Weekly Report 1|7 11.11.2017-11.17.2017

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Authoritative commentary in the CCP Central Committee’s mouthpiece and theoretical journal, People’s Daily and Qiushi, expressly prescribe the concepts of “Xi Jinping Thought,” a “community with a shared future,” and the “new era” to nations beyond China’s borders; they offer developing countries an alternative “socialist” model of development and promote an international order in Asia linked to China’s own development and rise.
Central Organization Department Head Chen Xi highlighted political rot, economic greed, and moral degeneration as dangerous threats to the Party’s organization work.
SENIOR LEADERS
Li Keqiang offers 6 recommendations at ASEAN Plus Three Summit People’s Daily
11.14 Premier Li Keqiang attended and delivered a speech at the 20th ASEAN Plus Three Commemorative Summit in Manila, the Philippines, which was presided over by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte. Li stated that the ASEAN Plus Three cooperative framework has continuously improved and has become one of the most outstanding cooperative frameworks, advancing the East Asian region’s peace and development. Li expressed that China looked forward to advancing consensus and regional integration, and pushing forward the construction of an East Asian economic community. To further these goals, Li offered six recommendations: 1) energetically advance the facilitation of trade liberalization and gradually advance toward the goal of one market; 2) broaden production and investment cooperation and create a win-win supply chain; 3) strengthen infrastructure cooperation and networking, particularly through linking One Belt One Road with the Master Plan on East Asia Connectivity; 4) deepen financial cooperation and defend the region’s financial stability; 5) strengthen developmental cooperation and create a balanced and inclusive regional development structure; and 6) expand cultural exchange cooperation and consolidate community consciousness. Li concluded that the ongoing economic success of China will continue to bring opportunities for East Asia and the world.
PROPAGANDA WORK
Zhong Sheng: Initiate New Phase in China-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation People’s Daily
11.13 People’s Daily published a commentary on China-Vietnam relations under the pen name Zhong Sheng (钟声), which stands for “Voice of China” and/or “Sounding the Alarm Bell” and authoritatively transmits the official positions of People’s Daily on matters of international affairs. The article emphasizes how China and Vietnam’s common political systems and political ideals provide a strong foundation for strategic cooperation. The article states that two years ago, Sino-Vietnamese relations reached a new point when Xi Jinping delivered an address to the Vietnamese National Assembly that discussed the common historic choice by the Chinese and Vietnamese people of insisting upon the leadership of a communist party, upholding the socialist road and adhering to the cause of reform and opening up. Therefore, the relationship between the two countries goes beyond normal bilateral relations and are of great strategic significance. Both countries need to work together in their pursuit of developing a modern socialist nation in order to achieve common prosperity, the article concludes. The CCP’s emphasis on shared communist parties and values represents a continuation of focusing on party-to-party ties and the special relationship that both countries supposedly enjoy.
Wang Hailou: Begin a New Realm of Peripheral Diplomacy with Chinese Characteristics People’s Daily Foreign Edition
11.13 A commentary written in the People’s Daily Foreign Edition’s Wang Hailou (望海楼) column, an important column that targets foreign Chinese speakers, explains that Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam and Laos initiated a new phase in China’s diplomacy with its neighbors, one that is guided by China’s objective to build a community of shared future for mankind that starts with the countries along China’s periphery. The article states that this objective is particularly applicable to Vietnam and Laos because both countries are closely linked with China through shared history, culture, and a common political system. It details aspects of the strong relationships between China and Laos and China and Vietnam, emphasizing that they have been able to overcome and properly handle their differences in order to contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region. The article concludes that China entering its “new era” will bring new opportunities for cooperation in both relationships.
Five years! Five years! Five years! Spiritual Civilization Net (Wenming)
11.13 Spiritual Civilization Net launched a commentary series on the study and implementation the spirit of the 19th Party Congress. The first article emphasizes the achievements the Party made in the past five years. Since the 18th Party Congress, the Central Committee with Xi Jinping at its core was said to have made historical achievements in reform and opening up and socialist modernization, and to have reached significant breakthroughs in comprehensively deepening reform, developing the economy, and strengthening the rule of law. In terms of reforming, the Party has put forward a series of new ideas, new thoughts, and new strategies such as the “five-in-one” (五位一体) approach to building socialism with Chinese characteristics and the “four comprehensives” (四个全面). The China Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation that the Central Committee with Xi at its core proposed has unprecedentedly united the Party and the people. The piece concludes that the Party’s groundbreaking achievements in the past five years will contribute to China’s new journey in becoming a strong socialist modernized nation.
