Keith Bennett on CCTV discussing 60th anniversary
Keith Bennett, of Hands off China, was recently interviewed by China Central Television. In the 3-minute clip, he discusses the significance of the 60th anniversary celebrations, the role of China’s military, and more.
You can view the interview on the CCTV site.
Hu Jintao’s speech at the National Day celebrations
Compatriots Throughout the Country, Comrades, and Friends:
Today, we hold a grand rally to celebrate the 60th founding anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. On this happy and solemn occasion, the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country are infinitely proud of the development and progress of the great motherland and are full of confidence in the bright prospect of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Hereby, on behalf of the party Central Committee, the National People’s Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission, I express our heartfelt memory of all the revolutionary predecessors and martyrs who devoted immortal service to our national independence, the people’s liberation, the country’s prosperity, and the people’s happiness! Our warm greetings to the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country as well as patriotic compatriots in the country and overseas! Our sincere thanks to friends from various countries who care for and support China’s development!
Sixty years ago today, the Chinese people finally won the great victory in the Chinese revolution through bloody battles for more than 100 years. Here, Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly declared to the world the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. Since then the Chinese people have stood up and the Chinese nation, which has a history of more than 5,000 years of civilization, has entered a new historic era of development and progress.
In the past 60 years, under the leadership of the three generations of the central leading collective with Comrade Mao Zedong, Comrade Deng Xiaoping, and Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core, and the party Central Committee since the 16th Party Congress, the diligent and wise Chinese people of all ethnic groups have worked hard with one heart and one mind, withstood the tests of all kinds of difficulties, twists and turns, and risks, made attention-grabbing great achievements, and written a brilliant and triumphant song of striving constantly to become stronger. Today, a socialist China that is oriented to modernization, to the world, and to the future is standing toweringly in the Eastern world.
The development and progress of New China in the past 60 years have fully proved that only socialism can save China and only reform and opening up can develop China, develop socialism, and develop Marxism. The Chinese people are confident and capable of building their own country, and are also confident and capable of making due contributions to the world.
We will unswervingly adhere to the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, comprehensively implement the party’s basic theory, basic line, basic programme, and basic experience, continue to emancipate the mind, persist in reform and opening up, promote scientific development, promote social harmony, push forward the process of building a well-off society in an all-round way, continuously open up a new situation for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and write a new chapter in the happy lives of the people.
We will unswervingly adhere to the principle of “peaceful reunification, one country, two systems,” maintain long-term prosperity and stability in Hong Kong and Macau, promote peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and continue to work hard for the complete reunification of the motherland - the common wish of the Chinese nation.
We will unswervingly adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, adhere to a peaceful development road, pursue a mutually beneficial and win-win open strategy, develop friendly cooperation with all countries on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence, continue to promote the noble cause of peace and development for humankind together with the people of all countries, and push forward the construction of a harmonious world with a lasting peace and common prosperity.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army and the People’s Armed Police Force should develop their glorious tradition, strengthen their self-construction, earnestly perform their missions, and make new contributions to safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity and to defending world peace.
History suggests to us that the road of advance has never been smooth. But the people who control their own destiny and stay united will definitely overcome all difficulties and dangers and continuously create great undertakings in history.
Looking forward to the future, the prospect of China’s development is infinitely bright. The whole party, the whole armed forces, and the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country should unite more closely, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, advance with the times, forge ahead with keen determination, continue to move ahead courageously towards the goal of building a strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious, and modernized socialist country and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and continue to make new and greater contributions to humankind with their own hard work and unremitting efforts!
Long live the great People’s Republic of China!
Long live the great Communist Party of China!
Long live the great Chinese people!
Happy 60th birthday to the People’s Republic of China!
We join with the progressive masses of the world in celebrating 60 years of unprecedented progress.
Join us in Southall on Saturday for our anniversary rally! Speakers include a Chinese Embassy representative, George Galloway, Jenny Clegg, Jack Shapiro and others. Details below.
Updated leaflet for National Day meeting
Don’t forget! On Saturday 3 October 2009, from 6pm until late, we will be holding a public meeting in London to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Revolution. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with comrades from the People’s Republic of China, hear some fantastic speakers and celebrate one of the most important, world-changing events in modern history. There will also be delicious food and drink, so bring family and friends and let’s make it a celebration to remember!
