- David Gitter, Julia Bowie, Nathanael Callan
Weekly Report 1|38 7.14.2018-7.20.2018
HIGHLIGHTS
An article 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, discussed the contributions of Xi Jinping Economic Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Xi Jinping issued an important directive on the construction work of the Bijie Experimental Area for poverty alleviation, emphasizing the central role that the united front should take in the endeavor.
A commentary published under the People’s Daily’s pen name “Guo Jiping” (国纪平), which stands for “important commentary related to international affairs” (有关国际的重要评论) described Xi Jinping’s recent state visits to United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa, participation in the tenth BRICS summit, and a friendly visit in Mauritius as “a critical diplomatic action toward developing countries” (中国面向发展中国家采取的一次重大外交行动).
The CCDI released statistics on supervision and inspection work for the first half of 2018.
SENIOR LEADERS
Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang Meet with European Union Leaders
Xinhua
7.16 Xi Jinping met with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who were in China for the 20th China-European Union (EU) Summit. According to the Xinhua report, he stated that “China and the EU both are builders of world peace, contributors to global development, and defenders of the international order” and stressed that “China will always regard the EU as an important force beneficial to the stability and development of the international structure.”
Xi called for “working together to promote further progress in the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU” as well as “jointly pushing for the political resolution of problems related to international and regional hot spots and defending multilateralism, especially the status and role of the United Nations.”
Li Keqiang also met with Tusk and Juncker on the same day during the 20th China-EU Summit. According to Xinhua, the two sides agreed that “China and the EU, as two major world powers and economies, have a responsibility to work together to defend the rules-based international order, advocate multilateralism, support free trade, and promote world peace, stability, and development.” They vowed to “jointly defend the United Nations Charter and international law” and indicated that they “support the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as its core.”
Xi Jinping Meets with World Bank President
7.16 Xi Jinping met with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim in Beijing. He described the World Bank as “an important force for defending multilateralism and economic globalization” and indicated that “China is willing to deepen its global development partnership with the World Bank.” Xi stated that “As a responsible great power and builder and contributor of the current international system, China will unswervingly support improving the multilateral trade system [and] promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.” He also stressed that “China is willing to reinforce the cooperation with the World Bank under the framework of BRI.”
Xi Jinping Meets with UNESCO Director-General
7.16 Xi Jinping met with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Audrey Azoulay in Beijing. He noted that UNESCO “can play an important role in building a community of shared future for mankind” and that “the sustained and stable development of China-UNESCO relations is beneficial to world peace and prosperity.”
Xi declared that, “In the new era, China is, on the one hand, adhering to cultural self-confidence… and, on the other, upholding the traditional concepts of ‘the great harmony of the world’ (世界大同) and harmonious coexistence and advocating mutual respect, exchanges, and learning between every culture.”
Wang Qishan Meets with World Health Organization Director-General
7.17 Vice President Wang Qishan (王岐山) met with the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in Beijing. He indicated that “the Chinese government is devoted to promoting the creation of a ‘Healthy China’ and continuously improving people’s health and happiness levels through development.” Wang stated that China “supports the WHO in promoting the implementation of health-related sustainable development goals at every level” and “is willing to further strengthen its cooperation with the WHO and contribute to the development of global health.”
Xi Jinping to Visit Five Countries
7.19 Xi Jinping will visit five countries between 19 and 28 July. During the trip, he will conduct state visits to the United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa, participate in the 10th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, and make a friendly visit to Mauritius.
PROPAGANDA WORK
PD Commentator Article Series on US Trade Actions Continues
People’s Daily
7.14-15 Following last week’s commentator article series criticizing US trade actions, the People’s Daily continued publishing commentator articles on the same topic.
The eighth article in the series declared that “Although the US has frequently considered itself to be a special member of the international community and broken rules throughout history, what has astonished the people of the world about the US government holding high the banner of ‘America First’ is that it is throwing away the long held core social value of honoring contractual obligations like worn out shoes while completely lacking misgivings about slipping into an ‘anti-contract trap.’”