Liu Qibao: Pushing Forward a Flourishing Socialist Culture Qiushi Journal
11.13 Liu Qibao (刘奇葆), the previous head of the Central Propaganda Department, published an article in Qiushi calling for the conscientious study and implementation of the spirit of the 19th Party Congress and fortification of China’s cultural self-confidence. The article emphasizes the need to grasp the new demands of the new era and conscientiously strengthen the sense of responsibility for pushing forward socialist culture’s prosperity. It also stresses the importance of persevering on the correct way forward and continuous creation to the new glory of Chinese culture. Finally, it highlights the need to maintain a new level of political consciousness and earnestly grasp the implementation of each element of cultural construction.
People’s Daily Commentator Article: Creating a New Journey for a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind People's Daily
11.15 People’s Daily published a commentary on Xi Jinping’s keynote address at the APEC CEO Summit. The article states that China in the new era is increasingly close to the center of the world stage and will continuously make bigger contributions to mankind. It also notes Xi’s address served as a serious declaration that China will start promoting the creation of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for humankind. The new journey of China in a new era not only belongs to the Chinese people but also will open up new conditions and bring about new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific and the world, making the glorious vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and the Chinese Dream of national great rejuvenation reflect one another.
Zhong Sheng: A Successful Beginning with Global Significance People’s Daily 11.15 People’s Daily published a commentary on Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam and Laos under the pen name Zhong Sheng (钟声). The article states that Xi’s visit at this special historical point has demonstrated a new atmosphere for China’s relations with the world. It represents a successful beginning of post-19th Party Congress diplomatic work. According to the article, the visit has provided the world the most authoritative interpretation of China’s “new journey” after the 19th Party Congress and has shown how China can contribute to mankind and deepen the cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. During Xi’s visit, the attendees of the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting promised to build an Asia-Pacific community of shared future (亚太命运共同体). The article states that China’s participation in the meeting sent out a clear signal to international society of its intention to establish a “peripheral community of shared future” (周边命运共同体) and supporting the development of socialism.
Huang Kunming: Cultivating and Implementing Core Socialist Values (Conscientiously Studying, Spreading, and Implementing the Spirit of the 19th Party Congress) People's Daily
11.17 Politburo Member and Central Propaganda Department Head Huang Kunming (黄坤明) published an article in the People’s Daily that stresses the need to lay a more solid common ideological and moral foundation to create a moderately prosperous society and ensure the success of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era. He accuses Western countries of using their long-standing dominance in economics, science and technology, and discourse to promote “so-called” universal values and attempting to induce people to weaken or even abandon their identification with China’s spiritual culture. He also asserts that only by continuing to cultivate and implement core socialist values can the Chinese people stand tall with an even more high-spirited attitude among the peoples of the world.
UNITED FRONT WORK
You Quan Visits Democratic Parties for Advice on United Front Work Xinhua
11.14 Secretary of the Central Secretariat and United Front Work Department Head You Quan (尤权) visited with democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce recently to receive their reports on united front work and multiparty cooperation. The heads of the eight democratic parties provided advice on conducting multi-party cooperation in the new era. You Quan pointed out that the democratic parties have contributed greatly to China’s revolution, construction, and reform. He hopes that they will deeply learn the spirit of the 19th Party Congress, comprehend Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a New Era, reinforce the “four consciousnesses," and strengthen the “four confidences.”
Opinions of the United Front Work Department on Implementing 19th Party Congress Spirit United Front Work Department
11.14 The United Front Work Department issued the “Implementation Opinion of the United Front Work Department on Implementing the ‘Decision of the CCP Central Committee on Earnestly Studying, Publicizing and Implementing the Spirit of the 19th Party Congress’” (中央统战部贯彻落实<中共中央关于认真学习宣传贯彻党的十九大精神的决定>的实施意见). The Opinion consists of 21 requirements and measures that would deepen people’s understanding, equip them with theories, and guide and direct united front work. The Opinion states that, to learn and realize the significant historical meaning of the spirit of the 19th Party Congress, the key is to arm people’s minds with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and safeguard Xi Jinping’s core position.
