- David Gitter, Julia Bowie, Brock Erdahl
Weekly Report 1|9 11.25.2017-12.01.2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Chinese Communist Party’s World Political Party Dialogue was held in Beijing. The CCP leadership pushed a “new type of political party relations” under the umbrella of a “new type of international relations.” It put forth the CCP’s successes and 19th Party Congress decisions as a rubric for other political parties to emulate.
Central Military Commission member General Zhang Yang committed suicide after being put under investigation. He was criticized for choosing a disgraceful way to escape punishment.
SENIOR LEADERS
Li Keqiang Arrives in Hungary for Meeting with Central and Eastern European Countries
11.26 Premier Li Keqiang arrived in Hungary for the sixth “meeting of heads of government of China-Central and Eastern European (CEE) Countries.” He met with the leaders of CEE countries to discuss future cooperation and celebrate the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the “16+1 Cooperation” (16 CEE countries + China). During his visit to Hungary, Li also met with Hungarian President János Áder and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to sign multiple cooperative agreements on politics, economics, finance, and culture. Li said the “16+1 Cooperation” has facilitated the development of the CEE countries and promoted the balanced development of Europe. He emphasized China’s willingness to work with each party to plan for greater progress in the future.
Xi Jinping: Persevere Unremittingly in Carrying Out the “Toilet Revolution”
11.27 Xi Jinping recently issued important instructions on carrying out a “toilet revolution” to improve tourism as well as the working and living conditions of the masses. The article in People’s Daily publicizing the initiative emphasized that toilets are no trivial matter and that Xi attaches great importance to the issue. Xi stipulated that improving toilets should be carried out as part of the rural rejuvenation strategy as letting the rural masses use sanitary toilets is an important part of building a civilized countryside. Xi became concerned about improving toilets during his trips to rural areas and conversations with peasant households, the article says.
Vice Premier Liu Yandong Co-Hosts Third China-Indonesia People-to-People Exchange Mechanism, Meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo
11.28-29 On 28 November, Politburo Member and Vice Premier of the State Council Liu Yandong (刘延东) co-hosted the third meeting of the China-Indonesia people-to-people exchange mechanism at the vice-premier level with his counterpart, Indonesian Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture Puan Maharani. Liu stated that this conference is vital for reaching consensus between leaders and is an important achievement in promoting cooperation within the One Belt One Road Initiative (OBOR). In the past three years, the two countries have reportedly reached increased levels of cooperation, and will accelerate practical cooperation in the spheres of education, science and technology, culture, health, media, sports, youth and tourism.
The following day, Liu met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Liu expressed that President Xi Jinping and Widodo have met many times in recent years and have reached an important consensus on cooperation within the OBOR framework and on linking development strategies. Liu emphasized that China was willing to implement the consensus of both leaders and strengthen the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. Widodo expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the people-to-people exchange mechanism, stated that China was Indonesia’s most important cooperative partner, and stated his country’s support for OBOR.
PROPAGANDA WORK
Zhong Sheng: Sports Venues Are No Place for Political Provocation
11.27 The People’s Daily utilized its Zhong Sheng pen name to declare that sporting events are inappropriate venues for political provocation after protesters waved Tibetan flags while China’s under-20 soccer team played in Germany, prompting the Chinese team to postpone their tour. The article called the protest an attack on China’s national sovereignty. The article attacks the principle of free speech in Europe as hypocritical, pointing out Germany’s laws that limit speech supportive of Nazism, as well as Spain’s decision to ban the Catalonia flag at soccer matches. In Europe, “so-called free speech that goes against ‘political correctness’ is never allowed,” the article states. Free speech is therefore a simple mask for political provocations, which should never happen at a friendly sporting event.
Opening Ceremony for the National News Frontline’s “New Era, New Atmosphere, New Actions” Events Held
11.27 The Central Propaganda Department held an opening ceremony for the “New Era, New Atmosphere, New Actions” events in Shanghai. Participants included representatives from the Propaganda Department, the Office of the Central Internet Security and Informatization Leading Group, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT), All-China Journalist Association, and provincial propaganda departments as well as managers, editors, and journalists from 23 media organizations. During the event, Jiang Jianguo (蒋建国), Director of the State Council Information Office and Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department, stated studying, spreading, and implementing the spirit of the 19th Party Congress is the most important political task facing the Party, country, and the national news frontline. He also tasked editors and journalists with spreading and publicly explaining the spirit of the 19th Party Congress.
