- Admin
Report 4|60 2.19.22-2.25.22
Highlights
Xinhua published the No. 1 central document for 2022, “Opinions of the Central Committee and State Council on Doing Key Points of Comprehensively Advancing Rural Revitalization Work Well in 2022.” (See Senior Leaders section)
Xi Jinping presided over a Politburo meeting on 25 February to discuss the State Council’s draft proposal of the “Government Work Report” passed by the National People’s Congress (NPC) and deliberated on reports on the Central Committee’s inspection work, particularly with regards to the financial sector. (See Senior Leaders section)
People’s Daily published an Editorial (社论) on the closing of the 24th Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. (See Propaganda Work section)
Senior Leaders
General Offices of the Central Committee, State Council, and Central Military Commission Release “Plan for Serving and Supporting Veterans [During] the ‘14th Five-Year [Plan]’”
2.20 The General Offices of the Central Committee, State Council, and Central Military Commission (CMC) recently released a “Plan for Serving and Supporting Veterans During the ‘14th Five-Year [Plan]’” (hereafter referred to as “the Plan”). Referring to veterans as an “important force in the construction of socialist modernization,” the Plan called doing work related to veterans well as “our Party’s consistent fine tradition.” It also highlighted “using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance” and “thoroughly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition related to veteran work” to accomplish tasks such as “promot[ing] the high-quality development of veteran work.” The Plan has six goals, namely: 1. “amply give play to the role of political guidance”; 2. “comprehensively raise the quality of arranging employment”; 3. "[have a] more robust system for the provision of pensions and preferential treatment [to deceased veterans’ relatives]”; 4. “[ensure that] the legitimate rights [of veterans] receive forceful protection”; 5. “[realize the] clear upgrading of capabilities to serve and support [veterans]”; and 6. “continuously thicken the atmosphere of honor and respect.” In addition, it listed eight “important priorities”: 1. “improve the management system for veteran affairs”; 2. “strengthen the political and ideological guidance of veterans”; 3. “deepen the reform of the placement system for veterans”; 4. “comprehensively promote employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for veterans”; 5. “actively upgrade the management level of military retirement service”; 6. “[have a] robust guarantee system for the provision of pensions and preferential treatment [to deceased veterans’ relatives]”; 7. “deepen the promotion of praise and commemoration for heroes and martyrs”; and 8. “amply give play to the political superiority of two supports work (双拥工作).” The Plan also called on “all levels of party committees, governments, and relevant civilian and military departments” to ensure the implementation of the Plan’s goals and tasks.
(Authoritative Release) “Opinions of the Central Committee and State Council on Doing Key Points of Comprehensively Advancing Rural Revitalization Work Well in 2022”
2.22 On 22 February, Xinhua released “Opinions of the Central Committee and State Council on Doing Key Points of Comprehensively Advancing Rural Revitalization Work Well in 2022” (hereafter referred to as the “Opinions”), issued on 4 January as the No. 1 central document for 2022. The Opinions noted concerns for agriculture related to the pandemic, global economic recovery, and climate change, and the Central Committee’s belief that rural revitalization and agricultural policies are important for “stable and healthy socioeconomic development.” They stated that work on the “three rural issues" (三农/agriculture, rural areas, and farmers) in 2022 should closely follow various aspects of ideological and policy guidance, including following Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, implementing the spirit of the Party’s 19th Congress and Plenums, taking “protecting national food security and preventing a large-scale return to poverty as the two bottom lines,” and more. The Opinions specifically noted eight major goals of rural revitalization:
“Grasp staple food production and the supply of important produce with all [our] strength” by stabilizing year-round planting area and output of staple foods, substantially upgrading the production capacity of soybeans and oil, ensuring a stable supply of foods, ensuring that growing grains is profitable for farmers by adjusting purchasing and subsidies, and holistically regulating important agricultural products well.
“Strengthen support for a modern agricultural base” by ensuring the productive agricultural use of arable land, accomplishing staged goals for improving farmland, promoting technology for key agricultural issues, improving the development and use of agricultural equipment, developing agricultural facilities, and preventing major agricultural disasters.
Prevent a large-scale return to poverty by improving mechanisms to monitor aid, promoting continued increases in income for the rural population, increasing aid to key areas receiving anti-poverty aid or undergoing relocation, and promoting tangible accomplishments in anti-poverty aid.
“Focus on industry to promote rural development” by continuing to promote the integration of primary, secondary, and tertiary industry in rural areas; developing industries to enrich the people and strengthening the construction of the commerce system on the county level; promoting local employment and entrepreneurship; and promoting the green development of agriculture and rural areas.
