Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address on Thursday to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Long March, a pivotal event in Chinese Communist Party history. During his speech, Xi drew direct parallels between the historical endurance of the Red Army and the contemporary geopolitical challenges facing China today. He asserted that a strong, centralized party leadership is essential for the nation to secure future victories, specifically citing the party's ability to rally around Mao Zedong during the original Long March as the key to its success.

The remarks were delivered shortly before the start of the Communist Party’s fifth plenum, a significant political meeting where the party’s future direction and policy priorities are typically discussed. By framing current national struggles as a 'new Long March,' Xi signaled a call for national unity and adherence to party leadership. While the SCMP report focuses on the historical narrative used by Xi to consolidate his message, it does not detail the specific policy agenda expected to be addressed during the upcoming plenum, nor does it provide reaction from international observers or internal party critics regarding the implications of this rhetoric.