By Senior Editor, China Africa News
BEIJING, July 1,2026 — The Communist Party of China (CPC) marked the 105th anniversary of its founding on Tuesday, highlighting more than a century of political leadership and organizational growth as the party’s membership surpassed 101 million.
Official figures released by the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee show that party membership reached 101.29 million by the end of 2025, an increase of more than one million members compared with the previous year. The party also reported continued expansion of its grassroots network, with more than 5.43 million primary-level organizations operating across China.
Founded in 1921 with just over 50 members, the CPC has grown into the world’s largest governing political party. Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, it has remained the country’s sole governing party, overseeing China’s transformation into the world’s second-largest economy and playing a central role in shaping its political, economic and social policies.
At a national gathering commemorating the anniversary, Chinese President and CPC General Secretary Xi Jinping described the party’s 105-year history as an “epic” of national development. He called on party members to remain committed to the country’s modernization agenda, strengthen party discipline and governance, and address emerging domestic and international challenges. Xi also emphasized the need for the party to adapt to changing circumstances while maintaining its long-term strategic objectives.
The anniversary comes as China continues to pursue high-quality economic development, technological innovation and greater self-reliance in strategic industries. Chinese authorities have also placed increased emphasis on improving the quality of party membership, recruiting younger and more highly educated members while reinforcing internal discipline through ongoing governance and anti-corruption initiatives.
In official anniversary messages, the CPC reaffirmed its commitment to guiding China’s modernization under what it describes as Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. These principles continue to serve as the ideological framework for the party’s governance and institutional reforms.
As the Communist Party of China enters its 106th year, it remains at the center of the country’s political system, with its policies expected to continue shaping China’s domestic development and international engagement in the years ahead.
