Let the Long March spirit take its place among humanity's shared values

Editor's note: Pang Xinhua is a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

A grand gathering commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army has been held on Thursday. President Xi Jinping delivered a speech, reflecting on the epic 12,500-kilometer Long March, and explaining the rich meaning and contemporary relevance of the Long March spirit. Ninety years on, the Long March is far more than a chapter in the history of the Chinese revolution. The spirit forged through this journey has a power that transcends national borders and historical eras.

Against the backdrop of profound changes unseen in a century, exploring the universal values of the Long March spirit and integrating them into humanity's shared value framework is not only a solemn tribute to history but also a way to offer spiritual strength from the East to a world undergoing turmoil and transformation.

An epic journey in desperate circumstances

In many international accounts, the Long March is often reduced to a legendary military "breakout." What truly sustained the Red Army through this grueling journey, however, was the unwavering faith in its ideals amid desperate circumstances, making the Long March a stirring epic of the human spirit.

On snow‑capped Jiajin Mountain, bitter winds cut to the bone. Thinly clad and shivering Red Army soldiers supported one another as they struggled toward the summit in freezing temperatures and at high altitudes where oxygen was scarce. Across the vast, marsh-strewn Songpan Grassland, soldiers trudged through the mire, chewing wild grass and boiling leather belts to survive. Even in the face of mortal danger, they pressed forward. Enduring hardships, pushing beyond the limits of physical and survival, remaining steadfast in their convictions and holding on to their ideals: These are lessons that extend beyond the history of the Chinese revolution. They speak to the human spirit across borders and generations.

Today's world is marked by persistent geopolitical conflicts, widening development gaps, and resurgent anti‑globalization sentiment. Uncertainty has become a shared concern across the international community. The Long March embodies the determination to seek hope in despair and remain steadfast in the face of suffering. This message resonates with people around the world as they navigate today's volatile international landscape. The pursuit of fairness and justice, and the aspiration for a better life, are not confined to one nation or one era. This shared human spirit allows the story of the Long March to transcend civilizational divides and resonate worldwide.

The secrets behind the victory of the Long March

The great victory of the Long March was no miracle achieved by isolated forces. It was a historic achievement made possible by firm leadership, unyielding will and popular support. The Zunyi Conference held during the Long March established Mao Zedong's leadership within the Party Central Committee and the Red Army. At a critical moment when the Party faced an existential crisis, the conference helped save the Party, the Red Army and the Chinese revolution, laying a fundamental political foundation for the eventual victory of the Long March. Under sound and resolute leadership, scattered forces came together to form an indomitable fighting force.

The strength of the Red Army was deeply rooted in its ties with the people. "Not taking even a needle or a thread from the masses" was a guiding principle. Soldiers slept under eaves rather than entering private homes without permission. They paid fair prices for goods and compensated local residents fully for any property they damaged. While passing through the Liangshan Yi‑inhabited regions, Red Army commanders formed a brotherhood alliance with Yi chieftains, the famous Yihai Alliance. Mutual respect and equality helped bridge ethnic rifts and win the trust and support of ethnic minority communities. With supplies, shelter and backing from countless local people, the Red Army persevered despite extreme material deprivation.

This shared sense of purpose and profound bond between military and people form the historical roots of today's people‑centered approach to development. Only by understanding the historical logic of the Long March – "popular support is the paramount political asset" – can international audiences better understand the historical roots of contemporary China's development and governance.

Inspiration for the Global South

One of the Long March's most historical inspirations was the need to break free from dogma and blaze an independent trail rooted in national realities. Faced with severe setbacks in the revolution, Chinese Communists rejected copying foreign dogmas and unquestioning obedience to external directives. Confronting China's real‑world conditions, they forged an independent revolutionary path through the crucible of war.

This historical experience offers profound practical enlightenment across the Global South. Many developing countries today face external interference and pressure as they pursue modernization. Under pressure to adopt foreign institutional models, some risk falling into development traps when imported solutions fail to suit their local conditions. The experience of the Long March offers a clue: There is no one‑size‑fits‑all blueprint for modernization. A nation's development path must be rooted in its own historical heritage and social realities, and shaped by the wisdom of its people. China does not seek to export its development model. Nevertheless, the Long March spirit offers developing countries a valuable historical reference as they chart their own path.

The Long March and humanity's shared challenges

Having evolved from an epic of Chinese revolution into part of humanity's shared values, the Long March spirit offers inspiration for addressing global challenges. In today's world, zero‑sum thinking is once again gaining ground. Bloc confrontation and division keep intensifying. Global challenges including climate change, public‑health crises and wealth gaps continue to mount. Humanity is navigating its own era-specific "snow‑capped mountains and marshy grasslands."

On the Long March, officers and soldiers shared hardship; comrades stood for one another in life‑and‑death situations. Different ethnic groups respected and supported one another through adversity. This spirit of unity and coexistence resonates with the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity. In today's interconnected world, no nation can remain insulated from shared crises. The Long March spirit champions solidarity and mutual assistance, upholds justice, and rejects short‑sighted self-interest. It offers spiritual guidance for easing confrontation, bridging differences and addressing global challenges together. The spiritual strength forged during this historic expedition can help drive progress for humanity as a whole.

The Long March spirit in the new era

The historical Long March ended in victory long ago, but a Long March of the new era continues. President Xi Jinping has emphasized that our generation must fulfil the mission of the Long March in the new era. The Red Army back faced enemy pursuit and suppression, as well as snow‑covered mountains and marshy grasslands. Today, China presses ahead toward its "Second Centenary Goals" amid profound global changes unseen in a century, and a complex and challenging external environment. Restrictions on access to core technologies, bottlenecks in industrial upgrading, the challenges of rural revitalization, and a complex web of risks all constitute the "snow‑capped mountains and marshy grasslands" facing our generation.

National rejuvenation cannot be achieved without sustained effort. Carrying forward the Long March spirit means translating its core tenets – unwavering ideals and convictions, adherence to Party leadership, commitment to a people-centered approach, independence and courage to overcome hardships – into concrete action across scientific and technological innovation, rural revitalization, public welfare, national security and other fields. We must remain strategically composed in the face of adversity, confront difficult challenges with courage and keep striving forward.

Ninety extraordinary years have passed. The smoke of battle from the 12,500-kilometer expedition has long since faded, yet the Long March spirit continues to shine across time and space like an unquenchable torch. It is not only a precious spiritual legacy of the Chinese nation, but also reflects shared values that resonate across humanity.

As we mark the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, we must remember the nation's arduous yet glorious past, carry forward its revolutionary heritage and continue along the journey of the Long March of the new era. By bringing the Long March spirit into dialogue with humanity's shared values, we can offer a turbulent and volatile world the spiritual strength of unwavering faith, solidarity and mutual assistance, and perseverance.

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