The ninth article proclaimed that “By suppressing normal technological spillover, abusing the long arm of jurisdiction, and politically blackmailing transnational corporations, the White House has created a ‘terror trap,’ launched a serious attack on global supply and value chains, and cast a dark shadow over the prospects for global economic recovery.”
PD Commentator Article on Xi’s Directives on Poverty Alleviation
7.15 The People’s Daily published a commentator article supporting the poverty alleviation message of Xi Jinping’s 6 July directive regarding the letter sent by rural Party members from Huangdu village, Zhejiang.
The article quoted a key section of the directive at length, namely “Increasing awareness of being grateful for blessings and their well-spring (饮水思源) and never forgetting the Party’s kindness and promoting the spirit of sharing tribulations with the Party and those who get rich first helping those who will get rich later are of great significance to winning the tough battle of poverty alleviation.”
It stated that Xi’s directive “affirms the spirit of local cadres and the masses taking the initiative in helping to lift impoverished areas and populations out of poverty, encourages everyone to do a good job in helping those in need, and provides impetus for more people contributing to the tough battle of poverty alleviation.”
Xi Jinping: The Governance of China at China-Arab Readers Conference in the UAE
7.15 Before Xi Jinping’s scheduled state visit to the UAE, the China-UAE readers’ seminar on Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and the Chinese Books Exhibition Week were held in Abu Dhabi, attended by Propaganda Department Executive Deputy Head and National Film Bureau Head Wang Xiaohui (王晓晖). The event was hosted jointly by the State Council, the Chinese Embassy in the UAE, the UAE Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, and the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration.
In his speech to the conference, Wang discussed Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, saying that the book will help “the UAE and friends from all over the world to better understand Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics and better understand the underlying reasons for the historic achievements and historic changes of contemporary China.”
Qiu Shi: The Original Contributions of Xi Jinping Economic Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Qiushi 7.16 An article 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, discussed the contributions of Xi Jinping Economic Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. According to the article, Xi Jinping has clearly proposed the important fields of the political economy of modern-age Marxism and the political economy of socialism with Chinese characteristics. According to the article, Xi Jinping’s Economic Thought profoundly summarizes the successful experience of practice of China’s economic development; Western economic theory from beginning to end is incapable of settling many important theoretical and practical questions. The article emphasised that Xi Jinping Economic Thought is a completely scientific and strictly logical theoretical system. Xi Jinping Economic Thought from the angle of political economy has deepened the rule of governance of the CCP; the economic thought of Xi Jinping Thought is the latest achievement of the political economy of Socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Xi Jinping Publishes a Signed Article in UAE Media: "Working Hand in Hand for a Better Future"
7.18 Xi Jinping published a signed article on United Arab Emirates’ newspapers, Al Ittihad and The National, before his state visit to the county. The article, “Working hand in hand for a better future,” pointed out that UAE is the first Arab state of the Gulf that established strategic partnership with China and that “the two countries’ friendly cooperation has achieved a series of landmark achievements.” Xi used the two countries’ cooperation in the fields of energy, industrial capacity, high-tech industry, finance, and culture as proof. At the end, he expressed hope that the two countries will become strategic and cooperative partners that trust each other, defend and expand the two sides’ common interests in international and regional affairs, safeguard the multilateral trade system, and reinforce exchanges and innovation.
Guo Jiping: Start a New Chapter of Unified Cooperation and Common Development
7.19 A commentary published under the People’s Daily’s pen name “Guo Jiping” (国纪平), which stands for “important commentary related to international affairs” (有关国际的重要评论) and authoritatively transmits the official positions of the People's Daily on matters of international affairs, described Xi Jinping’s recent state visits to United Arab Emirates, Senegal, Rwanda, and South Africa, participation in the tenth BRICS summit, and a friendly visit in Mauritius as “a critical diplomatic action toward developing countries” (中国面向发展中国家采取的一次重大外交行动).
The commentary pointed out that “unifying and cooperating with developing countries has always been a clear-cut characteristic of how China addresses its relationship with the world.” China’s “solemn promise” was proven on the United Nations’ podium, when Xi said that “China’s vote in the United Nations will always belong to developing countries.” The commentary stated that the “international community has generally taken note that… China has formed a brand new cooperative model that [stresses] mutual respect, win-win cooperation, and common development with emerging market countries and developing countries” and that “developing countries can learn more from China’s developmental path towards modernization.”
