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Weekly Report 4|46 10.9.2021-10.15.2021
Highlights
Xi Jinping gave a speech at a meeting commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命) and addressed Taiwan-related issues. (see Senior Leaders section)
A People’s Daily Commentator Article discussed Xi Jinping’s 15 October speech at the Central Conference on People’s Congress Work, characterizing the people’s congress system as an entirely new system of historical significance for national and global political development and for China’s national rejuvenation. (see Propaganda Work section)
The State Grid Corporation of China established an Emergency Electrical Supply Protection Leading Group and set up reporting, consultation, and coordination mechanisms to ensure power supply protection for the upcoming winter and spring in light of recent shortages. (see Party Discipline section)
Senior Leaders
Xi Jinping: Speech at a Meeting Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution
10.9 Xi Jinping gave a speech at a meeting commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命). Xi began by calling the Xinhai Revolution “the Chinese people’s and Chinese progressives’ first great and arduous effort to achieve national independence and the liberation of the people.” After reviewing China’s dire state following the Opium Wars, he described Sun Yat-sen as a “great national hero, a great patriot, and the great pioneer of China’s democratic revolution.” Xi then recalled the beginning of the Xinhai Revolution, saying it would forever stand as a “majestically towering milestone on the journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Despite this, he pointed out that the Xinhai Revolution did not ultimately “complete the historical task of national independence and the liberation of the people.” In fact, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation could only be accomplished with the October Revolution, which birthed the Chinese Communist Party.
Noting the Party’s support for Sun Yat-sen’s revolution and asserting that it had “carried on [his] final wishes,” Xi said the Xinhai Revolution had revealed the necessity of the Party’s leadership, the necessity of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the necessity of relying on the struggle of the Chinese people, the necessity of relying on unity, and the necessity of a peaceful international environment for national rejuvenation. Following this, Xi claimed that the Taiwan issue “arose out of national weakness and chaos” and that it would “inevitably be resolved along with national rejuvenation.” Furthermore, he stated that China would “promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations” by adhering to “peaceful reunification and One Country, Two Systems” (和平统一、一国两制), the one-China principle, and the 1992 consensus. In addition, Xi said that Taiwan was China’s internal affair and “would not allow for any external interference,” noting that “no one should underestimate the Chinese people’s strong determination, firm willpower, and great ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity!” He concluded by calling on “all sons and daughters of China” domestically and abroad to unite and “make use of the great spirit of Mr. Sun Yat-sen (孙中山) and the Xinhai Revolution and continue dauntlessly marching hand-in-hand toward the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Central Committee and State Council Release “Standardized National Development Guidelines”
10.11 Released on 11 October, the Standardized National Development Guidelines lay the foundation for “promoting high-quality development and comprehensively building a modern socialist country” through strengthening standards-related work. In the first of two major phases, China aims to transform standards-setting work from being government-led to being jointly led by the government and the market, with increased international cooperation and broad application across society by 2025. In this phase, China will focus on industrial standardization work across all economic sectors, significantly increasing the standardization level across the country, increasing standardization transparency, forming “even closer international win-win cooperative standardization partnerships,” and creating world-class standards research institutes and national-level standards laboratories. Key milestones in this phase include exceeding a 50% ratio in standard research achievements in key technologies and achieving a development period for national standards of 18 months or fewer. Standardization work will focus on the following industries: artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotechnology, big data, blockchain, health sciences, new energy, new materials, smart ships, high-speed rail, new energy vehicles, smart-connected vehicles, robots, biomedical research, molecular breeding, and autonomous driving. In the second phase, China plans to establish a market-driven, government-led, and enterprise-oriented standardized development pattern by 2035, featuring mass participation, opening up, and integration.
