Weekly Report 2|36 7.6.2019-7.12.2019
Highlights
Xi Jinping discussed the progress of party and state organization reform emphasizing that there is only one year left before the 2020 deadline to achieve results (see Senior Leaders section).
The general offices of the Central Committee and State Council published a guideline on building China’s public legal service system.
People’s Daily’s Zhong Sheng column lashed out at the US over arms sales to Taiwan, accusing it of “using Taiwan to control China” (see Propaganda Work section).
Senior Leaders
Xi Jinping Gives Speech on Organizational Reform
7.5 Xi Jinping attended and gave a speech at a meeting to summarize the deepening of party and state organizational reform in Beijing. He said that deepening the reform of party and state organizations is a “systematic and holistic restructuring of the party and state’s organizational and management system,” and praised the reform efforts for “systematically strengthening the party’s leadership, the government’s ability to execute, the combat capability of the armed forces, and the vitality of mass organizations,” building the main framework for a party that meets the requirements of the new era, and providing powerful organizational safeguards for perfecting socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing the state’s governance system.
Xi said the Party must focus on “maintaining and strengthening the Party’s comprehensive leadership” and “promoting the coordination and efficiency of party and state institutions.” He pointed out that there is only one year left until the Party’s 2020 deadline for reaching decisive results in reforming important fields and key sectors, and the Party should continue to tackle difficult problems.
Politburo Standing Committee Member Wang Huning (王沪宁) presided over the meeting. Standing Committee Members Li Keqiang (李克强), Li Zhanshu (栗战书), Wang Yang (汪洋), Zhao Leji (赵乐际) and Han Zheng (韩正) also attended.
PD further publicized Xi Jinping’s speech with a series of commentator articles (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5).
Wang Qishan Speaks at the Eighth World Peace Forum
7.8 Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan gave a speech at the opening ceremony of the Eighth World Peace Forum at Tsinghua University, on the theme of “adhering to peace and cooperation and building a community of shared future for mankind.” Wang described a wide range of world-altering developments in recent world history and said that globalization, worldwide economic development, and integration of national interests have already made the world into a “global village.” He stressed that despite any challenges on the road ahead, “the biggest fear is fear itself.” “We must maintain conviction in peaceful development, unswervingly promote economic globalization, and jointly build a more just, rational, stable, and effective international order.”
Wang also stated that China’s development is inextricably tied to the world, and the world’s development to China. Thus, development cannot be discussed without a peaceful and stable international environment. Regardless of how international trends change and how China develops, China will never become a hegemon, be expansionist, or pursue a sphere of influence.
He described China’s “peaceful development path” as “developing itself by protecting world peace, and protecting world peace by developing itself,” and said that it is important to rely on innovation to develop, to expand “opening up,” and to learn from other countries’ strong points.
Finally, Wang made four broad prescriptions for building “a new type of international relations” and a “community of shared future for mankind.” 1. Safeguard multilateralism, 2. Broaden channels for joint development, 3. Promote mutual learning between civilizations, 4. Address new common challenges hand-in-hand.
Xi Jinping Attends Central and State Organs Party Building Work Conference
7.9 Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the Central and State Organs Party Building Work Conference. He stressed that under the new circumstances, central and state organs should focus on party building as a guide, deepen their theoretical arsenal, consolidate their grassroots foundation, improve party discipline and work style, comprehensively improve the quality of party-building in central and state organs, and build model institutions that satisfy both the Central Committee and the people. He pointed out that central and state organs must set an example, as determined by their status and role: they are the closest institutions to the Central Committee, serve the Central Committee most directly.
Politburo Standing Committee Member Wang Huning (王沪宁) presided over the meeting. Politburo Standing Committee members Zhao Leji (赵乐际) and Han Zheng (韩正)also attended.
General Offices of the Central Committee and State Council Publish Guideline on Accelerating the Building of a Public Legal Service System
7.10 A guideline jointly published by the general offices of the Central Committee and the State Council sets expectations for accelerating the building of a public legal service system in China. By 2022, “a modern public legal service system covering both rural and urban areas that is convenient, efficient, equal, inclusive will be formed.” By 2035, China will have a “public legal service system that is compatible with the basic goals of a country, government, and society based on the rule of law.
