Xi Jinping praises "irreversible" rise of China, for CCP centenary
Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with his predecessor Hu Jintao, greet the crowd of students gathered in Tiananmen Square to celebrate the centenary of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1, 2021 in Beijing.
AP - Ng Han Guan
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Tens of thousands of Communist Party members gathered on Thursday morning, July 1, in Tiananmen Square to celebrate the CCP's 100th anniversary.
In his speech, Xi Jinping praised the accomplished journey and the “
irreversible
”
rise
of China.
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From our correspondent in Beijing
,
Stéphane Lagarde
A clamor rises as the crowd gazes skyward.
About thirty helicopters have just appeared above Tiananmen Square and form the number 100 to mark the centenary of the Party.
Guests were not allowed to bring their cell phones.
They ask journalists to take pictures of them with their
collector's
entrance tickets
.
"
No new China without the Chinese Communist Party,
" sing students from universities in the capital. No military parade, but pastel dresses. The regime intends to show a young and modern image of the Party, offensive and insistent too.
If some still do not understand, 100 cannon shots slam against the walls of the Great Hall of the People.
We no longer hear a drone flying.
"
The Chinese are not only good at destroying the old world,"
said Xi Jinping from the top of the ramparts of the Forbidden City.
They are also good at creating a new one.
""
Only socialism with Chinese characteristics can contribute to the development of China
", continues the Chinese president in front of the place which applauds like one man.
► See also: China: 100 years of the Party, Xi Jinping and the Revolution
"
I am proud of our country
"
“
I am very touched by the speech delivered by our president and I am proud of our country,
” said a student. "
We are very proud, it's a great day,
" explain these students from Peking University, members of the Chinese Communist Party as the sky darkens. As soon as you have time to put on your rain cover, volunteers ask you to take it off. This was already the case for the caps against the sun an hour earlier. Yep, even the participants' attire was part of a show calibrated for the cameras of China's National Television.
The anniversary comes as the Party, which gained 2.43 million new members in 2020, boasts of its success in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Before getting back on the bus, a journalist from the Chine Nouvelle agency asks us if we have major demonstrations like this in Europe.
Answer: “
Yes, but rather against governments.
"
►
To listen: 100 years of the Chinese Communist Party: "Only loyalty should prevail"
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China: 100 years of the Party, Xi Jinping and the Revolution