- David Gitter, Julia Bowie, Sandy Lu
Weekly Report 1|3 10.14.2017-10.20.2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered his report to the 19th Party Congress on behalf of the 18th Central Committee, revealing the priorities of the CCP until the 20th Party Congress.
Xi Jinping unveiled his “New Era” Thought, placing it alongside the theories of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao and indicating its likely addition to the CCP Constitution. The theory seems likely to bear Xi Jinping’s name.
Party propaganda continues to stress the significance of updated procedures that strengthened the Xi Jinping-led Politburo’s direct control over the CCDI's drafting of its work report to the 19th Party Congress, at a time when current CCDI head and Xi-ally Wang Qishan is expected to step down according to retirement norms.
The National Party Member Management Information System was launched as an initiative meant to utilize technology in order to strengthen Party governance.
SENIOR LEADERS
Xi Jinping Delivers Report to 19th Party Congress, Introduces “New Era” Thought
10.19 On 18 October, Xi Jinping’s report on behalf of the 18th Central Committee to the 19th Party Congress lasted 3 ½ hours, summarizing the 18th Central Committee’s previous work and laying down the Party’s consensus for the next five years of work. Titled “Secure a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Strive for the Great Success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” (决胜全面建成小康社会 夺取新时代中国特色社会主义伟大胜利), the 13 sections of the report were: 1) the Past 5 Years: our work and historic change; 2) The New Era: The Historic Mission of the Communist Party of China; 3) The Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Basic Policy; 4) Securing a Decisive Victory in Building a Moderately Prosperous Society in All Respects and Embarking on a Journey to Fully Build a Modern Socialist China; 5) Applying a New Vision of Development and Developing a Modernized Economy; 6) Improving the System of Institutions through which the People Run the Country and Developing Socialist Democracy; 7) Building Stronger Cultural Confidence and Helping Socialist Culture to Flourish; 8) Growing Better at Ensuring and Improving People’s Wellbeing and Strengthening and Developing New Approaches to Social Governance; 9) Speeding up Reform of the System for Developing an Ecological Civilization, and Building a Beautiful China; 10) Staying Committed to the Chinese Path of Building a Strong Armed Forces and Fully Advancing the Modernization of National Defense and the Military; 11) Upholding “One Country, Two Systems” and Moving toward National Reunification; 12) Following a Path of Peaceful Development and Working to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind; and 13) Exercising Strict Governance over the Party and Improving the Party’s Ability to Govern and Lead.
The “New Era” Thought was said to build upon and enrich Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of the Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development, representing the latest achievement and important component of the Theory System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. It makes clear that the principal contradiction facing China in the new era is the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development. It emphasizes confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of Socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is the action guide that will lead the whole Party, country, and people to realize the Chinese nation’s great rejuvenation; therefore, it must be firmly adhered to and continuously developed.
Xi reaffirmed that a historic period existed between the 19th Party Congress and the 20th Party Congress in the struggle to realize the first “centenary goal” of building a moderately prosperous society. The second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the mid 21st century was divided into two parts: 1) from 2020-2035, the basic realization of modernized socialism will be achieved; and 2) from 2035-2050, the full realization of the second centenary goal.
The goal of building a beautiful China includes promoting green development, solving environmental problems, intensifying the protection of ecosystems, and reforming the environmental regulation system.
PROPAGANDA WORK
The Party will Lead the Chinese People to their Great Dream
10.15 A commentary published in the Qiushi Journal under the pen name “Qiu Shi” (秋石), used by the Qiushi Editorial Board to convey the theoretical positions of the CCP Central Committee, highlights the importance of maintaining a strong leadership core. The article asserts that the most outstanding achievement in reinforcing the leadership of the Party since the 18th Party Congress was establishing the term “Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the Core” at the sixth plenary session of the 18th CCP Central Committee.
The article asserts that it is critical for a big party like the CCP leading a big country like China to form a firm central collective of leaders and to defend the authority of this collective. The past five years have proven that placing General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core of the Party reflect the will of both the people and the Party. As the core of the Party he has earned his reputation and established a new phase in the governance of the country.
The article also lists the five unique advantages of having the CCP lead the country:
Political Advantage: CCP leaders directly decide and reflect the nature of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics.
Theoretical Advantage: The CCP is a party that highly values theoretical construction and guidance.
Organizational Advantage: The Party is one united entity built on a scientific organizational system based on Marxism.
Institutional Advantage: Democratic centralism is the fundamental organizational principle of the Party. It is scientific and effective. The CCP’s institutional system allows it to make informed and rational decisions and avoid the problems that prevent Western governments from making and acting on their decisions.
