Weekly Report 4|22 4.10.2021-4.16.2021
Highlights
Propaganda bodies continued to promote the Party History Study and Education campaign in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party’s founding. Propaganda focused heavily on understanding the importance of ideology in CCP history and the contributions of sinicized Marxism (see Propaganda Work section).
Senior Leaders
Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang attend Conference on Combating and Managing Telecom and Online Fraud
4.8 The National Work Conference on Combating New Types of Telecom and Online Criminal Activity was held virtually in Beijing. Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang (李克强) both issued important instructions regarding the fight against telecom and online fraud. Deputy Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi (赵克志) also made remarks at the meeting. The meeting reported on the relevant situations on combating the new types of telecom and online criminal activities.
To effectively combat telecom and online fraud, Xi emphasized, all need to make the people the center of their work; coordinate development and safety; strengthen the systematic and rule-by-law mindset; focus on solving the problem at its root cause and on comprehensive management. The finance, telecom, and internet sectors need to comprehensively implement oversight responsibilities; strengthen law-based institutions; strengthen propaganda, education, and prevention within society; advance international law enforcement cooperation; resolutely deter the frequent occurrence of telecom and online fraud; contribute to a China that is safe and ruled by law.
Representatives from the Cyberspace Administration, Ministry of Industrial and Information Technology, People’s Bank of China, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate spoke at the meeting. The State Council Combating New Types of Telecom and Online Criminal Activity Working Department Joint Meeting members, as well as members at the provincial-, city-, and county-levels attended the meeting.
Xi Jinping Issued Important Instructions on Vocational Training Work and Emphasized Accelerating the Construction of the Modern Vocational Education System and Cultivating More High-Quality Technically-Skilled Personnel, Li Keqiang Issues Written Comments
4.13 Recently, Xi Jinping issued important instructions on vocational education, emphasizing that “in the new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist nation, the prospects for vocational education are vast and well worth it.” He stated that improving vocational education involves “thoroughly advanc[ing] the education method reform,” “build[ing] a number of high-level vocational colleges and specialties,” and “cultivat[ing] more high-quality technically skilled personnel.” He also directed Party committees and governments at all levels to “increase institutional innovation” and “improve the social status of technically skilled personnel,” among other things. Premier Li Keqiang issued written comments and pointed out that “vocational education is an important foundation for cultivating technically skilled personnel, promoting employment and entrepreneurship innovation, and promoting the level of manufacturing and services in China.” After noting the “remarkable achievements” in recent years, he reiterated many of Xi’s comments and added the importance of “attract[ing] more young people to receive a vocational and technical education,” promoting connections between industries, and “explor[ing] an apprenticeship system with Chinese characteristics.” Xi’s and Li’s instructions were delivered at the National Vocational Education Meeting held from 12 to 13 April. At the meeting, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan also gave a speech underscoring the importance of vocational education.
Propaganda Work
PD Commentator Series: On Concretely Expanding Party History Study and Education
People’s Daily
People’s Daily continued its commentator series on the Party History Study and Education campaign. 10 April’s article, entitled “Further Comprehending Ideology’s Mighty Force” opened with the same sentence as last week’s commentary: “Ideology is power. If a nation (民族) wants to be at the forefront of the times, it cannot go one moment without theories and ideologies, nor can it go one moment without ideological guidance.” The commentary said that the campaign is meant to help the whole Party understand how Marxism has profoundly changed China and the world and recognize that sinicized Marxism is a theory in the same line as Marxism and that it evolves with the times. The first task of the party history education campaign is therefore to strengthen thought and ideology, to guide party members and cadres through the Party’s “extraordinary journey” to understand why history chose Marxism, and to further consolidate and “arm” the Party around the newest achievement of sinicized Marxism.
The commentary summarized the one hundred years of party history as having continuous faith in Marxism no matter if circumstances were good or bad. It stressed that real experiences have proved that Marxism is the great ideological weapon through which China understands the world, grasps patterns, pursues the truth, and changes the world. It is the guiding thought that the Party and the country must always follow.
12 April’s commentary, entitled “Further Deepen Understanding of the Party’s Nature and Purpose,” emphasized that through studying party history, party members and cadres should adhere to the original mission of the Party and always put the people first. The commentary argued that the Chinese Communist Party has always struggled for the people’s interests. It enumerated examples: overthrowing landlords; distributing land to peasants through land reform; fighting in the anti-Japanese war; fighting against the Chiang dynasty and establishing new China; leading the socialist construction and revolution; and Reform and Opening Up. The Chinese Communist Party would not have survived without the following of the people, the commentary said. Finally, the article emphasized that party members must combine what they learn in party history with solving real problems. In helping people solve problems, party members need to start with the most disadvantaged people, focus on the most acute problems, and start from the most realistic interests in order to concretely solve the problems and concerns at the grassroots level.
13 April’s commentary, entitled “Further Sum Up the Party’s Historical Experience,” emphasized that over the past one hundred years, no matter how the situation and tasks have changed, no matter the risks, the Chinese Communist Party has always taken initiative, identified objectives, and resolutely marched toward the correct direction. The Party’s one-hundred-year history, the commentary argued, is a history of continuous maintenance of the advanced and pure nature of the Party, a history of defending against collapse and erosion. It is also a history of self-revolution, always adhering to the truth, correcting errors, daring to face the problem and to overcome shortcomings, and brave enough to get rid of rotten elements. Through learning from history, party members should focus on solving real problems in party-building, improve party leadership and governance standards, strengthen the ability to deter erosion and risks. Thus, the Party can always be at the forefront of the times, and be the core of the people in confronting domestic and international challenges. The commentary instructed party members to comprehend why the Chinese Communist Party has been able to succeed, why Marxism works, and why Socialism with Chinese Characteristics is good. They need to figure out the historical, theoretical and practical logic within these questions, so that they can recognize the situation, grasp the patterns, seize the opportunity, and face the challenges, all to make the modernized socialist country a reality.