PARTY DISCIPLINE
Former China News Service Head and Party Committee Secretary Expelled from Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
11.13 The discipline group stationed in the United Front Work Department has begun an investigation into former China News Service Head and Party Committee Secretary Liu Beixian (刘北宪). He was found to have violated political and organizational discipline and the eight-point guideline due to his lavish lifestyle, acceptance of gifts, and squandering of state assets. He was expelled from the Party and lost his retirement benefits, and will now have his case transferred to judicial authorities. The eight-point 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. China and ASEAN Release Joint Statement on Anti-Corruption Cooperation Central Commission for Discipline Inspection 11.13 The “ASEAN-China Joint Statement on Comprehensively Strengthening Effective Anti-Corruption Cooperation” was released during the 20th China-ASEAN (10+1) leaders meeting in Manila. It is the first time the China-ASEAN leaders meeting published an anti-corruption related joint statement. The statement emphasizes that corruption is a common danger to the region. It destroys fairness and justice, challenges the rule of law, and obstructs social, cultural, and economic development. Therefore, each party to the statement has agreed to deepen cooperation in anti-corruption law enforcement, reinforce judicial coordination and collaboration between countries, and hold anti-corruption seminars and dialogues to encourage exchanges. China has been advocating the construction of a new order for international anti-corruption work and has led efforts to pass the APEC Beijing Declaration on Fighting Corruption and the G20 High-Level Principles on Cooperation on Corruption Fugitives and Related Asset Recovery. The article states that China’s efforts in anti-corruption are an essential component of global governance with China’s plan (全球治理中国方案) and an implementation of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Yang Xiaodu: Pushing Comprehensive Strict Governance of the Party Toward Deep Development People's Daily
11.15 Yang Xiaodu (杨晓渡), the Deputy Secretary of the CCDI, penned an article in the People’s Daily that emphasizes the need for comprehensive strict governance of the Party to be integrated into a strategic blueprint, accurately grasped in light of its strategic deployment by the 19th Party Congress, and unflinchingly implemented. He warns that, when the market economy’s principle of the exchange of interests permeated the CCP’s inner political life in the past, it caused Party leadership to weaken and discipline to become lax, putting the party and China on the same road to ruin as the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc. He stresses constantly guarding against deviations from the Party’s character and objectives as well as corruption and other unhealthy tendencies is necessary to guarantee China remains a “red country.”
COMPREHENSIVELY DEEPENING REFORM
Unswervingly Carry Out Reform to the End Qiushi Journal
11.15 Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Comprehensively Deepening Reform Mu Hong (穆虹) wrote an article in the Qiushi Journal highlighting several key points of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Mu states that comprehensively deepening reform has become an important part of the Party’s ideology and fundamental policy and strategy, with the primary goal being the perfection and development of the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics system. He writes that Xi Jinping Thought has provided a scientific theoretical and operational guide for comprehensively deepening reform, and concludes that the Party and the nation should unswervingly carry out such reform to the end.
MISCELLANEOUS
“One Belt One Road” Legal Services Summit held in Beijing All China Lawyers Association Net
An article posted to the All China Lawyers Association website states that the integrated regional economic development brought by the One Belt One Road development framework will continue to grow. The multicultural background of the countries along the initiative, as well as the complicated and volatile political environment, and unfavorable factors such as investment and operating restrictions brought by local protectionism have brought many uncertainties for enterprises. The summit focused on the theme of "neighbors" and "distant relatives." Lawyers jointly discussed the investment and business status quo of Chinese enterprises in South Asia, Central Asia, Europe, the United States and African region, as well as changes in the local legal services market.
INTERNATIONAL LIAISON WORK
China’s New Era, The World’s New Vision Qiushi Journal
11.15 The International Department Research Office published an article in Qiushi Journal that discusses the global significance of the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The article details how foreign leaders are discussing the 19th Party Congress in their congratulatory letters to the International Department in order to demonstrate the profound impact China is having on the world. The article says that Xi Jinping Thought has gone beyond the borders of China and is guiding the development of countries that hope to achieve a scientific development system similar to China’s. Furthermore, the article says that it is widely expected by the international community that China will play a strong leading role in facilitating win-win cooperation between countries of the world. The article concludes that the Chinese model is increasingly gaining popularity, pushing China closer to the center of the world stage.
