- Admin
Weekly Report 5|6 2.4.23-2.10.23
Highlights
Xi Jinping delivered opening remarks at a seminar on studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress at the Central Party School in Beijing. (See Senior Leaders section)
The Central Committee and State Council issued an “Outline for Building a Quality, Powerful Country” which puts forth measures to coordinate work to promote high-quality development, promote the transformation of China’s economy “from large to strong,” and “meet the people’s needs for a better life.” (See Propaganda Work section)
People’s Daily continued to publish its series of Zhong Yin (仲音) commentaries on “optimized” COVID policy. (See Propaganda Work section)
Senior Leaders
Li Keqiang Presides over Symposium with People from All Walks of Life and Grassroots Representatives to Hear Opinions and Suggestions on the Government Work Report
2.6 State Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) presided over a symposium to solicit opinions about the Government Work Report. He stated that in the past year “under the firm leadership of the Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core” the country’s development has seen “new achievements” that were extremely difficult to consolidate. He noted how the epidemic had caused severe impacts on the economy and stated that “we responded decisively and in a timely manner, implemented established policy measures (政策举措), and introduced a basket of policies and follow-up measures to stabilize the economy.” He noted specific measures such as implementing large-scale tax and fee rebates and reductions and providing support to ensure employment stability. He emphasized “innovative policy tools” and “modernizing and transforming equipment” in addition to “expanding investment” to boost consumption. He proceeded to discuss the importance of safeguarding the production of grain and energy and laying a solid foundation for the stabilization of prices. Next, he touted the stabilization of the “macroeconomic market,” the creation of 12 million new urban jobs, that consumer prices in China only increased by two percent despite high international inflation, and that imports and exports had increased by 7.7 percent. He emphasized that “economic operations have been maintained in a reasonable space (合理区间)” and that this was not easy to do. He proceeded to assert that from a “long-term perspective of ten years,” the average annual economic growth rate was 6.2 percent thus constituting “medium to high speed growth.” Meanwhile, consumer prices “have not increased by more than 3 percent” and there has been a substantial increase in the number of enterprises and self-employed industrial and commercial households. Next, he emphasized “upholding employment as a priority (就业优先)” and to have “various policies focus on supporting employment.” He stated the importance of promoting “reform and opening up” (改革开放), upholding the “two unswervings” (两个毫不动摇), optimizing service reforms, and further stimulating “market vitality” (市场活力). He stressed that “we clearly see” that currently enterprises in the service industry, small, medium, and micro-sized enterprises, and self-employed industrial and commercial households are facing a large number of difficulties. He stated that “deficient aggregate demand is the main conundrum” and that there are many “risks, challenges, and uncertainties” in maintaining stable economic operations.
Li stated that the country’s economic growth stabilized at the end of the previous year and resumed growing this year and that with the “optimization and adjustment of pandemic prevention and control measures” consumption has stopped falling and trended upwards with “obvious growth” recorded in January. Lastly, he stressed “implementing the deployments of the Party Central Committee and State Council, deeply implementing the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference, continuing to implement a basket of policy measures to stabilize the economy,” doing a good job in the work of economic and social development, and continuing to consolidate and expand economic operations and “recovery momentum.” Politburo member He Lifeng (何立峰), State Council Vice-Premiers Han Zheng (韩正), Sun Chunlan (孙春兰), Hu Chunhua (胡春华), Liu He (刘鹤), and State Councilors Wang Yong (王勇), Zhao Kezhi (赵克志), and Xiao Jie (肖捷) also attended the symposium.
