100 Years of the CPC: Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Marching Toward the Second Centenary Goal
Xiazhuang Village in Wushan County, Chongqing, was once a poverty-stricken village surrounded by towering cliffs and deep abysses. Now, it is covered with citrus trees and bustling with tourists. In 2025, the per capita disposable income of villagers reached 24,700 yuan.
Mao Xianglin, the Party branch secretary of Xiazhuang Village, led the villagers to carve an 8-kilometer "sky road" out of the cliffs, develop the citrus industry, and build a national 4A-level tourist attraction. With decades of perseverance, he fulfilled his vow of "building roads to prosperity" and was awarded the honorary title of "National Model in Poverty Alleviation."
On July 1, 2021, a grand ceremony was held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Mao Xianglin, as a recipient of the national "Two Excellences and One Advanced" commendation, attended the ceremony on site.
General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared: "Through the sustained efforts of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups in China, we have realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects on the land of China. We have historically resolved the problem of absolute poverty, and are now striding forward with confidence toward the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects."
After listening to Xi's important speech, Mao Xianglin was moved to tears: "Without the Communist Party, there would be no Xiazhuang today; without the Communist Party, there would be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."
From a party with just over 50 members at its founding to the world's largest governing party leading a country of over 1.4 billion people, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people, with the fearless spirit of "sacrifice and determination to change the world," writing the most magnificent epic in the thousands of years of Chinese history. The Chinese nation has achieved a great leap from standing up, growing rich, to becoming strong. The realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. We have upheld and strengthened the Party's overall leadership, coordinated the five-sphere integrated plan and the four-pronged comprehensive strategy, upheld and improved the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, and advanced the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. We have governed the Party according to regulations, forming a relatively complete system of intra-Party regulations, overcoming a series of major risks and challenges, achieving the first centenary goal, and clarifying the strategic plan for achieving the second centenary goal. The cause of the Party and the country has made historic achievements and undergone historic changes, providing more complete institutional guarantees, more solid material foundations, and more active spiritual strength for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Standing at a new historical starting point, General Secretary Xi Jinping issued a mobilization order to the whole Party: "Over the past 100 years, the CPC has delivered an outstanding answer to the people and to history. Now, the CPC is leading the Chinese people on a new journey toward the second centenary goal."
At the Memorial Hall of the First National Congress of the CPC, Li Xiaoling, a young librarian born after 1995, is writing the answer of her generation in her own way.
Since joining the hall in 2021, the year of the CPC's centenary, she has participated in organizing historical materials of more than 20 revolutionary martyrs from the Party's founding period, planned several exhibitions including the one commemorating the 100th anniversary of the May 30th Movement, and used interactive installations such as AI color restoration of black-and-white photos to provide visitors with an exhibition experience that deeply integrates technology and Party history.
"Only by staying true to our original aspiration and mission can we create a bright future," Li Xiaoling said.
A century is still young! With the strong leadership of the CPC and the close unity of the people of all ethnic groups in China, the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects will surely be achieved, and the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will surely be realized! (Reporters: Wu Jing, Xu Penghang, Zhou Wenchong)
