Soldiers and officers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army for the new batch of peace-keeping mission in Lebanon take oath in front of the national flag, at the international airport of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 16, 2009. At present, Asia is playing a significant role in the word which no one can ignore. The emerging economies like China and India, have been the most active growth pole of global economy. Financial Times has said, the shift of economic and geopolitical clout towards the East, symbolized by the rise of China, is part of a border movement of capital, innovation and economic muscle to Asia. However, the situation was totally different in the 19th century, nearly all the Asia was in humiliation and poverty. Following the Opium War of 1840, China gradually became a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society, and foreign powers stepped up their aggression against China. The feudal rule became increasingly corrupt, the country was devastated by incessant wars and turbulence, and the Chinese people suffered from hunger and oppression. In 1911, protests and armed uprisings took place across China against the monarchy of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). These events led to the toppling of the country's last emperor and the founding of the Republic of China on Jan. 1, 1912. The Xinhai Revolution in 1911 led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen put an end to the autocratic rule that had existed in China for several thousand years, and gave birth to Asia's first republic. Many countries of the continent were greatly influenced by the Xinhai Revolution and met a wave of national liberation and independence. Russian revolutionary and socialist leader Vladimir Lenin praised the revolution "the awakening of Asia". This revolution greatly boosted China's social progress, all the Chinese people were awakened at the fact of mind, and the ideas of democracy were widely spread. The unaccomplished tasks of the Xinhai Revoluntion, which were winning complete independence and liberation, and making China strong and prosperous, were carried on by the Communist Party of China. All Chinese people have, through indomitable struggles, achieved major successes in revolution, development and reform, especially after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. Today, all the misery and humiliation have gone forever, a vibrant China has emerged in the East, with full confidence and responsibility. The rise of Asia is evaluated as one of the most important events of the 20th century. It is the great revolution 100 years ago that triggered the magnificent and exceptional change. (Xinhua/Zhou Can)
