- David Gitter, Julia Bowie, Jake Eberts
Weekly Report 3|6 11.2.2019-11.8.2019
Highlights
The Central Committee released its “Decision” document from its Fourth Plenum (see Senior Leaders section).
The various CCP department and organs focused on “studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenum” this week, emphasizing the importance of carrying out the Central Committee’s decisions in order to achieve the centenary goals and China’s national rejuvenation (see Senior Leaders, Propaganda Work, United Front Work, and Party Discipline sections).
Senior Leaders
Li Keqiang Presides over State Council Party Leadership Group Meeting on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the Fourth Plenum; Han Zheng in Attendance
11.1 Li Keqiang presided over a State Council Party Leadership Group meeting regarding the outcomes of the Fourth Plenum. According to the meeting, the government must “earnestly unify its thoughts and actions with the spirit of the Fourth Plenum, fully understand the unique nature and superiority of socialism with Chinese characteristics,” “firmly safeguard the authority of the party center, implement the leadership of the Party at all levels and aspects in the field of government work, [and] construct a system of governance with clear duties that is run according to the law.”
“The meeting emphasized that government and government workers at all levels must even more closely unite around the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, while strengthening the ‘four consciousnesses’ (四个意识), resolutely [upholding] the ‘four confidences’ (四个自信), carrying out the ‘two defends’ (两个维护), and modernizing the national governance system and governance capacity,” as well as give particular prominence to “stabilizing employment, finance, external trade, foreign investment, [domestic] investment, and expectations, keeping the operation of the economy within a reasonable zone, and promoting sustained, healthy development of the economy and society, so as to work hard in the struggle to achieve the ‘two centenary’ goals and the realization of the China Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
The article listed State Council Vice Premiers Han Zheng (韩正), Sun Chunlan (孙春兰), Hu Chunhua (胡春华) and Liu He (刘鹤) in attendance, among others.
Xi Jinping Emphasizes Deepening Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the Fourth Plenum, Elevating the Governance Capacity and Level of Modern Socialist International Metropolises during Shanghai Inspection
11.3 During an inspection tour of Shanghai, Xi Jinping stressed the importance of:
“...deepening the study and implementation of the spirit of the 19th Central Committee’s Fourth Plenum, adhering to the key task of making progress while ensuring stability, comprehensively implementing the new development theory, accelerating the pace of reform and opening, accelerating the establishment of a modernized economic system, increasing the push for [fighting against] the three tough battles, making solid progress on Yangtze River Delta’s integrated development, appropriately responding to all manner of internal and external risks and challenges, bravely shouldering the heaviest burdens, daring to bite off the most difficult tasks [figurative translation], focusing on improving cities’ functions and core competitiveness, and continually elevating the governing ability and level of modern socialist international metropolises.”
Xi also paid tribute to Shanghai as the birthplace of the Communist Party and said that Shanghai should “take these rich revolutionary resources as lively material for the education campaign; lead party members and cadres far and wide to deeply study party history, the history of the new China, and the history of reform and opening up; pass on the original aspiration; always shoulder our mission; and earnestly strive to dauntlessly move forward and take the lead in the journey of realizing the ‘two centenary’ goals and the China Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Xi Jinping Attends Opening of the Second China International Import Exposition, Gives Keynote Speech
11.5 Xi Jinping attended the opening of the Second China International Import Exposition in Shanghai and delivered a keynote speech stressing international economic openness and cooperation. Xi reaffirmed that “China’s door to the outside will only open wider and wider” and stated that China “persists in using openness to spur reform, development, and innovation and continues to promote a higher level of openness to the outside world.”
Xi made a number of proposals:
Jointly building an open and cooperative global economy: in the face of obstacles and friction, coordination and cooperation is the correct path.
Jointly building an open and innovative global economy: all countries should strengthen innovation cooperation, push for the deep integration of science and technology with the economy, increase shared enjoyment of the fruits of innovation, support companies in independently developing technological exchange and cooperation, and “allow the wellspring of innovation to gush forth.”
