- Admin
Weekly Report 4|51 11.13.2021-11.19.2021
Highlights
On 16 November, Xinhua published a Sixth Plenum address given by Xi Jinping explaining the “CCP Central Committee’s Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s 100-Year Struggle.” (see Senior Leaders section)
People’s Daily published seven successive Commentator Articles on studying and implementing the spirit of the 19th CCP Central Committee’s Sixth Plenum. (see Propaganda Work section)
People’s Daily published a Zhong Sheng (钟声) commentary about the 16 November virtual meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, noting that they had discussed a range of strategic, comprehensive, and fundamental issues concerning the development of China-US relations, as well as important issues of common concern. (see Propaganda Work section)
Senior Leaders
Xi Jinping: Explanation Regarding “CCP Central Committee’s Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s 100-Year Struggle” (Authorized Release)
11.16 At the 19th CCP Central Committee’s Sixth Plenum, Xi Jinping gave an address explaining the “CCP Central Committee’s Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s 100-Year Struggle” (中共中央关于党的百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议/hereafter referred to as “the Resolution”). Released to the public on 16 November, the Explanation outlined the considerations, drafting process, and framework and content of the Resolution. Xi explained the relevance and significance of history resolutions, recounting the resolutions of 1945 and 1981. Regarding the 1945 resolution, Xi said that it had allowed “the entire Party and especially high-level cadres to reach consensus around the understanding of fundamental issues relating to the Chinese revolution.” Regarding the 1981 resolution, Xi said that it had likewise resulted in broad consensus around historical events, figures, and views. He pointed out that, as in 1945 and 1981, China stood at a “new historical milestone” and an “important historical juncture” between the first and second centenaries. The Party must “thoroughly review historical development, patterns, and trends; from beginning to end grasp the historical impetus for the Party’s and country’s cause on the new journey in the new era” in order to move toward the future with courage and strength. To that end, the Resolution is focused on summarizing the Party’s achievements and experiences over its first centenary; giving prominence to Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era; and evaluating important events, meetings, and historical figures “consistent with the Central Committee’s existing conclusions.”
Xi then narrated the process of drafting the resolution, saying that the decision to focus on the Party’s historical achievements was made in March of this year, after which a working group was established to draft the document. The group was headed up by Xi with Politburo Standing Committee Members Wang Huning (王沪宁) and Zhao Leji (赵乐际) as deputies. On 1 April, the Central Committee issued a notice soliciting feedback from party members and non-party figures on the decision to focus on a review of party history at the Sixth Plenum. On 6 September, a draft of the Resolution was circulated among a select group of party members, including retired senior officials, and non-party members, including leaders of other parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and unaffiliated persons. A total of 547 revisions were made to the preliminary draft based on feedback; the Politburo Standing Committee met three times and the Politburo twice to finalize the draft.
Finally, Xi outlined the seven sections of the resolution. The first four sections provided overviews of the four periods of party history to date. In the first, “Seizing a Great Victory in the New Democratic Revolution,” the Resolution focused on China’s defeat of imperialism and independence. In the second, “Achieving the Socialist Revolution and Advancing Socialist Construction,” the Resolution conducted a “rational assessment of Mao Zedong Thought,” among other things. In the third section, “Advancing Reform and Opening Up and the Construction of Socialist Modernization,” the Resolution lauded socialism with Chinese characteristics and said that the Party’s achievements had facilitated China’s “great leap from standing up to growing prosperous (从站起来到富起来的伟大飞跃).” The fourth section, titled “Initiating the New Era of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics” addressed the present day and highlighted 13 areas of party success, saying that in this era China would “welcome the great leap from standing up and becoming prosperous to becoming strong (从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃).” The final three sections discussed the significance of the Party’s historical achievements, ten areas in which historical experience will guide the Party’s future, and “the Chinese Communist Party in the New Era,” exhorting “the entire Party, the entire military, and people of all ethnic groups” to “learn from history, initiate the future, make an all-out effort, bravely and firmly go forward to achieve the second centenary goal and realize the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Politburo Meeting Reviews National Security Strategy, Regulations on Awarding Military Medals and Honorary Titles, and National Science and Technology Advisory Committee 2021 Advisory Report Documents; Xi Jinping Presides