14 April’s commentary, entitled “Further Carry Forward the Revolutionary Spirit,” declared that “a revolutionary spirit is the precious wealth of the Party and the nation.” The commentary celebrated the many revolutionary martyrs and heroes who are the Party’s “spiritual pedigree” and provide “rich nourishment” for the strengthening and development of the Party. The Party History Study and Education campaign should guide the Party to consciously inherit the revolutionary tradition and carry forward the spirit of revolution. It credited Xi Jinping’s leadership for strengthening that spirit within both the Party and among the people and encouraged readers to rely upon that spirit when confronting the “severe challenges” the Party currently faces. It concluded that “for one hundred years, the revolutionary spirit has been like a torch and a beacon, ever illuminating the road ahead, stirring up an unswerving and indomitable mighty force, pushing our party from small to large, from weak to strong…”
15 April’s commentary, entitled “Further Strengthen the Unity and Centralization of the Party,” discussed the importance of maintaining the authority of the CCP Central Committee. From a historical perspective, this has been the key to the Party’s ability to last one hundred years. Quoting Xi Jinping, the commentary declared that “ideological unity, political unity, and unity of action are fundamental to the continuous development and growth of the Party’s cause.” The article reviewed how unity had been achieved throughout party history. It emphasized that adhering to the leadership of the Party is one and the same as upholding the authority of the Central Committee. There must be no ambiguity on this principle.
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Chinese Communist Party, Organizing and Launching “Always Follow the Party” Mass Themed Propaganda and Education Activities
4.11 The General Office of the Chinese Communist Party issued a “Notice” on celebrating the Chinese Communist Party’s centenary by organizing mass themed propaganda and education activities. The Notice emphasized promoting a range of guiding ideologies throughout Party history, including Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as “comprehensively implement[ing] the 19th Party Congress and the spirit of the second, third, fourth, and fifth plenary sessions of the 19th Central Committee.” The notice urged “the whole Party, the whole Army, the whole country, and people of all ethnicities to more closely unite around the Party Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core.”
The Notice stated that the themed propaganda and education activities would take place in two stages: The first stage, beginning prior to May 2021, will involve “deepening study and propaganda to implement the fifth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee, the National Two Sessions, and the spirit of the National Poverty Alleviation Commendation Conference,” thus demonstrating the achievements of the 13th and 14th Five Year Plans. The second stage, beginning May 2021 through the end of the year, will involve “studying, propagating, and implementing” Xi Jinping’s speech celebrating the centennial and the Party’s “official announcement” that China has “comprehensively established a moderately prosperous society.”
Hone the Original Mission and Absorb the Power of Forging Ahead: Activities of the Central Propaganda Group for Party History Study and Education
4.16 People’s Daily issued a report on the activities of the Central Propaganda Group for Party History Study and Education (党史学习教育中央宣讲团), which has been traveling to various parts of the country to bring the messages of the education campaign to the masses. People’s Daily reported that the group had made over 30 reports in various localities, organized more than 70 interactive exchange activities, and delivered more than 110 reports to government organs and universities. The reports reached more than 22 million people through television and online broadcasting. In their reports, members of the propaganda group explained clearly the “glorious course of the Chinese Communist Party’s century of struggle,” the contributions it has made to the nation, the major theoretical achievements of sinicized Marxism, and the “spirit of long-term struggle.”
International Liaison Work
4.12 International Department Head Song Tao (宋涛) held a videoconference with Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Commission for External Affairs Head Lê Hoài Trung on the 13th National Congress of the CPV. Other participants included representatives of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Central Organization Department, the Central Propaganda Department, and the Central Party School on the Chinese side and representatives of the Central Commission for External Affairs, the Central Office, the Central Organization Commission, the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, the Central Economics Commission, the Central Commission for Mass Mobilization, the Central Theoretical Council, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Vietnamese side.
4.12 International Department Assistant Head Li Mingxiang (李明祥) attended and addressed the opening ceremony of an online training seminar for high-level cadres of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). Other participants included MPLA Politburo member and Secretary for International Relations Manuel Pedro Chaves.
4.13 Song Tao held a videoconference with Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Central Standing Committee member, CPP Central Committee Commission for External Relations Chairman, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, and Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn. Other participants included International Department Deputy Head Guo Yezhou (郭业洲), PRC Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wentian (王文天), and CPP Central Committee Commission for External Relations Vice Chairman Sous Yara.
4.13 The Chinese Communist Party and the Communist Party of Canada held a video exchange on the theme of “Jointly Discussing a Century of Party History, Jointly Gathering Conviction and Power.” The event featured keynotes speeches by Guo Yezhou and Communist Party of Canada Leader Elizabeth Rowley.
4.13 The Chinese Communist Party and seven major Moroccan political parties jointly established the China-Morocco political parties exchange mechanism on jointly building the “Belt and Road” and held its first videoconference. International Department Assistant Head Zhu Rui (朱锐) attended and addressed the meeting. Other participants included leaders from the Moroccan Justice and Development Party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party, the Istiqlal Party, the Popular Movement, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, the Constitutional Union, and the Party of Progress and Socialism.
4.15 Li Mingxiang held a videoconference with Gambian National People's Party National President Dembo Bojang. Other participants included PRC Ambassador to the Gambia Ma Jianchun (马建春) and Gambian Ambassador to China Masanneh Nyuku Kinteh.
4.16 International Department Deputy Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) held a video exchange with The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL Co-Chair Martin Schirdewan.
Organization Work
4.15 Li Bo (李波) was appointed deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China.
4.16 Wang Ruilian (王瑞连) was appointed deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China.
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