(July 31, 2026, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School)

Honorable Wilson Mukama, former Secretary General of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) of Tanzania,

Dr. Francis Daudi, Chief Assistant Secretary of the Organization Department of CCM,

Prof. Marcellina Chijoriga, Head of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School,

Distinguished Guests, Comrades and Friends,

Good morning.

First of all, please allow me to extend warm congratulations on behalf of the Chinese side on the first event hosted by the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era at the Mwalimu Nyerere Leadership School. On the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the formal introduction of Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, it is most timely for the Center to host this important seminar. We are confident that this event will contribute more to China-Africa exchanges on governance experience.

To truly understand contemporary China, one must start with the CPC. In 1921, amid the great awakening of the Chinese people and nation, the CPC emerged. Throughout this century-long journey, the CPC has grown from a party of just over 50 members at its inception into the world's largest governing party, with more than 100 million members, leading a major country of over 1.4 billion people, and exercising significant global influence. It has fundamentally transformed the future and destiny of the Chinese people, opened up the correct path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and profoundly impacted the course of world history.

Uniting and leading the Chinese people, the CPC completed in a few decades the industrialization process that took developed countries centuries to achieve. It lifted over 800 million poor people out of poverty and built a moderately prosperous society in all respects. China's gross domestic product (GDP) surged from 12.3 billion US dollars in 1949 to 19.63 trillion US dollars in 2025, firmly maintaining its position as the world's second-largest economy. Chinese modernization has opened up a new path for developing countries to achieve modernization and created a new form of human advancement. The vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, proposed by President Xi Jinping, has provided Chinese solutions for addressing the urgent challenges facing the world today.

Many African friends are pondering “Why has the CPC been able to succeed? How could other developing countries’ parties achieve similar success?”. In my view, the answer lies in six remarkable qualities of the CPC.

First, grounded in truth. The CPC takes Marxism as a powerful ideological weapon to understand and transform the world. Committed to liberating the mind and seeking truth from facts, the CPC excels at testing and developing truth in practice , while continuously guiding new practice with new theories to ensure the cause of the Party and the people advances along the correct path.

Second, rooted in the people. Adhering to the principle of building a party for the public and governing for the people, the CPC consciously practices its fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly and maintains an inseparable bond with the masses. The CPC has no special interests of its own beyond the interests of the people.

Third, guided by strategic vision. The CPC combines long-term goals with phased targets, sets core tasks adapted to changes in the principal contradiction in society, and formulates and implements sound lines, principles, and policies to firmly hold the leadership and initiative over its cause.

Fourth, attuned to the times. With a strong sense of history and a global outlook, the CPC maintains a clear understanding of China's national conditions and the themes of the era. It actively prepares for changes, ensuring that all work reflects the times, adheres to rules, and is full of creativity.

Fifth, driven by a fighting spirit. For the sake of the people, the country, the nation, and its ideals and beliefs, the CPC braves obstacles and forged ahead in the face of difficulties. Fearing nothing and never flinching, it inspires the Chinese people to move from victory to victory with iron willpower.

Sixth, renewed through self-reform. The CPC excels at examining itself against the requirements of the times, staying vigilant with a strong sense of potential adversity, and refining itself through self-reform. Attaching high importance to its own building, the Party eliminates all factors that impair its advanced nature and purity, ensuring it always remains a strong leadership core.

Comrades and friends,

A strong country depends on a strong political party, and a strong political party is built through strong party building. A party does not grow strong simply as its membership grows, nor does it grow strong simply as time passes. Only a party that truly prioritizes its internal strength can stand tall and proud among the political parties of the world. Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building represents the latest achievement of the Communist Party of China’s theoretical innovation on party building. It addresses the ultimate question: “What kind of long-governing party should we build, and how do we build it?”

Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building is rich in substance, rigorous in structure, and profound in vision, featuring the “Fourteen Commitments”. For ease of understanding, I would stress the following five aspects.

First, anchored in strong political leadership. Chairman Mao once vividly described the CPC’s pivotal role in national life. He said, “The Party leads everything, including the Party, government, military, civilian and education, in the east, west, south, north and center”. General Secretary Xi Jinping also pointed out: “The defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the CPC”. At its core, strengthening Party leadership means upholding the centralized and unified authority of the CPC Central Committee. Why was China able to eradicate absolute poverty so rapidly? Because upon the call of the CPC Central Committee, millions of grassroots Party members charged to the frontline, truly operating as one integrated system nationwide, and coordinating every level of government toward a single goal.

Second, guided by ideological enlightenment. Scientific theory is the cornerstone of firm ideals and convictions. H.E. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “ideal and conviction are the political calcium of a Party member’s mind, without which one will suffer a lack of backbone and collapse under pressure”. The CPC continuously adapts Marxism to contemporary realities and fine traditional Chinese culture, arming the entire Party with the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times. The CPC operates a vast network anchored by over 3,000 Party schools nationwide, educating over 3 million cadres annually. By conducting regular thematic education campaigns, the entire Party functions like a giant "ideological classroom," closely uniting over 100 million Party members under common ideals and convictions.

Third, committed to founding mission of putting people first. As H.E General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly warned, “A political party that forgets its original aspiration has no future.” Entering an era of peaceful development, the CPC remains dedicated to its revolutionary commitments to enabling people to live better lives. Under the CPC’s leadership, China has established the world’s largest education, healthcare, and social security systems, ensuring that every individual shares in the fruits of Chinese modernization.

Fourth, reinforced by a strong organizational base. H.E. General Secretary Xi Jinping vividly compared the Party’s organization to the human body. He said the party should function seamlessly, “moving as smoothly as the arm directs the fingers.” Powered by over 5.4 million primary-level organizations and a cadre evaluation system centered on five core standards, including political steadfastness, public service, practicality, accountability and integrity, this vast network operates with high efficiency to turn strategic intent into tangible progress on the ground.

Fifth, purified through persistent self-reform. As H.E. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out, “A fortress is most easily broken from within”. The greatest challenge to a long-ruling party comes from itself. Guided by the conviction that “it takes good iron to make good steel,” the CPC constantly turns the blade inward. Anchored by 3,372 regulations, the CPC fosters an environment where officials dare not, cannot, and have no desire to be corrupt. Since 2012, we have investigated over 7 million cases, including more than 60 CPC Central Committee members or alternate members, proving that no one is above discipline.

Comrades and friends,

While Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building originates from China and has been forged through the practice of the CPC, It provides practical Chinese solutions for political parties worldwide, especially those in the Global South, to explore independent development paths, consolidate the foundation of public trust, overcome organizational laxity, and eradicate the persistent malaise of party corruption. The governance wisdom embedded in Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building is a shared asset for all political parties. We look forward to African political parties, including the CCM, drawing useful inspiration from Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, basing themselves on their own national conditions, and boosting their own development. 

We sincerely hope that the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School, particularly the Research Center for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, will make even greater contributions in official training, theoretical innovation, and policy advisory services. The Chinese side will continue to deepen exchanges on governance with African countries, contributing strength toward building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.

Thank you.