Weekly Report 1|2 10.7.2017-10.13.2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 18th Central Committee's Seventh Plenum concluded and its communique stated that the 19th Party Congress would convene on 18 October.
Party propaganda continued to focus on the CCP's achievements and successes in the week preceding the 19th Party Congress. The Chinese economy's health was reaffirmed.
Comprehensively deepening reform under Party leadership was mandated under the requirements of being free from both rigid thinking and Western influence.
The CCP Central Committee strengthened its direct control over the CCDI's work report with new procedures that enhanced its input throughout the approval process.
PROPAGANDA WORK
Meeting the Medical Needs of the People: General Offices of the Central Committee and the State Council released “Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Review and Approval System and Encouraging the Innovation of Drugs and Medical Devices”
10.10 The CCP has indicated plans to address problems in the public health sector. The General Offices of the CCP Central Committee and the State Council released “Opinions on Deepening the Reform of the Review and Approval System and Encouraging the Innovation of Drugs and Medical Devices” (关于深化审评审批制度改革鼓励药品医疗器械创新的意见), supporting reform of the management system of drugs and medical devices. The scale of the reforms was reported as unprecedented. These reforms were expected to increase the competitiveness of the pharmaceutical industries in China and make new medicine more affordable to the people. The Opinions include reforms such as accelerating medical review procedure, requiring the quality of the generic drug to be the same as the original drug, encouraging medical innovation, and reinforcing the management of medical equipment production.
National Bureau of Statistics: China Will Experience 6.5% Economic Growth This Year
10.11 A People’s Daily article is indicative of China’s efforts to reassure citizens of coming economic growth at a time when moderate growth rates reflect China’s “new normal.” According to the article, National Bureau of Statistics Commissioner Ning Jizhe (宁吉喆) said that China would be able to achieve 6.5 percent economic growth this year and that China’s economy would continue growing. The article reviews China’s economic growth in recent years, citing the average annual growth rate of China’s gross domestic product (GDP) from 2013 to 2016 of 7.2 percent, higher than the world’s 2.6 percent and the 4 percent for the developing economies for the same period. It also emphasizes that in 2016, China’s GDP reached RMB 74,000 trillion, 14.8 percent of the world economy and the second largest in the world. The country’s per capita disposable income also increased 7.4 percent to RMB 23,821 in 2016, compared to 2012.
Chinese Tourists Impact the World
10.11 The commentary pen name “Zhong Sheng” (钟声), which stands for “Voice of China” and/or “Sounding the Alarm Bell” and authoritatively transmits the official positions of People’s Daily on matters of international affairs, discusses the reach of Chinese travelers across the globe. The article cites data from the China National Tourism Administration (中国国家旅游局) showing that over 6 million people traveled overseas to 88 countries and regions during the holiday period for Mid-Autumn Festival and China’s National Day. The amount of Chinese tourists around the world has grown from 10 million in 2000 to 83 million in 2012. Over the next 5 years, the number is expected to reach 700 million. The growing number of Chinese tourist has also expanded the usage of Chinese mobile payments such as WeChat (微信) and Alipay (支付宝) at tourist sites around the world.
Adhere to the Spiritual Pursuit of Chinese Communist Party Members
10.11 A commentary written by a Central Party School department dean under the column “Wang Hailou” (望海楼), an important column directed at Chinese/foreign Chinese living abroad, discusses progress in ideological party construction (思想建党) since the 18th Party Congress. The article says that the CCP, with Xi Jinping at the core, has constantly innovated party ideology to lay a strong foundation for Party unity. The article says that during the ongoing anti-corruption campaign, it became clear that the source of corruption of many leading cadres was the loss of ideals and beliefs. Therefore, promoting firm ideals and beliefs, adhering to the spiritual pursuit of the Party, and practicing comprehensive and strict rule is a crucial task for the survival of the CCP. The article concludes that, within the past five years, the Party’s position has been strengthened through ideological leadership and strict governance, and that the Party will become stronger and stronger through steady progress.
UNITED FRONT WORK
Xinjiang’s Economy and Society Develop Steadily; People’s Sense of Gain Continuously Strengthened
10.10 The United Front Work Department has been using social media to promote stability in Xinjiang in the lead-up to the 19th Party Congress, emphasizing economic growth and development in the region. An article published by the United Front Work Department through its WeChat account, Tongzhan Xinyu (统战新语), suggests that the Party’s united front work in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has shown progress in various fields over the past five years and has allowed the region’s economy and society to experience stable and healthy development. The article mentions that the central government has made more investments in the region, addressed drinking water security and electricity supply issues, reduced the segment of the population in poverty by 1.39 million, applied special favorable policies to support the local textile and clothing industry, and accelerated the regional development in education and infrastructures. It also mentions growth in the region’s gross domestic product (GDP), which has increased from 750.5 billion RMB in 2013 to 961.7 billion RMB in 2016.
