Asia-Pacific Features

China's communists link ideology to Everest relay

May 8, 2008, 12:54 GMT

Beijing - China's ruling Communist Party on Thursday issued a clarion call to everyone involved in the Beijing Olympics to uphold the party's ideology and the spirit of the mountaineers who carried the Olympic flame to the summit of Mount Everest. TV grab from 08 May 2008 shows female climber Cirenwangmu displays the Beijing Olympic torch

TV grab from 08 May 2008 shows female climber Cirenwangmu displays the Beijing Olympic torch "Xiangyun" at the top of the 8844.43-meter summit of Mt. Qomolangma (Mt Everest) in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, 08 May, 2008. The relay is part of a 30-meter torch relay on the world's highest peak. EPA/XINHUAVice President Xi Jinping sent a telegram of congratulations to the climbers in which he urged people to 'hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics.' Xi, 54, was appointed in March to head a new group in charge of preparations for the Beijing Olympics. He is seen as the likely successor to Hu Jintao as party leader in 2012 and state president in 2013. Xi's message on Thursday was read on state television as the whole text was shown on screen during the midday news broadcast. He also called on Chinese people to 'uphold the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the Three Represents, and deeply implement the Scientific Outlook on Developement.' The party elevated Deng Xiaoping Theory to its 'guiding ideology,' alongside Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong thought, in the 1990s. The Three Represents, largely associated with retired leader Jiang Zemin but promoted by Hu Jintao, was added to the party's guiding ideology in 2002. It was used by Jiang mainly to urge members to reclaim the moral high ground after a series of corruption scandals and to pave the way for the admission of entrepreneurs into the party. Hu's more recent 'scientific outlook' requires China to move towards more sustainable growth and create a 'harmonious society' by reducing the economic inequalities that have resulted from 25 years of its 'development first' strategy. 'I hope that all the comrades who take part in and organize the Beijing Olympics, under the central party leadership with comrade Hu Jintao as the general secretary, will hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, uphold the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of the Three Represents, and deeply implement the Scientific Outlook on Developement,' Xi said in his message. 'And with the Beijing Olympic torch relay Everest mountaineering team as a model, with inspiration, persistent effort, harmonious cooperation and solid work, make new and even greater contributions to successfully hold a 'distinctive, high-level' Beijing Olympics,' he said. More than 70 million of China's 1.3 billion people are Communist Party members, but most ordinary Chinese people have little interest in the party's ideology. The party has generally left political propaganda out of public events related to the Olympics. But Olympic construction sites were hung with banners promoting Hu's 'socialist ethics Eight Honours and Eight Disgraces' and 'building a harmonious society,' and the banners were clearly visible during some televised visits to venues by the International Olympic Committee. In a speech last year to mark the one-year countdown to the Beijing Olympics, Wu Bangguo, the party's official number two, also paid tribute to Deng Xiaoping Theory and the Three Represents. On Thursday, Xi thanked the climbing team, the International Olympic Committee and 'all foreign friends who supported the Olympic torch relay on Everest.' 'At this moment when the whole nation is excited and the world is joyful, on behalf of the (party) central leadership and the Chinese government I warmly congratulate and cordially thank all the comrades who took part in the work of the Beijing Olympic torch relay leg on Everest,' he said. 'This is one of the greatest events in the history of Olympic games and a precious gift given by the Chinese to the Olympics and people worldwide,' Xi said. 'The long-cherished Olympic dream of the Chinese people will soon be realized.'

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More western propaganda!May 8th, 2008 - 17:58:36

Communist ideology yada yada yada......

Concern yourselves with ur economic malaise in the west. How everything in so-called united states sucks bad.

This MUST be a sign (unless you white people are sooo stupid) that the majority of the CHINESE Olympic Mt.Qomolangma mountaineering team were CHINESE citizens of ethnic Tibetans origin.

We, the majority of ethnic Tibetans in CHINA, are for a One CHINA, and will always serve and even die for our country. Believe it, for this is the truth!

And yes I am an ethnic Tibetan myself who was born in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of CHINA. So, I and NOT those Tibetans who now live outside of CHINA and especially not those who were NOT born in or have never been to CHINA or Tibet can speak about my Tibet and my CHINA!

True I am also half ethnic Han who makes me feel for my Han part. And true that only makes me half ethnic Tibetan, but still Tibetan who was born in Tibet itself.

To that german press agency it should not concern itself with anti-CHINA propaganda because those lies are bound to fail.

I also don't recognize a unified germany. I only recognize a country of East German and a country of West Germany but you don't hear me cry about it.

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