Published by ChinaMNC · Huairou

What a High-Level Beijing Commemoration Signals for Foreign Founders Building Companies in China

A summary of the October 22 commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Red Army's Long March, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and what foreign founders operating in China can take from the official messaging.

Official Beijing Event Sets the Tone for the Policy Environment

On October 22, a major commemorative event took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March. The gathering drew senior national leadership and around 3,000 attendees, including representatives from central Party, state, military and mass organizations, Beijing municipal leaders, representatives of democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, figures without party affiliation, veteran comrades, representatives of the People's Liberation Army and armed police, and residents from across the capital. For foreign founders, the event is worth noting not because it changes registration rules, but because it illustrates the political themes that frame the broader business climate in which foreign-invested companies operate.

The official account, published by Xinhua and carried on the Beijing municipal government website, describes a speech by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the PRC, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. The core message emphasized remembering history as a basis for shaping the future, and called on the whole Party, military and people of all ethnic groups to unite more closely around the Party Central Committee and carry forward what is described as the great Long March spirit.

The Historical Narrative Presented

The speech reviewed the Long March period from October 1934 to October 1936, during which the Party led the First, Second and Fourth Front Armies and the 25th Army on what the source calls a world-shaking march. According to the official account, the Red Army crossed more than ten provinces over a distance of 25,000 li, broke through encirclement and interception by over a million enemy troops, and completed a strategic transfer northward to resist Japanese aggression. The source frames this as a turning point that opened a new phase of the Chinese revolution.

Xi was quoted as identifying several factors behind the outcome: correct Party leadership and the establishment of Mao Zedong's core position; firm revolutionary will and ideals; independent decision-making grounded in facts; and support from the broad masses. These are presented as the "winning path" of the Long March.

Why This Framing Matters to Founders

Foreign founders often ask what themes shape decision-making in China. The source highlights three ideas that recur in official communication: leadership cohesion, pragmatic adaptation of theory to Chinese realities, and reliance on the people. In business terms, these correspond to a policy environment that values alignment with national priorities, locally adapted compliance, and public legitimacy. None of these are new regulatory requirements, but they help explain the language used by officials and state media.

The Forward-Looking Agenda Outlined

The speech also set out five requirements for the "new Long March" of the current era. The source lists them as follows:

• Uphold the Party's ideals, convictions and purpose, fully implement the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, remember the original mission, and rely on the people to create new achievements.
• Advance high-quality development, meet the people's growing needs for a better life, coordinate the "Five-Sphere Integrated Plan" and the "Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy," pursue both qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy, and promote common prosperity for all.
• Carry out the great struggle with many new historical characteristics, better coordinate development and security, and tackle difficulties, risks and challenges with a sense of historical initiative.
• Accelerate building the people's military into a world-class force, uphold absolute Party leadership over the military, meet the centenary goal of military building on schedule, and advance national defense and military modernization with quality.
• Uphold Party leadership and strengthen Party building, continue full and rigorous Party self-governance, and ensure the Party remains the strong leadership core of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

For founders, the most relevant item is the emphasis on high-quality development and the pairing of development with security. These phrases appear repeatedly in Chinese policy documents and often inform how regulators, local governments and industrial parks evaluate foreign-invested projects. Companies that can show alignment with quality growth — technology upgrading, efficiency, compliance, and stability — tend to find smoother communication with authorities.

Practical Reading for Company Registration and Operations

The source does not contain any new rules on foreign investment, company law, tax, or registration. Founders should therefore treat this event as context rather than compliance guidance. Still, several practical takeaways follow from the themes:

• Expect continuity. The messaging stresses continuity of leadership and long-term goals, which supports planning horizons that assume stable direction in priority sectors.
• Frame projects around quality, not just scale. The source's language on qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth suggests that proposals emphasizing technology, productivity and sustainable operations resonate with the official narrative.
• Take security coordination seriously. The reference to coordinating development and security is a reminder that data, cyber and supply chain compliance are part of the operating environment, not an afterthought.
• Engage with local stakeholders. The emphasis on relying on the people and on public support mirrors the importance Chinese officials place on local employment, community relations and social contribution when assessing foreign-invested enterprises.

How the Event Was Structured

The official account describes a solemn and formal setting: the Great Hall's auditorium displayed the event title above the stage, the Party emblem at the center of the backdrop, the year marker "1936–2026," and ten red flags on either side. A slogan on the second-floor balcony called for unity around the Party Central Committee, implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carrying forward the Long March spirit, and striving for national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. The source names Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng as attendees. Zhao Leji presided over the event and described the speech as political, ideological and instructive, calling for it to be studied and implemented.

Xi also paid tribute to Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De and other veteran revolutionaries, to Red Army commanders and fighters, to the people of all ethnic groups who supported the march, and to surviving Red Army veterans, and proposed a moment of silence for martyrs.

For foreign founders, the practical value of this article is limited to understanding the official vocabulary and priorities that shape the wider environment for doing business in China. It does not change registration procedures, capital requirements, or sector rules. Founders should continue to rely on published regulations and professional advisers for operational decisions, while using events like this to interpret the direction of public messaging.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.