“Solidly and stably promote the construction of rural areas” by making robust mechanisms for implementing rural construction, continuing operations for rural environmental restoration, constructing basic infrastructure in key sectors, promoting a “digital countryside,” and strengthening holistic planning for public services at the county level.
Effectively improve rural governance by strengthening the construction of grassroots Party groups, innovating “effective platforms and media for the construction of rural spiritual civilization,” and upholding the peace and stability of rural society.
“Increase the strength of innovation for policy guarantees and systemic mechanisms” supporting rural revitalization by expanding investment, strengthening financial services, and strengthening the construction of “talent teams,” as well as carrying out key rural reforms.
“Persist in and strengthen the Party’s comprehensive leadership of ‘three rural issues’ work” by consolidating responsibility for rural revitalization, building strong party structures for rural work, and “grasping points [from experience or test programs] to lead overall work in comprehensively launching rural revitalization.”
Wang Chen: Continuously Develop Whole-Process People’s Democracy and Strive to Promote the Construction of the Rule of Law in China
2.22 Politburo Member and China Law Society Chair Wang Chen (王晨) attended the 15th China Jurists Forum in Beijing and delivered a keynote speech. In his speech, Wang emphasized that it is necessary to “adhere to the Party’s leadership, the people being the masters of their own affairs”(当家作主), and governance based on the rule of law; “constantly develop whole-process people’s democracy (全过程人民民主); ensure that the people are the masters of their own affairs by law; and strive to promote building a rule-of-law China with good laws and governance.” He claimed that “whole-process people’s democracy” is a major achievement of the Party “leading the people to advance democratic theoretical innovation, institutional innovation, and practical innovation,” as well as a “distinctive feature that distinguishes the democracy of socialism with Chinese characteristics with all kinds of bourgeois democracy (资产阶级民主) in the West.” Wang further emphasized that the many legal practitioners in China should have a profound understanding of the major concepts of “whole-process people’s democracy,” should enhance “historical self-confidence and institutional self-confidence,” and “unswervingly follow the path of socialist democratic political development with Chinese characteristics.” He then called for “strengthening research and propaganda related to China’s national system and legal system, as well as “actively participating in the practice of socialist democratic rule of law construction.”
Politburo Discusses Government Work Report, Deliberates on “19th Central Committee’s Eighth Round of Inspections Situation Summary Report,” “Key Work of the 2021 Central Committee Inspection Work Leading Group Situation Report,” Xi Jinping Presides
2.25 Xi Jinping presided over a Politburo meeting on 25 February to discuss the State Council’s draft proposal of the “Government Work Report” passed by the National People’s Congress (NPC) and deliberated on a “19th Central Committee’s Eighth Round of Inspections Situation Summary Report” and “Key Work of the 2021 Central Committee Inspection Work Leading Group Situation Report.” The Politburo meeting discussed the achievements and challenges of 2021, and goals in preparation for the upcoming 20th Party Congress. It noted that this year, stability will be the priority of work, requiring greater implementation of macro-economic policies, deepened reform and market stimulus; implementing innovation-driven development policy, increasing domestic demand, and promoting coordinated local development, “new-type urbanization” (新型城镇化), agricultural production, and rural revitalization; promoting the stable development of foreign investment and trade, improving the environment and low-carbon development; reducing risks in the financial system; and improving the people’s livelihoods and the quality of governance. The Politburo praised the Central Committee’s eighth round of inspections for displaying the important function of political supervision, specifically the “Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core” strengthening centralized, unified leadership over financial work. At the same time, the Politburo stated that the inspections uncovered the financial sector’s continued problems with “implementing the Party’s comprehensive leadership, strengthening Party construction, [and] comprehensively and strictly [following] party governance (全面从严治党).” The Politburo emphasized the need for the continued strengthening of Central Committee leadership over the sector and oversight to prevent risks, maintain stability, and prevent corruption. Finally, it fully approved of the Central Committee Inspection Work Leading Group’s 2021 work and 2022 plans.