Han Zheng: Adhere to the Ecological Priority of Green Development, Strive to Be Trailblazers in the Construction of an Ecological Civilization
10.12 Politburo Standing Committee Member and State Council Vice Premier Han Zheng (韩正) conducted an inspection of Yunnan from 11 October to 12 October. Han visited the Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center to view the Biodiversity and Conservation Practice and Achievement exhibition and “understand the situation regarding the changes in forest coverage and real-time monitoring of wild animals.” Han also visited the greenhouse and seed museum of the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences where he “heard a report on biodiversity research and the state of conservation efforts.” After listening to the report, Han stressed the need to continue these projects. At the Baofeng Wetland near Dianchi Lake, he “closely inspected wetland construction and ecological protection, as well as the water quality of the lake.” Han emphasized that Dianchi Lake is Yunnan’s “highland pearl,” (高原明珠) so the workers should rectify illegal construction and protect and repair the wetland ecosystem. Lastly, he visited the Digital Yunnan exhibition center, where he heard a report on the situation of digital energy, digital agriculture, and smart environmental protection. Han stressed the need for centralized planning of the development and export of green energy in order to better serve the country’s economic development and energy security. Efforts should also be made to promote the stable and healthy development of the coal industry while concurrently protecting cultivated lands to ensure food security.
Li Keqiang: Implement the National Strategy to Actively Respond to the Aging Population and Advance Old-Age Programs and the High-Quality Development of [Aging] Industries
10.14 A National Work Conference on the Aged was Held in Beijing, dedicated to earnestly studying Xi Jinping’s important instructions regarding aging work. At the conference, Politburo Standing Committee Member and State Council Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) delivered important remarks. In his remarks, Li stated that aging work “concerns millions and millions of elderly people, family welfare, and the overall situation of national development.” Noting that all regions and departments had achieved outstanding results on aging work in recent years, Li said that aging work must “adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, conscientiously implement the strategic decisions and deployments of the Central Committee, implement the national strategy to actively respond to the aging population, focus on the social security, retirement, medical care, and other welfare issues of urgent concern to the majority of the elderly population,” along with deepening reforms and advancing high quality development in old-age programs and aging industries. He also emphasized strengthening illness prevention and early interventions, building systems of care, and improving the overall quality of life for the elderly.
Politburo Standing Committee Member and State Council Vice Premier Han Zheng (韩正) also delivered a speech at the conference. Han emphasized thoroughly studying and grasping Xi’s important remarks on the importance and urgency of aging work. Specifically, he stressed improving pension and elderly insurance systems; accelerating and improving the provision of services to the elderly; improving health care provision, management, and health insurance for the elderly; and activating markets for goods and services serving the elderly. Politburo Member and State Council Vice Premier Sun Chunlan (孙春兰) gave concluding remarks and State Councilor Wang Yong (王勇) also attended.
Propaganda Work
People’s Daily Editorial: “Start Bringing Together Tremendous Forces for Realizing the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation——Commemorating the 110th Anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution”
10.9 A front page Editorial commemorated the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命). The Editorial began by stating that remembering the Xinhai Revolution in the new era and commemorating the the achievements of Sun Yat-sen (孙中山) “had very important significance” for “carrying forward the spirit of the Xinhai Revolution, uniting the great power of the sons and daughters of China domestically and abroad, and realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the struggle for unity.” It then stated that, while the “course of history and societal conditions” limited the Xinhai Revolution’s achievements, it ultimately contributed to the liberation of national ideology and launched the social transformation of China, among other achievements. Next, the Editorial recounted the Party’s triumphs over the past hundred years and asserted that all it did centered around realizing national rejuvenation. It went on to call party members “the staunchest supporters, most loyal collaborators, and most loyal successors of Mr. Sun Yat-sen’s revolutionary project.” Turning to the present, the Editorial remarked that realizing the second centenary goal would be fraught with risks, hazards, and long-term struggles. It urged readers to “continually carry forward the great project that Mr. Sun Yat-sen and all revolutionary elders fought for,” “promote the comprehensive development of the people and acquire clearer substantial developments in [achieving] the common prosperity (共同富裕) of the entire people,” and “adhere to and develop the sinicization of Marxism.” The Editorial called “realizing total reunification of the motherland” the “common wish of all of the sons and daughters of China” and called on “all of the sons and daughters of China, including cross-Strait compatriots” to “resolutely smash any ‘Taiwan independence’ (台独) conspiracies, among other exhortations. The Editorial concluded that, by “uniting more closely around the leadership of the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core” and “strengthening the ‘four consciousnesses’ (四个意识), consolidating the ‘four confidences’ (四个自信), [and] achieving the ‘two defends’ (两个维护),” “the goal of establishing a comprehensive modern socialist country and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese national can definitely be realized.”
