Xi Jinping calls for more ‘political guidance’ in bid to win over young Chinese
- At conference on May Fourth Movement, he says the milestone event should be studied more and youth should contribute to China’s ‘rejuvenation’
- Political analyst says Communist Party’s hope ‘lies in the young’
President Xi Jinping has called for stronger “political guidance” for young Chinese in a bid to ensure they toe the Communist Party line.
Speaking at a conference organised by the Politburo to mark the May Fourth Movement on Friday, Xi said it was a milestone event in China’s history and should be studied more.
The movement was a series of anti-imperialist, cultural and political demonstrations started by students in 1919 that unleashed the modernisation of China, including a call to adopt Western-style democracy and science.
“We need to clarify the relationship between the party and Chinese youth movements, strengthen political guidance for young people, guide them to voluntarily insist on the party’s leadership, to listen to the party and follow the party,” Xi was quoted as saying by state-run CCTV on Saturday.
He added that young people should also contribute to the nation’s “rejuvenation”.
“We need to answer why young people should connect their individual aspirations to national rejuvenation and socialism with Chinese characteristics,” he said.