The commentary concluded that “Xi Jinping has proposed important initiatives to realize further development in emerging markets and developing countries,” which includes jointly building an open world economy, implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, grasping the historical opportunity of adjusting the world economic structure, and building a broad developmental partnership.
Third BRICS Media Forum Held in South Africa
7.18 The third BRICS Media Forum entitled “Fostering an Inclusive, Just World Order” was held in Cape Town, South Africa. Central Propaganda Department Executive Deputy Head and Central Policy Research Office Executive Vice Director Wang Xiaohui (王晓晖) gave a keynote speech, saying that “Media is the important bond to enhance people’s friendship and promote mutual learning between civilizations. Deepening media exchanges and interactions is important for the BRICS countries to consolidate the foundation of public opinion and to promote exchanges and cooperation.”
The Media Forum, which was initiated by Xinhua News Agency and jointly launched by Xinhua with Brazilian CMA Group, Russian Sputnik News, Indian The Hindu Group and South African Independent Media, has become a mechanized exchange platform for the cooperation of the main media groups from five countries, according to the article.
State Council Information Office Publishes White Paper on “Ecological Progress on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau”
Xinhua 7.19 The State Council Information Office released a 14,000 character white paper titled “Ecological Progress on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.” An English language version of the white paper is available. The white paper stated that the ecological civilization construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has an incredibly important influence on promoting the sustainable development of the plateau and promoting ecological and environmental protection in China and the world. The White paper stated that the construction of ecological civilization on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau still faces many challenges, and noted that the construction of ecological civilization on the Qinghai Tibetan Plateau in a new era is an important component of “building a beautiful China.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying Hosts Regular Press Conference
7.19 Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying (华春莹) responded to reporters’ questions about US National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow’s comments in which Kudlow had alleged during previous bilateral talks China had prevented the two nations from resolving their economic conflict.
Hua reiterated that from the beginning, China took the position that it “does not want to fight but is not afraid to fight,” (不想打、也不怕打) and that the Chinese side had endeavored to use the utmost sincerity and patience to resolve the dispute through dialogue. But, “the real cannot be fake and the fake cannot be real,” (真的假不了，假的真不了), and the US is hurting its own reputation. She suggested certain people in the US should not “indulge in behaving like a 17th century Don Quixote” (美方某些人不应再沉迷于做17世纪的堂吉诃德).
Hua also responded to questions regarding US State Department comments accusing China of attempting to evade export restrictions around critical technologies by purchasing civilian nuclear technologies with the intention to use it for military ends. Hua denied wrongdoing by China, but pointed out the standard international practice of military-civilian integration of technologies.
UNITED FRONT WORK
Discussion of the “Modernization of Daoist Doctrinal System” Initiated China Taoist Association 7.14-15 A seminar organized by the Chinese Taoist Association on the “Modernization of Daoist Doctrinal System” was held in Beijing. Religious experts and scholars attended the event. China Taoist Association Secretary-General Zhang Fenglin (张凤林) pointed out that “Taoism, as a religion in a secular society, inevitably needs a type of systematization structure for regulations in order to make Taoism a complete system.”
Su Hui: Unceasingly Start The New Phase of Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Work United Front Work Department Wechat Account
7.19 Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TDSGL) Chairman Su Hui (苏辉) wrote an article about the direction of her party which was published by the United Front Work Department through its WeChat account, Tongzhan Xinyu (统战新语). The TDSGL is one of eight legally recognized minority parties in the People’s Republic of China. Among other points, Su stated that the TDSGL “as an important member of the United Front, TDSGL, must take General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourse on the United Front as a guide, realistically strengthen the sense of responsibility and sense of purpose, broadly unite its members and connected Taiwanese compatriots, consolidate people’s hearts and condense strength, and help draw the largest “concentric circle” (助力画出最大的同心圆).