Propaganda Work
People’s Daily Editorial: Jointly Play the Musical Movement of the Times of Peace, Unity, and Progress
2.21 People’s Daily published an Editorial (社论) on the closing of the 24th Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Reviewing the Winter Olympics, the Editorial remarked that Beijing had “again displayed the positive spirit and power of the Chinese people to the world and wrote a new saga in the Winter Olympics movement.” Noting that successfully holding the Winter Olympics “fulfilled China’s solemn promise to the world” and “injected faith and power into a world [grappling with] the complications of the pandemic,” it made three observations about the Winter Olympics: First, the Winter Olympics were “an incomparable (无与伦比) splendid extravaganza" that saw China’s performance encourage the nation through winning numerous medals. Second, the Winter Olympics were “an extraordinary appointment that was not easy to [keep].” The Editorial noted that China holding the Winter Olympics in the midst of the global pandemic and ensuring the safety of participants “displayed the great power of humanity triumphing over difficulties and challenges.” Third, it stated that the Winter Olympics were an “outstanding demonstration of the pursuit of perfection.” The Editorial noted that elements such as venue design and technology set a “new benchmark for the Olympics.” Next, it noted that the Winter Olympics showed the importance of cooperation and unity in the face of challenges and stressed three aspirations for readers: 1. “Let us keep the original aspiration of the Olympic movement firmly in mind and jointly defend world peace”; 2. “Let us promote the spirit of the Olympic movement and unite to respond to common challenges [facing] the international community”; and 3. “Let us practice the objective of the Olympic movement and continue the undertaking of promoting the progress of mankind.” After expressing China’s intent to continue in endeavors such as being a “builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order,” the Editorial concluded: “In this season of the recovery of all living things, we are full of pride from the extravaganza of the Beijing Winter Olympics and are full of expectation for the next [Winter Olympic Games]. Let us share the great dream of the Olympics, jointly create the great glory of the Olympics, and set off together toward the more beautiful future of mankind!”
Zhong Sheng: [Only By] Adhering to Unity and Cooperation [Can We] Strive Toward a Bright Future
2.22 A Zhong Sheng (钟声) commentary focused on the 58th Munich Security Conference held from 18 to 20 February. It noted that the Conference’s theme of “unlearning helplessness” reflected the “true social attitude of Western countries” and was “the embodiment of Western countries not conducting timely self-adjustment in response to changes unseen in a century (世界百年未有之大变局) due to a lack of policies to respond to global challenges.” The commentary then gave two recommendations for “unlearning helplessness.” First it recommended “establishing a correct security view that is “shared, composite, cooperative, and sustainable” in response to both non-traditional security issues and geopolitical tension that is increasingly global in nature and requires consultation for resolution. Second, the commentary stressed the need to “safeguard multilateralism and the global order.” It noted that “individual countries” had engaged in actions that included “reviv[ing] Cold War thinking (冷战思维),” “go[ing] in big for unilateral sanctions,” and “esteem[ing] hegemony and bullying.” The commentary asserted that such actions “run counter to (背道而驰) the major trends of global multi-polarization and the democratization of international relations” and called for countries to “jointly construct a new type of international relations” characterized by “mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation (合作共赢)” in addition to delivering other exhortations. Turning to the Conference’s special session on how to view China’s development, it cited examples such as China’s provision of COVID-19 vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to show that “a China that has more superior development quality and stronger capability for action will inevitably offer more energy for global post-pandemic recovery and make greater contributions to international peace and stability.” The commentary concluded by stating that “As a permanent member state of the UN Security Council and the world’s second-largest economy, China will play the role and function of a responsible major country (负责任大国); continue to be a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order; and join hands with all sides to jointly create a more beautiful world in the post-pandemic era.”
United Front Work
Wang Yang Presides Over CPPCC National Chairpersons’ Meeting
2.23 Politburo Standing Committee Member and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Chair Wang Yang (汪洋) presided over and delivered a speech at the 66th Chairperson’s meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. The meeting “conveyed the recent important instructions and spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping on doing CPPCC work and holding the Fifth meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee well” and listened to a work situation report on preparatory work for the Fifth meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. In his speech, Wang highlighted the need to “pragmatically and efficiently grasp all organization and preparatory work well [for the Fifth meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee]” and “do pandemic prevention and control work well” in order to ensure that the meeting is a success. Turning to the convening of the 20th Party Congress later this year, he discussed conducting activities such as “telling the stories of the Party seeking happiness for the people and national rejuvenation well and telling stories of multi-party cooperation and political consultation well, to do the work of concentrating power for the 20th Party Congress well.” Wang also emphasized the importance of “put[ting] forward high-quality opinions and suggestions” and “conducting [reviews of past work] that center around the spirit of the Central CPPCC Work Conference,” in addition to discussing other actions. The meeting also approved the following documents: 1. “The CPPCC National Committee 2021 democratic supervision of the implementation of 14th Five Year Plan work situation report,” 2. “the launching expert consultation work situation report,” and 3. the CPPCC National Committee member independent investigation work situation report. The meeting also approved the decision to revoke the seniority of Wang Bin (王滨), Wang Pengjie (王鹏杰), Han Yi (韩沂), and Wei Yihong (魏艺红) as members of the CPPCC National Committee.
