Translation of Zhao Ziyang's Speech to the Nation on May 4th, 1989
Zhao Ziyang in dialogue with student protestors at the Tiananmen Square on May 19th, 1989 to call off hunger strikes. Behind him stood Wen Jiabao, the future Premier of China. By the time he initiated the dialogue, he was already purged from his duties as the General Secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC).
Zhao Ziyang's May Fourth speech came at a highly critical juncture in Chinese history, during the spring of 1989, when student-led protests were gaining momentum in Beijing and other parts of China. The protests were largely in opposition to corruption, lack of political reform, and issues related to freedom of speech. They reached a zenith in Tiananmen Square, where thousands of students gathered to demand democratic reforms and an end to government corruption.
Zhao Ziyang, who was then the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, was caught in a delicate balancing act. On the one side was a significant faction within the Communist Party leadership, led by Premier Li Peng, that wanted a hardline approach to suppress the protests. On the other side were Zhao Ziyang and his supporters, who sought a more conciliatory approach toward the protesters, advocating dialogue and moderate reform.
However, despite Zhao's efforts and the seeming support from a majority of the Politburo Standing Committee, his conciliatory approach did not prevail. The student protests continued to escalate, and eventually, the hardline faction within the party gained the upper hand. This led to the tragic events of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989.
In the aftermath, Zhao was placed under house arrest and marginalized within the party. His May Fourth speech, therefore, stands as a poignant example of a failed endeavor to steer China toward a more moderate and reformist path during a critical period of its modern history.
“Young friends, students, comrades,
The 70th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement is a grand celebration not only for the youth of China but also for the entire Chinese nation. As we approach the 40th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and as we mark a full decade since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party opened a new era for our socialist modernization and comprehensive reforms, today is a day when the entire nation and the youth must unite even more closely. In this time when we must band together to overcome difficulties, maintain social stability, and advance construction and reform, commemorating the 70th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement to further promote its spirit holds great significance.
The May Fourth Movement was first and foremost a great patriotic movement against imperialism and feudalism. The most widespread and deepest reasons that attracted a broad swath of youth and people from all walks of life to participate in this movement were their intense concerns for the peril of the nation and the fate of our people, as well as their passionate longing for establishing a genuinely independent, free, prosperous, and strong New China. The May Fourth Movement was also a great new cultural movement, a great ideological awakening and liberation movement. Under the banners of democracy and science, the vast youth of that time began to see themselves, China, and the world with new eyes. A portion of the most awakened young intellectuals, through exploration and comparison of various sociopolitical theories and rescue plans, and through observing and contemplating the trends of the world, ultimately chose the truth of Marxism. In 1921, the Communist Party of China was established. The Chinese people and Chinese youth, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, engaged in a long, arduous, and extraordinary struggle for the New Democratic Revolution. This process of the great people's revolution was a process of combining Marxism with the practice of Chinese revolution and was also a process of continuously carrying forward the May Fourth spirit of patriotism, democracy, and scientific thinking.
When we discuss patriotism today, we mean the development of China through the realization of the Four Modernizations, thereby rejuvenating our nation. It entails centering our efforts on enhancing productive forces through multifaceted reforms—in economics, politics, education, and science—to invigorate our planned socialist economy, establish democratic politics, and foster a scientific culture, all under the guidance of Marxism. We've said that with the founding of the People’s Republic, the Chinese people have 'stood up,' signifying an end to political subjugation. Yet, our task of fully 'standing up' remains incomplete. Only through the continued struggle of several generations to achieve socialist modernization can China truly 'stand up' in all aspects—economically, culturally, scientifically, and globally. And only through such efforts can the advantages of socialism be fully realized on Chinese soil. We must continue to nurture the spirit of patriotism, channeling it into a unifying force that inspires dedication across all sectors of society—youth, workers, farmers, professionals, educators, journalists, doctors, scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, public servants, and military personnel—in the collective struggle to build a prosperous, democratic, and civilized socialist modern nation.
