To firmly uphold historical confidence, we must carry forward the great spirit of historical initiative. History flows continuously, and its spirit is passed down from generation to generation. As the spiritual state and quality demonstrated by Chinese Communists in grasping and applying the century-long experience of the Party’s struggle, the spirit of historical initiative embodies the Party’s attitude, thinking, and methods toward history. It is a key factor in understanding the laws and trends of historical development, seizing the historical initiative in the cause of the Party and the country, and bolstering our historical confidence. The historical confidence of Chinese Communists stems not only from the great achievements made over the past century but also from the wisdom and strength unleashed by their subjective will. Throughout this century-long journey, marked by magnificent waves and grand undertakings, our Party has managed to remain vigorous and thriving despite a century of trials and tribulations—this remarkable resilience owes much to the fact that, at every critical juncture concerning the future and destiny of the Party and the country, the Communist Party of China has consistently upheld the great spirit of historical initiative. By firmly maintaining historical confidence, the Party has remained true to its original aspiration: “to remember what the Communist Party of China is and what it aims to do.” With the tenacity of never letting go of the green hills and the clarity of knowing that the last ten miles are the hardest, the Party has won great struggles and forged ahead with great undertakings. Only by staying true to our original aspirations can we remain steadfast to the end. On this new journey of testing ourselves, we must carry forward the spirit of historical initiative, continue to strengthen our historical confidence, enhance our historical consciousness, seize the historical initiative, and courageously shoulder our historical mission. In doing so, we will constantly improve our governance capabilities and gather the courage and strength needed to move forward into the future.

Firmly uphold historical confidence

Historical awareness is an important foundation for historical confidence. The more comprehensive our understanding of the historical process, the deeper our grasp of historical laws, and the richer our Party’s historical wisdom, the more proactively we can shape our future. Since the 18th National Congress of the Party, we have adhered to the materialist conception of history and a correct view of Party history, setting things straight on historical issues concerning the Party and the country, ensuring that mainstream historical narratives become a shared consensus across the Party and society, thereby further strengthening our historical confidence and solidifying our historical memory.

“Looking at the present, we should draw lessons from the past; without the past, there would be no present.” Grasping the laws governing historical development is a prerequisite for correctly understanding and approaching our own history. Throughout the century-long journey of our Party, we have consistently upheld the scientific truth of Marxism. Over the past century, Marxism has profoundly transformed China, while China, in turn, has greatly enriched Marxism. Our Party has continuously advanced the sinicization and modernization of Marxism, integrating its fundamental principles with China’s specific realities and with China’s outstanding traditional culture. We have employed the standpoint, viewpoint, and methods of Marxism to observe the times, grasp the trends of the times, and lead the times forward, constantly opening up new horizons for Marxism. As a result, we have developed Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory, formulated the important Thought of the Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, and established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—providing us with scientific guidance for enhancing our historical awareness and bolstering our historical confidence. Throughout this century-long journey, our Party has consistently applied the materialist conception of history to analyze China’s social development and the laws governing its evolution and changes, adhering to the unity of universality and particularity. By deeply grasping the evolving nature and stage-specific characteristics of the principal social contradictions across different historical periods, as well as the key tasks confronting each period, we have achieved great accomplishments: the great triumph of the New Democratic Revolution, the great achievements of the socialist revolution and construction, the great achievements of reform and opening-up and socialist modernization, and the great achievements of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. As a result, the Chinese nation has accomplished a great leap—from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong.

The Party’s history is the most vivid and compelling textbook. Historical confidence stems from the past and is closely tied to the future. Only by grasping historical understanding, adhering to the laws of development, and recognizing the overarching trends of history can we achieve even greater victories and glory on the new journey ahead in the new era.

Enhance historical consciousness

Historical consciousness not only encompasses the awakening, enlightenment, reflection, and self-examination of historical subjects, but also involves making value judgments and value choices about one’s own history. Without profound historical consciousness, it is impossible to have firm historical confidence. The historical confidence of Chinese Communists has been gradually forged in the course of developing historical consciousness—a high degree of recognition and full affirmation of the Party’s century-long achievements and historical experiences.

As we move forward, we must never forget the path we’ve traveled. No matter how far we go or how bright our future may become, we must never lose sight of our past, nor forget why we set out in the first place. Enhancing historical consciousness fundamentally means choosing and firmly upholding the people’s standpoint. The masses of the people are the creators of history and play a decisive role in the development of social history. As a proletarian political party, the Communist Party of China has its roots among the people, draws its lifeblood from them, and derives its strength from them. Throughout its century-long journey, the masses have been the foundation for driving historical progress and fostering an active, proactive spirit in history. Our original aspiration remains as solid as a rock, growing ever stronger with time. The historical confidence of Chinese Communists stems from their consistent representation of the fundamental interests of the broadest masses of the people, their constant sharing of joys and sorrows with the people, and their deep bond of life-and-death interdependence with them. The people are the greatest source of confidence for the Party in governing and rejuvenating the country—and also the greatest source of historical confidence for the Party itself. Only by adhering to a development philosophy centered on the people can we truly seize the initiative in historical development and draw endless spiritual strength from our firm historical confidence.