The guideline particularly emphasized “promoting the balanced development of legal services” by making them equally accessible to urban and rural populations, and ensuring access in underdeveloped areas as well as underserved populations. The guideline also called for the diversification of public legal services, making legal services available for use in promoting China’s development, promoting the full implementation of the functions of the party and government organs that is conducted according to law, and promoting judicial fairness and social justice. Of note, the guideline calls for the expansion of legal counsel for party and government organs.
Propaganda Work
Huang Kunming: Vigorously Promote Red Culture, Encourage the People to Walk the “Long March Road” of the New Era
7.6-8 During his tour of Fujian Province, Politburo member and Central Propaganda Department head Huang Kunming (黄坤明) said the Party needs to “deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourse on passing on the ‘red genes’ and carrying forward the revolutionary spirit,” to “carry on and promote ‘red culture’” and encourage people to walk the “long march road” of the new era.
As Huang visited historical sites from Mao Zedong’s revolution, he stressed the need to “spread the red spirit,” “develop an advanced culture,”and “build sturdy spiritual pillars for the united struggle of hundreds of millions of people.” He called for the Party to strengthen protection of historical revolutionary sites, attract more people to accept “cultural edification and spiritual baptism,” release more red classics, tell revolutionary and heroic stories, and vividly display the Party and people’s struggle.
Zhong Sheng: “Using Taiwan to Control China” is Doomed to be Futile, “Relying on Foreigners to Enhance One’s Position” Offers No Way Forward
7.10 People’s Daily used its Zhong Sheng column, which transmits the views of People's Daily on foreign affairs, to criticize the US’ 8 June announcement of an intended $2.2 billion arms sale to Taiwan.
The commentary asserted that the arms sales are “irresponsible” and “will not only send a seriously misleading signal to the forces of ‘Taiwan independence’ and exacerbate the level of tension and complexity in the Taiwan Strait, but will also bring greater uncertainty to China-US relations.” It added that such arms sales “will not change the current state of the cross-Strait military balance.”
After noting that the intended arms sales are the fourth since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) entered office, the commentary accused DPP leaders of “disregarding the public’s interests and Taiwan’s future” and “manufacturing cross-Strait conflict, escalating cross-Strait antagonism, and readily acting as the US’ chess piece and bargaining chip.” It also emphasized that “using the people’s hard-earned money to serve as the US’ chess piece for ‘controlling China’ will inevitably be met with the common disdain of compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.”
United Front Work
The All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots Committee on Cross-Strait Relations and Public Opinion Visits Kunshan, Jiangsu and Shanghai to Conduct Research
7.8 All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots Vice President Yang Yizhou (杨毅周) led the organization’s Committee on Cross-Strait Relations and Public Opinion to visit the Cross-Strait Cultural Exchange Center under the Huiju Temple and Tianhou Palace in Kunshan, Jiangsu. The delegation also held a discussion with students, teachers and family members at Huadong Taiwan Businessman’s School, and heard reports from Federation cadres in Shanghai, whom Yang praised for their outstanding work in connecting the Taiwanese compatriots in Shanghai.
While in Shanghai, the committee heard from cross-Strait married couples and young student representatives about the practical difficulties they faced in living, working and studying in Shanghai. It also visited the Taiwan-funded Shanghai Ganso Company to learn about its operations.
Yang Yizhou stressed that Taiwan compatriots living on the mainland should participate in the "Remain True to the Original Aspiration, Keep the Mission Firmly in Mind” education campaign to develop peaceful cross-Strait relations and promote peaceful reunification.
Wang Yang Participates in a “Committee Lecture Hall” Activity, Emphasizes Making “Committee Lecture Halls” into an Important Showpiece for CPPCC’s New Roles in the New Era
7.9 Politburo Standing Committee Member and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Chairman Wang Yang (汪洋) spoke at a “Committee Lecture Hall” activity. He said that the “Committee Lecture Hall” was an innovative platform that implement Xi Jinping’s thoughts on strengthening and improving CPPCC work and has helped the CPPCC to directly communicate with the masses and to consolidate and propagate consensus.
Wang noted that in the past year, the CPPCC’s Committee Lecture Hall has recorded 16 and broadcast 6 programs on important social and economic issues, which received widespread public acclaim. This is the CPPCC’s new “brand,” and the committee should work to build enthusiasm and public trust, broadcast its voice, and increase the influence of its brand.
Party Discipline
Former CAST Party Leadership Group Member Expelled from Party and Public Office
7.11 Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and National Supervisory Commission (NSC) recently built a case against former China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) Party Leadership Group member and a member of its secretariat Chen Gang (陈刚).
