- David Gitter, Julia Bowie, Nathanael Callan
Weekly Report 2|1 9.29.2018-10.5.2018
[Photo by Grégoire Bertaud on Unsplash]
Senior Leaders
Zhao Leji Makes Official Goodwill Visit to Vietnam
9.26-9.29 At the invitation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Politburo Standing Committee Member and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection head Zhao Leji (赵乐际) made an official goodwill visit to Vietnam. While there, he separately met with CPV General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng, National Assembly of Vietnam Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân, and CPV Politburo member and CPV Secretariat permanent member Trần Quốc Vượng, held talks with CPV Secretariat member and Central Inspection Commission head Trần Cẩm Tú, and attended the opening ceremony of a photography exhibition with CPV Politburo member and CPV Secretariat member Phạm Minh Chính.
According to Xinhua, while meeting with Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Zhao stated that “under the personal guidance of the two parties’ general secretaries, relations between the two parties and countries have continued their healthy, steady development.” He added that his visit was meant to “implement the important consensus reached by the two parties’ general secretaries and strengthen strategic communication, foster high-level exchanges, and promote pragmatic cooperation according to the ‘sixteen character’ guideline (‘十六字’方针) and ‘four good’ spirit (‘四好’精神) to push the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between China and Vietnam to a new level.”
Central Committee and State Council General Offices Publish Rules for Management of Central Enterprise Leaders
9.29 The General Offices of the Central Committee and State Council published rules for the management of central enterprise leaders and issued a notification on their implementation. The rules were originally adopted during the second meeting of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform in May 2018. They contain 10 sections and 66 articles on topics such as post establishment, post holding requirements, appointment, evaluation, pay and incentives, management and supervision, training, and dismissal.
According to Xinhua, the publication of the rules was meant to “adhere to and strengthen the comprehensive leadership of the Party over central enterprises, improve the quality of management work over central entreprise leaders, create a highly competent and specialized contingent of central enterprise leaders who are loyal to the Party, dare to innovate, use the correct method to manage enterprises, show promise in invigorating enterprises, and are honest and upright, stimulate and protect entrepreneurial spirit, give better play to the role of entrepreneurs, and cultivate world-class enterprises with global competitiveness.”
Propaganda Work
PD Commentator: The “Two Unswervingly” Must Be Adhered to over the Long Term
9.29 People’s Daily published a commentator article supporting Xi Jinping’s reaffirmation of the “two unswervingly” (两个毫不动摇), which refers to unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sectors of the economy and unswervingly encouraging, supporting and guiding the development of the non-public sectors of the economy, during his recent inspection tour of China’s three northeastern provinces.
The article stressed that “the basic economic system in which public ownership plays a dominant role and economic entities under diverse forms of ownership jointly develop is a major national policy established by our Party, important and integral component of the socialism with Chinese characteristics system, and necessity for improving the socialist market economy system.” It also described public and private ownership as “the two wings of the Chinese economy,” adding that “if the two wings are closely coordinated and flap in unison, the Chinese economy can fly high and far.”
PD Commentator Series on Studying the Spirit of Xi Jinping’s Important Speech on Carrying Out the Rural Revitalization Strategy
People's Daily
9.29-10.1 People’s Daily published a commentator series on studying the spirit of Xi Jinping’s important speech on carrying out the rural revitalization strategy.
The first article argued that “without the modernization of agriculture and villages, there will be no modernization of the entire country.” It stressed that “to take the rural revitalization strategy as the overall starting point for ‘three rural issues’ (三农) work in a new era, [we] must firmly grasp… the overall policy of insisting on agriculture and villages being given priority in development.”
The second article declared that “when the countryside thrives, the country thrives; when the countryside declines, the country declines.” It emphasized that “to firmly grasp the overall aim of the modernization of agriculture and villages, [we] must insist on an integrated plan for and the common advancement of the modernization of agriculture and villages.”
The third article stated that “rural revitalization is both a tough battle and war of attrition.” It contended that “the Party is the key to handling rural affairs well and realizing the revitalization of the countryside” before stating that “only if [we] continuously strengthen and improve Party leadership over ‘three rural issues’ work… can the rural revitalization strategy firmly advance.”
