Xi Jinping Honors 102-Year-Old Communist Party Veteran Zhang Liensheng and the Historic 'Fourth Detachment'

On the occasion of the Communist Party of China's 105th founding anniversary, President Xi Jinping sent a letter to Zhang Liensheng, a 102-year-old veteran party member and former radioman with the 'Fourth Detachment' of Xinhua News Agency. In his letter, Xi praised Zhang's lifelong dedication to communications technology during China's revolutionary struggle and his continued concern for the party's development despite his advanced age. Xi emphasized that Zhang's declaration to "forever follow the party" and remain "forever a member of the Fourth Detachment" reflects profound faith and love for the party, and called on contemporary communists to inherit the revolutionary legacy, remain true to their original mission, and write outstanding answers on the new journey.

The 'Fourth Detachment' was formed in March 1947 when the Communist Party Center actively withdrew from Yan'an to counter a Nationalist military offensive. While Xinhua's director Liao Chengzhi led the majority of the agency to the Taihang region, Vice Editor-in-Chief Fan Changjiang led a Xinhua work team of initially over 40 people—later expanding to more than 100—to follow the Party Center through northern Shaanxi. As part of the Central Column's command structure, the Fourth Detachment was tasked with news communications and liaison responsibilities. As Mao Zedong later recalled, while the party's armed forces commanded military operations by radio, the Fourth Detachment guided public opinion through Xinhua, representing the critical civilian information line.

During the grueling Liberation War, the Fourth Detachment operated in extreme conditions across the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border region. Operating near a Nationalist force of 300,000 troops while the local region had a population of under 2 million and only 30,000-40,000 troops, the unit conducted vital operations. Members collected, transmitted, edited, and printed news and intelligence vital to the Party Center's decision-making, while simultaneously broadcasting authoritative Communist Party news to the nation and world. They transcribed Nationalist Central News Agency bulletins and foreign wire services, producing roughly 4,000-character newsletters and reference materials for party leadership. Key dispatches—such as "The Party Center and Chairman Mao remain in northern Shaanxi" and "The Liu-Deng Army has crossed the Yellow River into the Central Plains"—were transmitted nationwide and internationally, significantly boosting military and civilian morale while striking heavy blows against Nationalist forces.

Over more than a year from March 1947, the Fourth Detachment underwent eight major relocations covering over 2,000 kilometers, sometimes operating only 10-20 kilometers from enemy forces and enduring encirclement. Members translated cables while sitting on heated brick platforms, stove edges, and in their laps. In March 1948, as the Liberation War advanced favorably, the Party Center crossed the Yellow River toward Pingshan County in Hebei. The Fourth Detachment followed, and by June 1948, after prolonged operations across northern Shaanxi, it successfully reunited with the main Xinhua headquarters.

The Fourth Detachment's legendary journey exemplifies Xinhua's enduring commitment to standing with the Party Center at critical historical moments and embodies the political character of "revolutionary people" and "party members." Today, as Xinhua commemorates its 95th anniversary, the agency remains committed to Xi Jinping's directive to serve as the party's mouthpiece, eyes, and think tank, perpetuating the Fourth Detachment's revolutionary spirit while advancing into the new media era and enhancing international communications.