At present, both foreign countries and China are striving for the same goal: to defeat fascism. The industrial development of our border region, like all other aspects of our work, is directed toward the overthrow of Japanese imperialism; there is no other primary objective. Industrial activity in the border area only began in earnest five years ago. Back then, there were just seven hundred industrial workers; by 1941, that number had risen to four thousand, and this year it has reached eleven thousand one hundred. Thus, industrial progress in the border region has been rapid. Although the scale remains small, the significance of this development is immense. Anyone who fails to recognize this most dynamic, vital force—capable of bringing about fundamental change—can only be described as muddleheaded and ignorant.

The aim of this congress is to achieve complete self-sufficiency in industrial goods within two years, starting with cloth and iron. Once we attain full self-sufficiency, the workforce will expand considerably. All engineers, factory directors, and workers must devote themselves to this task—communists and non-communists alike. Comrades Shen Hong and Chen Zhenxia, though not members of the Party, share the same resolve as communists: they are fighting tirelessly to overthrow Japanese imperialism. To defeat Japanese imperialism, industry is indispensable; and to provide a solid guarantee for China’s national independence, industrialization is essential. The Communist Party is committed to advancing China’s industrialization. The reason Japan has dared to bully China so brazenly lies in our lack of a strong industrial base. It preys on our backwardness. Therefore, eradicating this backwardness is the common responsibility of our entire nation. The people support the Communist Party because we represent the aspirations of the nation and the masses. However, if we fail to solve our economic problems, if we cannot establish modern industry, and if we do not develop productive forces, popular support may well wane.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Communist Party engaged 58 percent of the enemy troops and 90 percent of the puppet forces. In this regard, we have accumulated valuable experience and achieved concrete results. Yet when it comes to economic work—especially industry—we still lack sufficient expertise. Nevertheless, this is the decisive sphere: it determines every aspect of military affairs, politics, culture, ideology, morality, religion, and indeed all social transformations. Consequently, all Party members should study economic work, and many of them should acquire practical knowledge of industrial technology. Our border region serves as a great school, offering a course on industry. This Congress of Workers’ Representatives is, in effect, a short-term training program in industrial techniques. If Party members show no concern for industry or the economy, understand nothing of other useful forms of work, possess neither knowledge nor ability in these areas, and confine themselves to an abstract notion of “revolutionary work,” such “revolutionaries” are utterly worthless. We must oppose these empty ideologues and instead learn the technical skills needed to industrialize China.