In a speech at a gathering marking the 160th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s birth on November 12, 2026, Xi Jinping called on Chinese people at home and abroad to carry forward Sun’s legacy and support what Xi described as national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.
Xi praised Sun as a pioneer of China’s democratic revolution. He recounted Sun’s role in advancing the Three Principles of the People—nationalism, democracy and people’s livelihood—and in leading the 1911 Revolution, which ended China’s imperial system. Xi also discussed Sun’s later cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party and the reorganization of the Kuomintang.
Xi organized his call to carry forward Sun’s legacy around six themes: patriotism, serving the people, pursuing truth, perseverance, unity and engagement with the wider world. He linked those themes to the Communist Party’s current priorities, including improving livelihoods, developing political theory, strengthening the united front and pursuing global initiatives.
On Taiwan, Xi said Beijing remained committed to its policy of “peaceful reunification and one country, two systems.” He said it was willing to hold talks with people in Taiwan on cross-strait relations and unification on the basis of the one-China principle and the “1992 Consensus,” while rejecting any space for what he called “Taiwan independence” separatist activities. These were positions stated in Xi’s speech, not an announcement of a new agreement.