“Living between heaven and earth, we face both smooth paths and treacherous ones.” History and the people have chosen the Communist Party of China, and the Communist Party of China has not let down either history or the people. We are not only witnesses to history but also its creators. Only by adhering steadfastly to a people-centered approach, fostering historical consciousness, and strengthening our historical confidence can we rally the powerful synergy of the broad masses of the people to achieve great accomplishments and successfully navigate this new journey of testing and challenge.

Grasp the initiative in history

Historical initiative is an intrinsic requirement of historical confidence. Looking back, our country has completed, in just a few decades, the development journey that took Western capitalist nations several centuries to accomplish. The path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics are increasingly demonstrating their superiority.

“Whether a country can become prosperous and strong, and whether a nation can achieve rejuvenation, hinges most critically on whether that country and that nation can keep pace with the trends of the times and seize the initiative in driving historical progress.” Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, one important reason why our Party has been able to unite and lead people of all ethnic groups across the country in achieving the great accomplishments of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era lies precisely in our consistent ability to take the initiative in history. By integrating history, reality, and the future through an understanding of the development of human history and global transformations, we have been able to accurately identify changes, respond scientifically to them, and proactively seek transformation. As a result, we have successfully forged a path of Chinese modernization amid the tide of advancing times, created a new form of human civilization, and profoundly influenced the course of world history. Over the past century, our Party has united and led the people in forging ahead with determination and pioneering spirit, continuously promoting innovation in theory, practice, institutions, and culture. We have creatively answered questions posed by China, the world, the people, and the times, profoundly reshaping the trends and patterns of global development. Thus, our Party has become a major force driving human progress and development, laying a solid material foundation and accumulating invaluable experiences of success that underpin our firm confidence in history.

Historical development follows certain laws, yet humans are not entirely passive or inactive within this process. As long as we grasp the underlying laws and general trends of historical development, seize the opportune moments for historical change, act in harmony with these trends, and strive vigorously, we will be able to move forward more effectively. Faced with a new journey, new goals, and new missions, maintaining a spirit of innovation while taking the initiative in history means comprehensively deepening reform, accurately identifying the characteristics of the new stage of development in practice, thoroughly implementing the new development philosophy, and accelerating the establishment of a new development pattern—thereby continuously opening up new horizons for development.

Bravely shoulder the historical mission.

The historical mission is the practical hallmark of historical confidence. Bravely shouldering the historical mission has been the noble style and spiritual realm consistently upheld by Chinese Communists. Unlike all previous political forces, which were confined to pursuing their own particular interests, the Communist Party of China, from the moment of its birth, has taken as its original aspiration and mission the pursuit of happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Over the past century, the Communist Party of China has united and led the people in tireless struggle—a historical mission that shines like a radiant lighthouse, illuminating the path and direction for the advancement of the Chinese nation.

“The historical confidence of the Chinese Communist Party is rooted both in its confidence in its achievements through struggle and in its confidence in the spirit of struggle itself.” Upholding the spirit of struggle is a crucial component for the Party to courageously shoulder its historical mission and firmly maintain its historical confidence. Struggle is a defining characteristic of the Chinese Communist Party; over the past century, the Party’s extraordinary journey and monumental achievements have forged a Chinese Communist Party that is unafraid of sacrifice and steadfastly committed to struggle. The courage to fight and the determination to win are the powerful spiritual forces that make the Party and the people invincible. “Over the past century, in confronting various difficulties and challenges, our Party has honed a character and quality marked by fearlessness in the face of strong adversaries, indifference to risks, a willingness to fight, and the courage to achieve victory. These are the Party’s most distinctive traits and features.” To realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the Chinese Communist Party has united and led the Chinese people with an awe-inspiring momentum—fighting bravely with bloodshed, persevering through countless setbacks, relying on self-reliance and striving for strength, liberating minds and forging ahead with vigor, and demonstrating confidence and self-reliance while upholding integrity and promoting innovation. This momentum has propelled the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into an irreversible historical process, laying a solid foundation, creating favorable conditions, and bolstering historical confidence for the cause of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

“Its beginnings are humble, yet when it nears completion, it will surely be grand.” Looking back on our century-long journey of struggle, our Party has not only profoundly transformed the future and destiny of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, but has also profoundly reshaped the global landscape and development trends. History has shown that as long as we embrace a vigorous spirit of struggle, courageously shoulder the responsibilities of our times, remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind, we can forever maintain historical initiative and continuously push forward the great cause of national rejuvenation.