- Admin
Weekly Report 4|74 5.28.22-6.3.22
Highlights
Qiushi published the text of a speech by Xi Jinping at the 19th Politburo’s 29th Collective Study Session on 30 April, 2021, which had focused on “strengthening our country’s building of an ecological civilization under new conditions.” (See Senior Leaders section)
State Council Premier Li Keqiang convened and presided over a State Council Standing Committee meeting to deploy a package of policies and measures for economic stability. (See Senior Leaders section)
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) published an article in Qiushi on the significance of the Central Committee and State Council’s recently-issued “Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a National Unified Market.” (See Comprehensively Deepening Reform section).
Senior Leaders
Xi Jinping Meets With HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee
5.30 Xi Jinping met with newly elected Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) John Lee (李家超) to congratulate him and fully affirm the Central Committee’s trust in him. Xi pointed out that “practice has proved” that the new electoral system has placed a decisive role in implementing “patriots governing Hong Kong” (爱国者治港), ensuring that Hong Kong citizens can “exercise their right to be masters of their own affairs” (当家作主) and promoting the “formation in which all classes and all sectors of society work together to build a good situation in Hong Kong.” He further stated that this set of democratic systems conforms to the “one country, two systems” policy, Hong Kong’s reality, and the “political system that Hong Kong’s development needs,” and so it “must be cherished and upheld for a long time.” Xi stressed that this year marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s “return to the motherland,” and over the past 25 years, despite many challenges, the practice of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong has achieved “universally recognized success.” He stated that the Central Committee’s determination to “fully and accurately implement the ‘one country, two systems’ policy has never wavered, nor will it change.” Xi then stated that with the joint efforts of the central government, the HKSAR government, and all sectors of society, Hong Kong has “achieved a major transition from chaos to governance” (由乱到治), and is now in the “critical period of [transitioning] from governance to prosperity” (由治及兴). Xi closed by saying that he believed that the administration of the new HKSAR government will “definitely show a new atmosphere,” and Hong Kong’s development will “definitely write a new chapter.”
Politburo Standing Committee Member, State Council Vice Premier Han Zheng (韩正), State Council Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) Director Xia Baolong (夏宝龙) and others were also in attendance.
Xi Jinping: Work to Construct Modernization Wherein People and the Environment Harmoniously Coexist
5.31 Qiushi published the text of a speech by Xi Jinping at the 19th Politburo’s 29th Collective Study Session on 30 April, 2021, which had focused on “strengthening our country’s building of an ecological civilization under new conditions.” Xi stressed the significance of ecological work in past and current policies and goals. Xi praised the strengthening, reform, and increased consciousness and implementation of such work, noting accomplishments such as reducing air pollution and promoting international climate change agreements. He stressed that environmental protection not only improved the people’s natural surroundings, but was important for improving the quality, efficacy, fairness, sustainability, and security of development. Xi described continued problems, saying the foundation for improving the environment had not yet been stabilized and consolidated, a “quantitative and qualitative turning point” had not been reached, there were still “rather large discrepancies” between the current situation and ultimate environmental and developmental goals, strategic and high-tech new industries had not yet displaced traditional industries in leading economic growth, the structures of energy had not been transformed, issues like pollution in certain areas and industries had not yet been resolved, achieving carbon goals has been difficult, and international competition and hostility towards China over environmental issues is strong. After reiterating points on environmental work from his remarks to the Fifth Plenum of the 19th Party Congress and the 14th Five-Year Plan, he emphasized the following five points:
“Untiringly persist in green, low-carbon development.” As environmental issues are fundamentally related to development styles and lifestyle, this involves constructing a green low-carbon cycle development (绿色低碳循发展) economic system and promoting a foundational policy of making socioeconomic development green. More specifically, this includes measures like better control, management, allocation, and use of resources, ensuring sufficient technological support for low-carbon development such as carbon capture, and so on. Xi stressed the importance of lowering CO2 emissions and fulfilling China’s commitments to peak carbon and carbon neutrality goals, noting that in a previous study meeting of provincial-level leading cadres, he had already stressed that cadres should not continue to undertake high-emissions projects for economic reasons.
“Deepen fighting in the tough battle of preventing and controlling pollution.” Xi stressed that the people now have higher expectations for the environment and lower tolerance for environmental problems. He called for focusing on striking against the most prominent environmental issues ordinary people experience, namely by cracking down on various forms of pollution.
“Promote the quality and stability of the ecosystem.” Xi stated that this would both better meet the need for ecological products and slow the negative effects of global warming. It would involve measures such as taking an integrated approach to protecting and restoring various biomes, improving the system of national parks, and ensuring that environmental protection is rewarded while environmental harms are punished.
