Long March's grit, resolve lauded

The leadership of the Communist Party of China, support of the people and unwavering resolve enabled the Red Army to overcome overwhelming odds on the Long March, laying the foundations for modern China, foreign diplomats said on Monday, as they called for the same determination to address today's global challenges.

Diplomats and envoys from 106 embassies and five international organizations in China toured The Great Expedition, an exhibition at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution in Beijing that commemorates the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March.

The Long March was a strategic military maneuver carried out by the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army of the CPC from 1934 to 1936. The troops crossed rivers, mountains and grasslands to break the siege by the Chinese Kuomintang forces.

Somphone Sichaleune, the Lao ambassador to China, identified the CPC leadership, the solidarity of the Chinese people and their support for the Red Army as crucial to the victory.

He said history provided a "vivid example for the new generation", adding that understanding it matters as people embark on new journeys to build their country, while its significance extended to people elsewhere pursuing national liberation and progress.

Stephen Jackson, the United Nations' resident coordinator in China, highlighted a "sense of determination and the ability to take the long view", linking these qualities to China's long history of overcoming challenges. He described the two-year Long March as an extraordinary feat of determination and endurance.

"We need that kind of determination in the world. And China is showing it," he said, calling for renewed commitment to multilateralism, international cooperation and a shared future for humanity.

Hussam Al Husseini, the Jordanian ambassador to China, said that witnessing China's current development has deepened his appreciation for the sacrifices made during the Long March and the resilience and determination of the Chinese people that helped lay the foundations of modern China.

"Many of the sacrifices we don't understand until later," he said.

He described the march as "an amazing story of determination" and resolve, noting that despite the severe hardships they faced, the Chinese people maintained clear goals.

Hodan Osman Abdi, the Somali ambassador to China, said that she had learned about the Long March mainly from books. Tracing the route of the march at the exhibition and learning about its pivotal moments gave her a deeper understanding of the distance traveled and the hardships overcome.

"I believe it really showed the Chinese people and different generations what they can achieve with perseverance and hard work, despite the odds," she said. The achievements of the Red Army amid scarce resources could inspire people worldwide, Abdi added.

Luamanuvae Albert Mariner, the Samoan ambassador to China, said the exhibition highlighted "the values of perseverance, determination and courage" that continue to influence China's leadership.

In his welcoming address to the diplomats, Hong Lei, China's assistant foreign minister, said the Long March spirit was a shared asset of world civilizations, with its values reflecting aspirations for truth, justice and peace.

China is ready to work with other countries for peace and development, he added.