Xi Pays Tribute to Late Reform Leader Hu Yaobang: Reading the Signals
To date, only seven leaders have been honored with commemorative symposiums held in the name of the CPC Central Committee on their decennial birth anniversaries: Mao Zedong（毛泽东）, Zhou Enlai（周恩来）, Liu Shaoqi（刘少奇）, Zhu De（朱德）, Deng Xiaoping（邓小平）, Chen Yun（陈云）, and Hu Yaobang（胡耀邦）. The convening of this symposium demonstrates that the Party Central Committee has once again affirmed Hu Yaobang’s historical position and his contributions to the cause of reform and opening up.
-Wang Mingyuan
On the morning of the Nov.20th, the CPC Central Committee held a symposium at the Great Hall of the People to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Comrade Hu Yaobang’s birth, chaired by Xi. I would like to introduce an article by Wang Mingyuan, a renowned and well-connected scholar specializing in the history of the Reform and Opening Up era. Thanks to his authorization, I can publish his analysis on the signal of this symposium. And I don’t think I need further comment on that. For those who are interested in that history, I highly recommend his WeChat public account, Fuchengmen No. 6 (阜成门六号院).
In short, Wang believes that by elevating the commemorative protocol to match that reserved for core founding leaders like Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi—holding a CPC Central Committee symposium rather than a departmental one—It’s a signal reaffirming Hu Yaobang’s historical legitimacy and positioning his reform spirit as directly relevant to current policy priorities.
Below is the full text:
In Chinese politics, evaluating and commemorating leaders is treated with great care, especially for someone like Hu Yaobang, whose legacy remains deeply significant. This article traces how official assessments and commemorations of Hu Yaobang have evolved in the 36 years since his death.
Hu Yaobang died on April 15, 1989. Though he was a member of the Politburo at the time, his funeral followed the protocol for former senior Party and state leaders—the same standard used for Ye Jianying two years earlier. However, given Hu’s popularity and the public’s deep grief, certain ceremonial elements were elevated beyond the standard protocol.
At 12:20 p.m. on April 15, Xinhua News Agency released a brief notice of his passing to foreign audiences. CRI began broadcasting the news at 2:04 p.m., followed by 1 minute 17 seconds of funeral music that was repeated hourly through 5:00 p.m. This protocol had previously been used only for Mao Zedong.
On April 22, the Central Committee held a memorial service for Hu Yaobang at the Great Hall of the People, attended by more than 4,000 people. This was one of only five memorial services held at the Great Hall for state-level leaders following the 1986 reform of funeral protocols (the others being for Liu Bocheng, Ye Jianying, Deng Xiaoping, and Jiang Zemin). China Central Television, China National Radio, and China Radio International broadcast the service live globally—China’s first televised live broadcast of a leader’s memorial service, with commentary by Luo Jing, the young host of Xinwen Lianbo.
The eulogy delivered at the memorial service represented the Party Central Committee’s definitive assessment of Hu Yaobang, describing him as “a long-tested and loyal communist fighter, a great proletarian revolutionary and statesman, an outstanding political commissar in the army, and an excellent leader who long held important Party leadership positions.” It stated: “As a Marxist, Comrade Hu Yaobang’s life was glorious. Throughout his sixty-year revolutionary career, he consistently remained wholeheartedly loyal to the cause of the Party and the people, worked tirelessly with all his heart, struggled arduously, and made immortal contributions.”
Notably, the eulogy retroactively added the title “Marxist,” which had been absent from the obituary. Both this title and “great proletarian revolutionary” are honors bestowed on only a very few Party and state leaders of high prestige—since the founding of the nation, only 14 people have received both. The 1989 eulogy established the foundation for all subsequent evaluations of Hu Yaobang and secured his unquestionable political standing.
After Hu Yaobang’s memorial service, special domestic and international circumstances led to cautious public exposure about him, despite the Central Committee’s consistently positive evaluation. (Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin visited his mausoleum in Jiangxi in 1993 and 1995, respectively.) Hu Yaobang’s name largely disappeared from public discourse for a time, as authorities prioritized maintaining hard-won social stability.
On the fifth anniversary of his death in 1994, magazines such as Tongzhou Gongjin, Dangshi Zongheng, Dangshi Bolan, and Yanhuang Chunqiu published 16 articles commemorating Hu Yaobang, signaling his return to public discussion. Subsequently, these influential publications on Party history, along with the newly established Bainian Chao magazine, commissioned articles from high-ranking officials and intellectuals including Dai Huang, Zhang Liqun, Yang Difu (Vice Chairman of Hunan CPPCC and father of Yang Xiaokai), Zhang Aiping, Gao Yong, Wu Xiang, Liao Bokang (Chairman of Sichuan CPPCC), Li Chang, Zheng Hui, Yu Guangyuan, Huang Tianxiang, Shen Baoxiang, and Tian Jiyun. These authors held senior positions, wrote with skill, and most had close relationships with Hu Yaobang. Many of their articles were masterpieces of great historical value and deeply moving sincerity, such as Zhang Aiping’s “丹心耀日 矢志兴邦” and Wu Xiang’s “大写的人.” The publication of these articles made it acceptable to commemorate and research Hu Yaobang in the press, though still on a limited scale.