11.18 Xi Jinping presided over a Politburo meeting on 18 November to review the “National Security Strategy (2021-2025)” (国家安全战略 (2021-2025)), the “Awarding Military Medals and Honorary Titles Regulations” (军队功勋荣誉表彰条例), and the “2021 National Science and Technology Advisory Commission Advisory Report” (国家科技咨询委员会2021年咨询报告). The meeting pointed out that to maintain national security under the new situation, it is necessary to “firmly establish an overall national security concept and accelerate the construction of a new security pattern,” as well as to “uphold the Party’s absolute leadership”; “improve a centralized, unified, efficient and authoritative leadership system for national security work”; and “achieve the unity of political security, people’s security, and national interests.” It is also necessary to insist on “safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” persist in safe development, promote the “dynamic balance of high-quality development and high-level security,” adhere to the overall strategy, coordinate traditional and non-traditional strategy, “adhere to the path of peaceful development,” and “promote the coordination of self-security and common security.” The meeting emphasized “giving first priority to political security” and “coordinating national security work in key areas such as resolutely safeguarding the security of state power, as well as its system and ideology; strictly guarding against and cracking down on all kinds of infiltration, subversion, and sabotage activities; enhancing industrial resilience and shock resistance; building a safe bottom line to prevent systemic financial risks; ensuring food, energy, mineral, and important infrastructure security; and strengthening the protection of overseas interests.” In addition, the meeting called for building a community of shared future for mankind and consciously promoting the deep integration of development and security.
The meeting then pointed out that the promulgation of regulations governing “Awarding Military Medals and Honorary Titles” will “strengthen the Party’s leadership of the military’s merit commendation work,” improve the Party’s and nation’s merit commendation system, enhance the attractiveness of the military profession and the sense of honor of the military’s mission, and educate and guide officers and soldiers. The meeting further emphasized that it is necessary to unswervingly adhere to the fundamental principles and system of the Party’s absolute leadership over the military; implement the Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman Responsibility System (军委主席负责制); focus on cultivating revolutionary soldiers with soul, ability, a strong sense of righteousness, and morals; forge strong troops with iron-clad beliefs, iron-clad convictions, iron-clad discipline, and iron-clad general responsibility; lay a solid ideological foundation of absolute loyalty, absolute purity, and absolute reliability; and guide and inspire officers and soldiers to unswervingly listen to and follow the Party. In addition, it is necessary to discover examples of officers and soldiers that can be used as models of meritorious service in the new era. Lastly, the meeting pointed out that in the two years since the establishment of the National Science and Technology Advisory Commission, it has actively contributed to the Central Committee’s recommendations in formulating national science and technology plans, responding to the COVID-19 epidemic, developing science and technology talents, as well as in its carbon peak and neutrality work. The meeting stressed the need to study and evaluate international and domestic development trends, face the frontiers of global science and technology, face the main economic battlefield, and face the major needs of the country. Finally, it called for in-depth research to provide support for major urgent issues such as epidemic prevention and control, as well as green and low-carbon development.
Central Committee Issues Notice on Deploying 20th Party Congress Election Work
11.18 The Central Committee issued a “Notice on the 20th Party Congress Delegate Election Work” (关于党的二十大代表选举工作的通知) in preparation for the election of delegates to the 20th Party Congress. This election work has already started and will finish before the end of June 2022. As determined by the Central Committee, the 20th Party Congress will have 2,300 delegates elected by 38 electoral danwei across the country. The Central Committee stated that in order to do a good job in this election, “we must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, adhere to the party constitution as a foundation, adhere to the nature and aim of the Party, adhere to and strengthen the Party’s comprehensive leadership,” as well as “fully promote intra-party democracy, strict qualifications, strict production procedures, and strict discipline” in order to ensure that the delegates elected to the 20th Party Congress are “of high quality, are reasonably composed, are widely distributed, and are endorsed by party members.” The Notice then pointed out that the delegates to the 20th Party Congress should be outstanding members of the Party, so it is necessary to “strictly control the politics of candidates, insist on giving first priority to political standards, focus on understanding the candidates’ political judgement, political understanding, and political execution,” “strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’ (四个意识), consolidate the ‘four confidences’ (四个自信), achieve the ‘two defends’ (两个维护), [and] veto a politically unqualified vote (对政治上不合格的一票否决).” It is also necessary to strictly check the integrity of candidates, earnestly implement the “four musts” (四必: must examine, must check, must listen, and must investigate) requirements, strictly screen and verify candidates, and “resolutely prevent ‘nominated while ill’ (带病提名) and ‘elected while ill’ (带病当选) [occurrences]” (referring to already-corrupt individuals being nominated or elected). To optimize the representative structure, the Central Committee called for female, minority, and frontline production party members to account for a fixed proportion of delegates, and also required that there must be delegates from the fields of economics, science and technology, national defense, politics and law, education, propaganda, culture, health, physical education, and social management.
