Xi Jinping Honors Veteran Party Members Ahead of CPC 105th

President Xi Jinping has written a personal reply letter to 102-year-old veteran Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Liansheng, extending his care and respect to veteran Communist Party members nationwide just two weeks before the Party’s 105th anniversary. The letter, published by Xinhua News on June 22, 2026, highlights the Party’s tradition of honoring its long-serving members and draws on decades of revolutionary history to inspire current and future generations.

A Letter Rooted in Revolutionary History

Zhang Liansheng, now 102, served as a radio operator in the legendary “Fourth Brigade” (四大队) — a secret Xinhua News Agency detachment that accompanied Mao Zedong during the Chinese Communist Party’s strategic maneuver through northern Shaanxi from 1947 to 1948. During this perilous period, the brigade intercepted and transcribed telecommunications from enemy and foreign news agencies, publishing News Briefings and Reference News for central leadership decision-making while transmitting PLA battle reports to the nation.

In his letter to Xi, Zhang recalled his revolutionary work and expressed his steadfast belief in following the Party. Xi responded by praising Zhang’s commitment to “forever follow the Party and be a forever member of the ‘Fourth Brigade,’” describing it as embodying “sincere and profound faith in and love for the Party,” as reported by Xinhua.

“I extend my sincere greetings to you and all veteran Party members and comrades across the country, wishing you good health and a happy life!” Xi wrote.

A Legacy of Service: Seven Exemplary Lives

The article published by Xinhua’s “Learning in Progress” column goes beyond the immediate letter, recounting seven notable interactions between Xi and veteran Party members spanning from 2013 to the present. These stories collectively reinforce the Party’s narrative of revolutionary heritage and selfless service.

Wang Lanhua, a community volunteer leader from Ningxia who received the Qiyi Medal in 2021, built a volunteer service team from just 7 members in 2005 to over 60,000 by 2020. When Xi visited her community in June 2020, he praised her work, saying: “Your experience is excellent — it truly demonstrates that actions speak louder than words. Socialism is built through hard work.”

Zhang Fuqing, a war hero who hid his military honors for over 60 years after retiring to work in remote Laifeng County, Hubei, was hailed by Xi as “a role model for the entire Party and the people of the whole country” when they met at the National Conference of Veterans in July 2019.

Huang Baomei, a retired textile worker and model worker who received the Qiyi Medal in 2021, joined the “Old Poplar Tree” Lecture Group in Shanghai as a volunteer lecturer. Xi encouraged her and her team in 2024 to “continue to tell vivid stories from your surroundings” and inspire citizens to participate in urban governance.

Gong Quanzhen, the wife of founding General Gan Zuchang, dedicated her life to education in rural Jiangxi after following her husband back to his hometown in 1957. Xi praised the couple’s spirit of hard struggle at the 4th National Moral Model Awards in 2013, urging that it “be passed down from generation to generation.”

Niu Ben, a film actor who joined the CPC at age 83 in 2018 after decades of pursuing Party membership, received a personal letter of congratulations from Xi. “You regard the Party as your mother and joining the Party as a sacred matter,” Xi wrote. “For over 60 years, you have unswervingly pursued progress and resolved to follow the Party for life. This persistent dedication is deeply moving.”

Political Significance and Timing

The letter to Zhang Liansheng, sent on June 17, arrives at a strategically significant moment — just two weeks before the CPC’s 105th anniversary on July 1, 2026. The timing reinforces themes of Party loyalty, revolutionary heritage, and the importance of “passing down red genes” (传承红色基因) to younger generations.

As People’s Daily commentary noted, Xi’s letter also underscores the principle of “adherence to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee” — the highest principle of Party leadership. The commentary referenced Xi’s earlier statement that “during the war years, the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao commanded the entire Party and army through radio, and ‘tick-tock’ was the voice of the Party Central Committee and Chairman Mao.”

What’s Next

As the CPC approaches its 105th anniversary, the stories of these veteran Party members serve as both tribute and instruction — honoring those who built the Party’s foundations while calling on new generations to carry forward their spirit. Xi’s call for new-era CPC members to “inherit the red genes, remain true to the original aspiration, fulfill duties with solid work, and write excellent answers on the new journey” sets the tone for the upcoming anniversary celebrations.

2026 also marks the 95th anniversary of Xinhua News Agency, adding another layer of historical significance to the “Fourth Brigade” story that connects the Party’s revolutionary past to its present-day communications apparatus. The “Eternal Fourth Brigade” narrative, as explored in a companion Xinhua feature, serves as a powerful symbol of loyalty and service that the Party seeks to project as it enters its 106th year.