- David Gitter, Julia Bowie, Brock Erdahl
Weekly Report 2|25 4.6.2019-4.12.2019
Highlights
Myanmar Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing visited China and met with Xi Jinping and Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Xi Qiliang (see CMC section), as well as International Department Minister Song Tao (see International Liaison Work section).
The entire Politburo Standing Committee attended a tree-planting activity to signal their resolve to confront China’s environmental problems (see Senior Leaders section).
Senior Leaders
Xi Jinping Participates in Voluntary Tree-Planting Activity in the Capital, Stresses Carrying Forward the Chinese People’s Good Tradition of Loving, Planting, and Protecting Trees, Promotes the Green-ification of the Country’s Land to Ceaselessly Achieve Tangible Results
4.8 Xi Jinping along with the entire Politburo Standing Committee went to Tongzhou, Beijing to participate in a tree-planting activity at a site formerly occupied by chemical plants, signaling their resolve to tackle China’s environmental problems.
Xi emphasized that the “Chinese people need to carry forward its good tradition of loving, planting, and protecting trees,” a tradition which stretches back to ancient times. Xi also pointed out that it has been 40 years since the country began celebrating Arbor Day. Since then, China’s forested areas have doubled, with China now ranking first in the world for total area of planted forests.
At the same time, Xi noted that China’s “ecological debts are still very large,” and that “ecological fragility remains a problem in need of major efforts to be solved.” Going forward, China must take such actions as promoting high-quality green development, promoting more large-scale green-ification activities in accordance with local conditions, building more green cities, improving people’s living environments, developing the green economy, and strengthening forest management.
Li Keqiang Co-Hosts the 21st China-EU Summit with European Council and European Commission Presidents
4.9 Li Keqiang (李克强) co-chaired the 21st China-EU Summit in Brussels with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
According to the article, both sides agreed that China and the EU have “broad common interests” in win-win cooperation, maintaining multilateralism and an open world economy, and opposing protectionism and unilateralism.” The two sides also “pledged to support multilateralism; respect basic norms in international law and international relations with the UN as the core; strongly support the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO as the core; and strengthen dialogue and cooperation regarding WTO reform.”
To that end, China and the EU “pledged to provide broader, more convenient, and non-discriminatory market access,” and to work towards concluding negotiations on a China-EU investment agreement in 2019. The two sides also “agreed to promote the Belt and Road Initiative and the EU/Europe-Asia Interconnection Strategy.” They will also strengthen cooperation in areas such as combating climate change and developing clean energy as part of their commitment to the Paris Agreement. The two entities also reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the “four major partnerships”: peace, growth, reform, and civilizational progress.
Xi Jinping Writes a Letter to the Dulong People of Gongshan, Yunnan
4.11 In a letter published by Xinhua, Xi Jinping congratulated the Dulong ethnic minority for "fully lifting their people out of poverty," and encouraged them to "continue to unite in the struggle for an even better and more beautiful life."
Xi said that he received a letter from the local party committee informing him that the Dulong people had "fully lifted themselves out of poverty" last year, and "are living better and better lives each day." This demonstrates what can be achieved with the “strong leadership of the Party” and the “united struggle of the broad masses.”
Xi stressed: “poverty alleviation is just the first step; better days lie ahead.”
Propaganda Work
“Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” Book Series Published
4.8 In order to deepen the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, experts and scholars from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) published a twelve-part book series that elaborates on the “significance, main viewpoints, and spiritual essence” of Xi’s “original contributions” to the development of Marxism. According to Xinhua, the series “focuses on deepening and transforming the theory,” and “strives to turn political discourse into academic discourse.”
PD Commentator: Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Regulatory Documents
4.12 People’s Daily published a commentator article praising the Central Committee's decision to annul 54 central Party regulations and normative documents, declare another 56 invalid, and amend another eight. The decision also included a package of amendments to 14 central Party regulations related to the reform of Party and state institutions.
The article described the changes as “an important achievement of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core strengthening the construction of the Party regulatory system” and “having great significance for promoting the deep development of the comprehensive strict governance of the Party.” It added that these changes were an “important move” for “strengthening the guarantee of the ‘two defends’ (两个维护) system,” “simplifying and improving the quality and efficiency of documents,” and “perfecting clean-up mechanisms.”
