- David Gitter, Julia Bowie, Jake Eberts
Weekly Report 3|4 10.19.2019-10.24.2019
Highlights
The Politburo met to set the agenda for the CCP Central Committee’s fourth plenum, which will be held between 28 and 31 October. After the meeting, the Politburo held a study session on the development of blockchain technology (see Senior Leaders section).
The State Council and CCP Central Committee General Offices released opinions on improving ethnic unity in China (see United Front Work section).
The International Department and Qiushi jointly held a seminar on the theoretical development of the Party’s international work (see International Work section).
Senior Leaders
CCP Politburo Holds Meeting Discussing 19th CCP Central Committee’s Fourth Plenum
10.24 The Politburo met this week and set the Central Committee’s long-awaited Fourth Plenum for 28 to 31 October in Beijing.
During the meeting, the Politburo listened to feedback collected from within and outside the party on a draft document titled “The CCP Central Committee’s Decision on Major Issues Regarding Upholding and Improving the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics System, Advancing the Modernization of the Party’s Governance System and Governance Capacity” and decided to revise the document. The revised version will later be submitted to the Fourth Plenum for deliberation.
The conference described “upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of the governance system and governance capacity” as the “important strategic mission of the whole party.” It laid out the “comprehensive goals” to achieve this mission in three steps, by the 100th anniversary of the CCP, by 2035, and by the 100th anniversary of the PRC.
Xi Jinping at 18th Politburo Collective Study Session: Accelerate and Promote Innovative Development in Blockchain Technology and Industry
10.24 Xi Jinping presided over the 18th Politburo collective study session on the topic of blockchain technology development. He stated that “We must take blockchain technology as an important breakthrough allowing for independent innovation in core technologies.” He pointed out that the application of blockchain technology “has extended to many fields including digital finance, the Internet of Things, smart manufacturing, supply chain management, and digital asset trading,” and called for China to accelerate the development of blockchain and to actively carry forward its integration with the economy and society.
He also gave recommendations to make China a leader in blockchain technology innovation, including making breakthroughs in the core technology; strengthening research on blockchain standardization; improving China’s international “discourse power” and “rule-making power;” giving play to market advantages; constructing a blockchain industrial ecosystem; accelerating the depth of blockchain’s integration with cutting-edge information technologies like artificial intelligence, Big Data and the Internet of Things; and cultivating talent.
Xi further spoke about integrating blockchain technology into society, including in fields such as education, employment, elder care, poverty alleviation, medical care, anti-counterfeiting, food safety, public welfare and social assistance, as well as government service.
Propaganda Work
Zhong Sheng: Jointly Advance Global Governance of Cyberspace
10.23 People’s Daily published a page-three Zhong Sheng (钟声) article, which transmits the views of the People’s Daily on foreign affairs, on Xi Jinping’s letter to the 6th World Internet Conference (世界互联网大会) that took place in Wuzhen, Zhejiang from 20 to 22 October.
According to Zhong Sheng, Xi provided “penetrating insights into the development trends of the Internet” and “advocated for good development, good use, and good governance of the Internet at the height of advancing human welfare” in his letter. The article went on to state that “there is a reason for both joy and concern in the pursuit of the ‘Intelligent Interconnection of Everything’ (万物智能互联).” In particular, it noted that “it is increasingly clear that the development of the Internet is unbalanced, its regulation is not robust,” and that “invasion of personal privacy, violation of intellectual property, and cybercrimes are frequent occurrences,” while terrorist activity on the Internet has become a global problem.
The piece recounted China’s contributions to the development of the Internet, stating further that “China continues to deepen international exchange and cooperation on cyberspace, actively shares its development experience, and actively promotes the building of a community of shared future for mankind in cyberspace.”
United Front Work
Wang Yang Emphasizes Perseverance in Promoting Creative Development of the Guangcai Program
10.21 Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Chairman Wang Yang (汪洋) delivered remarks encouraging the continuation of the “Guangcai Program” (光彩事业), which was “launched in 1994 by China's private enterprises in a bid to aid the country's poverty-relief efforts.”
Wang stressed that the program should “guide the private sector in making greater contributions to achieving victory in establishing an all-around moderately prosperous society and the initiation of the comprehensive construction of the new national journey of socialist modernization.” Wang reiterated that “China is still in the preliminary stages of socialism” and that the “Guangcai Program” can play a great role in “lessening the gap between rich and poor and realizing collective prosperity.
United Front Work Department Holds Work Conference on Party Building; You Quan Attends and Delivers a Speech
10.23 The United Front Work Department held a work conference on party building, which focused on deeply studying and implementing the spirit of Xi Jinping’s important speech at the Central and State Organs Party Building Conference and comprehensively implementing the Central Committee’s opinion on “strengthening and improving party building of central party and state institutions.”
