Long March spirit a valuable source of inspiration for China and world: China Daily editorial

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, a remarkable revolutionary feat achieved under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Although many who lived through it are no longer with us, the Long March spirit they forged remains hugely relevant today.

The Long March spirit features firm revolutionary ideals and convictions, dauntless courage and sacrifices, independence and truth-seeking, strict discipline and unity, and close ties with the people. This spirit has been deeply embedded in the identity of the Chinese nation.

Ninety years later, the spirit of the Long March speaks to a different but equally pressing challenge: how countries can navigate uncertainty and achieve development in a world marked by technological rivalry, widening development gaps and climate risks. Its contemporary relevance lies in applying its enduring principles to present-day problems.

For China, this means advancing innovation, improving people's lives and pursuing high-quality development. For the wider world, China's experience offers a practical reference for self-reliant development while opening to international cooperation: countries can pursue their own modernization paths while sharing technology, development opportunities and responsibility for global challenges.

China's progress in science and technology, infrastructure and poverty alleviation reflects a determination to overcome constraints and pursue development suited to its national conditions.

The spirit of the Long March also resonates with the global pursuit of more inclusive development. An important hallmark of inclusive growth is the synergistic development of low-income groups alongside society as a whole. China's poverty alleviation efforts have made a significant contribution to promoting inclusive development worldwide, and they also serve as a vivid embodiment of the Long March spirit in the new era.

The same combination of perseverance and collective responsibility is essential for confronting climate change. China's experiences highlight the need to reconcile development with ecological protection, a challenge shared by countries at every stage of economic growth.

The country is committed to contributing to global climate action by advancing renewable energy, green technologies and ecological conservation, while strengthening cooperation with developing countries on sustainable development. No country can address climate change alone, and the costs of inaction are often borne most heavily by those with the fewest resources. Turning environmental commitments into practical results therefore requires technology sharing, adequate financing and collective action.

The spirit of the Long March also offers a lesson for the reform of global governance. Its emphasis on seeking truth from facts, maintaining unity and placing the broader common interest above narrow divisions is relevant to a world struggling with conflicts, protectionism and declining trust. Differences among countries are inevitable, but they need not become barriers to cooperation. The United Nations and the multilateral system remain essential platforms for dialogue, coordination and the pursuit of solutions that reflect the interests of the wider international community.

Whether in innovation-driven growth, poverty alleviation or the pursuit of sustainable development, the Long March spirit is evident in China's efforts in these regards. The Long March's enduring value is reflected in the determination to overcome adversity, the courage to find solutions grounded in reality, and the resolve to advance shared goals through collective effort.

As China pursues modernization, the task is to continually translate that into new progress at home and practical contributions abroad. The world does not need countries to follow the same development path. It needs them to learn from one another, expand cooperation and shoulder their responsibilities for a shared future.

The Long March spirit, rooted in China's own experience, offers a reminder that progress is rarely achieved overnight — and that perseverance becomes more powerful when it serves a purpose larger than oneself.