The Notice stipulated that the election adopt a “bottom-up” (自下而上) method, coordinate between higher and lower levels (上下结合), and engage in extensive deliberations, among other approaches. In addition, it is “necessary to carry out in-depth publicity, mobilize extensive grassroots party organizations to actively participate in the recommendation and nomination processes, select the best candidates based on the opinions of the majority of party organizations and party members, strictly organize inspections, implement inspection of discrepancies and advance notice of inspections, and fully listen to the opinions of Party Congress delegates, party members, and the masses.” It further stated that delegates should be selected by competitive election, with [victory] margins of over 15%.” The Notice also required that political, organizational, and electoral disciplines be strictly enforced; that examples of previous violations be taken as a warning, and stated that there is “zero tolerance” (零容忍) for rule, discipline, or law violations. Lastly, the Central Committee called for the Party to “continue to unite around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, remain true to our original aspiration, keep the mission firmly in mind (不忘初心、牢记使命), forge ahead in comprehensively building a modern socialist country, seize a great victory for socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and realize the new and greater contributions of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
Wang Huning: Comprehensively and Accurately Explain the Spirit of the Sixth Plenum of the 19th CCP Central Committee; Propel the Plenum Spirit Deeply into the Hearts of the People
11.18 Politburo Standing Committee Member Wang Huning (王沪宁) attended a Central Propaganda Group for Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 19th CCP Central Committee’s Sixth Plenum (学习贯彻党的十九届六中全会精神中央宣讲团) mobilization meeting and gave a speech. In the speech, Wang stated that Xi Jinping “attaches a high degree of importance to studying, publicizing, and implementing the spirit of the Sixth Plenum” and identified clear requirements for doing so. Saying that they should take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a guide, he urged meeting attendees to “extensively and thoroughly launch publicity for the spirit of the Sixth Plenum”; “propel the Plenum spirit deeply into the hearts of the people”; “guide the majority of cadres and the masses to strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’ (四个意识), consolidate the ‘four confidences’ (四个自信), [and] achieve the ‘two defends’ (两个维护)”; and “more effectively use the Plenum spirit to unify thinking, build consensus, firm up confidence, and strengthen the fighting spirit (斗志).” To do publicity work well, Wang emphasized the importance of aligning with Xi Jinping’s expositions of party history research, his speeches at major commemorative events, and the resolution on party history proposed at the Plenum. Those engaged in publicizing the Sixth Plenum spirit should convey the Party’s many accomplishments, emphasize learning from history, and meet the 20th Party Congress with a record of success.
Politburo Member and Propaganda Department Head Huang Kunming (黄坤明) presided over the meeting.
Li Keqiang: Effectively Implement Macroeconomic Policies Around Market Actors, Promote Reform and Opening Up, Keep the Economy Running Stably
11.18 Politburo Standing Committee Member and State Council Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) presided over a symposium of experts and entrepreneurs on the economic situation and listened to opinions and recommendations on next steps in economic work. Li mentioned the many challenges that China’s development faced this year, including the epidemic, severe floods, and a rise in commodity prices, and noted that the economy has steadily recovered “under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core.” He also stated the importance of “strengthening the ‘six stabilities’ and ‘six guarantees’” and pointed out that China’s economic resilience and potential lie in the hundreds of millions of market actors, which macroeconomic policy should continue to focus on. After noting various policies and targeted measures that will be taken to strengthen the economy, such as ensuring the stable supply of power and easing the pressure of rising prices of bulk commodities, Li emphasized the importance of continuing to promote the reform of “delegating power, combining management, and optimizing services,” optimizing the business environment, and using reforms to mobilize enthusiasm for social investment, among other things. He also stressed keeping the exchange rate stable and seizing the opportunity of the effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to deepen and expand international cooperation.
