Beijing witnessed the commencement of the 19th national congress of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) on Monday, gathering approximately 1,500 delegates representing the trust of 73 million league members from across the country.
The inaugural session of the congress was graced by the presence of key leaders from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state, including President Xi Jinping, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi. Cai Qi, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a speech during the session.
The attendance of President Xi, who also serves as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, along with other leaders, was met with applause upon their arrival at the opening ceremony.
The CYLC national congress holds significance as China embarks on a new journey to construct a modern socialist nation and approaches its second centenary goal. It also marks the first national congress for the CYLC since the 20th CPC National Congress.
Analysts have highlighted that Cai’s speech and the CYLC national congress serve as a rallying cry, mobilizing and uniting young people around the CPC Central Committee. The address encourages youth to dedicate themselves to the historic mission of propelling China toward becoming a modern socialist country and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts.
In his speech, Cai emphasized that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the CYLC has aligned itself with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era since the 18th CYLC national congress. The CYLC has enhanced its political consciousness, representation of the people, and organizational and leadership capabilities.
Cai stressed that the central task of the CPC, the Chinese youth movement, and youth work in the new era is to achieve China’s Second Centenary Goal of building a great modern socialist country in all aspects and advancing the nation’s rejuvenation. He urged Chinese youth to embody the ideals of the new era by demonstrating a sense of responsibility, perseverance, and dedication.
Cai further called on the CYLC to unite the country’s young people and lead them forward on the new journey, enabling them to make significant contributions in the new era.
Delegates at the congress expressed their excitement and inspiration in response to Cai’s speech. Song Biao, a technician school teacher and May 4 medalist, remarked on the CPC Central Committee’s deep concern for youth development and their high expectations for youth contributions. He emphasized the importance of young people joining forces to support China’s transition from a manufacturing giant to a manufacturing power.
Li Yanbo, a material scientist representing the Jiangsu delegation, expressed his commitment to enhancing research abilities and innovation. Li pledged to apply artificial intelligence in chemical and material research, addressing key challenges and making substantial contributions to national technological breakthroughs.
China’s first white paper on its youth, released in 2022 on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CYLC, highlighted that Chinese youth, driven by a global vision, are at the forefront of the times, wholeheartedly embracing Marxism, communism, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. Over 3.7 million young people have participated in the Young Marxist program as of 2023. The CYLC introduced a management rule to optimize the selection of trainees and mentors, as well as streamline program operations.
Zhang Yiwu, a cultural studies professor at Peking University, emphasized that Chinese youth share a collective fate with the country and its people. They exhibit exceptional qualities of shouldering responsibilities. Since the 18th national congress of the CYLC in 2018, more than 500,000 youth vanguard teams have been