On Saturday 27 September 2025, Friends of Socialist China held a successful conference at Bolivar Hall, London, to mark the 76th National Day of the People’s Republic of China. Attended by well over a hundred people, the event featured panel discussions on China’s role as a force for peace and multipolarity, its achievements in overcoming poverty and building socialism, and its leadership in combating climate breakdown.
Introducing the event, Professor Radhika Desai reflected on the importance of this annual gathering, noting that China’s “size and level of development give it an objectively critical role in the global transition to socialism, having subtracted a sixth of humanity from the ravages of capitalism and its imperialism, and promised to make it a modern socialist society by 2049”. Meanwhile, “while the West is the fomenter in chief of the world chaos, China and its allies are emerging as the centre of a spreading and steadying calm.” Radhika emphasised that it is essential for progressive forces worldwide to build understanding of, and friendship with, China.
The opening rally was addressed by a number of senior diplomats based in London: Jiang Zhouteng, Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; Pablo Arturo Ginarte Sampedro, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba; Timofey Kunitskiy, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation; Wilfredo Hernández Maya, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; and Thavone Singharaj, Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, of the Embassy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Each of them brought greetings from their respective governments and expressed solidarity with Socialist China and with our conference. A video of greetings from Zhang Weiwei – Professor of international relations at Fudan University – was also shown.
Former MP and leader of the Workers Party of Britain, George Galloway, was expected to speak at the opening rally, but was prevented from doing so due to being detained, with his wife Gayatri, by Sussex Police on their arrival at Gatwick Airport under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. As we noted in a website post the following day: “Friends of Socialist China vehemently condemns this further brazen assault on democratic rights by the British state and its attacks on anti-imperialists. We extend our full support and solidarity to George and Gayatri and to the comrades of the Workers Party, as we do to all those subject to state repression on account of their political work against imperialism and war and in support of peace, democracy and social progress.”
Following the opening rally, we had a panel discussion on the theme 80 years since the defeat of fascism: China as a force for peace and multipolarity, with contributions from Mick Wallace (Former MEP; Former TD [Member of the Irish Parliament] for Wexford); Keith Bennett (Co-editor of Friends of Socialist China); Jenny Clegg (author and peace activist); Luke Daniels (President of Caribbean Labour Solidarity) and Francisco Domínguez (Secretary of the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign).
The second panel was on China’s achievements in overcoming poverty and building socialism, chaired by R Islam (Friends of Socialist China Britain Committee) and featuring contributions from Ali Al-Assam (Managing Director of the NewsSocial Cooperative); Eben Williams (Education Officer for the Young Communist League); and Fiona Sim (Co-founder of the Black Liberation Alliance).
The final panel was on the theme How China is leading the fight against climate breakdown, chaired by David Peat (Iskra Books) with contributions from Paul Atkin (environmental campaigner); Yanan Song (lecturer in Global Politics at SOAS University of London) and Carlos Martinez (co-editor of Friends of Socialist China).
The closing rally featured speeches from Robert Griffiths (General Secretary of the Communist Party of Britain); Aswathi Asok (Executive Committee member of the Association of Indian Communists); and Gearóid Ó Machail (National Executive Committee member of the Communist Party of Ireland). It was chaired and introduced by Ileana Chan of Empire Watch.
We were also delighted that Dr Jenny Clegg’s new book, Storming the Heavens – Peasants and Revolution in China, 1925-1949, was launched at the conference. Drawing on decades of research, the book examines land, class and revolution, analysing peasant struggles, imperialism, and the Communist Party of China’s evolving strategy in crucial phases of the revolution.
All speeches from the event can be found on the YouTube channels of Friends of Socialist China and the event’s media partner, Empire Watch.
The conference was supported by a broad range of progressive organisations: The Morning Star, Communist Party of Britain, Workers Party of Britain, Communist Party of Ireland, International Manifesto Group, Black Liberation Alliance, Iskra Books, Praxis Press, Manifesto Press, Young Communist League, Caribbean Labour Solidarity, Third World Solidarity, No 2 NATO, and Institute for Independence Studies.
The conference marks another landmark in the work of building friendship and solidarity with China, and understanding of its role in the world.
The videos of the opening and closing rallies, and the panel discussions, are embedded below.
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