Jointly building an open and shared global economy: the international order based on the aims and principles of the UN Charter should be safeguarded by all, we should insist on the core values and basic principles of the multilateral trading system, promote the liberalization and streamlining of trade and investment, strengthen support for the least-developed nations, and allow the fruits of development to reach more countries and people.
Second Hongqiao International Economic Forum’s “China's 70-Year Development and the Building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind” Parallel Session Held in Shanghai; Huang Kunming Attends, Gives Keynote
11.5 Politburo member and Central Propaganda Department head Huang Kunming (黄坤明) gave a speech on “Sharing Development and Governance Experience, Planning a Happy and Beautiful Future Together” at the Hongqiao International Economic Forum in Shanghai on 5 November. Huang pointed out that “General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the opening ceremony of the Second China International Import Exposition made a three-point proposal for jointly building the global economy, announced new measures to advance opening to the outside world, embodied China’s confidence and resolution to continue to expand the opening-up, and manifested China’s willingness to assume responsibility for, together with international society, building an open global economy and a community with a shared future for mankind.
Huang also pointed out that since the founding of New China 70 years ago, the CCP has “led the Chinese people to build a new type of national system in a great and ancient Eastern country in which millions of people control their own affairs and walk the road of building modernization with Chinese characteristics.” Huang also stated that think tanks and the media are a tie connecting popular sentiment in all countries of the world and should act as advocates of global peace and development.
(Authorized Release) CCP Central Committee Decision on Some Major Issues Concerning Upholding and Improving the System of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and Advancing the Modernization of National Governance System and Governance Capacity
11.5 Xinhua released the decision made during the Fourth Plenum of the 19th CCP Central Committee on upholding and improving Socialism with Chinese Characteristics system, and advancing the modernization of national system and governance capacity. The decision includes the following points:
Uphold and improve the party’s leadership system, improve its scientific, democratic and law-based governance capacity.
Uphold and improve the system led by people and develop socialist democracy.
Uphold and improve socialist rule of law system with Chinese characteristics, advance the party’s law-based rule and governance.
Uphold and improve the administration system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, construct a governance system with clear responsibility and law-based administration.
Uphold and improve the basic socialist economic system, promote high-quality economic development.
Uphold and improve prosperous and developed socialist advanced cultural system, consolidate common ideological foundation upon which everyone can be united and strive together.
Uphold and improve social security system planning in urban and rural area, meet people’s increasing need for a better life.
Uphold and improve social governance system based on collaboration, participation, and common interests, maintain social stability, defend national security.
Uphold and maintain the ecological civilization system, promote harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Uphold and improve the system of the party’s absolute leadership over the armed forces, ensure that they faithfully fulfill the missions of the new era.
Uphold and improve “One Country Two Systems” structure, promote peaceful unification of the motherland.
Uphold and improve independent and peaceful foreign policy, advance building community with a shared future for mankind.
Uphold and improve supervision system over the party and the state, strengthen checks and supervision on the exercise of power.
Strengthen the party’s leadership on upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics system, and advancing the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity.
Propaganda Work
PD Commentator Series on Deeply Studying and Implementing Spirit of 19th Central Committee’s Fourth Plenum
People’s Daily
11.2-11.6 People’s Daily put out a series of commentator articles discussing the implementation of “the spirit of the Fourth Plenum of the 19th Central Committee.”
The first article discussed “the fundamental guarantee of modern China’s developmental progress”; the second article called for the CCP to “promote the maturation and finalization of every aspect of the system”; the third article discussed how to “accurately grasp the crux and foundation of national governance”; the fourth article discussed maintaining “confidence in the system while innovating”; the fifth article discussed “transforming systemic advantages into effective governance.”
Strive to Open New Phase of Party School Work in the New Era
11.4 People’s Daily published a commentator article on the recently released CCP regulations on party schools. The commentator said the regulations are the “fundamental guideline for party school work in the new era,” and are of great significance for “further strengthening the party’s leadership over party school work, increasing the level of scientification, systematization, and standardization of party school work, and advancing the education and training of party cadres and the building of ideological theory.”
