Chinese President Xi Jinping stated on Thursday in a speech marking the centenary of the founding of the ruling Communist Party that the renaissance his country is experiencing is "an irreversible historical journey," emphasizing that the time when the Asian giant was bullied has "come to an end." Speaking before a large crowd in Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing, Xi remarked, "The time when the Chinese people could be trampled upon, suffer, and be persecuted is gone forever."
In his speech, Xi delved into history, reminding his fellow citizens of their nation's experiences with Opium Wars, Western colonialism, and Japanese invasion, before celebrating the improvements in living standards and the restoration of national pride achieved under the Communist Party of China. He proclaimed, "The Communist Party of China and the Chinese people officially tell the world: the Chinese people have risen." He pointed out the significant achievements of his country in lifting hundreds of millions of citizens out of extreme poverty in just a few decades.
Xi's speech also contained messages directed at the United States, which continually describes the Asian giant as its political and economic competitor. On Thursday morning, a hundred cannon shots echoed throughout Beijing in celebration of the centenary of the ruling party, while helicopters flew in formation to create the number 100 in the skies of Tiananmen Square, which were also colored by fighter jets trailing red, yellow, and blue smoke.