Since no formal guidelines yet existed for commemorating Party and state leaders, authorities held no activities or published no commemorative articles in 1995 on the 80th anniversary of Hu Yaobang’s birth. However, given his enormous contributions and influence during his lifetime, official commemoration gradually returned to normal afterward. Hu Yaobang’s former residence was designated a Hunan provincial cultural relic protection site in 1996 (elevated to national status in 2013 as part of the seventh batch). In May 1998, the Publicity Department and the Central Party School jointly held a “Symposium Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Discussion on the Criterion of Truth.” Hu Jintao, then President of the Central Party School, affirmed Hu Yaobang’s contributions in his speech—the first time a central leader had mentioned Hu Yaobang publicly since his death.
On July 27, 1996, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued “Notice on Holding Birth Anniversary Commemorative Activities for Deceased Party and State Leaders,” establishing formal guidelines for such events. In 2005, on the 90th anniversary of Hu Yaobang’s birth, the CPC Central Committee held a symposium on November 18. Zeng Qinghong, member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Vice President, spoke on behalf of the Central Committee, with Premier Wen Jiabao and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary Wu Guanzheng in attendance. In his speech, Zeng Qinghong reiterated the 1989 eulogy’s assessment of Hu Yaobang as “a long-tested and loyal communist fighter, a great proletarian revolutionary and statesman, an outstanding political commissar in the army, and an excellent leader who long held important Party leadership positions.”
This symposium received significant attention domestically and internationally and was widely regarded as marking Hu Yaobang’s formal return to public discourse. Afterward, media and academic journals could freely promote and commemorate him. The number of research papers on Hu Yaobang indexed by CNKI illustrates this shift: from 2000 to 2004, approximately 20 articles appeared annually; after 2005, this increased to over 80. *Endless Longing* by Hu Yaobang’s daughter Man Mei and *Biography of Hu Yaobang (Volume 1)* by Zhang Liqun and others were approved for publication and received strong social response. *Endless Longing* won the Wenjin Book Award, one of the highest honors in China’s publishing industry.
Hu Yaobang’s image began appearing in films and television dramas broadcast on CCTV, such as Deng Xiaoping at History’s Crossroads, where he appeared throughout nearly the entire series as a main character. Moreover, during this period of great prosperity in news and publishing, several high-quality newspapers and periodicals published articles about Hu Yaobang continuously for years. He became frequently mentioned in accounts of reform history, providing opportunities for younger generations to learn about him.
The centennial commemoration of Party and state leaders is the most important memorial ceremony. Preparation for Hu Yaobang’s centennial commemoration actually began in April 2015, including editing Selected Works of Hu Yaobang (edited and published by the Editorial Committee of CPC Central Committee Literature, the highest level of leadership literature publication), *Hu Yaobang Pictorial*, and filming the five-episode news documentary *Hu Yaobang*. The culmination was the centennial symposium held on November 20, attended by all seven then-serving Standing Committee members, with Xi delivering an important speech. Afterward, the People’s Publishing House published the speech as a separate volume.
In his speech, Xi pointed out:
Throughout his 60-year revolutionary career, from a red kid in the Soviet areas to a Party and state leader, from a revolutionary soldier charging into battle to a pioneer of reform and opening up, he made immortal contributions to the independence and liberation of the Chinese nation, to socialist revolution and construction, and to the exploration and creation of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
When he said, “Comrade Hu Yaobang devoted his life to the Party and the people. His life was a glorious life, a life of struggle. In his unremitting struggle for the cause of the Party and the people, he worked day and night, devoted himself wholeheartedly, dedicated himself until death, writing a life worthy of the title of Communist Party member and making contributions that will be recorded in history,” prolonged applause filled the hall.
According to the author’s research, apart from the extraordinary centennial commemorative meetings for Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun, among centennial symposiums held for state-level leaders, only the 1997 Ye Jianying symposium and the 2015 Hu Yaobang symposium were attended by all serving members of the Politburo Standing Committee—a reflection of Hu Yaobang’s exceptional prestige.