United Front Work Department Head You Quan (尤权) was present and delivered a speech. He emphasized strengthening and improving party building in the united front work aparatus, thoroughly studying and implementing Xi Jinping’s important speeches on strictly governing the Party, giving full play to the role of party building in the political leadership of professional work, and continuing to improve the quality and level of party building in united front work.
General Offices of the CCP Central Committee and the State Council Publish Opinions on Ethnic Unity
10.23 The General Offices of the CCP Central Committee and the State Council jointly released opinions on “comprehensively, deeply, and enduringly implementing the work on pursuing ethnic unity and progress to consolidate a sense of community for the Chinese Nation” and sent out a notice requesting each region and department conscientiously implement the opinions.
The opinions pointed out that “the sense of community of the Chinese nation is the foundation of the unity of the country, the root of national unity, and the soul of spiritual strength.” It said that national unity work in the new era should “uphold the basic direction of creating a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, persist on the basic path of strengthening communication, exchanges, and integration among ethnic groups, and uphold the comprehensive goal of ‘the Chinese nation as one family, constructing the Chinese dream together.’”
The opinions called for furthering education and propaganda on ethnic unity and progress, fostering communication, exchange, and integration among the ethnic groups, and upgrading the quality “ethnic unity and progress construction work.” It also emphasized that “party committees and governments at all levels should earnestly carry out the political responsibility of protecting the lifeline of ethnic unity.”
Party Discipline
Zhao Leji in Hainan: Dare to Supervise, Be Adept at Supervision, Provide A Strong Guarantee for Implementing the Party Central Committee’s Major Strategies
10.20 Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Secretary Zhao Leji (赵乐际) conducted an inspection tour of Hainan from 17 to 19 October and stressed placing more emphasis on supervision and carrying out the high-quality advancement and implementation of the major strategies determined by the Party Central Committee.
Zhao first visited research institutes and the international medical tourism pilot zone in Bo’ao. There, he emphasized strengthening supervision over the strict rule of the Party, putting emphasis on building a fine political ecosystem, fostering a clean and upright working environment, and close and honest government-business relationships.
Zhao also met with grassroots cadres and people when he visited a village in the Lingshui Lizu Autonomous County and another local community. There, he emphasized strengthening the supervision over grassroots cadres, unremittingly tightening discipline and fighting against corruption, severely punishing corruption related to poverty alleviation and people’s livelihoods, and increasing the sense of gain, happiness, and security of the masses.
Then, Zhao visited the Hainan Province Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision Commission and exchanged thoughts with the cadres. There, he emphasized innovating supervision methods, strengthening joint efforts in supervision, enhancing supervision capacity, and reinforcing self-supervision.
September 2019 Found 5,016 Violations of the Spirit of the Eight-Point Guidelines
10.25 The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and National Supervisory Commission (NSC) released figures for violations of the eight-point guidelines (中央八项规定) in September 2019. The month saw 5,016 investigations, 6,983 punished individuals, and 5,122 individuals receiving Party and governmental disciplinary action. The most common violations were sending and receiving gifts and money, granting subsidies and benefits, and dining out with public funds. The cumulative figures for the first nine months of 2019 were 40,768 investigations, 57,473 punished individuals, and 40,687 individuals receiving Party and governmental disciplinary action.
Central Military Commission
PLA Daily Commentator: Maintaining International Order and Promoting Peace in the Asia-Pacific
10.22 PLA Daily published a commentator article about the 9th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, an annual international forum on defense and military affairs that was held from 20 October to 22 October. It referenced Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter to the forum and said that the letter “showed China’s sincere desire to use dialogue to promote cooperation, use cooperation to promote peace, and use peace to protect development, manifested China’s staunch determination to unswervingly walk the path of peaceful development, and indicated the direction of consolidating a peaceful consensus and deepening security cooperation.”
The article said this year’s forum, called “Maintaining International Order and Promoting Peace in the Asia-Pacific,” attracted a record number of high-ranking foreign officials and experts, and has become one of the world’s major security dialogue platforms. It also said that despite growing trends of “peace, development, cooperation and win-win,” the “international security system and order are facing serious challenges,” including a “global governance deficit, a trust deficit, a peace deficit, and a development deficit.” It argued that no country could respond to the challenges facing humanity by itself, nor can any country return to being a self-contained island. The article said that China is an important force for world peace and global development, and is willing to work with other countries to construct security rules for the Asia-Pacific, upgrade and improve multilateral mechanisms for Asia-Pacific security, create a new type of Asia-Pacific security partner relations, open up Asia-Pacific military cooperation, and construct a security framework that suits the region and is acceptable to all countries.
