Xi Urges Party Members to Preserve Revolutionary Spirit

Beijing — President Xi Jinping has written a personal reply letter to Zhang Liansheng, a 102-year-old veteran Party member and former radio operator at Xinhua News Agency, calling on Communists in the new era to “carry forward the red gene” and remain true to the Party’s founding mission. The letter, dated June 17, was published by Xinhua News Agency on June 18, just days before the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) on July 1.

A Veteran’s Lifelong Dedication

Zhang Liansheng served as a radio operator in the Central Column’s “Fourth Brigade” (四大队), a Xinhua News Agency communications unit that accompanied Chairman Mao Zedong and the CPC Central Committee during the Yan’an defense campaign of the Chinese Civil War (1946–1949). The brigade was responsible for maintaining critical news and communications links between the Party leadership and the outside world during a period of intense military conflict.

In his letter to Xi, Zhang recalled his revolutionary work experience in the “Fourth Brigade” and expressed his unwavering determination to “follow the Party forever.” Xi praised Zhang for dedicating his entire life to communications technology work and for continuing to care about national development even at over 100 years of age.

“You served as a radio operator in the Central Column’s ‘Fourth Brigade,’ following the Party Central Committee through the flames of war in northern Shaanxi, dedicating your life to communications technology work,” Xi wrote in his reply, as published by Xinhua. “At over 100 years of age, you still care about the Party and national development. I salute you.”

A Call to the New Era

Xi’s letter carries a broader political message aimed at the CPC’s 99 million members. “Communists in the new era must carry forward the red gene, remain true to the original aspiration and mission, fulfill their duties, take responsibility, and write excellent answers on the new journey,” Xi wrote, using language that has become central to his political discourse.

The phrase “red gene” (红色基因) — a core concept popularized under Xi’s leadership — refers to preserving and passing on the revolutionary traditions and values of the Party’s founding generation. The letter also invokes “remaining true to the original aspiration and mission” (不忘初心、牢记使命), a signature slogan of Xi’s tenure that has been the subject of nationwide Party education campaigns.

Historical Context: The Fourth Brigade

The Central Column’s “Fourth Brigade” holds a unique place in both Xinhua’s institutional history and the CPC’s revolutionary narrative. Formed during the Chinese Civil War, it was the communications backbone that kept the Party leadership connected with the outside world during the strategic retreat across northern Shaanxi in 1947. As People’s Daily noted in its coverage, the brigade was “a Xinhua News Agency work team that followed the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao during the Yan’an defense campaign, responsible for news and communications liaison.”

By choosing to reply to a Xinhua veteran specifically, Xi reinforces the agency’s special status as the Party’s original news organ with deep revolutionary roots — a significant signal as state media continues to play a central role in CPC ideological work.

Pre-Anniversary Mobilization

The timing of the letter is strategic. Published just 13 days before the 105th anniversary of the CPC’s founding, it serves as a rallying call for Party members nationwide. The year 2026 also marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period, adding further significance to the call for dedication and responsibility on the “new journey.”

Xi has a well-established practice of using personal correspondence as a tool for political communication and ideological mobilization, particularly around major Party anniversaries. He has previously written to veteran Party members, youth groups, model workers, and international figures, often using these letters to reinforce key policy messages and ideological themes.

Broader Implications

The coordinated publication of the story across China’s major state-controlled media outlets — including Xinhua, People’s Daily, CCTV, and government platforms — underscores the importance the Party leadership places on this message. The letter emphasizes ideological purity, historical continuity, and the duty of current Party members to honor the sacrifices of the revolutionary generation.

As the CPC approaches its 105th anniversary, Xi’s letter to Zhang Liansheng serves as both a tribute to the Party’s revolutionary past and a directive for its future — a reminder that the “red gene” must be carried forward by each new generation of Party members.