Zhong Sheng: The Stabilizing Force of Following Major Trends, Upholding Justice, and Walking along the Righteous Path People’s Daily
9.29 People’s Daily used its commentary 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, to praise the righteousness of its position in the trade dispute with the United States. The article emphasized how the recent white paper on Sino-American trade frictions clearly explained China’s position and how the “eight insistences” within in the document shows that China has made a solemn vow to the world to follow major trends, uphold justice, and walk along the righteous path.
The article noted that resoluteness, calmness, self-confidence, and self-control are the words often used by the international community to describe China’s behavior in the trade dispute.
The article also quoted from the white paper, stating “economic globalization is a irresistible trend and peaceful development is the people’s desire,” and a statement by the current UN Secretary General António Guterres in its argument.
Zhong Zuwen: Write a New Chapter for the Construction of Central Enterprise Leaders’ Contingents in a New Era
9.30-10.3 People’s Daily published a series of articles under the byline Zhong Zuwen (仲祖文), which represents the Central Organization Department, to comment on the recently-released provisions on the management of the leaders of central enterprises (中央企业领导人员管理规定).
The first article praised the provisions as “being of great significance to building a high-quality and professional contingent of leaders for central enterprises and cultivating world-class enterprises with global competitiveness.” It stated that “central enterprises… are the cornerstone of our country’s economic development” and that they should “shoulder well their economic, political, and social responsibilities.”
The second article focused on accurately and scientifically selecting leaders for central enterprises. It emphasized that “to persist in the principle that the Party controls cadres when selecting central enterprises’ leaders is an important guarantee to adhering to and strengthening the Party’s comprehensive leadership over the central enterprises, which cannot be swayed at any time.” In addition to stressing the role of Party organizations in the hiring process, the article focused on expanding the use of market mechanisms to select talents and building a team of talented young leaders that can adapt to the requirements of the new era.
The third article pointed out that “the leaders of the central enterprises are the Party’s cadres and the backbone of the Party’s governance in the field of economics.” Therefore, there should be no exception in strictly managing and supervising them. The article stressed the need to first improve the management and supervision system for central enterprise leaders and then enhance daily management and supervision of them. It emphasized that central enterprise leaders should be “accustomed to working and living in an environment that is regulated.”
The fourth article emphasized the importance of entrepreneurial spirit, especially the spirit of innovation, for central enterprise leaders. It stated that “the key for central enterprises to control the strategic initiative and gain comparative advantage in intense market competition is for their leaders to have strong consciousness of and confidence in innovation.”
Shen Haixiong: Guard the Foundation to Spur Innovation, Use Innovation to Strengthen the Foundation
9.30 Central Propaganda Department deputy head, China Media Group (CMG) head, and CMG Party Leadership Group Secretary Shen Haixiong (慎海雄) penned an article in the Qiushi Journal highlighting the importance of fulfilling the duties of mainstream media and promoting the strengthening of propaganda and ideological work.
Shen stated that propaganda and ideological work has entered an important phase of “guarding the foundations and innovating” (守正创新). First, he emphasized working on consolidating mainstream thought and public opinion and integrating Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era into propaganda and news reporting. Second, he stressed the need to “discover a new path and mechanism to push for the integrated development of radio and television, traditional and new media, internal and external propaganda, and industry and undertakings.” He placed special emphasis on putting “more human, financial, and other resources” on the Internet to create content and products for new media that are popular with netizens.
Shen also attached great importance to building a fast reactive mechanism for external propaganda that increases China’s ability to collect material on major international news events on its own and to be the first one to break news related to China. He used CMG’s "Commentaries on International Affairs"(国际锐评) responding to China-US trade frictions as an example of effectively disseminating China’s voice and stance.
In the end, Shen advocated for cultivating media talents, prioritizing political construction related to propaganda and ideology, and striving to build CMG into a new type of world-class mainstream media outlet with a strong ability to guide, disseminate, and influence.
PD Editorial: Use the Achievements of Struggle to Rejuvenate the Great Undertaking
10.1 People’s Daily published an editorial celebrating the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It surveyed China’s various accomplishments before declaring “happiness arises out of struggle” and urging readers to “use struggle to expand the China path,” “promote the great undertaking of reform,” and “achieve the glory of the times.”