The investigation showed that Chen had not been loyal to the Party, resisted organizational investigation, conducted superstitious activities, violated the spirit of the eight-point guidelines, misused public funds, and received a large amount of bribes. As a result, Chen was expelled from the Party and dismissed from the public office.
Former CITIC Group Executive Director Zhao Jingwen Expelled from Party
7.11 With the approval of the Central Committee, former CITIC Group Corporation Ltd. Executive Director and Party Committee member Zhao Jingwen (赵景文) was recently put under CCDI’s and NSC’s investigation.
The investigation showed that Zhao had violated the spirit of the eight-point guidelines, traveled with public fund, accepted gifts and money against the rules, received bribes, and embezzled public property. It concluded that Zhao has seriously violated the Party’s political and organizational disciplines and has committed duty-related crimes. He’s also suspected for the crimes of receiving bribes and embezzlement. Consequently, Zhao was expelled from the Party.
Comprehensively Deepening Reform
High Quality Development Requires Saying Goodbye to Inertia Thinking
7.12 Gao Peiyong (高培勇), Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, wrote a piece warning that the biggest obstacle to high-quality development is “inertia thinking” (惯性思维). The traditional framework for economic policies and analysis was highly focused on high speed growth. The academic basis for high quality growth is still relatively new. When times are calm, it is easy to pursue academic work and form policy ideas utilizing new ideas and new strategies of high quality growth. Yet if one encounters obstacles or calm gives way to harsh winds, one may panic and subconsciously return to the old ideas and strategies of high-speed growth, giving in to “inertia thinking.”
It is important to not just mouth the slogans of high quality development, but to undergo a complete theoretical transformation to stamp out high-speed growth thinking from the depths of one’s heart. High-quality development is a necessity for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and for the next stage of China’s economic development. One should not look to change course due to immediate problems. Bearing short term pain will be worth it.
International Liaison Work
Theoretical Seminar on Xi Jinping Diplomatic Thought Held in Beijing
7.11 The International Department (CCP/ID) and Guangming Daily jointly held a theoretical seminar on Xi Jinping diplomatic thought (习近平外交思想) in Beijing with scholars from Chinese think tanks and universities were in attendance.
The seminar’s opening ceremony featured speeches by CCP/ID Head Song Tao (宋涛), Guangming Daily Editor-in-Chief Zhang Zheng (张政), Renmin University of China Party Committee Secretary Jin Nuo (靳诺), former Central Party School Vice President Li Junru (李君如), former Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Vice President Li Shenming (李慎明), and former CCP/ID Deputy Head Yu Hongjun (于洪君).
Song’s speech stressed three points needed to “put Xi Jinping Diplomatic Thought into practice.” These were: 1. “[We] must firmly grasp the mainline of serving national rejuvenation and promoting humanity’s advancement,” 2. “[We] must firmly grasp the theme of ‘what kind of relations do we need between China and the world and how to build this relationship,’” and 3. “[We] must firmly grasp the root of adhering to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party over external work.”
International Department
7.8-7.11 At the invitation of the Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD), Politburo member and Tianjin Party Secretary Li Hongzhong (李鸿忠) led a CCP delegation to the Czech Republic. While there, the delegation participated in a signing ceremony on cooperative projects between Tianjin and the Czech Republic and met with Chamber of Deputies Speaker Radek Vondráček, ČSSD Leader and First Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamáček, Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia Leader and Chamber of Deputies First Deputy Speaker Vojtěch Filip.
7.9 International Department Head Song Tao (宋涛) met with Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Chairwoman and former President Megawati Sukarnoputri.
7.9 Song Tao met with Malaysian People’s Justice Party advisor and Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
7.10 International Department Deputy Head Guo Yezhou (郭业洲) met with Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Busaya Mathelin.
7.10 Guo Yezhou met with German Federal Foreign Office Minister of State Niels Annen.
7.10 Song Tao met with a French National Assembly delegation led by France-China Parliamentary Friendship Group President Buon Tan.
7.10 Song Tao and Guo Yezhou met with a high-level Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) study group led by CPV Central Committee alternate member and Thái Bình Provincial Party Committee Deputy Executive Secretary Ngô Đông Hải.
7.11 Song Tao met with a Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) International Department delegation led by WPK International Department Vice Director Kim Sung Nam.
Organization Work
7.9 Wang Jiping (王继平) was appointed deputy inspector-general of the Ministry of Education.