Chinese Communist Party celebrates centenary

China’s President Xi Jinping said the ruling Communist Party has restored the country’s dignity and transformed it into the second-largest economy during a Thursday speech from the balcony of Beijing's Tiananmen Gate. Thursday’s 100th anniversary of the CCP follows several other events throughout the week, including an outdoor gala retelling the history of the CCP, fireworks at the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium, and special historical exhibits.

What else did Xi note? The 68-year-old leader said China restored order to Hong Kong after the pro-democracy protests and emphasized the country’s commitment to bring Taiwan under its control. Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam also attended the Thursday event amid growing international criticism over China’s crackdown on pro-democracy activists in the territory. Lam joined Beijing in dismissing the concerns as interference into China’s internal affairs. Xi has eliminated term limits and is expected to start a third five-year run as party leader next year.

Dig deeper: Read Erica Kwong’s report on the closure of Hong Kong’s largest pro-democracy newspaper.