Xi Jinping Issues Directive on Bijie Experimental Zone Construction
Xinhua 7.19 Xinhua reported that Xi Jinping has issued an important directive on the construction work of the Bijie Experimental Area. Xi emphasized that “China is less than three years away from the 2020 objective of establishing a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Accuracy is needed for all affairs, to ensure that Bijie experimental zone timely achieves victory in the poverty alleviation fight.” Xi Jinping emphasized that “at the same time, [we] must concentrate on the long term, plan in advance, and connect with the rural revitalization strategy after 2020.”
Xi Jinping also emphasized that the United Front needs, under the leadership of the Party, to continue to support the reform and development of the Bijie Experimental Zone, and in persevering with and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, unceasingly utilize the advantage of the multi party cooperation system led by the CCP.
Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee Chairman Wang Yang (汪洋) and United Front Work Department Head You Quan (尤权) attended a conference on the topic in Guizhou province.
PARTY DISCIPLINE
National Health Commission CCDI and NSC Unit Shoulders the Prime Responsibility of Supervision
7.18 The China Discipline Inspection and Supervision Newspaper highlighted that the CCDI Discipline Inspection Unit at the National Health and Family Planning Commission (中央纪委驻国家卫生计生委纪检组) has been renamed as the “CCDI and National Supervision Commission (NSC) Discipline Inspection and Supervision Unit at the National Health Commission (中央纪委国家监委派驻卫生健康委纪检监察组)” to accord with Party and state institutional reform and the national supervision system reform.
Head of the unit Ma Ben (马奔) said that “with the name change, [we must] hold fast to duties and responsibilities, firmly grasp the political nature of a discipline inspection and supervision institution and the special mission of a discipline inspection and supervision cadre, and conscientiously implement supervision well, which is the fundamental and prime duty.”
The article emphasized that “the inspection unit also focused on reinforcing supervision of the implementation of the Party’s line and policy on other comprehensive supervision units,” including conducting inspections on the Central Committee’s critical decisions and deployments such as those related to poverty alleviation work, the “Healthy China” strategy, and the “four strictnesses” on food and drug supervision. Thirteen problems including unclear responsibilities and imperfect mechanisms were revealed during the inspection.
CCDI Releases Supervision and Inspection Work Statistics for the First Half of 2018
7.19 The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) released data demonstrating that in the first half of 2018, 1.683 million cases were reported to the discipline inspection and supervision units nationwide, 302,000 cases were investigated, and 240,000 people were punished, including the 201,000 people who received Party disciplinary punishment. Among the penalized personnel were 28 cadres ranked at provincial and ministerial level or above and more than 1,500 department and bureau level cadres. In the same period, 684,000 individuals were punished with the “four forms” (四种形态). The first form (criticism and self-criticism as well as inquiries through interview or letters) accounted for 64.6% of those punished, second (minor disciplinary penalties) 27.7%, third (severely punished or demoted officials ) 4.7%, and fourth (those prosecuted for law-breaking) 3%.
COMPREHENSIVELY DEEPENING REFORM
First Half Year GDP Data for 2018 Is Released
7.16 On 16 July, the National Bureau of Statistics released data on the first half of 2018, reporting year-on-year GDP growth of 6.8% (Q1: 6.8%, Q2: 6.7%) showing a steady level of growth between 6.7% to 6.9% for 12 consecutive quarters.
Economic Daily reported that the first half of 2018 also saw disposable incomes increase by 8.7% with inflation at 6.6%, and in June unemployment was 4.8%, 0.1 percentage points lower than the previous year.
Xinhua reported the steady growth was a sign of the Chinese economy’s resilience, which could be attributed to (1) positive developments in foreign trade despite pressure from the US, (2) increases in domestic consumption, and (3) the virtuous cycle of high quality development.
On 17 July, National Development and Reform Commission spokesperson Yan Pengcheng (严鹏程) gave a briefing emphasizing the sources of the Chinese economy’s resilience, and refuted rumors that pressure from US trade actions would hinder growth in the second half of 2018.
