Published by ChinaMNC · Taibai

What a High-Level Policy Speech Means for Foreign Founders Building in China: Reading the Signals

A commemorative speech marking the 90th anniversary of the Long March, delivered at the Great Hall of the People, offers foreign founders a window into the policy language and priorities that shape China's operating environment.

Why a Historical Ceremony Belongs on a Founder's Radar

A ceremony held on 22 October at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing marked the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, state president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered the principal address. Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended; Zhao Leji presided. Roughly 3,000 people took part, including representatives from central Party, state and military departments, Beijing municipal authorities, democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, business figures without party affiliation, veterans, military personnel and residents.

For foreign founders incorporating or scaling a company in China, this is not a story about corporate registration procedures. It is a story about the vocabulary of national priorities. Xi's remarks set out a framework of goals and principles that frame how policy is discussed at the highest level. Founders who understand that vocabulary can read subsequent regulatory and economic signals with more confidence.

What the Speech Actually Said

The Long March in brief

Xi described the period from October 1934 to October 1936, when the Party led the First, Second and Fourth Front Armies and the 25th Army on a march across more than ten provinces covering 25,000 li. He said the Red Army broke through encirclement and interception by over a million enemy troops, declaring that the Kuomintang reactionaries' plan to eliminate the Party and the Red Army had failed, and that the strategic shift north to resist Japanese aggression was achieved.

He identified several reasons for the victory: correct Party leadership, firm revolutionary will, an independent and realistic approach that tied Marxist principles to China's concrete conditions, and support from the broad masses.

From history to present policy

Xi said the Long March's history has not receded and its road keeps extending. Since the victory, he said, the Party has led repeated "new long marches" across revolution, construction and reform. Since the 18th Party Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era; the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects was met on schedule, and the country is now working toward the second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country and advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.

The "five musts"

Xi set out five requirements for carrying forward the Long March spirit on the new journey:

• Stay true to ideals and purpose: implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, remember the founding mission and rely on the people.
• Pursue high-quality development: meet people's growing needs for a better life, coordinate the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy, seek both qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth in the economy, and promote common prosperity.
• Conduct the great struggle with new historical features: better coordinate development and security, and tackle difficulties, risks and challenges with historical initiative.
• Build a world-class military: uphold absolute Party leadership over the armed forces, meet the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army on schedule and modernize national defense and the military.
• Uphold Party leadership and strengthen Party building: continue full and rigorous Party self-governance and strengthen the Party's role as leadership core.

Zhao Leji, who presided, said the speech reviewed the Long March, summarized its significance, explained the reasons behind victory, expounded the historical value of the Long March spirit and set out the "five musts." He called the speech political, thoughtful and instructive, and urged study and implementation of it.

How Founders Can Read This

No new investment rules, tax measures or registration procedures were announced here. The practical value lies in the priorities it confirms, which recur across economic and regulatory policy discussion.

1. "High-quality development" remains the economic frame

The speech pairs qualitative improvement with reasonable quantitative growth and names common prosperity. For founders, this is useful context for how growth, productivity and social contribution are discussed in policy. It does not itself alter market-access rules.

2. Development and security are treated as one agenda

The call to better coordinate development and security is relevant to how compliance, data, supply-chain and risk-management expectations are framed. Treat legal and compliance diligence as part of your operating model rather than an afterthought.

3. Continuity is the signal

The speech links past goals to current ones, including the second centenary goal and Chinese-style modernization. For planning, the takeaway is to expect policy direction to be described in long-horizon terms, and to build business plans that can absorb gradual regulatory change.

4. The speech is not a regulatory document

This was a commemorative event. Nothing in the text changes company law, foreign investment rules, tax obligations or licensing requirements. Founders should not cite it as authority for any specific filing or approval.

A Practical Checklist for Foreign Founders

• Separate signal from rule: use high-level speeches to understand priorities; rely on published regulations, implementing rules and local authorities for actual requirements.
• Track recurring phrases: terms such as high-quality development and coordination of development and security tend to reappear in sectoral policy language.
• Keep compliance current: maintain documentation and review obligations regularly, since policy language can precede detailed implementing measures.
• Use local advisers: confirm registration, tax and licensing questions with qualified professionals and the relevant authorities before acting.

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