On October 22, China held a grand ceremony to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the successful conclusion of the Long March in Beijing. It was a tribute to an epic of heroism and an occasion to reflect on a spirit that still feels alive in China today.

Between October 1934 and October 1936, the Communist Party of China-led Red Army crossed snow-capped mountains, trudged through desolate marshes, and fought off enemy troops trying to pursue and block them. It was a turning point for the Party and China's revolution, and it laid the foundation for final victory. It showed the world the original purpose of the Chinese Communists and the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation.

Time has passed, and the country has changed profoundly. Yet the spirit of the Long March remains a core part of the Party's spirit, a lasting banner that inspires the Chinese people to overcome great challenges and press forward with courage.

Following in the footsteps of the Red Army, generation after generation has forged a path of independence, self-reliance and prosperity toward renewal. They turned an impoverished, weak China into a thriving, dynamic China. Since 2012, for instance, China has achieved the eradication of extreme poverty, while steadily raising living standards and advancing across all industrial sectors to the forefront globally.

Today's China has long left behind the era of war, poverty and hunger. Yet on its journey of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization, the country still faces challenges such as rural-urban disparities, an aging population and a volatile international landscape. On this new Long March, China still needs to draw wisdom and strength from the spirit of the old one. That is why China commemorates the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March: It guides the nation as it moves forward on this new march.

The commemoration also sends the world a set of values that matter to all humanity: Faith helps people overcome desperate situations; self-reliance is the key to controlling one's own destiny; unity is essential for weathering crises and peace is a shared hope.