General Administration of Customs: Over 50,000 Untrustworthy Companies are Subject to Joint Punishment
7.19 Empowered by the Supreme People’s Court, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Finance, the General Administration of Customs administered punishments to 50,000 companies based on a new inter-ministry credit system tracking company behavior. China Economic Daily reported that, currently, Customs has participated in similar coordinated efforts with various department such as State Administration for Industry & Commerce, State Administration of Taxation, Supreme People’s Court, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League.
INTERNATIONAL LIAISON WORK
7.14-17 At the invitation of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), Politburo member and Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang (李强) led a CCP delegation to Cuba. While there, he met with the President of the State Council and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel and separately held talks with PCC Politburo member and Central Union of Cuban Workers Secretary General Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento and PCC Secretariat member and head of its Department of International Relations José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera. Li also attended the 24th annual meeting of the São Paulo Forum in Havana.
7.15-18 On 15 July, International Minister Song Tao (宋涛) met with the Secretary-General of Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM/Party of the Revolution) Ally Kakurwa Bashiru in Dar es Salaam.
The following day Song attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School, which was co-founded by the CCM and five other southern African political parties (the African National Congress of South Africa, Mozambique Liberation Front, People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola, South West Africa People's Organization of Namibia, and Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front), in Tanzania. While there, he read a congratulatory message from Xi Jinping.
On the same day, Song also held working talks with the secretary generals of the six sister political parties and met with the President of Tanzania John Pombe Joseph Magufuli.
On 17 July, Song delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the CCP in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting Africa Thematic Event in Dar es Salaam.
On the same day, Song also met with Tanzania’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Augustine Philip Mahiga.
On 18 July, Song attended the opening ceremony for a Tanzanian “Lighting Africa” project held by the China Foundation for Peace and Development and Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association (TCFPA) in Dar es Salaam. The Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Wang Ke (王克) and former Prime Minister of Tanzania and TCFPA President Salim Ahmed Salim were also in attendance.
On the same day, International Department Vice Minister Xu Luping (徐绿平) delivered a speech at the CCP in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting Africa Thematic Event’s closing ceremony.
7.16 International Department Vice Minister Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) met with an Argentine Republican Proposal (PRO) party cadre study group led by PRO President Humberto Schiavoni.
Vice President Wang Qishan (王岐山) separately met with the PRO delegation on the same day.
7.17-19 At the invitation of the Panameñista Party, Li Qiang led a CCP delegation to Panama. While there, he separately met with the President of Panama Juan Carlos Varela Rodríguez, President of the Panameñista Party José Luis Varela, and Mayor of Panama City, José Isabel Blandón Figueroa.
7.18 International Department Vice Minister Guo Yezhou (郭业洲) met with the eighth Pacific island countries politicians cadre study group led by the Congress of Federated States of Micronesia Vice Speaker Esmond Moses.
7.18 Qian Hongshan met with the vice president of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, former Deputy Prime Minister of Portugal, and former leader of the CDS – People's Party, Paulo de Sacadura Cabral Portas.
ORGANIZATION WORK
Chen Xi: A New Age Requires New Responsibilities and New Actions
7.16 Following the National Organization Work Conference earlier this month in which Xi Jinping declared the new “organizational line” intended to strengthen the leadership of the Party, Central Organization Department Head Chen Xi (陈希) wrote an article in Qiushi on the Central Committee’s opinions on further encouraging numerous cadres to assume new responsibilities and new actions in the new era. Chen stated that encouraging cadres to assume new responsibilities and actions is the urgent need of the development of the party and country’s undertakings. Chen further noted that to choose the correct people is the most effective and most direct motivator. Chen stated that one must persevere with determining whether or not cadres are taking action upon themselves from their level of devotion to the Party. Chen concluded his article by stating that the opinions’ requirements are rooted in the establishment of an error correction mechanism.
7.20 Dai Houliang (戴厚良) was appointed chairman of China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) and secretary of its Party leadership group.
7.20 Liu Aili (刘爱力) was appointed chairman of China Post Group and secretary of its Party leadership group.
7.20 Liu Guohua (李国华) was appointed board member and general manager of China Unicom as well as deputy secretary of its Party leadership group.
7.20 He Xiaorong (贺小荣) was appointed vice ministerial-level special committee member of the Judicial Committee of the Supreme People’s Court.