Central Military Commission
General Office of the Central Military Commission Issues “Opinions on Promoting the Establishment of the Base-ification and Standardization of Barracks”
2.23 The General Office of the Central Military Commission (CMC) recently issued a set of Opinions on the standardization and “base-ification” (基地化) of barracks. Using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as “guidance” and “revolving around constructing a modern military logistics system and a modern military property management system,” the Opinions aim to help troops prepare for war and resolve issues in barracks construction such as a focus on ordinary life over preparing for and participating in combat. Containing six chapters and 22 articles, the Opinions focus on different types of layouts for bases and barracks. In addition, the Opinions also emphasize the use of features such as “digital empowerment” and low-carbon development in barracks design, as well as ways to improve the construction of barracks through methods such as “guiding market entities to honestly participate in construction.” The Opinions “closely revolve around military strategy, training, and defense,” “suit the demands of reform and development for the military,” and “form methods for standardizing the entire process of barracks construction and management.”
Party Discipline
(Authoritative Release) Using the Historical Experience of the Party’s Hundred-Year Struggle to Promote the High-Quality Development of Disciplinary Inspection and Supervision Work and Welcome the Victorious Convening of the 20th Party Congress——Work Report at the CCP Sixth Plenum of the 19th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
2.24 Xinhua published the text of Politburo Standing Committee Member and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Head Zhao Leji’s (赵乐际) work report delivered on 18 January at the Sixth Plenum of the 19th CCDI. Reflecting on the CCDI’s work in 2021, Zhao highlighted several aspects of the CCDI’s work: 1. “deeply studying and understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, strengthening political consciousness and the historic momentum of comprehensively and strictly [following] party governance (全面从严治党)”; 2. “strengthening political supervision tightly revolving around the ‘two defends’ (两个维护) and supplying a strong guarantee for beginning the 14th Five Year Plan well”; 3. “promoting ‘not daring to be corrupt, being unable to engage in corruption, and not wanting to be corrupt’ (不敢腐、不能腐、不想腐) throughout [the CCDI], obtaining more systemic results and more effective governance”; 4. “pushing the implementation of the spirit of the Central Eight Regulations (中央八项规定) without a moment’s rest” and fighting the “four forms” (四风: formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance); 5. intensifying and making full use of inspection tours; 6. working “according to rules, discipline, and law” and improving upon supervision, discipline enforcement, and law enforcement; 7. making progress in “Doing Things for the Masses” activities and cracking down on corruption and unhealthy tendencies around the masses; and 8. strengthening “standardization, legalization (法治化), and normalization” and “forging high-quality, specialized” staff. Next, Zhao presented goals for the CCDI for 2022 and the upcoming 20th Party Congress: 1. “deepen study and implementation of the spirit of the Party’s Sixth Plenum, focusing on the ‘big picture and fundamental interests of the country’ (国之大者) to push for the normalization and concretization of political supervision”; 2. maintain the strength and resolve of thorough anti-corruption efforts; 3. continue to reinforce the Central Eight Regulations and crackdown on corruption and unhealthy tendencies around the masses; 4. improve the quality and scope of inspection tours; 5. promote reforms to improve the integration, coordination, and effectiveness of the discipline inspection system; and 6. improve political knowledge and skills, serving as “the Party and the people’s loyal guardians.”
International Liaison Work
2.22 CCP International Department (CCP/ID) Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) held a virtual dialogue meeting with the European Parliament’s Party of the European Left (PEL).
2.23 CCP/ID Head Song Tao (宋涛) attended the inauguration of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School, based in Tanzania and founded by six southern African political parties, via videolink. Song read a congratulatory letter from Xi Jinping. Tanzania’s president Samia Suluhu Hassan and leaders of the school’s six founding parties spoke at the event. Congratulatory letters were sent by South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa, Mozambique’s president Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Angola’s president João Lourenço, Namibia’s president Hage Geingob, and Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa, all leaders of their respective parties.
2.23 CCP/ID Deputy Head Chen Zhou (陈洲) held a video call with former Prime Minister and current chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) Madhav Kumar Nepal.
2.23 CCP/ID Deputy Head Shen Beili (沈蓓莉) held a video call with Nicaragua’s vice-foreign minister and Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) representative Arlette Cristina Marenco Meza.