Chinese youth are tomorrow's leaders, and their contributions to the country's success will define the country's future path.

President Xi Jinping, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, spoke at a ceremony on Tuesday to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC). He praised the contributions made by young communists over the past century and urged them to offer energy and creativity to push forward national rejuvenation.

Xi Jinping also urged young people to take on the responsibility of creating a modern socialist country and attaining the Chinese Dream of national renewal. The CYLC was created in 1922 and now has over 73.7 million members around the country. President Xi urged the league to continue serving young people and to fulfill its role in consolidating and strengthening support for the Party's government.

Xi also mentioned League members' contributions to the success of the Chinese revolution, the development of the motherland, reform and opening up, and socialist modernization, as well as securing historic victories and shifts in the Party's and country's cause in the new era.

"In the new era, our young people should make it their mission to contribute to national rejuvenation and aspire to become more proud, confident, and assured in their identity as Chinese people, so that they can live up to the promise of their youth and the expectations of our times, our Party, and our people," President Xi said in his speech commemorating the CPC centenary on July 1, 2021. During his speech on Tuesday, Xi underlined the importance of young people taking the lead and carefully following the Party.

Chinese young are "confident, hopeful, and responsible," according to a white paper released in April titled "Youth of China in the New Era." The New Era offers numerous prospects for profound transformation, which the youth must seize. "Great times breed wonderful young people, and ripe ages breed true talent." The Chinese nation has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis from independence to affluence to power, and the current new period ushers in prosperity and hope. The white paper claims that "China's rejuvenation has become an unstoppable process."

The white paper encourages young people to be prepared to take on significant responsibilities and obligations. The new era of Chinese-style socialism is a magnificent stage on which young people can achieve great things and enjoy bright prospects. China's youth are working to support high-quality economic growth, participate in the development of socialism democratic politics, establish a thriving socialist culture, promote socialist moral and ethical advancement, and construct a beautiful China in the new era. According to the white paper, they are working hard and bravely to achieve the second centennial aim of establishing a modern socialist republic.

(The author is currently a Ph.D. scholar at the School of Information Management, Wuhan University, simultaneously a member of the Morocco-China Friendship Exchange Association, the author of CGTN Africa, Africa-China Review and the Canadian magazine).