More Countries to Translate and Publish Second Volume of Xi’s Book
11.28 Publishing houses in 16 countries, including Bangladesh, Italy, Kenya, Pakistan, Poland, Ukraine, and Vietnam, signed memorandums with the Foreign Languages Press to translate and publish the second volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. The Chinese and English editions were published on Nov. 7 and Arabic, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish editions were already in the works. The second volume reflects the development and primary content of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Party’s promotion of the creation of a community with a shared future for mankind.
UNITED FRONT WORK
Xu Lejiang Attends Twelfth National Congress of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce
11.26 The twelfth National Congress of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce was completed on 26 November. Deputy Head of the United Front Work Department Xu Lejiang (徐乐江) attended the closing ceremony and said that the 19th Party Congress had pointed out a direction for the healthy development of non-public economics, and that the Federation should see deeply learning the spirit of the 19th Party Congress as its primary political task.
Li Zhanshu Attends 16th National Congress of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party
11.27 Politburo Standing Committee Member Li Zhanshu (栗战书) attended the 16th National Congress of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (CPWDP) as a representative of the CCP Central Committee. During his speech, he said that CPWDP had shown its expertise in the fields of medicines, health, population, and ecosystems and actively participated in policy-making with the goals to promote a healthy and beautiful China in the past five years. In the future, the CCP Central Committee hopes that CPWDP will deeply learn the spirit of the 19th Party Congress and use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a guide to promote the work on health industries reform and constructing an ecological civilization (生态文明). Li’s speech emphasizes that comprehensively realizing a moderately prosperous society is a shared dream, work, and mission of the CCP and the democratic parties and that all democratic parties should be united and cooperate with each other.
PARTY DISCIPLINE
The Golden Key to Understanding the Party Constitution: A Breakdown of the Evolution of the Party Constitution’s General Program
11.27 The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) published an article explaining important revisions to the Party Constitution made at the 19th Party Congress. During the 19th Party Congress, 107 revisions were made to the Party Constitution. Over half (58) were made to its General Program while the remainder (49) applied to articles. The General Program, which precedes the articles in the constitution, serves as the embodiment of the Party’s viewpoints and guiding principles. It first appeared during the 7th Party Congress and has undergone several revisions since then. Notable recent revisions include adding Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to the list of the Party’s guiding ideologies, redefining the principal contradiction as being between the people’s ever-growing need for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development, and putting the phrases “insisting that the Party governs the Party” (坚持党要管党), “comprehensive strict governance of the Party,” “political construction,” and “discipline construction” into the constitution for the first time.
CCDI Letters and Visits Room Keeps a Close Eye on Reports Regarding Six Problems
11.29 In order to implement the spirit of the 19th Party Congress, the CCDI Letters and Visits Room is keeping a close eye on reports regarding six problems, including violation of political discipline and rules, violation of the spirit of the Eight-Point Guideline of the Center, violation of discipline, involvement in inspected areas and units, personnel employment, and corruption.
The Six New Manifestations of the Four Forms of Decadence: An Analysis of the 635 Cases Revealed This Year
11.30 During the first ten months of 2017, the CCDI made announcements regarding 27 cases involving the violation of the Eight-point Guideline and 608 cases involving typical problems. The CCDI stated these 635 cases reveal the six new manifestations of the four forms of decadence (i.e. formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance). These manifestations are using pretenses to spend public funds on high-end alcohol (25% of the cases on using public funds on banquets), using official business to spend public funds on trips (86% of the cases on using public funds on foreign trips), using official gas cards for private vehicles (27% of the cases on using public funds on private vehicles), accepting monetary gifts through WeChat (5% of the cases on receiving money and gifts), granting subsidies in disguised form (40% of the cases on granting subsidies and benefits), and dividing wedding and funeral expenses into smaller parts to disguise these large expenses (12% of the cases on holding large events).
CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION (CMC)
Jointly Push Forward Military-Civilian Integration in Military Installation Construction
11.28 The CMC’s Logistic Support Department and State Council’s State-owned Assets and Supervision and Administration Commission signed a strategic cooperative agreement on jointly pushing forward military-civilian integration in military installation construction. The agreement helps to implement Xi Jinping’s strategic policy for military-civilian integration. It covers construction planning, engineering, supervision, management, and cost consultation and strengthens technical cooperation.
Zhang Yang Suicide “Disgraceful”
11.28 Xinhua announced on 28 November that PLA General and Central Military Commission member Zhang Yang had committed suicide in his home after being put under investigation for his ties to disgraced generals Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong. After the announcement, the Ministry of Defense website published a commentary stating that Zhang committed suicide to escape punishment, a disgraceful way to end one’s life. Declaring that there is nowhere for corruption to hide in the military, the article affirmed that the decision of the CMC to investigate Zhang was entirely correct and demonstrates the firm determination of the Party to strictly control the armed forces.
COMPREHENSIVELY DEEPENING REFORM
Comprehensively Deepening Reform is the Driver of China’s Development in the New Era
11.27 Beijing Foreign Studies University Party Committee Secretary Han Zhen (韩震) published an article in Beijing Daily discussing comprehensively deepening reform in a new era. In the article, Han pointed out that comprehensively deepening reform is the strong driver of China’s development in the new era. According to Han, without reforms such as the structural reform on supply front economics and the reforms on national supervisory, executive, and judicial systems, China would not have achieved the developments it had now while the global economy was at its low point.
Han emphasized that reform pushes for social development and productivity improvement through resolving the contradictions in the society. One of the new social contradictions is the imbalance of development, Han writes. In the New Era, comprehensively deepening reform needs to be continuously emphasized; however, that does not mean the reforms in the past were not comprehensive. It only means that socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era should implement big-picture strategies that are more systematic in order to adapt to the new needs of society.
Comprehensively Deepening Reform is a Key to the Destiny of Contemporary China
11.29 An article in Guangming Daily asserts that comprehensively deepening reform has improved socialism with Chinese characteristics and the modernization level of the state governance system and capabilities, and has also enhanced the vitality and innovation of society. Comprehensively deepening reform is the path to realizing the two centenary goals and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The practical experience of socialism with Chinese characteristics has shown that the methods of reform must be persistently used to solve all kinds of difficulties and contradictions on the road to progress. Comprehensively deepening reform is the most fundamental method, according to the piece. The key points are: First, focus on resolving the major social contradictions in the new era and highlight their practical orientation. Second, adhere to the new development concept for guidance. Third, the new starting point is to make up for shortcomings in development and enhance the people's sense of gain, highlighting the demand orientation.
The article concludes that comprehensively deepening reform must enhance people's sense of gain. The continuity, effectiveness and quality of the reform is vital to this process. Comprehensively deepening reform is clearly goal-oriented, problem-oriented and value-oriented. The key to a successful or failed reform is to see if the people have gained real benefits from it.
INTERNATIONAL LIAISON WORK
Xi Jinping Attends the Chinese Communist Party’s World Political Party Forum
12.1 Xi Jinping attended the Chinese Communist Party’s World Political Party Dialogue, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, and delivered a speech entitled “Building a Better World Together.” Xi discussed the plan laid out at the 19th Party Congress for the CCP to work with all political parties to build a community of a shared future. Political parties, he said, play an important role in promoting the progress of human civilization. Xi emphasized that participation in the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative will contribute to the construction of a community of shared future for mankind.
Additionally, Xi stressed that the world at this moment is changing. Political parties must develop a “new type of political party relations” (新型政党关系) under the umbrella of a “new type of international relations” (新型国际关系). Xi explained that China pursues its own development for the good of the world, however it does not require other countries to copy its development model. Xi made several commitments in his speech: first, that the CCP would contribute to the peace and tranquility of the world as always; second, that the CCP would contribute to the common development of the world as always; and third, that the CCP would contribute to global civilizational exchange as always.