Politburo Standing Committee Member and State Council Vice Premier Han Zheng (韩正) and Politburo Members Sun Chunlan (孙春兰), Hu Chunhua (胡春华), and Liu He (刘鹤) also attended the meeting.
Propaganda Work
People’s Daily Commentator Article Series on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 19th CCP Central Committee’s Sixth Plenum
11.13-11.19
People’s Daily published seven successive Commentator Articles on “studying and implementing the spirit of the 19th CCP Central Committee’s Sixth Plenum.”
The first commentary, titled “Deeply Grasp the Major Accomplishments of the Party’s 100-Year Struggle” focused on the “CCP Central Committee’s Resolution on the Major Achievements and Historical Experience of the Party’s 100-Year Struggle” passed at the Sixth Plenum (hereafter referred to as “the Resolution”). Calling the Resolution “a brilliant Marxist program of action,” the Commentator Article stressed that “the most important political task” was to study and implement the spirit of the Sixth Plenum to foster unity of thought, will and action and “to better adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.” Next, it gave a broad overview of the Party’s achievements since its founding, noting that the Resolution’s summary of “the Party’s achievements and “historical experience” “will inevitably play an important role” in boosting the wisdom, unity, faith and will to fight of the Party. Turning to China’s achievements in the new era—which were attributed to the leadership of “the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core” and the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era—the Commentator Article asserted that the Resolution’s summary of these achievements will deepen the Party’s faith and cause it to forge ahead with a positive attitude. It concluded by declaring that the Party could continue to make new achievements under “the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core” by “comprehensively implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era” and “tirelessly struggling to realize the second centenary goal and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” among other actions.
The second commentary, titled “Deeply Understand the Historic Significance of the Party’s 100-Year Struggle” continued the first Commentator Article’s focus on the Resolution. It stated that the Resolution “summarized the historical significance of the Party’s 100-year struggle” across five areas: 1. “Basically changing the prospects and destiny of the Chinese nation”; 2. “opening a correct road to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation”; 3. “displaying the great vitality of Marxism”; 4. “deeply influencing the historic course of the world”; and 5. “forging a Party that is at the forefront of the times.” After describing the Party’s contributions and achievements in the past hundred years, the Commentator Article noted that “the Resolution’s explanation of the Party’s contributions to “the Chinese people, the Chinese nation, Marxism, and the project of the progress of mankind […] deeply shows the major significance and value of the Party’s 100-year struggle.” Noting the current state of the Chinese people, nation, Marxism, and the Party, it stated that in the past, present, and future, “the Party is committed to the thousand-year great undertaking of the Chinese nation” and that it was “still in its prime” (风华正茂) a century after its founding. It concluded by stating that “entire Party, the entire military, the entire country, and people of all ethnic groups” could accomplish “the goal of comprehensively establishing a modern socialist country” and national rejuvenation by “uniting as one” (团结一心), struggling tenaciously, and marching forward regardless of trials and hardships” (风雨无阻) under the leadership of the Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core.
The third commentary, titled “Deepen the Comprehension of the Historical Experience of the Party’s 100-Year Struggle” focused on the Party’s ten historical experiences outlined in the Resolution, which it said “deeply reveal the basic guarantee of continued success in the Party’s and people’s undertakings.” Next, the Commentator Article provided further elaboration on each of the ten historical experiences, emphasizing that they were “precious experiences accumulated through long-term practice and the spiritual wealth created by the Party and the people. [They] must be cherished, adhered to for a long time, and continually enriched and developed in practice in the new era.” It then stressed the need to both study and summarize Party history and pass on and use the Party’s historic experience well and discussed how various aspects of the Party’s historical experiences could help China accomplish the tasks that lay ahead. The Commentator Article concluded by encouraging Party members to “deeply understand the historical experience of the Party’s 100-year struggle and continually draw wisdom and power to move forward.”
The fourth commentary, titled “Deepen the Understanding and Grasp of the Innovative Theory of the Party in the New Era” focused on Marxism. It attributed the Party’ ability to lead and its accomplishment of difficult political tasks to its efforts to sinicize Marxism and described how the Party had done this throughout various periods in its history, noting that the establishment of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era “realized a new leap in the sinicization of Marxism.” The Commentator Article then reviewed Xi Jinping’s achievements in the ideological sphere since the 18th Party Congress, stating that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was “contemporary Chinese Marxism, 21st-Century Marxism, the essence of the era of Chinese culture and the Chinese spirit, and the newest result of the sinicization of Marxism.” It concluded by stressing the need to use “the newest results of the Party’s theoretical innovation” and Marxism to ultimately “create new and greater miracles on the new journey of comprehensively establishing a modern socialist country.”
The fifth commentary, titled “Deeply Comprehend the Distinct Characteristic and Political Superiority of Strengthening the Political Establishment of the Party” focused on protecting and guaranteeing the collective and unified leadership and authority of the Central Committee. Stating the importance of political construction (政治建设) for the Party, it noted that “guaranteeing that the entire Party obeys the Party Central Committee and protects the central and unified leadership and authority of the Central Committee is the top priority (首要任务) for the Party’s political construction.” The Commentator Article also stated that efforts of “the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core” to prioritize political construction had provided a “powerful guarantee for the “authority and collective and unified leadership of the Central Committee.” Afterward, it stated the importance of having a “core” for the Party, crediting the transformation undergone by the Party, government, military, and nation to Xi’s role as core of the Central Committee and Party. Next, the Commentator Article emphasized the need to “use the role of the Party Central Committee’s centralized and unified leadership as a stabilizing force” (定海神针) to deal with the increasingly complex environment and arduous tasks China faces as it moves closer to realizing national rejuvenation. After stressing the necessity of “deeply comprehending the distinct characteristics and political superiority of strengthening the political construction of the Party” to studying the Sixth Plenum Spirit and calling on party members to support and align themselves with the Central Committee, it concluded by quoting the Resolution’s call to “determinedly be strongly attached to realizing fixed goals and unremittingly advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with the sober [awareness] that the the last leg of the journey only marks the halfway point! (行百里者半九十).”
The sixth commentary, titled “Deeply Recognize the Party’s Flesh and Blood Ties of Standing Through Thick and Thin and Sharing a Common Fate with the People” focused on the importance of the people and the Party maintaining a close relationship with them. It credited the Party’s achievements since its founding to “relying on adhering to everything for the people, relying on the people for everything, and maintaining flesh and blood ties (血肉联系) with the masses of people.” The Commentator Article also emphasized that the Party maintaining close ties with the people was “the basic guarantee of the Party prevailing over every difficulty and hazard.” Next, the Commentator Article said that recognizing the Party’s ties with the people was necessary to “study and implement the spirit of the Sixth Plenum” and called on readers to understand the following three points: 1. The Party came from the people and everything it does is done for the people; 2. “The Party’s greatest political superiority is its intimate connection with the masses and the Party’s greatest hazard after holding power is separating itself from the masses”; and 3. The Party represents the interests of the Chinese nation and has no interests of its own. After highlighting the need to rely on and benefit the people as China moves toward the second centenary goal, it concluded by stating that the Party could “certainly prevail over all unprecedented difficulties and challenges (艰难险阻) and continually create historic splendors of the Chinese nation” “by always being the backbone of the Chinese people and nation, being a kindred spirit, sharing weal and woe (同甘共苦), and uniting to struggle with the people.”