The editorial praised the Party and Chinese people for their roles in founding and developing the PRC. It proclaimed that “the Chinese Communist Party led hundreds of millions of people in founding New China and making our great motherland bid farewell to poverty and backwardness and leave sorrow and humiliation behind” and “China’s developmental achievements are what the Chinese Communist Party led hundreds of millions of people in using their own two hands to create and what generation after generation of Chinese people have tenaciously exerted themselves to the utmost and struggled by relay to create.”
Guo Jiping: The Great Undertaking of Constructing a Community of Shared Future
10.4 A commentary published under the People’s Daily pen name “Guo Jiping” (国纪平), which stands for “important commentary on 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, celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The commentary praised BRI for pursuing “development that pushes economic globalization toward an even more open, inclusive, universally beneficial, balanced, and mutually profitable orientation.” It went on to proclaim that “the sense of participation, gain, and happiness of the people of every country along the routes that has thrown itself into building BRI has grown with each passing day. They expect and are convinced that this road of struggle and happiness will lead to a beautiful future.”
The commentary also berated “Westerners” who have criticized the initiative for “obstinately wearing tinted glasses, using [BRI] as a pretext to make a fuss, and distorting facts.” It contended that BRI “has transcended Westerners’ geopolitical imagination and the Western historical tradition’s existing paths of either conquest or assimilation when confronting the cultural and civilizational differences of foreign countries.”
United Front Work
Sichuan United Front Department: The National Flag is Waving Sichuan’s Religious Locations, Together Hope that the Motherland is Glorious and Flourishing
10.1 Buddhist, Daoist, Islamic, Catholic, and Protestant representatives from across Sichuan met at a Buddhist temple in Chengdu for a flag raising ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. A Buddhist association official noted that “across the entire religious domain of the province they will strengthen national consciousness even further and under the leadership of the Party Committee and government hold high the flag of loving religion and loving the country.”
Central Military Commission
Xi Jinping Inspects the PLA 79th Group Army, Emphasizes Comprehensively Enhancing the Ability to Win
9.30 The PLA Daily reported that Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman Xi Jinping inspected the PLA 79th Group Army from 27 to 28 September and met leading cadres at the level of deputy division commander and above in Liaoning. During an important speech, Xi emphasized that “to build the military on politics, strengthen the military with reforms, invigorate it with science and technology, and govern it according to the law.” The article pointed out that Xi attached great importance to military combat training and emphasized consolidating the political thought foundation of following the Party’s leadership and strengthening the firm belief of the officers to fight and win.
Editorial: Advance Bravely on the New Journey of Strengthening the Country and the Military - Ardently Congratulate the 69th Anniversary of PRC Establishment
10.1 The PLA Daily published an editorial celebrating the 69th anniversary of the establishment of the PRC. The editorial stated that “the military has to be strong for a country to be strong, and only with a strong military can a country be secured.” It stressed that “our military, as a people’s army under the absolute leadership of the Party, … is not afraid of any external pressures and can surely provide strategic supports to consolidating the CCP’s leadership and our country’s socialist system, defending national sovereignty, unification, and territorial integrity, expanding our country’s overseas interests, and promoting world peace and development.”
Jun Sheng: Building an Important Implementation Platform for a Community of Shared Future for Mankind
10.4 PLA Daily published an article using the byline “Jun Sheng” (钧声) to praise the accomplishments of BRI in the past five years. It stated that more and more countries have voluntarily joined to support BRI and seek win-win cooperation. 138 countries and regions, 3 international organizations, and more than 2,800 enterprises have confirmed to participate in the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai in November this year. To demonstrate that a global free trade network that covers BRI has taken shape, Jun Sheng stated that China has become the largest trade partner of 25 countries along the BRI and that Chinese companies have built 82 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones and invested 28.9 billion USD in total. The article concluded by saying that “China will continue to adhere to reform and opening up and firmly advance the building of BRI with countries along it.”
International Liaison Work
9.29-9.30 On 29 September, Vice President Wang Qishan (王岐山) met with members of the InterAction Council of Former Heads of State and Government.
The following day International Department Minister Song Tao (宋涛) and Vice Ministers Guo Yezhou (郭业洲), Li Jun (李军), Wang Yajun (王亚军), and Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) also met with the council's members.