Party Discipline
Second Round Central Supervision on Cleaning Up Crime and Eliminating Evil Begins
4.11 From 1 to 10 April, the central supervision groups for the work of cleaning up crime and eliminating evil completed setting up stations in Tianjin, Jilin, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Hainan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Xinjiang, and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, and started the second round of central supervision work on cleaning up crime and eliminating evil.
The groups held mobilization meetings respectively and stressed that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era must be used as a guide and that each region should “implement the Party Central Committee’s decisions and plans through effective measures.” The second round of supervision is expected to last for a month, while the third round is planned to start in June.
Central Military Commission
Xu Qiliang Meets with Myanmar Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing
4.9 Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang (许其亮) met with the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces, Min Aung Hlaing.
During the meeting, Xu said China supports Myanmar taking a developmental path that fits its national condition, safeguarding its sovereign independence and territorial integrity, and realizing domestic peace settlement. Min Aung Hlaing said Myanmar is grateful to China for its long-standing support and assistance and is willing to strengthen the development of bilateral military relations and cooperation on maintaining border stabilization.
Xi Jinping Meets with Min Aung Hlaing
4.10 Xi Jinping met with Min Aung Hlaing in Beijing. CMC Joint Staff’s Chief of Staff Li Zuocheng (李作成) was also in attendance.
Xi said that “China-Myanmar military cooperation is an important component of the two countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.” The two armies should “deepen pragmatic exchanges,” as well as "work together to build a military-to-military relationship based on mutual trust and benefit and devoted to safeguarding the common security and development interests of the two countries."
Xi also said that China supports Myanmar's domestic peace process, follows developments in Northern Myanmar, and hopes that China and Myanmar can “further strengthen border management and jointly safeguard border security and stability.”
Wei Fenghe Meets Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean
4.11 State Council Member and Minister of Defense Wei Fenghe (魏凤和) met with Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and National Security Coordinating Minister Teo Chee Hean in Beijing.
During the meeting, Wei said that the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Singapore has become “an example of win-win cooperation for China and its neighboring countries.” He said China is willing to work with Singapore to promote new developments in military-to-military relationship.
International Liaison Work
4.6-4.9 International Department Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) led a CCP delegation to Russia. Where there, the delegation individually met with United Russia Supreme Council member Vladimir Pligin, Communist Party of the Russian Federation Central Committee Chairman Gennady Zyuganov, LDPR — Liberal Democratic Party of Russia leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, and A Just Russia party leader Sergei Mironov.
4.8 Central Committee member and Jilin Provincial Party Secretary Bayinchaolu (巴音朝鲁) led a CCP delegation to Gaborone, Botswana. While there, the delegation met with President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Vice President and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Chairman Slumber Tsogwane as well as held talks with BDP Secretary General Mpho Balopi.
4.9 International Department Head Song Tao (宋涛), International Department Deputy Head Guo Yezhou (郭业洲), and Central Military Commission Office for International Military Cooperation Deputy Director Song Yanchao (宋延超) met with the Myanmar Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing.
4.10 International Department Deputy Head Wang Yajun (王亚军) met with a National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) cadre study group led by the FUNCINPEC Deputy Secretary-General and Youth Movement President.
4.10-4.12 At the invitation of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Qian Hongshan visited Japan. While there, he individually met with LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai, Komeito Party Secretary-General Tetsuo Saito, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism Keiichi Ishii, and LDP International Bureau Director-General Ryuji Koizumi.
4.11 Guo Yezhou met with Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Department of Foreign Policy Issues Head Hikmat Hajiyev.
4.11 International Department Deputy Head Li Jun (李军) met with Ecuadorian Proud and Sovereign Fatherland (PAIS) Alliance Executive Secretary and Pichincha Province Governor Gustavo Baroja.
4.11 Wang Yajun participated in a Lao New Year celebration held in Beijing for the fourth training class of Laotian leading cadres and the Laotian Embassy in China.
Organization Work
4.9 Hao Shuchen (郝书辰) was appointed as a member of the National Audit Office’s Party leadership group.
4.10 Wang Xudong (王旭东) was appointed as a member of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s Party leadership group and head of the Palace Museum.
4.10 Ke Ruiwen (柯瑞文) was appointed chairman of China Telecommunications Corporation and secretary of its Party leadership group.