“Mass” Advantage: The fundamental working line of the Party is that “everything is for the masses, everything depends on the masses, we come from the masses, and we go to the masses” (一切为了群众，一切依靠群众，从群众中来，到群众中去). The Party devotes itself to serving the people and adheres to developmental thoughts that are centered on the people.
The article concludes that the effort to achieve a strictly-ruled party in all respects made historical achievements after the 18th Party Congress, but China must not relax its efforts. At this new historical starting point, only through reinforcing the leadership of the Party and strengthening its cohesiveness can the Party lead the Chinese people toward their great dream.
Excerpts from Xi Jinping’s Building a Socialist Culture Treatise
10.16 The CCP Central Committee’s Literature Research Office has published a book entitled Excerpts from Xi Jinping’s Building a Socialist Culture Treatise (习近平关于社会主义文化建设论述摘编). The book showcases Xi’s ideas regarding building a socialist civilization and reportedly provides ideological assurance, spiritual strength, and moral nourishment for the task of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The book discusses eight topics: firm cultural self-confidence and building a socialist cultural great power; insisting on Marxism as a guide and firmly grasping the leadership, administrative, and speech authority of ideological work; placing high importance on theory construction and accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics; cultivating socialist core values; raising the morality of the entire nation; adhering to people-centered creative-orientation; promoting the rapid development of all-around prosperous civilized industries; and increasing the cultural soft-power of the nation and telling a good China story.
A People’s Daily article published the same day explained the meaning of the publication, saying it has very important guiding significance. First, for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation to take place, Chinese culture must flourish. Firm cultural self confidence requires recognition of the five-thousand year history of the Chinese nation, which the article emphasizes readers should feel very proud of. Second, the publication emphasizes the importance of ideological work, noting that the fate of the party and the country depends on the ability to do ideological work well. The article notes that the Internet has become the main battlefield of the public opinion struggle, in which the Party must be ideologically secure in order to win. It states that propaganda and ideological work must be done by the entire Party, not just the Propaganda Department. Third, the publication emphasizes the importance of cultivating socialist core values, explaining that the fate of socialism is inseparable from the fate of the motherland. Fourth, the book discusses the importance of improving China’s cultural soft power and promoting China’s core values throughout the world by improving China’s international communication and foreign propaganda system.
The National Party Member Management Information System Launched
People’s Daily
10.17 Politburo member and Central Organization Department head Zhao Leji (赵乐际) attended the launching ceremony of the National Party Member Management Information System (全国党员管理信息系统) held by the Central Organization Department. The new system is a product of the Party’s decision to establish an information database for Party members. The goal is to implement Xi Jinping’s instruction on utilizing information technology to improve the educational management of Party members. The department started the information management system project aiming to create e-authentication for Party members, provide Party members an open portal for information, and establish an integrated working platform for Party organizations and departments at all levels. The system can be used to manage Party-organized activities online and conduct statistical analysis on the data online. The article asserts that this system is a critical support and foundation for implementing the requirement to rule the Party in all respects strictly.
A Powerful China is Good for the World
10.18 A commentary under the “Wang Hailou” (望海楼) column, an important column directed at Chinese/foreign Chinese living abroad, states that a strong China is advantageous to the world. Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September, 2001 and the international financial crisis that followed, the world’s political economy was said to have experienced immense and complicated change. Negative changes include non-traditional security and global challenges, imbalanced development that disturbs the world economy, and episodes of local unrest; positive changes include emerging market countries and developing China taking the development “fast lane” (快车道), new forming development centers in various regions around the world, and the international power balance continuing to move in the direction of peace and development. China’s labels of the most populous country, biggest developing country, and the second largest economy are correct but were said to not sufficiently explain China. China is also the initiator of the One Belt One Road (OBOR) inclusive development platform; a leader in facing climate change; and an aid provider that extends two warm and powerful hands to underdeveloped Africa. These undertakings were framed in China's pursuit of a humanity that is part of a “community of common destiny.” Domestically, the CCP’s work under Xi Jinping was praised for its focus on fighting corruption, most recently exhibited by expelling Sun Zhengcai (孙政才) and other leaders from the Party and by changing the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) procedures for reporting to the 19th Party Congress. The CCP was also linked to changing the world through its successful leadership of ⅕ of humanity, its contributions to the world economy, taking the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, contributing China’s wisdom and policies to solving humanity’s problems, and continually perfecting its theory system.