International Liaison Work
CCP News Exclusive Interview with Song Tao
10.22 In a 22 October interview with the CCP News, International Department Head Song Tao (宋涛) remarked on several aspects of the department’s work during his tenure. Song took pride in the fact that “many developing countries’ political parties and political leaders give high appraisal of the role of socialism with Chinese characteristics in opening the road for modernization of late-developing countries,” and that “many foreign left-wing parties consider socialism with Chinese characteristics to be the hope for the renaissance of global socialism.”
The article noted that the International Department maintains regular contact with over 500 various political parties and organizations across 160 countries and regions, and Song said that “the question they are most concerned with is how the CCP governs such a large country.”
The work of the International Department, Song said, involves “telling a good CCP story,” as it invites foreign representatives to China frequently to showcase its initiatives and achievements: “The story of our Party is there for all to see; it is far more moving for us to use ourselves as an example rather than just talking on and on.”
“Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and Theoretical Innovation in the Party’s External Work in the 70 Years since the Founding of New China Seminar” Held in Beijing
10.25 The International Department (CCP/ID) and Qiushi jointly held the “Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy and Theoretical Innovation in the Party’s External Work in the 70 Years since the Founding of New China Seminar” in Beijing. Over 70 experts from relevant central departments, university think tanks, and research organizations attended.
CCP/ID Head Song Tao delivered the keynote speech at the seminar’s opening ceremony. He listed several accomplishments from the past 70 years, namely: 1. “Unswervingly walking along a development path that accords with China’s national characteristics,” 2. “Insisting on being independent and autonomous while expanding exchanges and mutual learning with every country,” 3. “Consolidating the Party’s ruling status while continuously strengthening political leadership in the international community,” 4. “Unifying socialist power while creating a global partnership network,” 5. “Seeking the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation while promoting the creation of a community of shared future for mankind,” and 6. “Defending Party and national interests while promoting win-win cooperation with every country.” Song vowed that the CCP/ID will “continue to hold high the banner of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy,” “strengthen its political leadership in the international community,” “optimize the layout of Party external work in a new era,” “tell a good China and CCP story,” and “work hard to walk along the path of party exchanges with clear Chinese characteristics in a new era.”
Qiushi Editor-in-Chief Chen Yangyong (陈扬勇) also delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. He stated that “adhering to the guidance of the newest theoretical results of Marxism’s sinification is the fundamental reason that the Party’s external work has continuously advanced in different historical periods.” After asserting that “external work has made historic achievements since the 18th Party Congress” due to “the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core” and “correct guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy,” Chen called for “continuously improving the study, research, and dissemination of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy.” He vowed that “Qiushi will continue to play its role as the publication of the Party’s central organs well, further spread and explain Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, and summarize and spread the theoretical and practical innovations of Party external work from the 70 years since the founding of New China.”
International Department
10.19 International Department Deputy Head Wang Yajun (王亚军) traveled to Jinghong (景洪), Yunnan Province to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony of a special training class for Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) county-level Organization Department heads. The ceremony also included speeches by Yunnan Provincial CCP Standing Committee member and Organization Department Head Li Xiaosan (李小三) and LPRP Organization Department Deputy Head and training class leader Vanxay.
10.20-10.22 International Department Deputy Head (郭业洲) led a CCP delegation to Luanda, Angola. While there, he individually met with People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) Deputy Chairwoman Luísa Damião, National Assembly First Deputy Speaker Emília Carlota Dias, and MPLA Politburo member and Secretary for International Relations Manuel Pedro Chaves.
10.22 International Department Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) met with a multiparty Assembly of Turkmenistan joint study group led by Democratic Party of Turkmenistan Chairman Ata Serdarov.
10.23 Guo Yezhou led a CCP delegation to Tanzania. While there, he met with President and Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM/Party of the Revolution) Chairman John Magufuli and held individual talks with President of Zanzibar Ali Mohamed Shein and CCM Secretary General Bashiru Ally.
10.23 International Department Deputy Head Li Jun (李军) met with Cuban Ambassador to China Miguel Ramirez Ramos.
10.23 Qian Hongshan met with Polish Ambassador to China Wojciech Zajączkowski.
10.24 Li Jun met with a Turkish Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) young cadre study group led by AK Parti Youth Branch Foreign Affairs Chairman Cengizhan Güngör.
10.24 Qian Hongshan met with EU European External Action Service Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific Gunnar Wiegand.
10.25 Qian Hongshan met with ambassadors to China from nine Southern African Development Community member states, including Tanzanian Ambassador to China Mbelwa Kairuki and Zimbabwean Ambassador to China Martin Chedondo.
10.25 Wang Yajun met with newly-appointed Lao Ambassador to China Khamphao Ernthavanh.
Organization Work
10.25 Ouyang Weimin (欧阳卫民) was appointed deputy secretary of China Development Bank’s Party committee.