International Department
11.11 Deputy secretary of the Work Committee of Departments under the CCP Central Committee Wang Xiufeng (王秀峰) went to Morocco. Wang met with Moroccan political party leaders to publicize the spirit of the 19th Party Congress.
11.12-11.13 Xi Jinping met with Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng in Hanoi. During the meeting, Xi discussed how both Vietnam and China are currently at a critical stage of development and reform, and that the two parties should work together to advance each other’s interests. According to Xinhua, Nguyen thanked Xi for China’s support for Vietnam’s liberation and development and welcomed Xi’s proposal to build a “community with a shared future for humankind.” Xi and Nguyễn agreed that the futures of the two countries are deeply interconnected.
The two leaders signed strategic cooperation agreements about the “One Belt One Road” and “Two Corridors One Ring” (两廊一圈) initiatives, energy cooperation, and cross-border economic zones. They agreed to handle maritime issues properly and improve their participation in regional security institutions.
After their initial meeting, Xi and Nguyễn visited the former residence of Ho Chi Minh, emphasizing the common revolutionary history of the two parties.
11.13-11.14 Xi Jinping met with Lao People’s Revolutionary Party General Secretary Bounnhang Vorachit in Vientiane. The two sides both affirmed the historical friendship between China and Laos. Xi expressed appreciation for Laos’ commitment to building socialism with its own national characteristics. Vorachit expressed confidence that China would achieve the goals set by the 19th Party Congress. Both sides agreed to deepen strategic cooperation and support for each other’s core interests, and to build a community with a shared future, an important objective for China’s international affairs set by the 19th Party Congress.
Following their initial meeting, Xi and Bounnhang met again. Both sides reached an important consensus regarding consolidating and developing bilateral relations and advancing comprehensive strategic cooperation. After the meeting, both leaders witnessed the signing of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s Agreement on Strengthening Cooperation under the New Situation (中华人民共和国外交部和老挝人民民主共和国外交部关于加强新形势下合作的协议).
11.15 The Spirit of the 19th Party Congress Foreign Propaganda Group led by International Department Deputy Minister Li Jun (李军) visited Azerbaijan to discuss the achievements of the 19th Party Congress with Azerbaijani political leaders.
11.17 International Department Minister Song Tao (宋涛) visited North Korea as CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping’s special envoy. Song met with Member of the Presidium and Secretariat of the Worker’s Party of Korea, Choe Ryong-hae. Song discussed the achievements of the 19th Party Congress and the meaning of the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The two leaders reaffirmed the traditional friendship between China and North Korea and agreed that both parties should make concerted efforts to promote the development of relations between the two countries.
11.18 Special envoy of Xi Jinping Song Tao met with Worker’s Party of Korea Politburo Member and senior diplomat Ri Su-yong in Pyongyang. Song explained 19th Party Congress related developments and the overall importance of the Congress. The two exchanged views on issues of mutual concern.
ORGANIZATION WORK
Chen Xi: Cultivating and Selecting Cadres Must Stress Political Standards (Conscientiously Studying, Spreading, and Implementing the Spirit of the 19th Party Congress) People's Daily
11.16 Politburo Member and Central Organization Department Head Chen Xi (陈希) published an article in the People’s Daily that emphasizes the importance of political loyalty through the “four consciousnesses” (political consciousness, big picture consciousness, core consciousness, and consciousness of keeping in line), political willpower through the “four confidences” (confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics), political responsibility, political ability, and political self-discipline to the cultivation and selection of cadres. He stresses that cadres should place the Party in the most prominent position in their hearts and resolutely defend Xi Jinping’s core position. The article notes several prominent problems in cadre promotion that linger on despite efforts to address them. These include leading cadres’ (领导干部) political rot, economic greed, moral degeneration, lifestyle corruption, lost socialist faith, and erroneous faith in Western political concepts such as the separation of powers and a multi-party system; and some people forming cliques to pursue personal interests and promoting favoritism among official appointments.
Appointments
11.15 Zhao Kezhi (赵克志) was appointed as a member of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Zhao was appointed Party secretary of the Ministry of Public Security in October 2017.