Confirmed speakers include:
George Galloway MP
A representative from the Chinese Embasy
Dr. Jenny Clegg, Author of China’s Global Strategy
Jack Shapiro, Veteran friend of China
Harpal Brar, Chair, CPGB-ML; Editor, Lalkar
Keith Bennett, Expert in Asian politics
The meeting will take place at Saklatvala Hall, Dominion Road, Southall, Middlesex UB2 5AA. Trains go every 10 minutes or so from Paddington to Southall and take around 15 minutes. From Southall station, the hall is around 5 minutes’ walk, the route for which you can see in this map.
For more information, please email info@handsoffchina.org or call Keith on 07973 824742.
Tags: public meetingsGalloway confirmed to speak at National Day meeting
Excellent news! George Galloway MP has confirmed he will be speaking at the National Day meeting on 3 October in Southall.
A new version of the leaflet will be issued early next week. In the meantime, here is the existing version with details of time and place etc.
Do let people know about the meeting and get involved in organising! If you would like leaflets to be sent to you, or if you would like more information, please email info@handsoffchina.org or call Keith on 07973 824742.
Leaflet for the National Day meeting
Don’t forget! On Saturday 3 October 2009, from 6pm until late, we will be holding a public meeting in London to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Revolution. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with comrades from the People’s Republic of China, hear some fantastic speakers and celebrate one of the most important, world-changing events in modern history. There will also be delicious food and drink, so bring family and friends and let’s make it a celebration to remember!
Confirmed speakers so far include:
Dr. Jenny Clegg, Author of China’s Global Strategy
Jack Shapiro, Veteran friend of China
Harpal Brar, Chair, CPGB-ML; Editor, Lalkar
Keith Bennett, Expert in Asian politics
The meeting will take place at Saklatvala Hall, Dominion Road, Southall, Middlesex UB2 5AA. Trains go every 10 minutes or so from Paddington to Southall and take around 15 minutes. From Southall station, the hall is around 5 minutes’ walk, the route for which you can see in this map.
For more information, please email info@handsoffchina.org or call Keith on 07973 824742.
Further details and publicity material to follow shortly.
Tags: public meetingsCelebrating the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Revolution - Saturday 3 October
On Saturday 3 October 2009, from 6pm until late, we will be holding a public meeting in London to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Chinese Revolution. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with comrades from the People’s Republic of China, hear some fantastic speakers (full line-up to be confirmed within the next few days) and celebrate one of the most important, world-changing events in modern history. There will also be delicious food and drink, so bring family and friends and let’s make it a celebration to remember!
The meeting will take place at Saklatvala Hall, Dominion Road, Southall, Middlesex UB2 5AA. Trains go every 10 minutes or so from Paddington to Southall and take around 15 minutes. From Southall station, the hall is around 5 minutes’ walk, the route for which you can see in this map.
For more information, please email info@handsoffchina.org or call Keith on 07973 824742.
Further details and publicity material to follow shortly.
Tags: public meetingsChinese, U.S. trade unions seek closer ties
Via People’s Daily
China’s top trade union leader, Wang Zhaoguo, and a group of visiting U.S. union leaders Wednesday agreed to explore new ways to cooperate.
Wang told Anna Burger, president of Change to Win, a coalition of U.S. unions representing 6 million workers, that Chinese trade unions hoped to strengthen cooperation with Change to Win based on independence, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s affairs.
“Trade unions around the world should cement exchanges and cooperation amid the global economic downturn, to better safeguard the interests of workers and promote global economic development,” said Wang, president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and a senior Chinese legislator.
Burger hoped to further enhance contacts and cooperation with the 100-million strong ACFTU through the week-long visit to China.
The U.S. union leaders arrived in Beijing Monday. Earlier Wednesday, they signed a memorandum with their ACFTU counterparts to facilitate exchanges and cooperation.
The two sides set up a regular exchange mechanism in May 2007 during Burger’s ice-breaking China tour, ending a decades-long boycott of China by U.S. labor groups.