UNITED FRONT WORK
CCP Central Committee Convenes Non-Party Members Conference, Solicits Opinions on the 19th Party Congress Report
10.16 The CCP Central Committee convened a meeting of non-Party members to seek opinions on the 19th Party Congress from democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and other non-Party members. Xi Jinping spoke at the conference in order to convey the importance of a patriotic united front between the CCP and democratic parties in the face of new goals. Xi stressed that multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CCP is the basic political system of China. Upholding this type of cooperation is one of the most important aspects of perfecting a socialist system with Chinese characteristics and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He emphasized that the central committees of democratic parties must constantly strengthen consensus and uphold the leadership of the CCP. Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Chairman Yu Zhengsheng (俞正声), Politburo Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan (刘云山), and Politburo Standing Committee member and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary Wang Qishan (王岐山) also attended the conference.
Jiusan Society Central Committee Holds Conference on Cultural Relics and the Silk Road
10.16 The Jiusan Society, one of the eight officially recognized democratic parties under the leadership of the CCP, held a conference in Yinchuan to focus on cultural relics and the Silk Road. CPPCC Vice Chairman and Jiusan Society Chairman Han Qide (韩启德) attended and gave a speech focusing on promoting the One Belt One Road initiative by enriching the understanding of Silk Road history. According to Han, because Chinese history has always been defined by multi-ethnic integration, studying the history of the Silk Road can improve people’s understand of what is meant by the “Chinese People” (中华民族). He called for intellectuals in the humanities and social sciences to work together to create a common cultural understanding.
New United Front Expressions in Xi Jinping’s Report to 19th Party Congress
10.18 The United Front Work Department highlighted Xi Jinping’s references to united front work in his report to the 19th Party Congress. In discussing the past five years of work and historic changes, Hong Kong/Macao/ Taiwan work was said to have achieved new progress; this included deepening communication and cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao and advancing peaceful development in cross-Strait relations, while properly responding to changing trends in the Taiwan situation and checking “Taiwan Independence” separatist forces. In discussing The Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the basic policy, Xi stated the need to unswervingly consolidate and develop the public-sector economy and support and guide the non-public sector economy. Other notable points highlighted by the department were persevering and perfecting the political consultative system and multiparty cooperation under CCP leadership, developing the broadest possible patriotic united front, persevering in the direction of sinification of China’s religions, bringing out the important functions of intellectuals and new social class workers in contributing to Socialism with Chinese characteristics, and properly cultivating women cadres, ethnic minority cadres, and non-Party cadres.
PARTY DISCIPLINE
Achievements in Anti-Corruption since the 18th Party Congress
10.16 An article discusses how strict rule of the Party has been achieved since the 18th Party Congress. Up to September 2017, disciplinary departments at all levels have discovered more than 190,000 violations of the Eight-Point Guideline, addressed 256,000 Party cadres, and disciplined more than 140,000 people. The guideline regulates the work ethic of Party members, demanding they simplify travel arrangements, make their documents and presentations concise, report only necessary news, refrain from publishing work in their own names, and pursue frugal lifestyles. Up to August 2017, more than 155,000 Party organizations have been inspected, 32 thousand people were disciplined, and 2,715 people were transferred to judicial organs for handling. According to a poll conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, the public’s satisfaction rate on anti-corruption work and the construction of a clean and righteous political environment for the Party was 75 percent before the 18th Party Congress, and rose to 93.9 percent in 2017.
CNNC Inspects Its Poverty Alleviation Works in Ningxia and Chongqing
10.16 A few days ago, the disciplinary unit stationed in the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) sent out two working groups to Tongxin County in Ningxia and Shizhu County in Chongqing, where the corporation regularly provides funding for poverty alleviation. The working groups found that usage of alleviation funds was not managed strictly, and held the relevant local personnel responsible. During the inspection, the working groups also reinforced their communication with the financial, accounting, human resources, and planning departments to conduct inspections thoroughly. CNNC has also started revising its evaluation policies on anti-corruption work to make sure poverty alleviation funding is effectively utilized.
CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION (CMC)
Ministry of Justice Releases Notice Requiring Judicial Departments to Provide Legal Services to the Military and People’s Armed Police Forces on the Work of Completely Terminating Paid Services.
10.16 The Ministry of Justice distributed the “Ministry of Justice Notice Requiring Judicial Departments to Provide Legal Services to the Military and People’s Armed Police Forces on the Work of Completely Terminating Paid Services” (司法部关于做好为军队和武警部队全面停止有偿服务提供法律服务工作的通知), in order to require judicial authorities at all levels to provide legal services such as notarization and judicial identification to assist the work of ceasing all paid services provided by the Military and the People’s Armed Police. The Notice points out that this policy is a critical strategic decision made by the CCP Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and Xi Jinping to reform and strengthen the military. The Notice requires the judicial departments at all levels to seek lawyers for legal consultations on the potential conflicts caused by this policy and to look into all legal issues relevant to the work.