The 1996 “Notice on Holding Birth Anniversary Commemorative Activities for Deceased Party and State Leaders” made the following provisions for commemorating state-level leaders:
Birth anniversary commemorative activities for Comrade Mao Zedong shall be hosted by the CPC Central Committee on the 10th, 50th, and 100th anniversaries.
Birth anniversary commemorative activities for Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Chen Yun, and other main Party and state leaders who held core leadership positions in Party history shall be held on the 10th, 50th, and 100th anniversaries. On the 10th anniversary, commemorative articles shall be published; relevant central departments shall hold commemorative symposiums attended by central leaders who shall speak; and the birthplace shall hold commemorative symposiums. On the 50th anniversary, the CPC Central Committee shall hold a commemorative symposium attended by main central leaders who shall speak. On the 100th anniversary, the CPC Central Committee shall hold a commemorative meeting attended by Party and state leaders, with main central leaders speaking.
For deceased comrades who served as members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau, President of the State, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Premier of the State Council, Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, or Vice President of the State, birth anniversary commemorative activities may be held on the 10th, 50th, and 100th anniversaries. On the 10th anniversary, commemorative articles shall be published. On the 50th anniversary, the birthplace shall hold a commemorative symposium. On the 100th anniversary, the CPC Central Committee shall hold a commemorative symposium.
However, in practice, this document has been adjusted in two ways. First, commemoration of the second category of leaders later uniformly followed Mao Zedong’s commemorative standard, with the CPC Central Committee holding commemorative symposiums on the decennial anniversaries rather than having relevant central departments do so. Second, although Ren Bishi, one of the five secretaries at the founding of the nation, died relatively early, he is commemorated as a main Party and state leader in a core position based on his actual historical role, following Article 2 of the document.
However, the notice provided no clear protocol for determining how to commemorate Hu Yaobang, who served as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, after his centennial. Article 3 specified commemoration methods only for those who served in state-level positions such as Standing Committee member, President, NPC Chairman, Premier, or CPPCC Chairman.
This 110th anniversary symposium for Hu Yaobang clearly followed to some extent the decennial commemoration protocol for Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun—that is, a symposium convened in the name of the CPC Central Committee. This is actually a higher standard than that for Ren Bishi, whose decennial symposiums are not titled as “convened by the CPC Central Committee,” and typically include only one Standing Committee member in attendance. This high-level commemoration of Hu Yaobang underscores the Party Central Committee’s reaffirmation of his historical position and reform achievements.
Comparing commemorative speeches for deceased leaders in recent years reveals a pattern. Commemorations of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping focus on affirming their historical achievements and declaring the Party’s future governing approach—a function of their towering political positions. Commemorations of Zhou Enlai and Hu Yaobang, by contrast, closely integrate current efforts to enforce strict Party discipline and improve Party conduct, calling on the entire Party to learn from their noble moral character—a function of their exemplary personal reputations among the public.
For example, at this symposium, Xi proposed that we should “be like him in firmly believing in our ideals and remaining loyal to the Party,”(要像他那样，坚定理想信念，对党忠贞不渝”，“要像他那样，坚持实事求是，矢志追求真理) “be like him in adhering to seeking truth from facts and persistently pursuing truth,”(要像他那样，始终心在人民，做到利归天下) “be like him in always having the people in our hearts and ensuring benefits go to all under heaven,”(要像他那样，保持一身正气，处处以身作则) and “be like him in maintaining integrity and setting an example in all things.” This demonstrates the important significance of Hu Yaobang’s moral responsibility, firm faith, people-centered sentiment, and clean work style for strengthening the governing party’s self-construction today. Undoubtedly, in terms of moral cultivation and work style, he should become a model for the whole Party to learn from.
Xi also called on everyone to learn from Hu Yaobang’s spirit of “standing at the forefront of the times and boldly reforming and innovating,” affirming his reform philosophy: “Without a series of profound reforms, we can never develop the socialist cause or realize socialist modernization”; “We must have the courage to overcome all difficulties and explore new situations and problems that predecessors have never encountered”; and “comprehensively, systematically, and step by step reform all old things that hinder the development of socialist modernization.” As an important pioneer and organizational leader in the early period of reform, Hu Yaobang’s reform spirit and courage remain highly significant for implementing the resolutions of the Third and Fourth Plenums of the 20th Central Committee and achieving the 2035 vision.
In summary, in the 36 years since Hu Yaobang’s passing, the official evaluation of him has remained consistent, assessments of his specific historical achievements have gradually become more comprehensive and complete, and the commemorative protocol has been steadily elevated. This reflects the Party’s attitude and, indirectly, the high prestige Hu Yaobang enjoys among Party members and the people, as well as the fact that his reform achievements and spiritual legacy have withstood the test of history. Comrade Hu Yaobang will forever live in the hearts of the people.