“Actively promote global sustainable development.” Xi called for “holding onto the concept of a community of shared future for humankind (人类命运共同体)” to active participate in global environmental governance, strengthen international cooperation on environmental issues, carry out international conventions, take on tasks of environmental governance that suit “[China’s] national conditions, stage of development, and ability,” and so on. Xi particularly stressed cooperation with developing countries and defending China’s “development interests” against some Western countries’ “containment” (规锁) attempts.
“Increase the modernization of the state governance system and its abilities in the field of ecological protection.” This involves a robust “Party-led, government-guided, enterprise-focused modern environmental governance system with joint participation from societal organizations and the public” supported with continued reforms, stronger legal and policy protections, a property rights system and laws concerning natural resources, and various improvements to quota management, financial systems, and permits on issues related to the environment. Additionally, this involves improving public consciousness on relevant issues.
In conclusion, Xi called for all levels of Party committee and government to take on the “political responsibility” for such work and stressed that all relevant policies be effectively implemented and done “with exact compliance” (令行禁止).
Wang Chen: Accelerate the Promotion of Anti-Telecommunications and Online Fraud Legislation, Firmly Crack Down On Criminal Activities Involving Fraud, Protect the Masses’ Direct Interests
People's Daily
6.1 Politburo Member and NPC Standing Committee Vice Chair Wang Chen (王晨) led an inspection tour of the Beijing Public Security Bureau’s anti-telecommunications and online fraud center and Chaoyang district law enforcement and case management center. In a discussion meeting with the bureau’s personnel, Wang affirmed the successes of a “shock and awe” approach (震慑态势) to cracking down on fraud, saying there had been a national drop in telecommunications and online fraud and an increase in solved cases. However, Wang noted that the problem remained “grim and complex”; occupied a significant share of criminal offenses; showed signs of being organized and linked, using diverse technological means, and crossing borders; and harmed the masses’ interests, social stability, and China’s national image. Wang called for a comprehensive response focused on the sources of such fraud and on public concerns, involving technical means for preventative strikes, the return of stolen goods, cooperation with international law enforcement, and a crackdown on cross-border criminal activity. The response should also involve widespread targeted education and accelerating relevant legislation.
Li Keqiang Convenes and Presides Over State Council Standing Committee Meeting to Accelerate [the] Implementation of a Package of Policies to Stabilize the Economy, Ensure Market Entities and the Masses are Aware of and Benefit From [These Policies], Increase Assistance to People in Great Difficulty, and Secure [the] Bottom Line of [the] People’s Basic Livelihood
6.1 State Council Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) convened and presided over a State Council Standing Committee meeting to deploy a package of policies and measures to “speed up the stabilization of the economy, increase assistance to people in great difficulty… and secure the bottom line of the people’s basic livelihood.” The meeting pointed out that in accordance with the overall thinking and policy orientation of the Central Conference on Economic Work and the “Government Work Report,” a package of policy measures to stabilize the economy was launched, “mainly to speed up and increase [the] efficiency of policy implementation.” Key areas that were targeted include macro policies around market entities, implementing precise control, and “not overdrafting the future.” The article stated that positive progress was made in the formulation and promulgation of detailed rules for the implementation of 33 policies and measures in 6 areas, and the first step included comprehensively refining and implementing the policies. According to the article, up to 140 billion yuan of newly added tax rebates will be basically refunded in July, the credit line of policy banks will be increased by 800 billion yuan for financial support for infrastructure construction, a linking mechanism for the list of key infrastructure projects will be implemented, and temporary subsidies or assistance will be issued to unemployed migrant workers who meet set requirements, regardless of whether they participate in unemployment insurance. 90 billion yuan of commercial truck loans will have their repayment of principal and interest deferred, and all other policies “must be refined to the point that they can be implemented.” For the second step, the meeting called for deepening the reform of “delegating power, streamlining administration, and optimizing services” (放管服); vigorously promoting “application-free” (非申即享) benefit policies; improving measures to strengthen “point-to-point” (点对点) assistance to key enterprises; and requiring relevant departments in various places to establish accounts to promote work beginning on investment projects as soon as possible. For the third step, the meeting called for strengthening policy implementation. The meeting called for the inspection teams that the State Council sent to 12 provinces to form a report as soon as possible on the basis of onsite supervision and inform the council of outstanding issues in policy implementation. The meeting indicated that the main indicators – such as second-quarter regional GDP, the urban unemployment rate, fiscal revenue after deducting retained tax refunds, and commodity prices – will be announced by the financial, human resources, social security, taxation, and other departments in accordance with laws and regulations.
