BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping said that the best tribute to Sun Yat-sen was to continue the pursuit for a rejuvenated China that he had dreamed of.
Xi made the remarks here at a gathering to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth on Friday.
"The best way we commemorate Sun Yat-sen is to learn and carry forward his invaluable spirit, to unite all that can be united and mobilize all that can be mobilized to carry on the pursuit for a rejuvenated China that he had dreamed of," Xi, who is also Chinese President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said in a speech.
Born in 1866, Sun was the founder of the Kuomintang Party, and is a revered revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in overthrowing imperial rule in China.
CPC members are the firmest supporters, most loyal collaborators and most faithful successors of Sun's revolutionary undertakings, Xi said.
"Today, we are closer, more confident and more able to achieve national rejuvenation than ever before," Xi said.
With lots of challenges and difficulties ahead, there is still a long way to go until we have truly modernized the country, revitalized the nation and realized the common prosperity of all Chinese, said Xi.
"I call on all Chinese who revere Mr. Sun Yat-sen, including compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese, to unite, no matter their political affiliations," Xi said.
Xi called on the Chinese people to learn from Sun's noble patriotism and devotion to the motherland.
Sun's tough life and prolonged struggle for the country, said Xi, taught him that reforming China must be based on the nation's reality and it must follow a development path suitable for China's national conditions.
As it has been proven by the history of both China and other countries,the prosperous nations are the ones that have found development paths suitable for their reality, Xi continued.
Today, to revitalize the Chinese nation, we need to carry forward patriotism, Xi said.
To love the country, the Chinese people should uphold the leadership of the CPC, the socialist system in China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics developed by the Chinese people under the CPC's leadership, he noted.
Xi added that the fundamental principles of the CPC and the Chinese people -- respecting the Chinese reality, learning from the outstanding achievements of all cultures and the independent development of the country -- should also be firmly adhered to.
Xi urged the Chinese people to strengthen confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Sun cared deeply for the people, Xi said, and he was dedicated to helping them find happiness.
Time and time again, Xi said, Sun reiterated that the people were the greatest strength in the fight to achieve the goals of the revolution. Sun was also cautious, saying that everyone should "work for the great cause, not just to secure an official post."
Any cause that goes against the will of the people would only result in alienating them and, thus, it would be doomed to fail, Xi said.
Xi called on all cadres to remain committed to putting the needs of the people first.
"We should ensure that the achievements of reform benefit every element of society, and strive for common prosperity by pooling the strength of our more than 1.3 billion people," Xi said.
Xi also spoke highly of how Sun continued to keep up with the times, learning from past experiences -- the successes and the failures -- and never stopped exploring.
"Today, we must be bold to adhere to the truth and correct mistakes, so as to promote innovation in all respects including theory, practice, system and culture," Xi said.
"If China prospers, we need to not only restore the status of our nation, but also shoulder great responsibilities for the world," Sun said 92 years ago.
Chinese people want growth, happiness and safety for themselves and for the people of the world, Xi said, reaffirming China's commitment to establishing a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and a community of shared destiny.
China will always be an advocate of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a caretaker of international order, said Xi.
China should calmly judge the profound and complex changes in international situation, understand the tough tasks of promoting reforms, development and stability in an all-round way, as well as make unremitting efforts, in order to break new ground in revitalizing the Chinese nation, Xi said.
Never assume that achieving our goals will be easy and smooth, Xi said, adding that China must keep its responsibilities at the forefront of its mind, and be prepared for major challenges, risks, difficulties and contradictions.