Today, as we discuss democracy and science, our focus must be firmly anchored in the objectives of socialist modernization. This grand project of socialist modernization in our country is inevitably both a comprehensive transformation of society and a targeted initiative aimed at holistically improving the moral, intellectual, and cultural fabric of our entire nation. To escape from our current state of backwardness, poverty, and ignorance, we must gradually and systematically eliminate undemocratic and unscientific thoughts and habits that pervade our social life and collective consciousness. In a country as populous as ours, with 1.1 billion people, the challenges of instituting these reforms and modernization efforts are manifold. Across all aspects of social life and every field of reform and construction, we must cultivate the spirit of democracy, establish democratic systems, nurture a scientific mindset, and adhere to a pragmatic, science-based approach in all our undertakings. Furthermore, both the fields of education and science must see significant, progressive development. Without democracy and science, there can be no socialism and no socialist modernization. Within the context of socialist modernization and comprehensive reform, the tasks of studying and promoting democracy, as well as studying and showing due respect for science, are not only pressing imperatives laid before the Communist Party of China but also constitute extremely important responsibilities for the entire population and, in particular, for the youth.
Comrades, our grand and formidable tasks of modernization and reform can only be smoothly executed within a stable, not tumultuous, socio-political environment. The reason our Party's correct policies have been able to be fully implemented in the decade since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, and the reason reform and construction have achieved results that everyone has personally felt, is primarily due to maintaining social stability. This stability is the outcome of collective efforts by the people across the nation. Workers, farmers, intellectuals, young students, all ethnic groups, all political parties, and individuals from all walks of life have contributed to stability, and they have all benefited from stability as well. Achieving consensus on the issue of stability, which is of overarching significance, and coordinating efforts towards it, is no easy task! Being in the midst of stability, one might not fully appreciate its value. However, if stability were to be lost, the regret would be immense! None of the tasks we hope to accomplish would be realized; even the achievements already gained could be destroyed in an instant. What could be gained by disrupting stability? Advancements in democracy and science? The fruits of reform and construction? The rejuvenation of China? Absolutely nothing! The only result would be chaos. And haven't we already experienced enough chaotic days? From 1840 to this year, out of 150 years, we've only secured about 20 years of peace. For the remaining over 120 years, 110 were mired in turmoil due to imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism, and another decade was thrown into disarray by Lin Biao, the "Gang of Four," and our own subjective errors. What brings collective comfort now is that since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, we have genuinely experienced a decade of good days. If chaos were to erupt again, leading to large-scale social conflict and a state of anarchy, it would unsettle people’s minds, disrupt the societal order, the order of production, of education, of work, and throw the people themselves into confusion, creating a restless country. A China that holds much promise and potential would turn into a China with no future. In such a scenario, any talk of construction, reform, democracy, and science would become moot. Moreover, ideologies that are anti-democratic, anti-scientific, even ignorant and barbaric, would proliferate and run rampant. The entire Party, the entire national populace, and all the youth must clearly oppose chaos and resolutely safeguard the hard-won stable and unified political situation.
Stability doesn't mean forsaking democracy; it means steering our democracy onto a path that is orderly and governed by law. As we establish a new economic order based on socialist market principles, we must also construct a new order for socialist democratic politics. This new order, grounded in the Four Cardinal Principles, is indispensable for modernization, reform, and the maintenance of socio-political stability. Stability, incremental progress, rationality, order, and rule of law—these are imperatives for construction and reform, and likewise, for democracy and science. By addressing issues and carrying out work in line with these principles, we can ensure the success of our endeavors.
Our grand and formidable tasks of modernization and reform can only be solidly advanced under the correct and strong leadership of Communist Party of China. Our Party is one that adheres to and creatively develops Marxism; it is a Party committed to reform and opening-up; a Party that respects knowledge and talents; a Party that relies on the youth and the people. In the past 68 years, while our Party has made historic and great contributions to the Chinese people, it has also committed various errors, both large and small. However, history has proven and will continue to prove that our Party is vibrant with a spirit of self-criticism. The broad masses, including the vast majority of students, aspire to advance democratic politics, demand the punishment of corruption, and advocate for the development of education and science—these are also the stances of our Party. The heart of the Communist Party of China is intertwined with the hearts of the people and the youth. Let us all communicate with each other, understand each other, and do a better job in our future work in an atmosphere of stability, unity, and mutual assistance! We must transform our subjective world while we transform the objective world. In the course of construction and reform, our society and our entire nation are undergoing profound transformations. Our Party is also undergoing deep transformations. The aim of this transformation is not to change the nature and inherent strengths of our Party, but to better equip our Party to take on the heavy responsibility of leading the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Without the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the construction, reform, democracy, and science of China would become illusory. Without the leadership of the Communist Party, there would be no victory in the Chinese Revolution, no socialist China today, no socialist modernization of China, and no future and hope for China. Understanding and respecting this fundamental law, which has governed the development of China's history since the May Fourth Movement, is key for our endeavors to succeed.
