People celebrate the centenary of the Communist Party of China at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, July 1, 2021. (ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY)
Sitting among an audience of tens of thousands of people, I was immersed in an atmosphere of thrills and pride as the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China unfolded at Tian'anmen Square.
It was a rousing celebration that featured youth elements, conveying a strong message that the CPC remains young and vigorous even at its centenary.
With high school and college students leading a choir singing Red songs, people were brought back to the 1940s and 1950s, when the Party was leading national liberation and the initial development of New China.
Some of the songs were widely sung during my childhood, and that of my parents, and in a sense reflected values that transcend space and time.
A 100-gun salute, performed as the Guard of Honor of the People's Liberation Army escorted the national flag to the post, was awe-inspiring and thought-provoking.
The congratulatory message, delivered by members of the Young Pioneers and Communist Youth League, recounted to the audience landmark events in the history of the CPC.
"Let us not forget the original aspirations, and the vitality of youth shall remain forever. Eyeing a course for lasting greatness, a centenary would be the prime," said the message.
The message was the buildup to a speech delivered by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, which marked the pinnacle of the celebration.
Like his speech delivered at the 19th National Congress of the CPC in 2017, Xi again expressed ardent expectations for the country's youth.
"The future belongs to the young people, and our hopes also rest with them," he said in the speech on Thursday.
"In the new era, our young people should make it their mission to contribute to national rejuvenation and aspire to become more proud, confident and assured in their identity as Chinese people so that they can live up to the promise of their youth and the expectations of our times, our Party, and our people."
Xi, who is also China's president, has always attached great importance to the injection of new blood into the Party, and once said the country's development has always depended on young people. According to the latest figures, there are now 23.68 million Party members age 35 or younger, accounting for 24.9 percent of the total.
I spoke to many young people at the celebration, most of them college students looking ahead to their futures with ambition and confidence.
Xiang Liman is a sophomore at China University of Political Science and Law who could join the Party in November after the end of a probationary period.
"The process of joining the Party gives me better knowledge about the Party's commitment to society and the people, which only firmed up my determination to obtain Party membership," she told me.
With the CPC's dedication to the people and full and rigorous self-governance, we have every reason to believe that it will continuously absorb China's most outstanding youths into its membership, a key factor that will ensure its vitality and long-term success.
Contact the writer at xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn