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Weekly Report 4|69 4.23.22-4.29.22
Highlights
State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) published an essay in People’s Daily on Xi Jinping’s 21 April speech at the Boao Forum, specifically focusing on Xi’s “global security proposal.” (See Senior Leaders section)
Xi Jinping conducted an investigation of Renmin University of China (RUC) on the morning of 25 April to mark 4th May, Youth Day. (See Senior Leaders section)
At the eleventh meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission (CFEAC), Xi Jinping stressed the economic importance of improving the composition, capability, and development model of the basic infrastructure system. (See Senior Leaders section)
Senior Leaders
Wang Yi: Implement the Global Security Proposal, Guard World Peace and Tranquility
4.24 State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) published an essay in People’s Daily on Xi Jinping’s 21 April speech at the Boao Forum, specifically focusing on Xi’s “global security proposal” (全球安全倡议). The first section of the essay discussed the proposal’s “pragmatic significance and values of the times,” saying the proposal would respond to the need for world peace amid security challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and “Ukraine crisis.” Wang noted that peace and security are necessary for development and prosperity, explaining that the proposal “further promotes construction of a balanced, effective, and sustainable security framework, providing a new direction for the elimination of the sources of international conflict and realization of long-term world peace and stability.” He said the proposal suited countries’ common pursuit of multilateralism and unity, contrasting this to “some countries” engaging in “the outdated thinking of Cold War confrontation,” making “exclusionary ‘small cliques,’” “using the name of multilateralism to act unilaterally,” and other confrontational or hypocritical acts. Noting current economic pressures, Wang condemned a “minority of countries” for worsening these pressures through “long-arm jurisdiction,” unilateral sanctions, isolation, and repressing other countries’ technological development in the name of national security, whereas the proposal suits “the trend of the times” (时代潮流): peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit.
The second section discussed the proposal’s “system of logic and theoretical innovation,” calling it the “important practical results” of Xi Jinping Thought on International Relations in the field of international security, surpassing Western geopolitical security theory. Wang listed and described in greater detail the “six persists” (六个坚持) of the proposal: persisting in “a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security concept; in respecting all countries’ sovereignty and territorial integrity; in upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; taking all countries’ reasonable security concerns (合理安全关切) seriously,” including upholding the “indivisibility of security” (安全不可分割原则); “using peaceful methods to resolve disagreements and disputes between nations through dialogue and consultation; [and] holistically planning to protect security in traditional and nontraditional fields.” The third section discussed the historic roots of the proposal, grounding it in the “traditions and wisdom of diplomacy with distinct Chinese characteristics” after 1949, including remaining peaceable, carrying out international obligations and upholding the international order, and using dialogue and serving as a mediator on controversial issues. Wang provided both historic and modern examples for each point. The fourth section discussed the “major standpoint and policy goals” to implement the proposal, saying that as its initiator, China would be the main actor in the proposal. Wang described various areas of effort for the proposal, including “upholding the authority and status of the United Nations” and practicing “true multilateralism”; “urg[ing] peace and negations” to seek political resolutions to conflicts; planning for both traditional and nontraditional security and “jointly improv[ing] the global security governance system”; attending to both security and economic concerns and encouraging a strong global economic recovery; and “work[ing to] build a new regional security framework, [to] jointly uphold Asia’s peace and stability.” Wang concluded by expressing China’s hopes that “all countries and people of the world that love peace and strive for development” unite to implement the proposal.
Xi Jinping: Adhere to the Party’s Leadership, Inherit the Red Gene, and Take Root in the Land of China; Blaze a New Path to Build World-Class Universities with Chinese Characteristics
4.25 Xi Jinping conducted an investigation of Renmin University of China (RUC) on the morning of 25 April to mark 4th May, Youth Day. He was accompanied by Politburo Standing Committee Member and Secretary of the Central Secretariat Wang Huning (王沪宁) and Politburo Member Ding Xuexiang (丁薛祥). During his visit, Xi extended cordial holiday congratulations to “young people of all ethnic groups [across the] country; all teachers, students, and staff of RUC; and to the vast number of education and youth workers across the country.” Xi hoped that they would "keep in mind the teachings of the Party, resolve [to achieve] national rejuvenation, “run hard the track of youth, and strive to achieve the best results of contemporary youth.” Xi emphasized that the questions of “for whom we educate (培养), who we educate, and how we educate” have always been fundamental issues of education (教育), and stressed the need to adhere to the leadership of the party and the guiding position of Marxism, implement the fundamental task of establishing integrity and cultivating talent (立德树人), inherit the red gene, run universities rooted in China, and blaze a new path to build world-class universities with Chinese characteristics. He then called for young people to be “firm believers, active transmitters, and model practitioners of core socialist values”; learn from heroes, prior generations, and role models; and bravely advance to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Xi told the attendees that they cannot simply take foreign universities as a standard or model, and must take root in the land of China and blaze a new path to develop world-class universities with Chinese characteristics. He emphasized that colleges and universities are an important force in the “five-way army” (五路大军) of China’s philosophy and social sciences. He stressed that the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics, amid changes unseen in a century (百年未有之大变局), have “raised a large number of new questions that need to be urgently solved,” such as, “What is wrong with the world?” and “Where is humanity going?” Xi emphasized the need to “adhere to combining the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific reality and excellent traditional Chinese culture,” promote the modernization and sinicization of Marxism, and accelerate the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, which is “ultimately the construction of China’s independent knowledge system.” Xi called for philosophy and social science workers to have a “clear direction, true doctrine, high level of knowledge, and righteous conduct,” and consciously take “answering the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times as their academic responsibility” so as to demonstrate “China’s road, China’s governance, and China’s ideological pursuits.”
Lastly, he emphasized the need to give full play to the “unique role of philosophy and social sciences in integrating Chinese and foreign cultures and enhancing exchanges between civilizations,” disseminate Chinese voices, Chinese theories, and Chinese thinking so that the world can “better understand China,” and make positive contributions to promoting the building of a community of shared future for mankind (人类命运共同体).
Xi Jinping: Comprehensively Strengthen Infrastructure Building, Construct a Modernized Infrastructure System, Lay a Solid Foundation to Comprehensively Build a Modern Socialist Country
4.26 At the eleventh meeting of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission (CFEAC), Xi Jinping stressed the economic importance of improving the composition, capability, and development model of the basic infrastructure system. The CFEAC heard reports on infrastructure problems and the status of implementing CFEAC policies from a variety of ministries and departments, such as the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the People’s Bank of China. The CFEAC noted that despite great progress, China’s infrastructure remained insufficient for the needs of national development and security, and improved infrastructure would benefit national security, domestic and international dual circulation, domestic demand, and high-quality development. It discussed goals and principles of improving infrastructure, including adhering to people-centered development thinking, accelerating the construction of new-type infrastructure while upgrading traditional infrastructure, planning infrastructure to benefit leading industries of the future, effectively using both the government and the market, and more. The CFEAC emphasized the development of network-type (网络型) infrastructure in fields including transportation, energy, and water management for greater effectiveness; upgrades to infrastructure in the fields of information technology, science and technology, and logistics, particularly focusing on advanced technologies; improvements to transportation hubs, particularly through airport construction; improvements to varied aspects of both urban and rural infrastructure, such as flood controls, the cold supply chain, and waste management; and improving the “national security infrastructure” to better respond to “extreme situations.” The CFEAC also discussed supportive measures for infrastructure construction, including establishing a system under the Central Committee’s leadership to coordinate all aspects of infrastructure development across the country and guarantee various resources; providing financing channels and increasing investment; promoting a model of cooperation between government and societal capital; supporting innovation, research and development of key technologies, and building a large talent pool in technical fields. The CFEAC noted its “strategic leadership role” and focus on long-term, strategic, and holistic issues. It pointed out areas to stress including strengthening the Central Committee’s leadership of economic work, political guidance, planning for development and security, using science to formulate strategy, practical and theoretical innovation, and practical implementation. Finally, the CFEAC emphasized planning for both development and security with “bottom-line thinking” (底线思维), strengthening risk prediction, warnings, and contingency planning; strengthening supervision and assessments to promptly respond to issues; improving the effectiveness of policy implementation; and leading market predictions and stabilizing market confidence.
The meeting was also attended by the following Politburo Standing Committee Members: State Council Premier and CFEAC Vice Chair Li Keqiang (李克强); Secretary of the Central Secretariat and CFEAC Member Wang Huning (王沪宁), and State Council Vice Premier and CFEAC Member Han Zheng (韩正).
Politburo Convenes Meeting
4.29 Xi Jinping presided over a meeting of the Politburo, which analyzed the current economic situation and economic work and deliberated on a National Five-Year Plan Talent Development Plan. The Politburo recognized that while the economy had maintained overall stability, increased risks and challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine crisis have increased the complexity, severity, and uncertainty of China’s economic environment, challenging stable growth, employment, and prices. It stressed that the Central Committee requires control of the pandemic, stabilization of the economy, and security of development, prioritizing protection of people’s lives and health while minimizing the epidemic’s effect on socioeconomic development to the greatest possible extent. The Politburo called for increasing the strength of macroeconomic policy adjustments to stabilize the economy, realize annual economic targets, and maintain a reasonable economic interval. It listed specific policies for this in the categories of accelerating the implementation of existing policies; using policy tools; expanding domestic demand (including through strengthening infrastructure construction); using consumption as an economic driver; stabilizing market entities; stabilizing the supply and prices of resources and energy; ensuring and improving the people’s livelihood, employment, and social stability; and planning holistically for issues such as the supply chain. The Politburo emphasized controlling risks and preventing systemic risks, such as stopping housing speculation; continuing the construction of a new development model and reforms such as supply-side reforms; realizing technological self-sufficiency and responding to foreign complaints about China’s business environment; and that leading cadres must take on a greater sense of responsibility to prevent financial risks. Finally, the Politburo expressed approval of the National Five-Year Plan Talent Development Plan, calling for measures related to the development of talent, particularly regarding science and technology, and for major cities, including Shanghai, Beijing, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area.
Propaganda Work
Propaganda Department Issues Notice: Organize and Launch Propaganda and Education Activities With the Mass Theme of “The Rejuvenation of Our Strong Country And Me” to Welcome the Victorious Convening of the 20th Party Congress People's Daily
4.26 The Central Propaganda Department issued a notice for national propaganda and education activities surrounding the upcoming 20th Party Congress, under the theme “the rejuvenation of our strong country and me” (强国复兴有我). The notice said that using this theme, propaganda activities should display the Party and nation’s historic accomplishments and transformations and rouse spirits and condense strength for all people to more closely unify around the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, among other goals. The notice listed categories for mass propaganda and education activities: 1. Activities for study and personal experience (such as leading people to visit places that help them understand the pace of development); 2. hosting speeches on the theme; 3. studying and propagandizing model individuals; 4. activities on “passing on the red gene” (红色基因); 5. activities for youth on the theme; 6. online activities on the theme; and 7. holding mass artistic and cultural activities. The notice stressed that all places and departments must maintain the “correct political direction” by using “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to educate people, core socialist values to cultivate people, and the historic mission of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation to incentivize people.” It also highlighted aspects of properly carrying out the activities, such as using language which appeals to the masses, opposing formalism and waste, and ensuring events have proper COVID-19 safety measures.
People’s Daily Commentator Article: Run Universities Rooted in China
4.27 A People’s Daily Commentator Article echoed and upheld Xi Jinping’s recent remarks at Renmin University of China (RUC), during which he called for an increased focus on higher education development, the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics in higher education, and an independent Chinese knowledge system. The Commentator Article noted that China has a unique history, culture, and national conditions, which determine that China must follow its own higher education development path and “run socialist colleges and universities with Chinese characteristics.” After briefly recounting the history of RUC and post-1949 Chinese higher education in general, the Commentator Article declared RUC’s history a “vivid epitome of the development of higher education in China.” It then affirmed achievements made since the 18th Party Congress under the leadership of the CCP Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core, claiming that China’s higher education has “progressed with the motherland and the times, creating development achievements that attract worldwide attention.” The Commentator Article then called for the development direction of China’s higher education to be closely linked with the “realistic goals and future directions” of China’s development, serving the people, the Party’s governance and administration, and the consolidation and development of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. Commenting that the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century (百年未有之大变局) and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is entering a critical period, the Commentator Article stated that the need for “higher education, scientific knowledge, and outstanding talents” for the development of the party and country is “more urgent than ever.” It then further claimed that China’s higher education system “shoulders the major task of cultivating socialist builders and successors who comprehensively develop morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetic sense, and value of work (德智体美劳).” These colleges and universities must “adhere to the correct political direction, the leadership of the party, and the guidance of Marxism,” fully implement the party’s educational policy, adhere to the socialist direction of running schools, and keep the “big picture and fundamental interests of the country” (国之大者) in mind, so that China’s higher education will be able to “contribute strength to serving the country’s prosperity, national rejuvenation, and the people’s happiness.”
The Commentator Article then stressed the need to adapt and effectively implement ideological and political theory courses in higher education, declaring the essence of these courses is to “reason with logic, pay attention to patterns and methods, and explain the truth deeply, thoroughly, and vividly.” It echoed Xi’s statement that colleges and universities are an important force in the “five-way army” (五路大军) of China’s philosophy and social sciences, as well as Xi’s calls for the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics and an independent Chinese knowledge system. The Commentator Article then declared that philosophy and social sciences in higher education serve an important educating function and should help students “form correct outlooks on the world, life, and values,” improve their moral cultivation and mental outlook, develop scientific thinking habits, and promote the healthy development of body, mind, and character. Lastly, the Commentator Article claimed that if “education is prosperous, the country will be prosperous, and if education is strong, the country will be strong,” and called higher education an “important symbol of a country’s development level and development potential.” To realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the status and role of education “cannot be ignored.”
United Front Work
CPPCC National Committee Held a Biweekly Consultative Meeting Revolving Around the Consultation and Discussion on “Promoting the Development of Rural Medical Treatment and Health Care”
4.26 Politburo Standing Committee member and CPPCC National Committee Chair Wang Yang (汪洋) presided over a CPPCC National Committee biweekly consultative meeting where he emphasized the need to understand Xi Jinping’s important opinions on promoting the healthy development of rural medical treatment and health. This includes building a rural medical and health system that is “suitable for a new stage of development, fair, and sustainable” and strengthening the “first line of defense” (第一道防线) for farmers’ health. 10 CPPCC members gave speeches and nearly 80 expressed their opinions. The article noted that since the 18th Party Congress, relevant departments have taken a series of measures that have steadily improved the capacity of rural medical treatment and health services. However, it also mentioned that “the unbalanced and insufficient development of the rural medical and health system is still prominent” and that other issues have yet to be resolved. At the meeting, CPPCC members recommended following the trend of changes in rural population structure and the diversification of medical needs, clarifying the functions and role of county and village medical and health institutions, and strengthening coordination and integration to address resource shortages. They also noted the need to optimize grassroots services; increase the variety of essential drugs supplied to health centers; improve the titles, salaries, and benefits of health workers; increase investment in grassroots medical care; and establish a mechanism to prevent and resolve the issue of returning to poverty due to illness, among other goals.
Party Discipline
Li Keqiang: Thoroughly Promote Construction of a Party Work Style, Honest Governance, and Anti-Corruption Work [Across the] Government System; [Build a] Just and Incorruptible Administration, and [Be] Diligent, Pragmatic, and Hardworking
4.25 Politburo Standing Committee Member and State Council Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) spoke at the State Council’s 5th Conference on Clean Governance Work. During his speech, Li emphasized that the systematic construction of a party work style, honest governance (党风廉政), and anti-corruption work across the government should be “continuously pushed forward” in accordance with the Government Work Report and deployment requirements of the Sixth Plenum of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Li said that in recent years, government systems have “thoroughly implemented the requirements of comprehensively and strictly [following] party governance”; innovated and implemented macro policies that are “fair and beneficial to the masses and highly effective to direct market entities”; continued to deepen reforms to delegate power, streamline administration, and optimize services (放管服); promoted the transformation of government functions; upheld integrity and abstained from extravagance; “strengthened the tightening of discipline, improved party conduct” (正风肃纪) and fought corruption at the source; and “provided a strong guarantee to economic and social development.” He further emphasized that promoting socioeconomic development is the “basic responsibility of all levels of government,” and is also an inevitable requirement for building a “party work style and honest governance." Li then stressed closely watching the effects of unexpected “changes in domestic and foreign situations” on China’s economy, and highlighted new downward pressure and severe challenges facing the country. He stated that policies in the first half of the year have been mostly implemented, which focus on stabilizing economic fundamentals, including employment and the price and supply of goods. Li emphasized the need to ensure food and energy security, stabilize the industrial chain and supply chain, and continue to create a market-oriented and law-based international business environment to stimulate market vitality and societal creativity.
Li then emphasized the importance of vigorously rectifying the “four forms” (四风: formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance), and stated that party members can’t “emptily shout slogans,” report good news but not bad news, or work using a one-size-fits-all “[mass] movement style” (运动式). Li further emphasized taking the government’s “economizing” (过紧日子) as a normalized disciplinary requirement, make better use of the people, and always keep the interests of the masses in mind. He stressed that since ancient times, “officialdom and wealth are two [separate] paths” (官财两道), so officials can no longer dream of becoming wealthy or forget their purpose in pursuit of wealth. Only by “consistently adhering to integrity and self-discipline” can the Party stick to principles, seek truth from facts (实事求是), and satisfy the people.
Politburo Standing Committee Member and State Council Vice Premier Han Zheng (韩正), Politburo Standing Committee Member and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) Secretary Zhao Leji (赵乐际), Politburo Members and State Council Vice Premiers Hu Chunhua (胡春华) and Liu He (刘鹤), Politburo Member and National Supervisory Commission Director Yang Xiaodu (杨晓渡), and State Councilors Wang Yong (王勇), Wang Yi (王毅), and Zhao Kezhi (赵克志) also attended. State Councilor Xiao Jie (肖捷) presided.
International Liaison Work
4.25 CCP International Department (CCP/ID) Assistant Head Li Mingxiang (李明祥) held a video call with General Secretary of the And-Jëf/African Party for Democracy and Socialism of Senegal Landing Savané.
4.26 CCP/ID Head Song Tao (宋涛) held a video call with Central Committee of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Standing Committee Member and youth wing head Hun Manet.
4.26 CCP/ID Deputy Head Chen Zhou (陈洲) held a video call with Deputy Chairman of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) of Malaysia, Mohamad Hasan.
4.27 Li Mingxiang attended and spoke at a webinar for representatives of eight African Marxist parties.
4.28 Song Tao held a video call with International Advisory Board of the Silk Road Think Tank Association (SRTA) members, including former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Abdel-Aziz Sharaf, former Mongolian Prime Minister Rinchinnyamyn Amarjargal, and former Speaker of the House of the Representatives of the Indonesian Parliament Agung Laksono.
4.28 Li Mingxiang held a video call with National Chair of Liberia’s Coalition for Democratic Change Mulbah K. Morlu.
4.28 CCP/ID Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) held a video call with People’s Party of Kazakhstan Chair Yertysbayev Yermukhamet.
Organization Work
4.25 Yu Jianhua (俞建华) was appointed as Secretary of the Party Committee for the General Administration of Customs.