Communist youth in People’s China

Samuel and the rest of the international delegation

by Samuel Swale

Whilst Trump was in Beijing attempting to downplay his outright criminal behaviour on the global stage, People’s China invited youth delegates from communist parties across Europe and North America to build meaningful relationships, international solidarity and provide an example of a successful socialist society. From 7th to 18th May, 21 delegates from 19 countries toured historic sites and modern factories. 

Representing the UK was myself for the NCP and Maise Riley, the national chair of the Young Communist League and member of the CPB. 

Beginning just after the May Day celebrations, China was abuzz, notably with their focus on the youth. The first official dialogue between the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the invited delegates was championed by vice-minister Jin Xin, who eloquently spoke about the valuable place of youth in the communist movement and its relation to the elders and their wise leadership. The vice-minister was keen to impress the urgency to use one's youth to forward the cause. “The young are far less cautious and more bold, use this” he stated before adding that more seasoned members are fountains of knowledge that can guide ideological understanding, ensuring action is aligned with theory. 

Leaving Beijing, the delegation travelled to a city called Shijiazhuang. Hardly known to Westerners, the provincial capital of Hebei province was a bustling hub of activity at all hours. And the people reflected this with a polite inquisitiveness as to who and what the delegation was. After visiting a local industrial park, we were invited to a Putting The People First- A Dialogue Between the CPC and Foreign Parties forum. The delegation heard the story of Xingtang county and its rise out of poverty, not just in the format of reports from the top of the administration but also from the experiences of individuals.

One such story came from Zhang Hua, the owner of a local domestic services company. Just a few short years ago, Hua was a housewife in a poverty-stricken household. The local authorities began to identify those in the locality who were struggling to make ends meet, thus they offered her a place in the CPC Targeted Poverty Alleviation Scheme. In the United Kingdom, benefits are provided to lower income households. However, it is important to recall the old saying “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him how to fish and you feed him for life”. In China, individuals are provided with vocational training to enable them to improve their skills and enable them to achieve greater employment. After working as a housemaid, Hua was able to found her own domestic services company which now employs 300 women in the area, helping to lift a greater number of individuals in the local area. The people of China care deeply about their homeland and always seek to use personal benefit to the betterment of everyone. 

From here, the delegation visited Shaanxi, a birthplace not only of the revolution but also the cradle where numerous ancient Chinese civilisations began. The Yan’an base area has been transformed into a bustling little city with a grand monument to Mao Zedong and a museum to remember the sacrifice of the revolutionaries all those years ago. Tracing the steps of the Red Army in China shows how outdated the equipment that the soldiers used. Truly it was a testament to how revolutionary zeal and commitment to building a better world are what can propel a small group of dreamers into global leaders. 

After Yan’an, we moved south to Xi’an; a technological and cultural metropolis in the central regions of China. First in Xi’an, we were invited to attend the R&D centre of BYD, an electric car manufacturer that has grown from nothing in the space of 30 years. When hearing the term communism, many think of enormous state architecture in every business. Critics of China will be surprised to know that BYD is not a state-owned enterprise of the Chinese government, rather a private company. Birthed from the mind of a battery engineer at a separate company, BYD has sky-rocketed in sales nationally and internationally. Where other manufacturers built batteries for cars, BYD built cars around batteries creating a unique and versatile commodity that has been improving emissions and speed of travel. Once again, even though not operated by the state, the company is focused heavily on improving the lives of the people of China. In fact, they are even seeking to improve the carbon emissions of other nations, attempting to protect the world against climate change through technology. 

Those of a right-wing view of the world will be further disappointed to realise the unity of the Chinese people in their vast diversity. Xi’an is home to a sizeable population of Muslims, forming the Muslim quarter of the city with its own unique architecture. The people co-operate freely and work together to ensure the welfare of all those in China, not just the few. This only further shows how capitalism as a system only serves to antagonise the working class and ensure that the proletariat remains disparate and unable to resist. 

It was a pleasure and honour to visit China and represent the party. Truly at times it felt like I was on a different planet and I can understand why the western mind can struggle to comprehend what China is as an entity. It is an idyllic nation of noble ambition that truly shines a beacon in the darkness for all the proletariat of the world to look towards for guidance.

Young communists in China

by New Worker correspondent

An NCP comrade joined a delegation of young cadres from communist parties in Europe and North America on a study tour of People’s China in May. Samuel Swale from NCP East Anglia took part in the forums and discussions during the two-week tour that included a meeting with Jin Xin,  the vice-minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China.
 Jin Xin looked at the possibilities and responsibilities of young communists who are organising under the conditions of Western capitalism and imperialism. He said that the world is in the process of change and the global winds are blowing in the direction away from capitalism.
“Socialism has already transcended the low ebb of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The world is in the process of change and the global winds are blowing in the direction away from capitalism. This is the moment that communist parties in the West should consider carefully, to find out how they can seize the opportunity. You, the generation of younger communists, with your admirable courage and fervour, are at the forefront of this change. The future of the world rests on your shoulders” Jin said.
The vice-minister spoke about the problem of imperialism and war-mongering carried out by the United States and Israel. He also noted the growing concern for Latin American countries, with the Venezuelan and Cuban people in particular experiencing direct military aggression and threats coming from the United States. Jin Xin noted that Cuba finds itself in a dangerous geographical position, being so close to the United States, and so far away from China. Regardless, China is committed to helping the Cuban comrades with all available means. He also celebrated the close solidarity, cooperation and growing ideological dialogue and ties between the “five golden flowers of socialism” – that is China, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba and the DPR Korea.
Jin also discussed the state of Marxism in the West, noting that there are some disagreements and splits, in terms of how Marxism is understood and applied. He criticised the dogmatic approach of some parties, which disregard national conditions, and automatically assume that certain aspects, such as the existence and development of the private sector, are a “betrayal” of Marxism.
China has made great strides not only in modernisation and development, but also in terms of creating a prosperous and safe society. China is one of the safest places in the world, where people can walk alone at night without any fear, or where they can leave their belongings unattended. This is not the case in most other countries.
Jin Xin said the rise in the acceptance and support of communist parties and ideas around the world, with the youth in particular showed a high affinity for socialism, more so than in the decades earlier. This, he said, is the single spark that can start a prairie fire.
The youth movements and parties participating in the delegation along with the NCP were the CPB’s YCL of Britain, the League of Communist Youth of Belarus and AKEL’s United Democratic Youth movement of Cyprus together with the youth movements of the communist parties of Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Germany. Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Switzerland as well as the CPUSA and the Communist Party of Canada.

• Report from Canada
• New Worker report
• Morning Star report