Xi Jinping Delivers Important Speech Emphasizing Correctly Understanding and Forcefully Promoting Chinese-Style Modernization When Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 20th Party Congress
2.7 Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of a seminar on studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress at the Central Party School in Beijing. Xi stated that the historical responsibility of searching for a path for “Chinese-style modernization” (中国现代化) has fallen on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and praised how the Party has “united and led” the people to successfully emerge victorious in several “bloody battles” (浴血奋战) and to “overthrow the three mountains (三座大山) of imperialism (帝国主义), feudalism (封建主义), and capitalism (资本主义).” He stated that this has “forged the basic social conditions for realizing Chinese-style modernization.” He further emphasized how the Party has made “economic construction” (经济建设) the “work center of the Party and country” and made the “historical decisions” to implement “reform and opening” (改革开放) and a “socialist market economic system.” Next, he discussed the implementation of “major strategies” that have provided firm “strategic support” (战略支撑) for “Chinese-style modernization.” These include “deeply implementing the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education and strengthening the country through human capital and rural revitalization (乡村振兴).” He emphasized a series of breakthrough achievements by the Party including the eradication of problems related to “absolute poverty” (绝对贫困) and the “comprehensive construction of a moderately prosperous society (小康社会).” He proceeded to emphasize that “Party leadership decides the basic nature of Chinese-style modernization” and that “only by unwaveringly adhering to the leadership of the Party” can the future for “Chinese-style modernization” be bright. Next, he cited the 20th Party Congress work report and stated that “Chinese-style modernization” is “modernization with a large population, modernization with common prosperity (共同富裕) for all people, and modernization with humans living in harmony with nature.” He stated that since the establishment of “New China” and especially “reform and opening,” China has “spent decades to finish walking the historical path of industrialization” that took Western countries “hundreds of years.” He emphasized that “Chinese-style modernization” demonstrates a “new modernization model” distinct from the West and has broken the “myth that ‘modernization equals westernization’ (“现代化=西方化”)” thus presenting a “completely new alternative” to countries currently undergoing development. Xi stated the importance of “promoting Chinese-style modernization as a systemic project that coordinates and takes into account systemic plans and overall advancement.” Xi stated the importance of doing a good job in correctly handling "top-level design" (顶层设计) and “practical exploration” (实践探索), in addition to coordinating a “series of important relationships” between “strategy and policy, integrity and innovation, effectiveness and fairness, vitality and order, and self-reliance (自立自强) and external opening.” Next, he discussed the importance of forging “higher efficiency than capitalism” but also ensuring “fairness in society” in addition to better realizing the “balance between efficiency and fairness.” He emphasized “coordinating development and security, implementing the overall national security concept (总体国家安全观), constructing a national security system, strengthening and protecting national security capabilities, and firmly defending the country’s regime security (政权安全), system security (制度安全), and ideological security (意识形态安全).” He further stated the importance of upholding “independent self-reliance and self-strengthening (自立自强)” and “persisting in grasping the country’s development progress and destiny in our own hands.” Additionally, he stressed “continuously expanding high-level external opening” and “deepening participation in the division of labor and cooperation in global industry.” He proceeded to emphasize that when promoting “Chinese-style modernization” it is inevitable that different kinds of risks and challenges would be encountered. It is important to adhere to “bottom-line thinking” (底线思维) and “to dare to fight and be good at fighting.” He also stressed the importance of better training leadership cadres, particularly those that are younger. Finally, he emphasized “comprehensively implementing the decision-making and deployments of the Central Committee” and “seeking progress while maintaining stability” (稳中求进).
Politburo Standing Committee member Li Qiang (李强), who presided over the opening ceremony, emphasized the importance of “comprehensively studying, grasping, and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress” in addition to “deeply comprehending the decisive significance of the ‘two establishes’ (两个确立), keeping in mind the big picture and fundamental interests of the country (国之大者), strengthening the ‘four consciousnesses’ (四个自信”), and achieving the ‘two defends’ (两个维护).” He further emphasized “uniting ideology and action with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech” and the “decision-making and deployments of the Central Committee.” Politburo Standing Committee members Zhao Leji (赵乐际), Wang Hunning (王沪宁), Cai Qi (蔡奇), Ding Xuexiang (丁薛祥), and Li Xi (李希) attended the seminar alongside members of the Politburo and Central Military Commission (CMC) and high-ranking members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and People’s Armed Police (PAP).
Propaganda Work
Zhong Yin Commentaries on COVID Policy
People’s Daily continued to publish its series of Zhong Yin (仲音) commentaries on “optimized” COVID policy.
4 February's commentary “[After] Three Years of Fighting the Pandemic, China’s Values Demonstrate Our Original Intention and Perseverance,” stated how prioritizing lives and bodily health has been the “primary consideration of the country’s formulation of pandemic prevention and control policies.” It stated that “in these three years, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, we have consistently upheld the people above all else and lives above all else and effectively confronted five waves” of the global pandemic. It emphasized that such leadership enabled China to avoid the comparatively stronger original virus strain in addition to the Delta variant, stressing that this was not an easy task for a large country with a population of over 1.4 billion. He emphasized that the treatment expenses of COVID patients would be borne by the state, that all vaccinations are free for all people, and that COVID-related pharmaceuticals are covered by medical insurance. He extolled China’s pandemic response and noted that in the context of the pandemic the value of the global Human Development Index (HDI) declined for two consecutive years while China’s ranking in the HDI rose by six places. It proceeded to note that beginning in January this year the country shifted to “Class B management” (乙类乙管) of the pandemic, stating that this did not constitute “letting go and not caring” but shifting the focus of pandemic prevention and control from “preventing infection” to “medical treatment” (医疗救治). It stated that all “regions and departments have made every effort to expand the provision of medical services and increase the supply of the relevant pharmaceuticals.” It further noted that medical personnel have been organized into mobile teams and other forms so that they can be “sent down” to “make rounds.” It emphasized providing “classified management and services” to key populations such as the elderly, pregnant women, and children. Next, it stated that “currently, pandemic prevention and control has entered a new stage (新阶段)” and that the state would “coordinate different kinds of medical resources,” fulfill the masses’ demands for medical treatment and pharmaceuticals, and compensate for “shortcomings” in pandemic prevention and control in rural areas. It emphasized that this way “comprehensive victory” can finally be achieved against the pandemic.