The Party Leads and Pushes for Transformation in National Defense Mobilization
10.16 A PLA Daily commentator article points out that Xi Jinping greatly values national defense mobilization construction. In the past five years, the national defense mobilization system has set reinforcing its ability to fight and win as its goal and set using laws to implement mobilization as its code of conduct. Several focal points to improve the system include resolving any organizational barriers that prevent the construction of national defense and the military, increasing the quality of the militia and reserve service while deepening civil-military integration, and enacting supporting laws such as the “Law of the People's Republic of China on National Defense Transportation” (中华人民共和国国防交通法).
COMPREHENSIVELY DEEPENING REFORM
19th Party Congress Spokesperson: Comprehensively Deepening Reform Makes Great Strides, 19th Party Congress will Resolutely Continue to Deepen Reform
10.17 19th Party Congress Spokesperson and Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda Department Tuo Zhen (庹震) answered questions from Chinese and foreign reporters at 4:30pm in Beijing. A People’s Daily reporter asked Tuo to explain the progress made on reform tasks since the Third Plenum of the 18th Central Committee, identify the most difficult remaining ones, and discuss if the 19th Party Congress would issue new orders for the next step in comprehensively deepening reform. Tuo explained that the Party from start to finish stands from the people’s position when contemplating reform issues, and Xi Jinping himself took on the role as head of the Central Leading Small Group on Comprehensively Deepening Reform to guide reform over the course of 38 group meetings. 1,500 actions taken by Party and state departments were said to have resulted in solving problems that were unsolved for a long time. Tuo said the people are able to feel real changes, such as the approval of a decentralization of authority, the reduction in taxes and fees, policy measures supporting innovation and entrepreneurs, Huji (hukou) system reform, medical policies related to seeing doctors, and more. According to Tuo, while difficult problems remained such as ideological restraints and structural and institutional obstacles, the 19th Party Congress will issue new strategic developments and advance reform from a higher starting point, persevering in reform from start to finish.
MISCELLANEOUS
The High-Quality Grain Project to Promote Rural Development Has Been Launched
10.17 Member of the National Development and Reform Commission and the head of the State Administration of Grain Zhang Wufeng (张务锋) attended an event held by the State Administration of Grain, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, All-China Women’s Federation, and UN Food and Agriculture Organization to promote the 2017 World Food Day and the Publicity Week for the Conservation of Food Grain (全国爱粮节粮宣传周) in Beijing. During his speech, Zhang pointed out that food security is an issue that is especially important for a developing country with a large population like China. After years of effort, China not only successfully fed its people, but also made a significant contribution to the world’s food security. The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Grain have officially launched a “high-quality grain project” (优质粮食工程) focusing on building an evaluation and monitoring system to increase the supply of high-quality food product, drive up farmers’ income, develop green agriculture, and build a “healthy China.”
INTERNATIONAL LIAISON WORK
Deeply Study General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Party’s Important Thought on Foreign Work, Initiate the New Phase for the Party’s Foreign Work
10.15 The CCP International Department (CCP/ID) published an article in the Qiushi Journal that reviews the achievements of the CCP/ID since the 18th Party Congress, and calls on the department to initiate a new phase of the Party’s foreign work after the 19th Party Congress. The article affirms that the Party’s foreign work has always been closely linked with the Party’s cause, and that the central task of the CCP/ID has always been to maintain the rule of the Party, emphasizing that the work of the CCP/ID is to support the overall diplomatic objectives of the Party. The CCP/ID thus aided China in the South China Sea arbitration by getting 240 political parties in 120 countries, as well as 280 well-known think tanks and non-government organizations to openly support China’s position. Furthermore, it has supported China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative by strengthening international cooperation, establishing cooperation between think tanks, and facilitating civil society exchanges to support the initiative. The CCP/ID also says that it worked to enhance the international image of China by demonstrating the Party’s sincere desire to safeguard world peace and promote development.
International Department:
10.17 International Department Assistant Minister Shen Beili (沈蓓莉) discussed bilateral and party-to-party exchanges with the newly appointed Ambassador from Kyrgyzstan Azamat Usenov.
10.17 Shen Beili met with Vice Chairman of the Polish Law and Justice Party Caucus in Beijing. Shen expressed the desire to establish closer relations with the Law and Justice Party, while the Vice Chairman promised cooperation on a variety of initiatives, including One Belt One Road.
ORGANIZATION WORK
Xi Jinping Appoints and Dismisses Ambassadors
10.16 President Xi Jinping appointed and dismissed the following ambassadors according to the decision of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress:
Yang Yanyi (杨燕怡) was dismissed from her position as China’s mission head in the European Union, and Zhang Ming (张明) was appointed as her replacement.
Xiao Ming (肖明) was dismissed from his position as China’s ambassador to the Union of Comoros, and He Yanjun (何彦军) was appointed as his replacement.