Lastly, the meeting pointed out that the employment and income of some people are currently affected and their “basic life is facing difficulties.” The meeting called for measures such as increased assistance by increasing the basic pension of select groups; focusing on the unemployed and “flexible employment personnel”; maintaining the proportion of medical insurance reimbursement and providing assistance to those struggling to pay for medical insurance; promoting people’s livelihood protection services across provinces; strengthening the supervision of funds meant to guarantee the people’s livelihood; and seriously investigating and dealing with acts such as embezzlement and false reports.
Propaganda Work
Zhong Sheng: To Develop China-US Relations, the United States Must Put Aside Its Obsession with Containment and Suppression
5.28 A Zhong Sheng (钟声) commentary in People’s Daily responded to Secretary Blinken’s 26 May speech on the United States’ China policy. The commentary said Blinken’s speech spread misinformation, “exaggerated the ‘China threat,’ interfered in China’s internal affairs; defamed China’s domestic and foreign policies; and reflected the United States’ obsession with clinging to Cold War thinking, containing and suppressing China, and upholding US hegemony. It said that the US understanding of US-China “competition” “deviated from the essence of China-US relations and ran counter to (背道而驰) the shared expectations of the two countries’ peoples and the international community,” and “is actually not fair, healthy, friendly competition rooted in the recognized fundamental principles of international relations, but is a ‘you lose, I win’ (你输我赢) zero-sum game and unscrupulous suppression and containment.” The commentary accused the United States of using the concept of a “rules-based international order” to maintain its hegemony, saying China upholds the international system and UN principles. It said that the true “greatest threat facing the international order” was actually the United States’ provocation of “camp confrontation” and engagement in “‘America first’ false multilateralism.” It cited the US approach to issues including “Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Tibet” to claim the United States’ true motivation is to “interfere in China’s internal affairs, defame China, and obstruct China’s development,” particularly focusing on what it viewed as dishonest US claims to not support Taiwan’s independence and its attempts to “hollow out” the one-China principle. The commentary said that the current US administration’s “continuation of the previous administration’s wrong China policies” was “two-faced,” “on the one hand actively plot[ting] to contain and suppress China and on the other hand expressing hope to develop cooperation with China in certain fields.” It affirmed that “China-US cooperation is objectively necessary” on “global challenges” but faulted the United States for “obstruct[ing] the bilateral development of normal cooperation.” The commentary concluded that “China has no intention to compete with the United States and is dedicated to developing China-US relations on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. The US government should meet the Chinese side halfway (相向而行), find strategic audacity and political courage, abandon zero-sum game thinking, put aside its obsession with containing and suppressing China, take real action to promote the return of China-US relations to the right track of healthy and stable development, and play a great power’s appropriate role in the development of world peace.”
He Yin: Like-Minded [People] Are in the Same Boat Under Wind and Rain and Go Forward Shoulder to Shoulder
6.1 People’s Daily published a He Yin commentary on the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The commentary noted that “the unceasing forward development of China-Pacific Island countries’ relations profoundly demonstrated the way of handling mutual respect and equal treatment.” It noted that China adheres to the equality of all countries, that it has always respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pacific Island countries, that it “never interferes in the internal affairs of island countries, never attaches any political conditions, and never seeks geopolitical self-interest.” The next paragraph stated that “the unceasing forward development of China-Pacific Island countries’ relations vividly confirmed the trend of the times of win-win cooperation and joint development” and noted that both China and Pacific Island countries are “developing countries and face the common mission of revitalizing the economy and improving people’s livelihood.” After listing cooperative development projects in various Pacific Island countries, the commentary noted that the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Henry Puna had lauded China as an “important dialogue and development partner of Pacific Island countries” and mentioned that China “has made indispensable contributions to the development of Island countries for a long time.”
It also stated that “the unceasing forward development of China-Pacific Island countries’ relations fully embodies the spirit of an open and inclusive partnership” and claimed that “Pacific Island countries are not any country’s ‘backyard’ (后院), and even more so, not a chess piece in geopolitical confrontation.” The commentary claimed that “When developing relations with Pacific Island countries, China has never done any so-called choosing sides, trading using coercion, or seeking spheres of influence,” noting that “China respects the existing regional cooperation mechanisms and arrangements in the Island countries.” It accused “certain countries” of “maliciously smear[ing] China’s cooperation with Pacific Island countries due to geopolitical considerations, [which] undermines regional security, stability, and open cooperation.” The commentary stated that “maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and promoting the development and prosperity of all countries are the common aspirations of the region’s people and and the shared responsibility of the countries in the region.” After noting China and Pacific Island countries’ coordination and collaboration in multilateral organizations, the commentary stated that “China will work with Pacific Island countries to strengthen the confidence to face challenges together… and build a closer community of shared future between China and Pacific Island countries.”
