Walking Well on the Long March of the New Era | Guided by Faith, Paved with Responsibility—Continuing the Journey on the Long March of the New Era

The pioneering of every journey is inseparable from the guidance of the spiritual torch. Over eighty years ago, the Long March of the Red Army forged an enduring spiritual monument with their passion and unwavering faith. Today, on the “Long March Road” of the new era, we too must draw strength from our red heritage, empower ourselves with the spirit of revolution, and continue writing chapters of vigorous advancement on our respective paths.

To carry forward the red gene and promote the revolutionary spirit, and to greet the Group’s First Party Congress with a spirited and energetic attitude, we’ve launched a special column titled “Walking Well on the Long March of the New Era.” We’ll be periodically sharing reflections and practical experiences from Party members at the Geophysical Exploration Institute. Here, you won’t find empty slogans—only the steadfast dedication of frontline Party members at exploration sites, their relentless pursuit in tackling technical challenges, and their sense of responsibility in safeguarding the nation’s resource security. They infuse the spirit of the Long March into every calibration of geophysical instruments, weave it into every report on deep-sea mineral exploration, and put it into practice with every kilometer traveled in ensuring energy security.

May these words—laden with the earthy scent of the land and soaked in the sweat of hard work—help us understand that the Long March of the new era is a steadfast commitment to our original aspirations, a courageous determination to overcome all difficulties, and, above all, a vivid testament to how generations of geophysical explorers have embodied their loyalty through practical actions and continued writing glorious chapters with their sense of responsibility.

We look forward to journeying together with you, feeling the warmth of faith between the lines, drawing strength and motivation from the power of role models, and collectively walking well the Long March that belongs to our generation.

With faith as our torch and responsibility as our guiding path—continuing the relay march on the Long March of the new era.

As we embark on this long journey into a new era, how can we walk well along this new “Long March”? The echoes of history reverberate across time and space; the stirring songs of the Long March still burn with fervor. This march is not merely the legendary footsteps of the Red Army soldiers—it is also a spiritual compass that marks the path for every generation of Communist Party members: a banner of faith, an indelible imprint of our original aspirations, and a clarion call to struggle! Today, taking the responsibilities on our shoulders and the journey beneath our feet as a mirror, I’d like to share my answer from the depths of my heart.

Remember the path we’ve traveled, and let the flame of faith and ideals be passed down from generation to generation. Looking back on our journey so far, the Xiang River weeps, witnessing moments of life and death; the Zunyi Conference lit the way forward amid crisis. On the Songpan Grasslands, though the Red Army was mired in swamps, it forged a path to survival thanks to its unwavering belief that “revolutionary ideals are higher than heaven.” Warriors racing across the iron chains, their bodies blazing with fire, paved the way with their own flesh and blood. And that unissued silver dollar from the Long March—a poignant testament to the supply officer’s ultimate sacrifice at the very last moment of his life, giving himself up for others—has long been etched into the very veins of Communist Party members, becoming an enduring beacon that fuels our relentless march forward. Only by delving deeply into study, reflection, practice, and comprehension—nourishing our original aspirations and solidifying our loyalty with the Party’s innovative theories—can we face the challenges ahead on this new journey without fear or hesitation.

Continue to strive forward, etching our sense of responsibility for the times onto the rugged path of exploration. The new Long March calls upon each generation to carry on the journey— and the spirited dedication of our exploration team serves as a true testament to this call. We remain faithful to our convictions, demonstrating loyalty in quiet, unassuming ways. This loyalty is first and foremost embodied in our firm belief in and active implementation of the Party’s innovative theories. It’s not merely a pledge uttered with words; rather, it’s deeply rooted in our hearts and outwardly manifested in our actions. It shows up in our late-night study sessions under the glow of lamps, as we delve into the latest theoretical ideas; it’s evident in every geophysical exploration project design, where we carefully balance national energy needs with ecological conservation. We measure the earth with our footsteps and weave blueprints with data—loyalty has long been forged into the precision of our data-collection processes and the rigor of our data analysis. Beside silent instruments and behind unspoken screens, loyalty stands like an enduring mark deep within the layers of rock.

Never forget where we come from—“exploring” well-being for the people. Pursuing happiness for the Chinese people has always been our unchanging original aspiration and starting point. Looking back at the Long March, the deep bond of mutual trust and support between Red Army soldiers and local villagers continues to resonate in our ordinary daily work today. When my colleague was conducting exploration in the Sichuan Basin, he often stayed up late for days on end, meticulously revising the operational plan, all to minimize disruption to the villagers’ farmland. When oil reservoirs discovered thanks to precise geophysical data bring stable energy security to thousands upon thousands of households in Sichuan and Chongqing; when technological innovation enables us to more efficiently avoid ecologically sensitive areas; and when our achievements truly transform into a driving force for local development—this is the most passionate echo of our original aspiration in the new era!

The baton of our era is firmly in our hands. Today, every Communist Party member’s struggle is setting new coordinates for the new journey ahead; every breakthrough achieved in our respective posts is painting a grand vision of Chinese-style modernization. Let us remember the path we’ve traveled and confidently embark on the Long March of the new era.

Executive Producer | Yu Changheng

Reviewed by | Zou Zhongping

Editor-in-charge | Zhou Huiying

Text | Chen Liran

Editor | Wang Yuchen