8 February's commentary, “[After] Three Years of Fighting the Pandemic, China’s Economy Demonstrates Resilience and Potential,” stated that in three years of fighting the pandemic the Chinese economy has confronted the impact of the global pandemic and faced the “triple pressures” (三重压力). It stated that the economy has stabilized the market, withstood pressure, and advanced in spite of adversity to overcome several hurdles. It noted that China has maintained a high average annual economic growth rate and kept prices relatively low for consumers despite global inflation, noting that China’s consumer price index has only increased by 2 percent. It also emphasized the importance of China’s economy “seeking progress while maintaining stability” (稳中求进). It proceeded to stress that an “obvious demand of the Party Central Committee is that the ‘pandemic must be controlled, the economy must be stabilized, and development must be safe.’” It stated that in the past three years the Party Central Committee with “Xi Jinping as the core” has “taken stock of the situation” and made “scientific decisions” to answer difficult questions about how to do a good job of both development and security and how to “effectively coordinate pandemic prevention and control with socioeconomic development.” It said that China’s economy has shown “strong resilience and huge potential” through “wind and rain” and that the economy’s “material foundation (物质基础) has depth,” the industrial sector is complete, “supporting industries” (产业配套) have seen improvement, the supply chain is strongly resilient, and there is “enormous room in the market.” It referenced the “dual circulation strategy” (大循环) and emphasized having enough “policy tools” to confront economic shocks. It stated that “currently, pandemic prevention and control is entering a new stage (新阶段)” and that “China’s economic growth and potential is currently being further released.” It emphasized that China’s economy has “injected stability and certainty” into global economic recovery, noting that the country has the most “complete industrial system in the world” and that it is a “major hub for world manufacturing.” It stressed that Chinese products have an “important role” in stabilizing international market prices and that China’s large domestic market facilitates stable global demand. Next, it noted China’s expanding market for imports and exports and stated that it plays a “vital role” in global industrial supply chains. It emphasized that China’s “optimization of pandemic prevention and control measures” has “greatly stimulated” the world’s expectations for China’s economic growth and the positive “spillover effects” associated with it. Lastly, it cited Xi Jinping’s “strategic judgment” (战略判断) at the Central Economic Work Conference that “economic operations will recover overall” in stating that the country’s economy is “hugely resilient, has great potential and vitality” and that the “long-term fundamentals of improvement have not changed and will not change.” Central Committee and State Council Issue “Outline for Building a Quality, Powerful Country”
2.6 The Central Committee and State Council issued an “Outline for Building a Quality, Powerful Country” (质量强国建设纲要; hereafter “Outline”), which puts forth measures to coordinate work to promote high-quality development, promote the transformation of China’s economy “from large to strong” (由大向强), and “meet the people’s needs for a better life.” The outline emphasizes that by 2025 the “overall level of quality [of China] will be comprehensively improved,” the influence of Chinese brands will incrementally increase, the people’s sense of quality and satisfaction will be strengthened, the role of quality in promoting socioeconomic development will be more pronounced, and step-by-step results will be achieved in building a quality, powerful country. In its guiding ideology, the Outline emphasizes following Xi Jinping Thought on Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; establishing the new stage of development (新发展阶段); fully, accurately, and comprehensively implementing the new development concept (新发展理念); building a new development pattern (新发展格局); coordinating development and security; focusing on high-quality development; focusing on improving supply quality as the “main direction of attack”; taking reform and innovation as the fundamental driving force; focusing on promoting brand building; focusing on enhancing competitiveness in industrial quality; improving socioeconomic development; actively connecting with advanced international technologies; comprehensively building a “quality, powerful country”; and providing quality support for building a modern socialist country and the Chinese dream (中国梦) of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation (中华民族伟大复兴). In its specific measures, the Outline emphasized creating an organizational guarantee (组织保障), which calls for strengthening the leadership of the Party; adhering to the Party’s overall leadership over quality work; implementing the Party’s leadership in all fields; ensuring that the Party’s central decision-making and deployment are implemented; establishing and coordinating a working mechanism for the construction of a “quality, powerful country”; improving quality supervision and management systems; strengthening departmental coordination and linkages between upper and lower levels; and promoting the implementation of the “quality, powerful country” strategy in an overall orderly manner.