The CCP Is an Example Studied by Political Parties around the World
11.30 The People’s Daily published an article detailing participants’ reactions to the World Political Parties Dialogue. It asserted these reactions could be summarized as: the realization that the experience of the CCP deserves to be studied; the finding that the 19th Party Congress’ conception of the future is encouraging, and the belief that cooperation in building a community with a shared future for mankind is beneficial.
International Department
11.28 International Department Minister Song Tao (宋涛) met with an Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front delegation led by Demeke Mekonnen, the party’s deputy chairman and deputy prime minister of Ethiopia, in Beijing. He welcomed the delegation to the World Political Parties Dialogue and expressed his hope that both parties can display the political leadership necessary to further develop the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Ethiopia. Mekonnen stated his party should study and draw lessons from the 19th Party Congress and CCP’s experience in governing itself and China.
11.29 Song Tao held talks with Abdulrahman Kinana, the General Secretary of Tanzania’s Revolutionary Party. He stated the dreams of the Chinese and Tanzanian people are closely bound together. Kinana said African political parties should conscientiously study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era and the Revolutionary Party is willing to proactively respond to Xi Jinping’s proposal of creating a community with a shared future for mankind. Both sides expressed a wish to deepen inter-party exchange and cooperation and strengthen the strategic cooperative partnership between China and Tanzania.
11.29 International Department Assistant Minister Wang Yajun (王亚军) met with Jean-Christophe Belliard, the deputy secretary general for political affairs of the European Union’s European External Action Service, in Beijing. Wang gave a positive evaluation of China-European Union relations and outlined China’s position on the North Korean crisis. Belliard said the developmental momentum of China-European Union relations is good and the European Union appreciates China’s greater role in international and regional affairs.
11.29 International Department Deputy Minister Li Jun (李军) met with a Middle Eastern political party high-level official inspection group composed of Fatah Vice Chairman Mahmoud Aloul and leaders of Palestinian, Iraqi, and Jordanian political parties. The group said the World Political Parties Dialogue would help the world’s political parties to understand and draw lessons from the CCP’s concepts of governing the Party and China.
11.29 Song Tao met with Hun Sen, the president of the Cambodian People’s Party and prime minister of Cambodia, in Beijing. Hun expressed his and his Party’s high regard for the World Political Parties Dialogue and Xi Jinping’s proposal of creating a community with a shared future for mankind.
11.30 International Department officials met with various political party leaders who arrived in Beijing this week to attend the World Political Parties Dialogue, including representatives from the Republican Party of Armenia, the Communist Party of Portugal, Mauritius’ Militant Socialist Movement, France’s Socialist Party, Uzbekistan’s People’s Democratic Party, Moroccan political parties, Tunisian political parties, Egyptian political parties, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, Lebanese political parties, and the Communist Party of Vietnam.
12.1 Xi Jinping met with Burma’s National League for Democracy (NLD) leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who arrived in Beijing to attend to the World Political Parties Dialogue. Suu Kyi told Xi that relations with China are of special significance to Burma, due to the long history of friendship and close mutual trust between the two countries. She assured Xi of her willingness to promote cooperation between China and Burma in various arenas, including the China-Burma Economic Corridor. Xi declared his commitment to actively working with the people of Burma to promote a community of shared future for mankind.
12.1 Xi Jinping met with Cambodian Prime Minister and Cambodian People’s Party President Hun Sen in Beijing, who also arrived this week to attend the World Political Parties Dialogue. Hun Sen reportedly spoke highly of the World Political Parties Dialogue, saying the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has been inspired by the CCP’s experience of governing China. He told Xi he hopes to continue exchanges in order to improve the CPP’s governance capabilities.
ORGANIZATION WORK
11.27 Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Deputy Secretary Li Shulei (李书磊) was appointed president of the China Academy of Discipline Inspection and Supervision.
11.28 Politburo Member Chen Xi (陈希) was appointed president of the China Executive Leadership Academies of Pudong, Jinggangshan, and Yannan.
12.01 Member of the CCDI Standing Committee Jiang Xinzhi (姜信治) was appointed executive deputy director of the Central Organization Department.