Self-Employed Artists Gather to Welcome 19th Party Congress
10.12 United Front Work Department Deputy Head Dai Junliang (戴均良) attended an opening ceremony in Beijing for an art exhibition held by self-employed artists in China in anticipation of the 19th Party Congress. Dai affirmed that self-employed artists are part of an important new social class, integral to the Party and the development of a prosperous socialist society. He stressed that self-employed artists should enhance the “four consciousnesses,” work for the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and disseminate positive energy through their art. The art exhibition was held in four provinces and cities simultaneously, and the work of 300 self-employed artists across China was featured. Since 2016, the United Front Work Department has emphasized reaching out to “new social classes” in an effort to unite the younger generation.
Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Convenes in Beijing
10.13 The Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League convened in Beijing this week, led by Lin Wenyi, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Vice Chairman and Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League Chairman. Lin told the meeting that the 19th Party Congress represents a new historical starting point for the CCP, and all Chinese people must be prepared to embark on a new journey of socialist modernization. He stated that as a socialist party with Chinese characteristics, the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League must earnestly study and implement the spirit of the 19th Party Congress with a sense of urgency, mission, and responsibility.
PARTY DISCIPLINE
Meeting of the 8th Plenum of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection; Li Gang and Qu Shuhui Placed on Probation
10.9 The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) held its eighth plenary session on October 9th in Beijing, presided over by CCDI Secretary Wang Qishan (王岐山). The plenary session examined and approved the report of the 18th CCDI to the 19th Party Congress to be held later this month. The session also approved the report of the CCDI Standing Committee on the “serious offences” of Li Gang (李刚) and Qu Shuhui (曲淑辉), the revocation of Liu Shengjie’s (刘生杰) position at the CCDI, and the confirmation of the year of probation given to Li Gang and two years of probation given to Qu Shuhui. Li Gang is director of the Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macao and member of the CCDI, and Qu Shuhui is a CCDI member.
Former Ministry of Public Security Official and Two Chongqing Officials Demoted from Their Positions
10.9 The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection reported the punishment of a former Ministry of Public Security official and two former Chongqing officials for serious discipline infractions. Upon investigation, former Ministry of Public Security Party Committee Member and Political Division Director Xia Chongyuan (夏崇源) was found to have violated political discipline and standards, including participating in “non-organizational activities,” resisting organizational investigation, violating the spirit of the Eight-Point Guideline, arranging private travel with public funds, unlawfully offering promotions and assistance to others, and exploiting his position to seek personal gain. Xia was given demotion and two years of probation.
The two Chongqing officials to receive disciplinary action are former Chongqing Municipal Government Leading Party Group Member and Deputy Mayor, former Chongqing Public Security Bureau Leading Party Group Secretary and Bureau Chief He Ting (何挺), and Former Chongqing Municipal Government Party Leadership Group and Deputy Mayor Mu Huaping (沐华平). Both were demoted from their positions.
Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Makes Significant Changes to Deliberation Procedure for Report to the 19th Party Congress
10.10 The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection reported that it made significant changes to the procedure for reporting the 19th Party Congress at its Eighth Plenary session on Monday. In an article by the CCDI, the changes are said to reflect the Party Constitution and the unified leadership of the CCP Central Committee and the CCDI. Previously, the CCDI Standing Committee would seek input on its own from within the Party, deliberate over the suggestions at plenary sessions, and directly approve its proposals to the Party Congress. Now, the CCDI’s report must first be reviewed by the Politburo Standing Committee, and the Politburo will deliberate on the CCDI draft report along with the 19th Party Congress draft and the draft amendments to the Party Constitution. The article emphasizes that this change carries “important political implications” (重要的政治内涵).
CNPC Has Completed Its 3-Year Inspection Work
10.11 The Party’s anti-corruption campaign has not only targeted Party organs, but also state-owned enterprises. After the 18th Party Congress, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) has made an inspection plan for 2015 to 2017 to examine the overall work of the organization in order to discover problems and enact reforms. Since 2015, CNPC has conducted eight rounds of inspections. The inspected bodies include 146 business units and 12 overseas businesses. 4,432 problems were reported during the process. So far, 175 people have been disciplined, and 20 people from 18 different units were subject to organizational changes. A clean and righteous political environment for the CNPC is being reconstructed under the inspection works, according to the article.
Rally Popular Support, Gain Morality: One of the Achievements of the Strict Rule of the Party
10.11 An article on the CCDI website discusses how China’s anti-corruption campaign has been received by the international community, establishing China as a leader in the global struggle against corruption. The article quotes World Bank Vice President Pascale Dubois saying that China’s achievements in anti-corruption set a good example for the international community. The article says that corruption is a global problem, requiring the international community to work together. Under China’s active promotion, anti-corruption has therefore become an important area of multilateral cooperation. According to the article, in the process of contributing it’s wisdom to international cooperation initiatives on anti-corruption, China has shown the world the image of a responsible major power (负责任大国).