The seventh commentary, titled “Strengthen the Firmness and Dedication of Forever Being on the Road of Comprehensively and Strictly [Following] Party Governance” focused on “comprehensively and strictly [following] party governance” (全面从严治党) and self-revolution (自我革命). Calling “having courage to [conduct] self-revolution” the “the Party’s most distinct political characteristic and greatest advantage,” the Commentator Article stated that “not relaxing in comprehensively and strictly [following] party governance” and simultaneously carrying out social and self-revolution played a key role in the Party’s ability to overcome difficulties and make achievements in the past hundred years. Next, it discussed efforts of “the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core” to adhere to “strict governance over the Party” (从严管党治党) and bolster party leadership, citing the Sixth Plenum’s assessment that the Party had “resolved its own major issues in terms of politics, ideology, organization, conduct (作风), and discipline amidst scraping poison from the bone (刮骨疗毒) [...] offering a strong political guarantee for the project of the Party and country.” After this, the Commentator Article stressed that China faced many long-term difficulties and tests on the way to the second centenary goal and that considering how to maintain purity, vitality, and the support of the people and stay in power for the long term was “a basic question that we must answer and resolve well.” It also emphasized the need to “strengthen awareness of potential dangers (忧患意识), adhere to self-revolution, and carry out comprehensively and strictly following party governance in-depth through the firmness and dedication of always being on the road (a reference to an anti-corruption documentary).” After calling on the Party to take actions that included “strictly maintaining the Party’s political discipline and standards,” the Commentator Article concluded by stating that the Party could maintain its vitality, ability to struggle, and overcome challenges and realize victories through advancing party building and strengthening the Party by using self-revolution to lead the social revolution and using the Party’s great “positive energy” (正能量) to gather social power to advance China’s development.
Zhong Sheng: Heads of State Video Meeting Steers the Course of the Ship for China-US Relations
11.18 People’s Daily published a Zhong Sheng (钟声) commentary about the 16 November virtual meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, noting that “both sides carried out full, thorough communication and exchange on strategic, comprehensive, and fundamental issues concerning the development of China-US relations, as well as important issues of common concern.” After stating that “the world is at a historic crossroads (十字路口) and China-US relations are also at a crossroads,” the commentary asserted that the meeting showed that “a sense of historic responsibility should be an important basis leading the forward development of China-US relations.” It also noted the various interactions this year between China and the United States, that “non-conflict and non-confrontation are the bottom line that both sides must adhere to,” and that “the two sides should adhere to mutual respect, not play zero-sum games, and not engage in you lose, I win.” The commentary listed the “four priorities” (四个方面的优先事项) Xi mentioned in his meeting on leading the international community, promoting exchanges in China-US relations, managing differences on sensitive issues, and strengthening coordination and cooperation on major international and regional hotspots. It also stated that these priorities are “the direction of action that China and the United States should focus on in order to manage their own domestic affairs and bear their international responsibilities well.” The commentary noted that “the Taiwan issue has always been the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations,” blamed tensions on “Taiwan authorities,” accused “some people on the US side [of] intentional[ly] engag[ing] in ‘using Taiwan to contain China,’ (以台制华).” It concluded that by stating that the United States should “meet China halfway” and “strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation” to “push China-US relations back to the correct track of healthy and stable development.”
Party Discipline
CCDI Inspection Team at Ministry of Education: Build Strong Lines of Defense Against [the] Pandemic on [School] Campuses
11.15 In response to recent COVID-19 outbreaks across the country, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Disciplinary Inspection and Supervision Team stationed at the PRC Ministry of Education (MOE) published an article that called for the building of a “strong lines of defense against [the] epidemic” on school campuses. The team issued a supervision letter to the MOE Directorate requesting that “guidance and supervision over the education system be strengthened, and the prevention and control of autumn and winter outbreaks be carried out in a strict and coordinated manner to ensure the health and safety of teachers and students.” In addition, a “Key Work Reminder Sheet” (重点工作提示单) was sent out to 49 non-central schools to remind the university discipline inspection commissions to “urge school party committees and party organizations at all levels to strictly implement the main responsibilities of epidemic prevention and control, paying attention to key populations such as students in high-risk areas and foreign exchange students, as well as densely populated areas in order to prevent infection clusters in schools.” Since the latest outbreak of COVID-19 infections, the MOE has held meetings of the MOE Epidemic Work Leading Group, the MOE Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism, as well as special meetings on campus pandemic prevention and control in order to analyze and assess the impact of the epidemic on the education system. A spokesperson for the team stated that “the MOE’s pandemic prevention and control work is progressing in an orderly manner, but it is also facing risks and challenges,” adding that “once an outbreak occurs on campus, the pressure to control the spread will be greater and will require an emergency response from the school.” To this end, the team urged the MOE to guide local education departments and schools to optimize and improve emergency response plans for outbreaks based on actual conditions, establish an emergency response mechanism for outbreaks, and actively cooperate with local health, disease control, and other departments and medical institutions to carry out emergency response drills. At the same time, local party committees are encouraged to prepare emergency isolation sites and materials in advance to make adequate preparations for large-scale teacher and student isolation, personnel transfer, and emergency treatment following an outbreak on campus. Lastly, the team advised the MOE to keep a close eye on issues such as omissions, dereliction of duty, formalism, and bureaucracy.
