Xibaipo

The original village was submerged when Gangnan Reservoir was constructed, but this replica was created nearby. Xibaipo also has a Revolutionary Memorial Museum.

Xibaipo was the last rural command post of our Party in leading Chinese revolution and liberating the whole of China. Fifty-five years ago, our Party convened the National Land Conference here, commanded world-shaking three major campaigns (the Liaohsi-Shenyang Campaign, the Huai-Hai Campaign and the Peiping-Tientsin Campaign), held the Second Plenary Session of the Seventh CPC Central Committee of important significance, put forward the famous exposition on the "two must" ("The comrades must be taught to remain modest, prudent and free from arrogance and rashness in their style of work. The comrades must be taught to preserve the style of plain living and hard struggle.")and mapped out the magnificent blueprint for New China.

The series of revolutionary practice activities carried out by the Party Central Committee and Comrade Mao Zedong in Xibaipo laid down and cultivated the Xibaipo Spirit with distinct features and significantly enriched the great national spirit.

Soon after the closing of the Party's 16th National Congress, Comrade Hu Jintao and leading comrades of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee personally paid a study and inspection tour to Xibaipo. Comrade Hu Jintao delivered an important speech, calling on comrades of the whole Party to firmly bear in mind the "two must", vigorously carry forward the work style of plain living and hard struggle, make explorations and progress and unite in struggle for realization of the objectives and tasks set down by the 16th National Party Congress.

The Xibaipo period was on the eve of all-round victory for the Chinese revolution, our Party was confronted with the historic change from the countryside to cities, from a revolutionary party to a ruling party and from the seizure of political power to national construction. At this important juncture, Comrade Mao Zedong, with great foresight, put forward the famous exposition on the "two must".

The "two must" exposition was fostered, developed and formed by our Party in the protracted, arduous revolutionary struggles, it is the inheritance of the Jingguang Mountain Spirit, the Long March Spirit and the Yan'an Spirit. The "two must", which embodies profound historical experience and reflect the true political qualities of the Party, is the fine tradition and work style which our Party must persist in permanently.

The Xibaipo Spirit with the "two must" as its core content is the precious spiritual wealth of our Party and the Chinese nation. No matter in what historical position our Party is, it must pay high attention to maintaining close ties with the masses of people, and strive to realize, safeguard and develop the fundamental interests of the people; no matter what achievements our Party has gained, it must be always cool- headed and sober-minded, strive to remain modest and prudent and to preserve the style of plain living and hard struggle.

Promoting the Xibaipo Spirit is the necessary demand on Communists for the study and implementation of the "three represents" important thought in the new historical period, it is a powerful mental strength for pressing ahead with the building of a well- off society in an all-round way.

The "two must" and the Xibaipo Spirit contain the fine revolutionary tradition, profound philosophy of life and rich spiritual nutrient. Conducting in-depth publicity and education on the "two must" and vigorously carrying forward the Xibaipo Spirit are of great benefit to strengthening and improving minors' ideological and moral construction and promoting their healthy growth. We should make full use of this valuable spiritual asset to conduct education in revolutionary tradition and patriotism among the minors, so as to let the Xibaipo Spirit to be handed down from generation to generation.

Xibaipo is a sacred place that left a magnificent epic in the history of Chinese revolution, a cradle that has nurtured the lasting true political qualities in the Communist Party of China after it becomes a ruling party, and is a classroom where education on patriotism and revolutionary tradition is given.

By holding the itinerant exhibition of the Xibaipo Spirit, recalling the Party's history in the Xibaipo period, listening to the echo of the "two must", reproducing the picture showing that "New China came into being from here" and reviewing the important expositions given by the Party's three-generation cores of leadership on developing the Party's find tradition, the cadres and the masses in general will definitely be educated and inspired to enhance their awareness of hardships, temper their fighting spirit, treasure their happy life, shoulder historical responsibilities, keep pace with the times, seek truth from facts and do practical work in the course of building a well-off society in an all-round manner, and create a better future.

The above article by a People's Daily commentator was carried on page 4 of this leading newspaper on June 16, 2004 and translated by People's Daily Online.