrated into modern state governance. The CGTN poll shows that 63.7% of respondents in Global South countries believe that the CPC offers a governance model different from that of Western political parties. In Kenya, Pakistan, India, Nigeria, South Africa and Indonesia, this share exceeded 70%. Independence and self-reliance, seeking truth from facts and proceeding from reality are precisely the CPC's winning formula, and the CPC's pragmatic, rational and self-reforming character has been widely recognized.

The Long March succeeded because the Red Army soldiers took the overall situation into account, strictly observed discipline and remained closely united, forging the CPC's powerful organizational strength. This discipline and cohesion have enabled the CPC to act in unison and ensure that orders are obeyed in major challenges, demonstrating to the world strong and stable governance performance. The CGTN poll shows that 63.9% of global respondents closely associate CPC leadership with China's development achievements; among Global South respondents, this figure reaches 71.4%. When describing their deepest impression of the CPC, "strong,""forward-looking" and "efficient" are the most frequently mentioned words.

The Long March took place in China, but its significance has never been confined to one country. As British scholar Martin Jacques said, the Long March sowed vital seeds for China's subsequent development. It sowed the seeds of tenacity and determination that have supported the country through decades of transformation. Ninety years on, the story of the Long March is still being told – a story of human resilience, pragmatic leadership and collective mission – and an increasing number of people around the world are listening.