International Liaison Work
11.15 CCP International Department (CCP/ID) Head Song Tao (宋涛) read a congratulatory message from Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Sixth China-Africa People’s Forum. The China NGO Network for International Exchanges hosted the Forum, which carried a theme of “Unite in Cooperation, Promote Development Together, and Join Hands to Create a Closer Community with a Shared Future for China and Africa.” CCP/ID Deputy Head Chen Zhou (陈洲) presided over the ceremony, and National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Vice Chair and Chinese Association for International Understanding President Ji Bingxuan (吉炳轩) and All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF) Secretary Huang Xiaowei (黄晓薇) both attended and addressed it. Multiple African leaders, including Alliance for the Republic (APR) President and Senegalese President Macky Sall, Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) President and First Secretary and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD–FDD) Chair and Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye, and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) Chair, and South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit sent written or video congratulatory messages to the ceremony. Additionally, roughly 200 people from over 30 countries took part in the opening ceremony both in person and via videolink. These participants included former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, Algerian National Liberation Front (FLN) Secretary General Abou el-Fadhl Baadji, and Mauritian F.A.L.C.O.N Association President Manoj Seeborun.
11.15 CCP/ID Assistant Head Li Mingxiang (李明祥) attended and addressed via videolink a “Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind — The Mission and Contributions of Ruling Parties” symposium co-hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigerian All Progressives Congress (APC). Other participants included APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee National Secretary John Akpanudoedehe.
11.15 CCP/ID Assistant Head Zhu Rui (朱锐) attended and addressed via videolink the opening ceremony of a webinar for cadres of the SPLM. Thirty mid-level and senior cadres took part in the event. Other participants included Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan Hua Ning (华宁) and SPLM Secretary for External Relations Bol Makueng Yol.
11.16 Song Tao and CCP/ID Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) held a video call with United Russia Supreme Council Chairman Boris Gryzlov and United Russia General Council Deputy Secretary Andrei Klimov.
11.16 Chen Zhou held a video call with Thai Sang Thai Party (TSTP) Leader and former Thai Minister of Public Health Sudarat Keyuraphan and TSTP Strategy Committee Head and former Thai National Assembly President Bhokin Bhalakula.
11.17 Chen Zhou, who is also the co-chair of the Silk Road Think Tank Association (SRTA) Council, attended and addressed via videolink the Fifth Forum of the China-ASEAN University (Country and Regional Studies) Think-Tank Network. The SRTA and Guangxi University co-hosted the Forum, which carried a theme of “Serving the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, Focusing on Digital Economic Integration.” Other participants included Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (GZAR) Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Vice Chair and Guangxi University Party Committee Secretary Wang Naixue (王乃学) and a senior advisor to the Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia.
11.18 Zhu Rui attended and addressed via videolink the opening ceremony of a webinar for cadres of the Palestinian Fatah party. Participants included 30 mid-level and senior cadres, such as Fatah Central Committee member and Arab and Chinese Affairs Commissioner General Abbas Zaki.
Organization Work
11.15 Gan Lin (甘霖) was appointed head of the National Anti-Monopoly Bureau.