CENTRAL MILITARY COMMISSION (CMC)
Firmly Implement the CMC Chairman Responsibility System to Ensure the Absolute Leadership of the Party on the Chinese Armed Police Force
10.11 To ensure the absolute leadership of the Party over its armed forces, an article in the Study Times emphasizes the importance for the Chinese People's Armed Police Force (中国人民武装警察部队) to implement the “Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman Responsibility System” (军委主席负责制). The article asserts that, considering all the new challenges faced by China, the CMC Chairman Responsibility System is the only way to assure that the “barrel of the gun” will follow the Party’s lead. Xi Jinping has personally instructed the People's Armed Police Force to preserve stability (维稳). The article also points out that Xi has investigated and handled the Guo Boxiong (郭伯雄) and Xu Caihou (徐才厚) cases and saved the Party and the Military from those who weakened the CMC Chairman Responsibility System. According to the article, the Force will continue to preserve stability and create a stable and secure environment for the upcoming 19th Party Congress.
SENIOR LEADERS
Xi Jinping Issues Directives on Poverty Relief Work, Li Keqiang Gives Instructions
10.10 Xi Jinping issued important directives on poverty relief work and emphasized that the whole Party should work together in this tough battle against poverty to achieve building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Xi pointed out that the Party has promised to help the poor population in rural areas to get out of poverty by 2020. State Council Premier Li Keqiang also instructed every region and department to insist on following the basic strategy of reducing poverty and focusing on increasing the self-development ability of poor areas.
Zhang Gaoli Emphasizes Solid Progress for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
10.11 The fourth plenary session of the 24th Olympic Winter Games Leading Work Group (第24届冬奥会工作领导小组第四次全体会议) was held on Oct. 10th. State Council Vice-Premier and the Working Leading Group Head Zhang Gaoli (张高丽) said in the meeting that the Central Party and the State Council highly value the preparation work for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Relevant departments have listed out 102 key missions and sorted out 3,090 concrete tasks. Infrastructure projects such as Beijing-Zhangjiakou high-speed railway (京张高铁) and Yanchong highway (延崇高速) have been pushed forward as planned. Zhang also emphasized the importance of a green Olympic games and making sure that the main stadiums and infrastructure are completed by the end of 2019.
Liu Qibao: Art Workers Should Put Xi’s Literary Thoughts into Practice
10.11 On Oct. 10th , Central Committee Politburo Member and Propaganda Department Head Liu Qibao (刘奇葆) visited an art exhibition entitled “The Most Beautiful Chinese” (最美中国人), held to celebrate the upcoming 19th Party Congress. During his visit, he emphasized that artists should learn and put into practice Xi’s literary thoughts, solidify cultural confidence, insist on creating arts that center on the people, and portray the outstanding look of the Chinese people with the core value of socialism.
COMPREHENSIVELY DEEPENING REFORM
Xi’s Thoughts on Unswervingly Deepening Comprehensive Reform
10.10 An Economic Daily article published this week summarizes the main themes of Xi Jinping’s recent statements on comprehensively deepening reform. The article emphasizes the centrality of reform to Party objectives before the meeting of the 19th Party Congress. Xi Jinping’s first point is that reform is an important aspect of advancing a new “great struggle” (伟大斗争). Xi said that without liberation of thought, there can be no reform. For Xi liberation of thought includes breaking away not only from rigid and dogmatic thinking, but also the worship of Western thought. According to Xi, reform requires firm cultural self-confidence. Xi’s second point is to emphasize the importance of a scientific grasp of the requirements of the times for comprehensively deepening reform. In Xi’s estimation, Party leadership over the course of reform must be strengthened, and the understanding and use of law regarding reform must be deepened. Xi’s third point has been to emphasize the importance of continuing to lift high the banner of reform and unswervingly advancing reform. Reform must be carried out with more determination and a more intense spirit.
INTERNATIONAL LIAISON WORK
10.12 International Department Vice Minister Li Jun (李军) met with Uruguay Ambassador to China Juan Fernando Lugris Rodriquez. Both representatives discussed their willingness to deepen exchanges between the two countries and promote pragmatic cooperation across various fields.
10.13 International Department Vice Minister Guo Yezhou (郭业洲) met with Norway Ambassador to China Geir O. Pederson. The two exchanged views on China-Norway relations and regional issues of common concern.
ORGANIZATION WORK
10.9 Wang Xinzhe (王新哲) was appointed Chief Economist of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. He has worked in the Ministry in various positions since 2008.
10.9 Li Xinran (李欣然) was appointed China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) Inspection Group Leader. He has worked at the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection since 1995.
10.10 Yu Yong (余勇) was appointed China Meteorological Administration Deputy Director.
10.11 Lin Guoyao (林国耀) was appointed China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) Inspection Group Leader. He served as Party Committee Secretary in Longyan, Fujian since 2016.
10.11 Liu Jieyi (刘结一) was appointed Deputy Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office. Since 2013, Liu has served as China’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York.