People's Daily Commentator Article: People’s Congress System Provides an Important Institutional Guarantee for Creating “Two Great Miracles”
10.15 A Commentator Article discussed Xi Jinping’s 15 October speech at the Central Conference on People’s Congress Work, characterizing the people’s congress system as an “entirely new political system” of historical significance for both national and global political development that also “guarantees the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” The commentary stated that Xi Jinping’s speech had “enriched and expanded the political, theoretical, and practical implications of socialist democratic politics with Chinese characteristics and the people’s congress system” and was “a programmatic document brimming with the force of Marxist truth.” It went on to detail the Party’s many achievements on behalf of the Chinese people, including securing national autonomy and rapid social and economic development; strengthening science and technology and national defense; increasing cultural influence; achieving the first centenary goal of a comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society and solving the problem of absolute poverty. Quoting Xi, the commentary elaborated on the significance of the people’s congress system since its establishment in 1954 but especially since reform and opening and extending through the 18th Party Congress to the present. According to Xi, throughout this historical process the Party insisted on the people being “masters of their own affairs” (当家作主), with the party congress system functioning as an “important institutional vehicle” (重要制度载体) developing “whole-process people’s democracy” (全过程人民民主). Further, this system had created the “two miracles” (两大奇迹) of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, which had fully demonstrated the “tremendous efficacy of Chinese-style democracy.”
The commentary asserted that, by adhering to the Party’s leadership and the guiding principles of the Marxist doctrine of the state and adapting to the people’s democratic dictatorship system of government, the people’s congress system “effectively guaranteed” that the country “advanced on the path of socialism” (社会主义道路). It went on to reference Xi’s claim that “institutional competition” (制度竞争) is an important aspect of comprehensive national power competition and [gaining] an institutional advantage is an important advantage for a country acquiring strategic initiative,” adding that if a system is stable then the country is stable and if a system is strong then a country is strong.” Strengthening, integrating, and improving this system will allow China to make use of its advantages as it navigates “changes unseen in a century” (百年未有之大变局) and the obstacles that will necessarily arise as it nears national rejuvenation. The Commentator Article concluded by affirming the importance of people’s congresses in organizing a fundamental political system that organically integrated adherence to party leadership, the people’s self-governance, and rule according to the law.
United Front Work
Wang Yang Attended and Gave a Speech at a Taiwan Work System Commendation Meeting Held in Beijing
10.15 Politburo Standing Committee Member and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Chair Chair Wang Yang (汪洋) attended an event honoring “exemplary groups and exemplary individuals” engaged in Taiwan work. Wang offered his congratulations on behalf of the Central Committee and Xi Jinping. During his speech, Wang stated that “resolving the Taiwan issue and realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is the Chinese Communist Party’s avowed and abiding historical mission.” He urged the thorough study and implementation of Xi’s important expositions on Taiwan work and the spirit of Xi’s important speech commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution. State Councilor Wang Yi (王毅) presided over the meeting, which was attended by 260 people responsible for Taiwan work in relevant departments and organizations.
Party Discipline
19th Central Committee’s Eighth Round of Inspection [Teams] Established a Presence [in Financial Companies]
10.12 On 12 October, fifteen inspection teams that were part of the 19th Central Committee’s eighth round of inspections established a presence in 25 financial companies, where they will conduct inspection work for two months. Companies undergoing inspection included the People’s Bank of China (PBOC/中国人民银行), the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (深圳证券交易所), the Shanghai Stock Exchange ( 上海证券交易所), and China Everbright Group (中国光大集团股份公司). At each company, the inspection group heads gave a speech at inspection mobilization meetings. The inspection team heads stated that conducting routine inspection work at the financial companies “amply embodies the high degree of importance the Central Committee [attaches] to financial work,” and described them as actions to “deepen the anti-corruption struggle” and “strengthen the Party’s comprehensive leadership over financial work,” among other goals. Next, the inspection group heads stipulated the inspection groups’ tasks, which included identifying “political deviations” (政治偏差) in party group leaders in “carrying out the Party’s leadership responsibilities” and “prominent issues and primary contradictions that influence and limit the high-quality development of the financial sector.” Afterward, the inspection group heads stressed that inspection teams should “comprehensively implement the guidelines of inspection work,” “correctly handle the relationship between politics and business,” and “strengthen the supervision of the exercise of power in important spheres and key aspects,” along with other duties. Moving on, the inspection group heads laid out the following emphases for inspection work: “understanding, studying, and implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition and the Central Committee’s important decisions and deployments on financial work,” “understanding and implementing comprehensive and strict party governance and inspection responsibilities,” “understanding and implementing the party organization line in the new era,” and “understanding and implementing the situation of rectifying and improving inspection, auditing, and other issues discovered in inspection.” Finally, persons responsible for party groups in the financial companies undergoing inspection emphasized the need for meeting attendees to “increase [their] political position,” “grasp the big picture and fundamental interests of the country,” and “use concrete actions to practice the ‘two defends’” (两个维护), among other requirements.
Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Group Stationed at the State Grid [Corporation of China] Strengthened Political Supervision and Promoted the Implementation of Electrical Power Supply Responsibility
10.14 In light of China’s recent large-scale electrical power shortage issues, the State Grid Corporation of China established an Emergency Electrical Supply Protection Leading Group and set up a daily report, daily consultation, and daily coordination mechanism to firmly grasp electrical supply protection for this winter and the coming spring. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and National Supervisory Commission (NSC) also stationed a commission for discipline inspection and supervisory commission at State Grid to supervise the protection of the electrical power supply and “ensure the firm defense of the electrical network’s secure lifeline” and the “bottom line” of the electrical power necessary for maintaining the people’s livelihood. The State Grid commission for discipline inspection and supervisory commission specially issued a notice requiring the strengthening of a reliable electrical supply and of high quality electrical services and urging work unit party committees to implement the five electrical supply protection measures proposed by the company’s party group. Additional follow-up notices were issued by State Grid commissions for discipline inspection and supervisory commissions in Jilin, Heilongjiang, and Jiangsu provinces and inspections undertaken to identify issues and implement power supply protection measures to ensure electricity sufficient to the people’s livelihood. Follow-up inspections also took place and measures implemented in Liaoning and Hunan provinces to prevent electrical supply issues from recurring and ensure accountability. The head of the State Grid discipline inspection and supervisory commission urged the company’s party group to “make every effort to guarantee the reliable and orderly provision of electrical power this winter and next spring.”
Central Military Commission
Zhang Youxia: Strive to Improve the Quality and Efficacy of Indoctrination and Promote the Construction of the Ideological and Political Education System in the New Era
10.11-12 Politburo Member and Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chair Zhang Youxia (张又侠) attended a military ideological and political education innovation training held from 11 October to 12 October in Beijing. At the training, Zhang stressed the importance of “fully implementing Chairman Xi’s instructions, focusing on improving the quality and effectiveness of indoctrination, promoting the construction of the ideological and political education system in the new era, and providing a strong ideological and political guarantee for strengthening the military.” Among other emphases, he underlined the need to eliminate misunderstandings and outdated concepts and establish a “way of thinking that is compatible with a strong army in the new era.” CMC Member Miao Hua (苗华) also attended.
International Liaison Work
10.12 CCP International Department (CCP/ID) Assistant Head Zhu Rui (朱锐) attended and addressed a China-Yemen political party dialogue and the opening ceremony of a webinar for cadres from multiple Yemeni political parties. Participants included approximately 20 leaders and representatives of the five major Yemeni political parties, namely the General People’s Congress (GPC), the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (al-Islah), the Yemeni Socialist Party (YSP), the Nasserist Unionist People’s Organisation (NUPO), and the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party – Yemen Region. Among the leaders participating was GPC Deputy General Secretary Faiqa al-Sayyid.
9.14 CCP/ID Deputy Head Guo Yezhou (郭业洲) met with Vietnamese Ambassador to China Phạm Sao Mai.
9.14 CCP/ID Deputy Head Shen Beili (沈蓓莉) attended and addressed the opening ceremony for a three-day webinar for cadres from the Bolivian Movement toward Socialism (MAS) party. More than 100 leaders and young cadres from all levels participated in the event. The opening ceremony also featured addresses from Qinghai Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary Wu Xiaojun (吴晓军), former Bolivian President and MAS Leader Evo Morales, and MAS Deputy Leader Álvaro García Linera.
9.14 Zhu Rui attended the opening ceremony of a webinar for cadres from the Turkish Patriotic Party (VATAN) and held a virtual meeting with VATAN Chair Doğu Perinçek.
9.15 Zhu Rui met with Algerian Ambassador to China Ahcene Boukhelfa.