Xi stresses loyalty as Chinese Communist Party prepares for 100th anniversary

Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the medal award ceremony marking the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China in this still image taken from a video released June 29, 2021. CCTV via Reuters TV ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged Chinese Communist Party members to remain loyal and continue to serve the people as he awarded a new medal of honour to 29 members as part of the ruling party's 100th anniversary celebrations this week.

The medal award ceremony took place in Beijing's Great Hall of the People with much fanfare and was broadcast live on national television, as the party prepares to mark its 100th birthday on Thursday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping confers a July 1 medal to an outstanding party member, Uyghur recipient Memetjan Wumer also known as Maimaitijiang Wumaier, at the Great Hall of the People ahead of the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, in Beijing, China in this still image taken from a video released June 29, 2021. CCTV via Reuters TV

The "July 1 medal", announced in 2017 and given out for the first time on Tuesday, is part of Xi's efforts to shore up the image of one of the world's most powerful political parties.

He urged all members to "firmly keep the loyalty and love for the party and the people close to one's heart, turn that into action, dedicate everything, even your precious life, to the party and the people".

Honoured for "outstanding contributions" to the party, the medal recipients included soldiers, community workers and professionals in the arts and science.

A giant screen broadcasts live footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping presenting the July 1 Medal to outstanding Party member Wang Shumao at a ceremony in the Great Hall of the People, ahead of the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, in Beijing, China June 29, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

The Chinese Communist Party had 91.9 million members in 2019, or 6.6% of China's population, and has ruled the country since 1949.

As part of the anniversary-week celebrations, the party also staged a gala performance on Monday night in the National Stadium, or "Bird's Nest" as it is commonly called.

Party leaders and foreign diplomats watched the extravaganza of song, dance and theatre which credited the party with guiding China's rise into a great power over the past century.

A giant screen broadcasts live footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping arriving to attend the July 1 Medal awarding ceremony for outstanding Party members at the Great Hall of the People, ahead of the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, in Beijing, China June 29, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

Darker parts in the party's history, including a famine in the late 1950s, the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, were omitted from the show.

The show culminated with the audience singing the song "Without the Communist Party, There Would Be No New China," and five minutes of fireworks.

Many Chinese cheered the celebration by posting online well-wishes for the country and party on social media.

A giant screen broadcasts live footage of the July 1 Medal awarding ceremony for outstanding Party members at the Great Hall of the People, ahead of the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, in Beijing, China June 29, 2021. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

Some comments were less cheery.

"Only when housing price falls, can the people start to feel happiness," read one comment, which received 39 "likes".

(Reporting by Yew Lun Tian and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Stephen Coates)