Three principles of school management are detailed in the regulations.
Loyalty to the party (party schools are surnamed “party” (党校姓党)): This is defined as the most important principle in school management. Party schools “must integrate politics into their every process.”
Maintaining strict school management: The regulations “further established systematic regulations to create a sound political ecosystem.”
Quality as the foundation of party schools: To implement the regulations, party schools must improve the quality of all aspects of school management, including education, research, consultation, and administration.
Ren Ping on Fostering “System Confidence”: “Chinese Governance” Shows Confidence in Its System
11.8 The People’s Daily issued a commentary authored by Ren Ping (任平), which is likely a homophonous pen name standing for “People’s Daily Commentary” (人民日报评论), observing the success of the Second China International Import Exposition and remarking that “behind China’s superior economic performance and enormous potential for development is the strength of a superior system and highly effective governance.”
“Historically speaking, since the founding of New China 70 years ago, the reason we have been able to bring about the miracle of rapid economic development the likes of which the world has seldom seen and the miracle of long-term social stability, the standing up of the Chinese people, and the huge leap towards greater wealth and strength is because the Party has led the people in constructing and refining the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and has continually strengthened and refined its governance.”
Ren Ping also stressed the historical roots of China’s system and that a country’s choice of system is determined by its historical and cultural heritage as well as its level of economic development:
“The reason the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is realizable, vibrant, and efficient is because it grew in the soil of Chinese society. Our systemic self-confidence is based on over 9.6 million square kilometers of vast territory, comes from a brilliant 5,000-year-old continuous civilization, and is rooted in nearly 1.4 billion people’s deeply-felt self-awareness [fig.].”
United Front Work
CPPCC National Committee Party Leadership Group Holds Meeting Studying Implementation of the Spirit of the 4th Plenum of the 19th Central Committee; Wang Yang Presides and Gives Speech
11.1 Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Chairman Wang Yang (汪洋) presided over a CPPCC Party Leadership Group meeting and gave a speech. At the meeting, it was stressed that the Party Leadership Group should “unify its thought and action onto the spirit of the Fourth Plenum, concentrate wisdom and power on the implementation of the policies of the Central Committee, and strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses,’ resolutely [uphold] the ‘four confidences,’ carry out the ‘two defends,’ and strive to modernize the national governance system and capabilities and struggle to give full justice to the strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” In his speech, Wang Yang further explained the importance of implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenum in the work of the CPPCC, “progress in clarifying the duties and responsibilities of the CPPCC as the specialized consultation mechanism.”
The 9th Meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee Standing Committee Opens, Wang Yang Attends
11.5 The ninth meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee opened on 5 November with the main agenda of studying and implementing the spirit of the 19th Central Committee Fourth Plenum and the CPPCC work conference. CPPCC National Committee Chairman Wang Yang (汪洋) attended the opening ceremony.
Director of the National Supervisory Commission Yang Xiaodu (杨晓渡) attended the meeting and delivered a report on the spirit of the Fourth Plenum. He emphasized that “thoroughly studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenum is an important political task of a period now and hereafter.” CPPCC National Committee Vice Chairman Zhang Qingli (张庆黎) presided over the opening ceremony. He emphasized the importance of the Fourth Plenum and pointed out that “CPPCC, being an important component of the governance system, has an important role in promoting the modernization of governance system and capacity, and undertakes important missions.”
Party Discipline
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Standing Committee Convenes Meeting
11.2 Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Secretary Zhao Leji (赵乐际) presided over a CCDI Standing Committee meeting to study and implement the spirit of the Fourth Plenum. The meeting emphasized that the Fourth Plenum “proposed new missions and requirements” for discipline and inspection work and “further pointed out the direction for high-quality development of discipline and inspection work in the new era.” Lastly, the meeting called for “adapting to the demands required of improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the national governance system, upholding the party and state supervision system improvement, and promoting reform and innovation of discipline inspection and supervision system.”