Comrades! The pioneers of the May Fourth Movement repeatedly expressed this belief: the rejuvenation of China relies entirely on the awakening of its youth. Their trust and expectations for the youth, their far-sighted vision and optimism, remain extremely important as we observe the youth and fate of China today. In commemorating the 70th anniversary of the May Fourth Movement, looking back and looking forward, the Party and the people place their hopes on the youth. Comrade Deng Xiaoping is deeply concerned about and cares for the younger generation, and he places high hopes on the significant role of contemporary youth in reform and construction. He said, "The growth of the younger generation is precisely where our hopes for a flourishing career lie." In the ten years since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, modernization and reform have been the main theme of the era, continuously calling upon the younger generation to advance in the great historical undertaking alongside the Party.
Youth should cultivate a pioneering spirit of exploration in the course of national construction. Without exploration, there can be no creation; without creation, we cannot advance construction and reform. Young people aim to unleash their potential and realize their personal value. This zeal should be safeguarded, enabling youth to brave the winds and waves in the grand sea of modernization efforts, to cultivate and elevate themselves. Young individuals are fond of contemplation and eager to explore various forms of new knowledge, which is their most admirable quality. How can one progress without thinking? How can one enrich oneself without acquiring new knowledge? In the process of contemplation, it is inevitable to encounter biases and confusions. However, as long as one possesses a patriotic spirit, linking one's responsibilities with the destiny of the nation; as long as one embodies a democratic spirit, connecting individual efforts with the collective power; and as long as one maintains a scientific spirit, aligning lofty ideals with real-world conditions, one will certainly overcome their weaknesses and shortcomings through their own thinking and exploration. This way, the youth will increasingly comprehend the historical necessity of adhering to the socialist path, the people's democratic dictatorship, the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and the ideologies of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought. They will deepen their understanding of the necessity of adhering to the overall direction and policy of reform and opening up, recognizing their own path from the future of the entire nation.
Young people should cultivate a down-to-earth spirit of hard work and struggle in the course of national construction. Transforming our nation, which has a large population and lags in economic and cultural development, into a modern socialist country is a long-term, extremely challenging, and complex grand undertaking. It requires the persistent efforts of several generations of our entire nation. History has destined that your generation of young people can only be one that diligently and laboriously pioneers China's socialist modernization. There are no shortcuts in reform and construction; each step forward is inseparable from the labor and struggle of the people, especially the youth. What we need is tenacious, solid, and long-term hard work. Recognizing the mission of history, being clear-headed, rational, resolute, calm, pragmatic, and hardworking—these are the most valuable and needed qualities for contemporary Chinese youth.
The Communist Youth League, as the mass organization of our nation's advanced youth, has played an indispensable and monumental role in the development of the youth movement over nearly 70 years and in comprehensively creating a new landscape for youth work in the decade of reform and opening-up. In this new historical period, our Party must pay even greater attention to, care for, and support the work of the Youth League. The Youth League must live up to the high hopes placed in it by the Party. It should collaborate with other youth groups like the Youth Federation and Student Federation to maintain a close, vibrant connection with the vast majority of young people. It should increasingly excel in its role as the Party's assistant and reserve force, acting as a bridge and bond between the Party and government and the young masses, and representing the interests and demands of youth in society. The Communist Youth League should truly be constructed into a training ground for guiding young people to study communism in practice.
From this moment on, in another 11 years, we will step into the 21st century. The future belongs to the youth. The young generation at this turn of the century bears a glorious yet heavy mission. The Party places its hopes on you, and the people also place their hopes on you! Youths across the nation, fellow countrymen, let us unite in spirit and virtue, struggle through hardships, overcome all challenges, and together strive for the rejuvenation of China!”
(Originally published in People's Daily, May 4, 1989)