The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee holds a press conference to shed light on the celebration activities for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 23, 2021. (LI XIN/XINHUA)

BEIJING - A series of events will be held to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), including a grand celebration at which General Secretary Xi Jinping will make an important speech, said Wang Xiaohui, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a news conference on Tuesday.

CPC to award July 1 Medal for first time

As part of the celebration, the CPC Central Committee will award the July 1 Medal to outstanding Party members for the first time.

The July 1 Medal, established by the CPC Central Committee, is the highest honor in the Party, and in general will be granted every five years to celebrate major anniversaries of the founding of the CPC, a senior official said

The July 1 Medal, established by the CPC Central Committee, is the highest honor in the Party, said Fu Xingguo, deputy head of the CPC Central Committee's Organization Department, at the same press conference.

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In general, it will be granted every five years to celebrate major anniversaries of the founding of the CPC.

Fu also said the CPC will award a commemorative medal to more than 7.1 million people with Party membership of 50 years or above.

No military parade

The Chinese military will hold a series of activities to celebrate the centenary, according to a senior officer at the Central Military Commission.

But there are no plans for a military parade, Li Jun, an officer with the commission's political work department, said.

The Chinese military will hold a series of activities to celebrate the centenary but there are no plans for a military parade, said Li Jun, an officer with the Central Military Commission 's political work department

Theatrical performance

A theatrical performance will be held to celebrate the 100th anniversary CPC, said another senior CPC official.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is preparing for a high-standard, high-quality theatrical performance, which is to be presented in the form of a large-scale epic drama, said Hu Heping, deputy head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and head of the ministry.

Meanwhile, a large number of revolution-themed fine literary and artistic works will also be launched. Classical dramas including the Chinese opera The White-Haired Girl and ballet The Red Detachment of Women will be remade, said Hu.

As a political party that embraces opening-up, the CPC will hold a series of events promoting exchanges with foreign political parties as it celebrates its centenary this year

Promoting exchanges 

As a political party that embraces opening-up, the CPC will hold a series of events promoting exchanges with foreign political parties as it celebrates its centenary this year, Wang said.

The CPC will carry out inter-party dialogues and exchanges at multiple levels and in various forms during its 100th anniversary to communicate with political parties worldwide and share governance experience.

Promoting fine Party traditions

Wang also said the CPC has launched a Party history learning and education campaign to guide Party members and officials to carry forward fine Party traditions.

The Party-wide campaign will guide Party members and officials to always maintain the fighting spirit of the Chinese communists and strive to make new achievements in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Wang stressed the importance of promoting Party history learning and education among young people, saying that efforts will be made to incorporate the campaign into school textbooks and lectures.

CPC membership over 91 million by end of 2019

As of the end of 2019, the Communist Party of China has 4.68 million primary-level organizations with a total of 91.91 million members, said Fu.

The primary-level Party organizations constitute the base for the governance of the CPC and are the foundation for all the Party's work and its capacity to take on challenges, Fu said.

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The Party organizations at all levels are the pillars in tackling major challenges including epidemic control, poverty alleviation and disaster relief, Fu noted.  

The following are some of the highlights of the celebratory events announced by Wang:

* Party history education (deemed key, with targeting young people a priority)

* A grand gathering

* Major theme exhibitions

* Theatrical performances

* Seminars and symposiums on theoretical study

* A series of literature and art works and publications

* Party-themed publicity and education activities among the public

Celebratory events announced by Li included:

* Military to enhance Party history education

* Military museums to hold exhibits and other commemorations

* Military to award outstanding Party members

* Military enhances preparedness on Party centenary