The Outline also emphasized enhancing enterprise quality and brand development capabilities. To do so, it called for accelerating the application of quality technology innovation; strengthening the main position of enterprise innovation; guiding enterprises to increase investment in quality and technology innovation; promoting the application of new technologies, new processes, and new materials; encouraging enterprises to strengthen the construction of quality technology innovation centers (质量技术创新中心); implementing major quality improvement projects; coordinating the development of quality common technology research for industrial chains and supply chains.
People’s Daily Commentator Article Series: “On In-Depth Study and Understanding of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Important Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Seminar on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 20th Party Congress”
People’s Daily published a Commentator Article series on Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the seminar on studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, in which he emphasized Chinese-style modernization.
9 February’s Article, titled “Chinese-style Modernization is a Major Achievement of the Long-Term Exploration and Practice of the Party Leading the People,” highlighted Xi Jinping’s speech at the opening ceremony of the seminar on studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress. Summarizing key events in party history, the Article noted that in modern times, “the country has been humiliated, the people have suffered, civilization has been left in the dust, and the Chinese nation has suffered unprecedented catastrophes.” In order to “save the nation from peril” the Article stated that various national salvation plans were introduced, but all ended in failure. Thus, “the heavy responsibility of exploring the path of China’s modernization has historically fallen on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).” It proclaimed that the CCP has united and led all the struggles of the Chinese people in order to build China into a modern and powerful country and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. After the founding of “New China,” the Party united and led the people to carry out the socialist revolution, established the basic socialist system, established an “independent and comparatively complete industrial and national economic system,” and laid the “fundamental political premise, valuable experience theoretical preparation and material foundation for modernization.” The Article stated that the Party made the “historic decision” to shift the center of Party and state work to economic construction, implement reform and opening up, and vigorously promote theoretical innovation, system innovation, and cultural innovation based on practice. It further noted the implementation of the socialist market economic system. The Article highlighted Xi Jinping’s leadership and achievements, including creating Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; realizing a new leap in the modernization of Marxism in China; and building a fundamental basis and theoretical system for Chinese-style modernization. Through establishing the guiding position of Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the Article stated that the Party can “effectively solve the outstanding contradictions and problems that affect the long-term governance of the Party, the long-term stability of the country, and the happiness and well-being of the people,” as well as fundamentally ensure that the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an “irreversible path in the historical process.” The Article noted that “practice has fully demonstrated that the ‘two establishes’ (两个确立) are the greatest certainty, the greatest confidence, and the greatest guarantee for overcoming all difficulties and obstacles, [as well as] dealing with all uncertainties.”
In closing, the Article called for uniting more closely around the Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core; fully implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; “deeply comprehending the decisive significance of the ‘two establishes’ (两个确立), strengthening the ‘four consciousnesses’ (四个意识), consolidating the ‘four confidences’ (四个自信), achieving the ‘two defends’ (两个维护)”; and unswervingly follow Chinese-style modernization, which is the “only correct path” for building a strong country and national rejuvenation.
10 February’s Article, titled “Chinese-Style Modernization is Socialist Modernization Led by the Chinese Communist Party,” highlighted Xi Jinping’s speech at the the opening ceremony of the seminar on studying and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, in which Xi explained that “the Party’s leadership is directly related to the fundamental direction, future, destiny, and ultimate success or failure of Chinese-style modernization.” The Article noted that in the past century, the CCP “profoundly changed the direction and process of the development of the Chinese nation [in] modern times, profoundly changed the future and destiny of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, and profoundly changed the trend and pattern of world development.” Reviewing the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, the Article then proclaimed that “there is no political force that can deeply and historically promote the development of the Chinese nation like the CCP. Only under CCP leadership can [China] completely change the face of poverty and weakness, move towards the goal of modernization,” and shake off exploitation and oppression to “truly grasp our own destiny.” Further proclaiming that the CCP is the “supreme political leadership force” and its leadership is the “root and lifeblood of the Party and country,” the Article noted that the Party’s nature, purpose, original mission, beliefs, and policy propositions determine that “Chinese style-modernization is socialist modernization, not any other modernization.” It continued by claiming that only by unswervingly adhering to the Party’s leadership can Chinese-style modernization have a bright future and prosperity, otherwise it will “deviate from the course, lose its soul, and even commit subversive mistakes.” Quoting the 20th Party Congress Report, the Article emphasized always grasping the historical initiative, anchoring the goal of struggle, firmly moving forward in the right direction, and achieving world-renowned and historical achievements, no matter how the situation changes or what “turbulent waves” China encounters. It stated that Chinese-style modernization is an unprecedented undertaking that requires exploration and innovation, and practice has “fully proved” that the leadership of the Party stimulates a strong driving force for building Chinese-style modernization. It also referenced further “developing whole-process people’s democracy (全过程人民民主).” In closing, the Article noted that the “most reliable backbone of all the people” will be to ensure the correct direction of China’s socialist modernization drive, ensure strong political cohesion in unity and struggle, develop self-confidence, and gather the majestic strength of all people to overcome difficulties together.
