Published by ChinaMNC · Linwei

What a 90-Year-Old Speech Teaches Foreign Founders About Perseverance in China

A recent high-level speech commemorating the Long March offers foreign founders lessons in leadership, resilience, and people-centered strategy—directly applicable to building and running a company in China.

What a 90-Year-Old Speech Teaches Foreign Founders About Perseverance in China

On October 22, 2026, a major speech commemorated the 90th anniversary of the Red Army’s Long March. While the event honors a pivotal historical episode, the principles articulated—correct leadership, unwavering resolve, independent problem-solving, and grassroots support—resonate strongly with the challenges foreign founders face when establishing and operating a company in China. Below, we distill factual insights from the speech into practical guidance for your China market entry and growth strategy.

1. Correct Leadership and Core Decision-Making

The speech emphasizes that the Long March’s success hinged on correct leadership, particularly the establishment of a core leadership collective at the Zunyi Meeting in January 1935. For foreign founders, this underscores the importance of clear, decisive leadership and a well-defined decision-making structure when navigating China’s complex regulatory and business environment. Ensure your local management team has both the authority and the local expertise to act swiftly, especially during critical moments such as company registration, licensing, or compliance reviews.

2. Resilience and Firm Conviction

According to the speech, the Red Army overcame extraordinary hardships—extreme weather, scarce resources, and constant pressure—through firm revolutionary belief. Similarly, foreign founders should anticipate setbacks: bureaucratic delays, cultural adjustments, and market volatility. Cultivating organizational resilience and a clear long-term vision can help your team persevere. Remember that perseverance must be paired with adaptability, as the speech also highlights the need to adjust tactics based on reality.

3. Independent, Fact-Based Problem Solving

The speech notes that the Party gradually broke free from dogmatic thinking and began solving problems independently and realistically. For foreign founders, this translates to the necessity of localizing your approach. Avoid simply transplanting your home-country business model. Instead, conduct thorough market research, understand local consumer behavior, and adapt your product, pricing, and operations to Chinese realities. Engage local experts and leverage on-the-ground intelligence to make informed decisions.

4. Winning Support from the People

The Long March succeeded because the Red Army won the trust and support of the masses through disciplined behavior and tangible benefits. In business terms, this means building strong relationships with stakeholders—employees, customers, partners, and local communities. Foreign founders should prioritize fair treatment of employees, responsiveness to customer needs, and contribution to local economic development. Such a people-centered approach can enhance your company’s reputation and foster goodwill, which is invaluable for long-term success in China.

5. The Spirit of the Long March: A Framework for Action

The speech defines the Great Long March Spirit as putting the fundamental interests of the nation and people above all, maintaining firm ideals and beliefs, fearing no sacrifices, adhering to independent and realistic problem-solving, observing discipline and unity, and relying closely on the people. For foreign founders, these principles can be adapted into a practical framework:

• Put long-term value creation first—focus on sustainable growth that benefits all stakeholders.
• Maintain firm belief in your vision—but stay flexible in execution.
• Be prepared to make sacrifices—invest time and resources in understanding the market.
• Solve problems independently and realistically—localize your strategies.
• Foster unity and discipline—build a cohesive team with clear rules.
• Rely on local talent and partners—they are your bridge to the market.

6. New Journey, New Challenges

The speech also references the current era, noting that China has achieved the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society and is now advancing toward the second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country. For foreign founders, this signals a continued focus on high-quality development, common prosperity, and self-reliance in technology. Aligning your business with these national priorities—such as innovation, sustainability, and rural revitalization—can open doors to incentives and partnerships.

7. Practical Takeaways for Company Registration and Operations

While the speech does not provide specific legal or tax guidance, its emphasis on correct leadership and independent problem-solving highlights the need for reliable local support. Foreign founders should:

• Engage professional advisors to navigate company registration, tax, and compliance.
• Build a local team with decision-making authority to respond to regulatory changes.
• Develop a resilient business plan that accounts for potential hurdles.
• Foster strong relationships with local authorities and communities.

These steps, inspired by the historical lessons, can help you avoid common pitfalls and build a solid foundation for growth.

Conclusion

The 90th anniversary speech, while rooted in history, offers timeless principles that can guide foreign founders in China. By embracing correct leadership, resilience, independent problem-solving, and people-centered strategies, you can navigate the complexities of the Chinese market with confidence. Remember that success often comes to those who persevere with wisdom and adaptability.

For personalized assistance with company registration and operations in China, foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535. Our team is ready to help you turn these principles into practice.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.