Published by ChinaMNC · Luyi

What a Major State Ceremony Signals for Foreign Founders Building Companies in China

A high-level commemoration in Beijing offers foreign founders a window into the policy mood and messaging priorities that shape the operating environment for companies in China.

A High-Level Ceremony in Beijing

On 22 October, a commemorative meeting marking the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech. Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended, and Zhao Leji presided over the meeting.

For foreign founders registering or operating a company in China, events of this kind are worth reading carefully. They are not business announcements, but they set out the language and priorities that senior officials use, and that language tends to filter into how regulators, local governments and state-linked partners frame their own work.

What Was Said

Historical framing

Xi described the Long March, which took place between October 1934 and October 1936, as a major undertaking led by the Party involving the First, Second and Fourth Front Armies and the 25th Army. According to the speech, the Red Army crossed more than ten provinces over a distance of 25,000 li, broke through encirclement and interception by over a million enemy troops, and completed a strategic transfer northward to resist Japanese aggression.

Xi said the victory was inevitable and set out four reasons: correct Party leadership, including the establishment of Mao Zedong's core position; firm revolutionary will and ideals; independence and the integration of Marxist principles with China's specific realities; and support from the broad masses of the people.

Spirit as a source of strength

Xi said the Long March created an extraordinary human miracle and forged the great Long March spirit, which he described as an important part of the Party's spiritual lineage. He said this spirit demonstrates the power of loyalty, truth, justice and unity, and remains a valuable source of motivation for overcoming difficulties.

The present and the road ahead

Xi noted that since the Long March victory 90 years ago, the Party has led the people through successive "new long marches" in revolution, construction and reform. Since the 18th Party Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. He said the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has been achieved on schedule, and that the country is now working toward the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.

He set out five "musts" for carrying forward the Long March spirit: uphold the Party's ideals, beliefs and purpose and implement the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era; unswervingly promote high-quality development and meet the people's growing needs for a better life, advancing the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, achieving effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy and promoting common prosperity; pursue the great struggle with many new historical features, better coordinate development and security, and tackle difficulties, risks and challenges; accelerate building the people's armed forces into a world-class military and achieve the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army on schedule; and uphold Party leadership and strengthen Party building, advancing full and rigorous Party self-governance.

Zhao Leji said in presiding over the meeting that Xi's speech reviews the course of the Long March, summarizes its significance, explains the reasons behind the victory and sets out the "five musts." He called for the speech to be studied and implemented.

Why This Matters for Founders

Foreign founders often ask which signals matter when setting up in China. Ceremonial speeches of this kind are not regulatory documents, but they are read closely within the system, and the themes they emphasize can appear in local government work priorities, official media and the expectations placed on companies.

• High-quality development and the real economy. The speech's emphasis on high-quality development and on effective qualitative improvement with reasonable quantitative growth reflects a continued focus on economic quality rather than pure speed.
• Development and security considered together. The call to better coordinate development and security is a reminder that compliance, data handling and risk management are part of the operating environment, not an afterthought.
• Common prosperity. The reference to promoting common prosperity for all people signals continued attention to distributional questions, which can influence how firms are expected to treat employees and communities.
• Party leadership as the frame. The speech consistently places Party leadership at the center, which is useful context when understanding how policy is set and implemented.

None of this changes registration procedures or tax rules directly. It does, however, help founders anticipate the tone of conversations with local officials, state-linked partners and industrial parks, and it explains why certain topics — development quality, security, social responsibility — come up repeatedly.

Practical Takeaways

• Read official messaging as context, not regulation. Ceremonial speeches do not create obligations, but they shape how policy is communicated and implemented at local level.
• Build compliance and security into your structure early. The pairing of development and security in senior speeches is a consistent theme worth reflecting in your China entity's governance.
• Follow the economic vocabulary. Terms such as high-quality development are widely used by local authorities; using them accurately can smooth communication with partners and officials.
• Keep a long horizon. The speech's framing of successive "new long marches" reflects a long-term planning culture that also affects how local governments think about investment and company development.
• Track primary sources. Attendance lists and official readouts show which leaders and institutions are involved; these are useful indicators when assessing which bodies to engage.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.