Former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Deputy Director Wei Chuanzhong Prosecuted
11.5 Former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Deputy Director Wei Chuanzhong (魏传忠) was recently prosecuted for receiving bribes. Wei was arrested in September; his case was transferred to the Supreme People's Procuratorate after the National Supervisory Commission concluded its investigation.
Former China National Salt Industry Corporation Chairman Mao Qingguo Arrested
11.6 Former China National Salt Industry Corporation Chairman and secretary of its party committee Mao Qingguo (茆庆国) was recently arrested for bribery. His case was transferred to procuratorial organs after the supervisory commission of Anhui province concluded its investigation.
CCDI Sends Notice Requiring Serious Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the Fourth Plenum
11.7 The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) released a notice entitled “On Serious Study and Implementation of the Spirit of the 19th Central Committee Fourth Plenum.” Mirroring similar language across other state and party organs, the summary of the notice emphasized the importance of “earnestly strengthening the ‘four consciousnesses,” resolutely [upholding] the ‘four confidences,’ carrying out the ‘two defends.’” After further recounting the significance of the Plenum as the country faces a critical period in the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the summary went on to recount slightly more specific instructions for the CCDI:
“Discipline inspection and supervision organs at every level must earnestly fulfill the great political duties of the ‘two defends’; firmly position its duties; closely center upon maintaining and perfecting the system of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics and the governance of the country; and give full play to the role of supervision in improving development, [so as to] ensure the spirit of the Fourth Plenum is effectively carried out.”
State Information Center Deputy Party Secretary and Deputy Director Ma Zhongyu Put Under Investigation
11.7 State Information Center Deputy Head and deputy secretary of its party committee Ma Zhongyu (马忠玉) was recently placed under discipline inspection and supervisory investigation as he is “suspected of serious legal and disciplinary violations.”
International Liaison Work
International Department Holds Briefing on Fourth Plenum for Diplomats in China
11.8 The International Department (CCP/ID) held a briefing on the 19th Central Committee’s Fourth Plenum for diplomats stationed in China. More than 210 high-level diplomatic officials, including some 60 ambassadors and charges d'affaires from over 130 countries attended the briefing. The CCP/ID invited National People’s Congress Standing Committee Legislative Affairs Commission Director Shen Chunyao (沈春耀) and China Academy of Social Sciences Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Research Center Deputy Executive Director Xin Xiangyang (辛向阳) to explain the plenum to the diplomats.
After watching a short video on the historical background, key content, and significance of the Plenum, the diplomats learned that the decision passed there represents “an enrichment and development of the Marxist theory of the state and development of human institutions and civilization.” They also heard that the decision “not only carries great and far-reaching significance for China realizing the Two Centenary Goals (“两个一百年”奋斗目标), pushing forward reform and opening for a new era, responding to risks and challenges, and gaining the initiative but also provides an all-new choice for developing countries moving toward modernization and offers Chinese wisdom and a Chinese approach for humanity’s search to build a better social system.”
11.5 International Department Deputy Head Guo Yezhou (郭业洲) met with a Thai Democrat Party delegation led by Deputy Interior Minister and Democrat Party Deputy Leader Niphon Bunyamanee.
11.5 International Department Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) met with an Uzbek Supreme Assembly multiparty joint study group led by Legislative Chamber Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Sport Deputy Chairman Shuhrat Bafaev.
11.6 Qian Hongshan met with Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov.
11.7 International Department Head Song Tao (宋涛) met with Czech Chamber of Deputies Speaker and ANO 2011 Deputy Chairman Radek Vondráček.
11.7 Guo Yezhou met with a National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) delegation led by NCAFP President and CEO Susan M. Elliott.
11.7 Qian Hongshan met with Italian Ambassador to China Ettore Francesco Sequi.
11.7 International Department Deputy Head and Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament adviser Wang Yajun (王亚军) met with a North Korean economic cadres study group led by National Peace Committee of Korea presidium member O Ryong Il.
11.8 International Department Deputy Head Li Jun (李军) met with China-Britain Business Council Chairman James Sassoon.
Organization Work
11.4 Gao Gao (高杲) was appointed deputy secretary general of the National Development and Reform Commission.