Party Discipline
Central Military Commission’s Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission Issue “Regulations on [the] Handling of Reports and Accusations by Military Disciplinary Inspection and Supervision Organs”
6.2 The Central Military Commission’s Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervisory Commission recently issued the “Regulations on [the] Handling of Reports and Accusations by Military Disciplinary Inspection and Supervision Organs” (hereafter “Regulations”), which took effect on 25 May 2022. Containing 7 chapters and 44 articles, the Regulations govern the handling of reports and accusations by the military discipline and inspection and supervision organs regarding case acceptance, handling, inspection and supervision, as well as the investigation and clarification of false accusations and frame-ups. The Regulations emphasized adhering to “seeking truth from facts” (实事求是) in handling reports and accusations; reporting in accordance with the Party’s constitution, rules and discipline, the national constitution and laws, and military regulations; fully protecting the supervisory rights of whistleblowers and accusers; promptly investigating and dealing with false accusations and frame-ups; protecting the legal rights of party members and supervisors as well as the “entrepreneurial enthusiasm” of officers; and accurately and effectively using the “four forms” (四种形态) to achieve the unification of political effects, disciplinary effects, and social effects. The Regulations also clarified how the discipline inspection and supervision organs and their staff members handle reports and accusations, confidentiality requirements, recusal regulations, and accountability.
Comprehensively Deepening Reform
National Development and Reform Commission: Accelerate Construction of a National Unified Market, [This Will] Provide Staunch Support for Constructing a New Development Pattern
5.31 The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) published an article in Qiushi on the significance of the Central Committee and State Council’s recently-issued “Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of a National Unified Market.” The article first discussed accomplishments in this task made since the 18th Party Congress. This included 1. the improved effectiveness from market scale and the growth of the domestic market alongside the economy; 2. the solidification of the “hardware and software” (软硬件) foundation of market integration, involving improvements and reforms to foundational systems like systems of property rights, fair competition, a negative list for market access, urban-rural integration, labor mobility, copyright registration, and so on; and 3. an increasingly coherent consensus of a unified national market, formed through actions like addressing local protectionism and strengthening the enforcement of anti-monopoly laws. Second, the article discussed the significance of a national unified market, explaining that accelerating construction of a national unified market would provide support for construction of a new development pattern (新发展格局), serve as an important safeguard for promoting high-quality economic development, improve intrinsic requirements of the socialist market economy system, and help China’s economy gain advantages when participating in international competition and cooperation.
Third, the article discussed “properly grasping overall requirements” for building a national unified market, explaining that this required understanding the relationships between 1. an effective market and capable government, using the market to decide resource allocation, making better use of the government’s role, and ensuring both integration and a “scientific” delineation between the two; 2. a national unified market and the development of local competition, wherein only “qualified” areas are allowed to prioritize local market integration under the prerequisite of protecting the national unified market; 3. a strong domestic market and deepening foreign openness, with the former supporting the latter rather than creating a reason for isolationism; and 4. current key tasks and the medium- and long-term orientation of reform, requiring being both “goal-oriented” and “problem-oriented.” Fourth, the article discussed how it was an “important task” (重点任务) to carry out accelerated construction of a national unified market, involving 1. strengthening regulatory unity of the foundational market system, such as by improving protection of property rights, 2. promoting connections between “market facilities” according to high standards, referring to both information and physical transportation, 3. constructing a unified market for essential factors and resources, such as talent, 4. promoting high levels of market unity for goods and services, 5. promoting fair and united market oversight, 6. further regulating against conduct that interferes in market competition, and 7. strengthening guarantees for organizational implementation.
International Liaison Work
5.31 CCP International Department (CCP/ID) Head Song Tao (宋涛) held a video call with Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, Thongsavanh Phomvihane.
6.1 CCP/ID Assistant Head Li Mingxiang (李明祥) and Deputy Secretary General of Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party Abdullah Juma Sadala jointly hosted and spoke at the closing ceremony for a cadre seminar at the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Leadership School for six southern African political parties.
Organization Work
5.30 Zheng Xincong (郑新聪) was appointed director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) and national security advisor of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the MSAR.
6.2 Liu Jianchao (刘建超) was appointed head of the CCP International Department, replacing Song Tao.