— The First All-China Congress of Soviets of the Chinese Soviet Republic officially opened on January 21, 1934, in the Red Capital of the Soviet Area. After eleven days of vigorous proceedings, the Congress concluded in complete success. It summarized the experience of the Chinese Soviet movement over the past two years, set forth the most urgent and militant historical tasks facing the Soviets, and engaged in detailed discussions on such crucial issues as Red Army construction, economic development, and the building of the soviet system. Resolutions were adopted on these major questions, together with an amended Soviet Constitution. Finally, the Congress elected the following one hundred seventy-five comrades to the Central Executive Committee: Bogu, Chen Shaoyu, He Kequan, Liu Shaoqi, Mao Zedong, Xiang Ying, Wu Liangping, Qu Qiubai, Zhou Yuelin, Jin Weiyin, Huang Fagui, Xie Yuqin, Li Fuchun, Xie Mingren, Xiao Shibang, Lin Guosong, Huang Changjiao, Cai Chang, Zhong Baoyuan, Lei Mengxia, Zhang Jizhi, Xu Dazhi, Zeng Shan, Zhong Changtao, Liu Qiyao, Zhong Xunren, Li Zhuoran, Liu Guangchen, Xie Xianbing, Zhu De, Zhou Enlai, Wang Jiashan, Liu Bocheng, He Chang, He Changgong, Teng Daiyuan, Peng Dehuai, Yang Shangkun, Lin Biao, Nie Rongzhen, Dong Zhentang, Liu Bojian, Huang Sheng, Cai Shufan, Nie Hongjun, Wang Ruchi, Wan Yongcheng, Chen Guang, Xun Junzhou, Luo Ruiqing, Zhang Chunqing, Zhou Jianping, Zhou Kun, Le Shaohua, Chen Ajin, Yuan Guoping, Ye Jianying, Chen Yi, Bi Shiti, Chen Hongshi, Xiao Ke, Kong Heping, Zhu Rui, Liu Chouxi, Xu Yan’gang, Chen Changhao, Xu Xiangqian, Zhang Guotao, Zhang Qinqiu, He Long, Guan Xiangying, Xia Xi, Song Baimin, Wang Weizhou, Luo Binghui, Hong Shui, Cai Gan, Zhang Ranhe, Yu Hongwen, Wang Shitai, Pan Shizhong, Jiang Ashan, Zhang Kouyi, Gu Dacun, Zheng Zhenfen, Zhu Qi, Gao Junting, Zhan Yijin, Zheng Weisan, Wang Fengming, Cheng Fangwu, Guo Shushen, Zhang Desan, Zhu Weiyuan, Gu Zuolin, Shao Shiping, Huang Dao, Zhu Zhaoxiang, Kong Shuan, Liu Xiao, Zhong Shibin, Fu Caixiu, Zhou Yikai, Liu Minghui, Xiong Xianbi, Liu Guozhu, Zhong Guixin, Luo Mai, Chen Xiangsheng, Lin Boqu, Liu Qunxian, Hu Hai, Fan Lechun, Zeng Hongyi, Wu Ziyuan, Zhang Taihe, Huang Yizhang, Zhang Dingcheng, Li Jianzhen, Wu Lanfu, Wu Bixian, Qiu Xianying, Zhang Wentian, Chen Yun, Wang Shengrong, Deng Fa, Chen Tanqiu, Pan Hanyuan, Huang Jiagao, Zhang Yunxian, Zhang Jinlou, Zhou Shaowen, He Zhenwu, Chen Shouchang, Huang Guangbao, Tan Yubao, Liu Shijie, Wang Zhen, Kuang Biao, Peng Renchang, Ren Bishi, Wu Defeng, Wang Xiuzhang, Xiong Guobing, Yu Hongyuan, Li Weihai, He Wei, Li Xiannian, Zeng Guanglan, Zhou Guangkun, Li Chengjia, Chen Ziqian, Fang Zhimin, Yu Hanchao, Huang Wansheng, Wang Jinxiang, Guan Ying, Tu Zhennong, Guan Chunxiang, Wu Yuzhang, Shi Dimin, Yang Qixin, Deng Zhenxun, He Shuheng, Gao Zili, Liang Baitai, Xu Teli, Ruan Xiaoxian, Deng Yingchao, Dong Biwu, Zhao Yun, Wang Xiansuan, Luo Ziming, Yang Shizhu, Lai Meiyu.

In addition, the following thirty-six comrades were elected as alternate members of the Central Executive Committee: Yang Binglong, Xie Zhenfu, Qiu Shifeng, Deng Yaosheng, Dong Changsheng, Liu Yi, Li Meiqun, Zou Zhongcai, Xu Shunhuan, Xu Mingfu, Ye Degui, Deng Zikui, Zhu Rongsheng, Jia Yuan, Feng Xuefeng, Li Yi«, Li Kenong, Zhang Aiping, Luo Ronghuan, Li Changfan, Yan Liji, Yin Rengui, Liu Yanyu, Fang Jinghe, Xie Binghuang, Zhong Yijin, Huang Fujwu, Fang Zhenhua, Zou Dunhou, Liao Hanhua, Long Chunshan, Hua Xinxiang, Zhou Guixiang, Kuang Zhuqua, Deng Ping, Kang Keqing.

With this formal complement of one hundred seventeen full and alternate members, the Central Executive Committee was constituted as the supreme governing body following the adjournment of the All-China Congress of Soviets.

On February 3, the Central Executive Committee held its first meeting and unanimously elected: Mao Zedong, Xiang Ying, Zhang Guotao, Zhu De, Zhang Wentian, Bogu, Zhou Enlai, Qu Qiubai, Liu Shaoqi, Chen Yun, Lin Boqu, Deng Zhenxun, Shi Dimin, Deng Fa, Fang Zhimin, and Zhou Yuelin—seventeen comrades—to form a Presidium as the highest authority after the close of the Executive Committee’s sessions. Mao Zedong was designated Chairman of the Central Executive Committee, with Xiang Ying and Zhang Guotao serving as Vice Chairmen. At the same time, Zhang Wentian (Luo Fu) was elected Chairman of the People’s Commissariat Council. Under the People’s Commissariat Council, eleven People’s Commissariats were established as central administrative organs: Wang Jiashan as People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs; Zhu De as People’s Commissar for Military Affairs; Deng Zhenxun as People’s Commissar for Labor; Gao Zili as People’s Commissar for Land; Lin Boqu as People’s Commissar for Finance; Wu Liangping as People’s Commissar for National Economy; Chen Tanqiu as People’s Commissar for Food; Liang Baitai as People’s Commissar for Justice; Zeng Shan as People’s Commissar for Internal Affairs; Qu Qiubai as People’s Commissar for Education; and Xiang Ying as People’s Commissar for Inspection of Workers and Peasants. Furthermore, Zhu De was elected Chairman of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, with Zhou Enlai and Wang Jiashan serving as vice chairmen. Ruan Chenxian was appointed Director of the Central Audit Commission, and Dong Biwu was entrusted with the duties of Chairman of the Provisional Supreme Court.

Beyond fully embracing all the militant tasks assigned by the Eleventh All-China Congress of Soviets, the Central Executive Committee issued an urgent call to all comrades engaged in soviet work to mobilize immediately, intensify their efforts, rally the broadest masses of workers and peasants, and unite firmly around the soviet government. It urged the concentration of all available forces to launch a revolutionary war aimed at utterly crushing the Nationalist Party’s five “encirclement and suppression” campaigns and securing victory for the soviets throughout China.