Zhong Sheng: The United States Should Abandon ‘Long-Arm Jurisdiction’ as Soon as Possible
2.4 People’s Daily published a Zhong Sheng (钟声) commentary titled “The United States Should Abandon ‘Long-Arm Jurisdiction’ as Soon as Possible.” It stated that “for a long time, the US has regularly implemented ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ (长臂管辖) against various countries” and that its “sphere of jurisdiction (管辖范围) has continuously expanded.” It emphasized that the US “abuses long-arm jurisdiction” as a “tool” to advance its “geopolitical and economic interests” and to maintain “US hegemony” (美国霸权). It stressed that the US’ “long-arm jurisdiction” is “essentially backed by the US government’s overall capabilities and financial hegemony (金融霸权)” and constitutes “outrageous judicial practice.” It emphasized the US is the world’s only genuine “sanctions superpower” (制裁超级大国). It proceeded to cite sanctions and restrictions related to Cuba, Iran, Libya, Russia, and North Korea to assert that the US “uses its own will and standards to impose on others” and seeks to replace “commonly accepted international rules” with “family rules” (家规). It stated that the European Union is “strongly unsatisfied with the US’ long-arm jurisdiction” and has “submitted proposals and launched initiatives” many times to call attention to its “dangerous nature.” Next, it criticized the US for imposing “unilateral sanctions measures (单边制裁措施)” outside the framework of the UN thus impacting the “sanctions function of the Security Council.” It further stated that despite the US’ “301 measures already being ruled as contrary to international law” by the WTO’s dispute settlement gateway, the US continues to launch “all kinds of unilateral 301 investigations against imported products from China and other countries.” It stated that “301 customs measures (关税措施)” undermine the “operational foundation (运作基石) of the multilateral trading system.” It stated that the US’ “abuse” of “long-arm jurisdiction” has made it an “implementer of unilateral bullying practices, a destroyer of the multilateral trading system, and a manipulator of double standards in industrial policy.” It proceeded to assert that the US’ “long-arm jurisdiction suppresses commercial competitors and damages the interests of other countries’ enterprises.” It stated that the US has “interfered with normal international commercial transactions” and “completely departed from its long-term, self-proclaimed philosophy of free market economics.” It further noted media publications that have asserted that “long-arm jurisdiction” is “one kind of weapon the US has to weaken foreign competitors in an economic war (经济战).” Next, it stated that “long-arm jurisdiction violates the basic human rights of the people of other countries.” It emphasized that the US has used the Global Magnitsky Act to “unilaterally sanction national entities it deems to have engaged in serious violations of human rights,” violating the human rights of those subject to sanctions in doing so. It cited research published by the Brookings Institution, for example, that stated that US maintenance of sanctions at “the most serious period of the epidemic in Iran” could have “caused more than 13,000 deaths.” Finally, it asserted that the US should “abandon unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction measures as early as possible” and “earnestly fulfill its responsibility as a major power.”
Organizational Work
2.3 Zhang Yuzhuo (张玉卓) was appointed chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.
2.3 Yan Jun (燕军) was appointed deputy head of the State Administration for Market Regulation.
2.3 Jin Yanli (金艳丽) was appointed deputy head of the National Public Complaints and Proposal Administration.
2.3 Liu Haitao (刘海涛) was appointed deputy head of the National Immigration Administration.
2.3 Peng Xiaoguo (彭小国) was appointed deputy head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
2.3 Yan Chengyi (颜成义) was appointed deputy head of the China Geological Survey.
2.3 Jin Luo (金荦) was appointed vice chairperson of the National Council for Social Security Fund.
2.8 Nong Rong (农融) was appointed Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs.
International Work
2.7 CCP International Department (CCP/ID) Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) met with the Ambassador to the PRC from Cyprus, Martha Mavrommati.
2.8 CCP/ID Deputy Head Chen Zhou (陈洲) met with the Executive Director of the Pakistan-China Institute, Mustafa Hyder Sayed.