Preamble

The Communist Party of China （CPC）， founded in 1921， has just celebrated its centenary.

These hundred years have been a period of dramatic change—enormous productive forces unleashed， social transformation unprecedented in scale， and huge advances in human civilization. On the other hand， humanity has been afflicted by devastating wars and suffering.

These hundred years have also witnessed profound and transformative change in China. And it is the CPC that has made this change possible.

The Chinese nation is a great nation. With a history dating back more than 5，000 years， China has made an indelible contribution to human civilization. After the Opium War of 1840， however， China found itself plunged into a semi-feudal and semi-colonial society. It endured intense humiliation， its people were pushed into darkness， and the ancient Chinese civilization lost its way.

The Chinese people fought with indomitable spirit against repeated setbacks to save the nation from subjugation.

The salvoes of Russias October Revolution in 1917 sent Marxism-Leninism to China， and the CPC came into being. The Chinese people were awakened， and a torch was lit for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The founding of the CPC was an epoch-making event which profoundly changed the course of Chinas history， delivered a new future for the Chinese people and nation， and had an enormous impact on the rest of the world.

During its endeavors over the past century， the CPC has developed a great spirit and carried it forward—upholding truth and ideals， staying true to its founding mission， fighting without fear of danger， and meeting the peoples expectations.

This spirit has continuously inspired the CPC to forge ahead.

As a Marxist party， the CPC， unlike previous political forces， has no special interests of its own to pursue. From the outset， the CPC has made happiness for the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation its abiding goals. Like a beacon， it has illuminated the way forward for the Chinese people.

Over the past hundred years， the CPC has grown from a small party with just over 50 members into the largest governing party in the world， with more than 95 million members in a country of more than 1.4 billion people. It is a party of major international standing.

It has governed the worlds largest socialist country for more than seven decades. It has led the Chinese people onto the path towards national rejuvenation and modernization， and it enjoys extensive support from the Chinese people.