Xi Jinping, Ahead of Lunar New Year, Says "No Achievement Without Ideological Unity"

Chinese President Xi Jinping [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] China released a speech by President Xi Jinping emphasizing ideological unity on the 15th ahead of the country's biggest holiday, the Spring Festival (Chunje, Chinese New Year).

The latest issue of Qiushi, the theoretical journal of the Chinese Communist Party, published on the 16th, included the full text of Xi's speech delivered during the first collective study session of the 20th Central Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party held on October 25 last year.

Confidential speeches by China's top leaders are generally first partially disclosed through state media reports summarizing key points, while the full texts are usually selectively released to the public years later through outlets like Qiushi.

In his speech, President Xi said, "For a large party and a large country like ours, if there is no authority of the Party Central Committee and no centralized and unified leadership, and no ideological unity across the entire Party and nation, nothing can be accomplished."

The term "centralized and unified leadership" refers to the concentration of decision-making power in Xi Jinping, who holds a core position within the Party, and is interpreted as an expression of intent to strengthen absolute power.

Notably, at that time, Xi Jinping was re-elected as General Secretary of the Communist Party, securing a third term, which sparked small-scale protests both inside and outside China condemning this.

Xi further emphasized, "We must carry forward the fighting spirit, bravely confront various risks and challenges, and overcome difficulties," adding, "We must firmly handle the Party Central Committee's policy decisions and arrangements well." In his New Year's address released on the 31st of last month, Xi also stressed the unity of the 1.4 billion Chinese people.