Weekly Report 4|6 11.14.2020-11.20.2020
Highlights
Xi Jinping promoted “high-quality” and “sustainable” development on a trip to Jiangsu Province (see Senior Leaders section).
The Central Military Commission (CMC) issued a trial joint operations outline that took effect on November 7 (see CMC section).
Senior Leaders
Xi Jinping on Inspection Tour in Jiangsu Province: Implement the New Development Concept, Construct a New Development Pattern, Promote High-quality & Sustainable Social and Economic Development
11.12-13 General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Jiangsu province on an inspection tour. People’s Daily published an article describing key talking points on development raised by Xi on the inspection tour:
“To fully grasp the new development stage and the requirements of new assignments, to unswervingly implement the new development concept, to build a new pattern of development, to adhere to seeking improvements while maintaining stability, to [create] an overall plan for development and security, to give greater prominence to environmental protection, to accelerate the development of high and sustainable quality economic and social development, to focus on [the leading role of] reform and innovation, to set an example in serving the country by building a new pattern of development and taking the lead in realizing socialist modernization.”
The second main point from Xi’s inspection tour was an emphasis on the ecological health of the region. Xi noted the importance of the “new road of green development,” and noted that “sustainable development” will provide forceful support for the “high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.”
The third point described the importance of “building a modernized, harmonious relationship between humanity and nature, to give more prominence to the protection of the ecological environment in cities, to scientifically and rationally plan the production spaces, living spaces, and ecological spaces in cities.” People’s Daily also noted the importance of “dealing with the connection between urban production activity and ecological protection well, to improve the quality of economic development and to also improve the quality of the people’s lives.”
The fourth point referred to the need for “private sector entrepreneurs to, upon gaining wealth, to learn from the good, to strengthen [their sense of] nation and family, to assume [their] social responsibility, to help others become rich, and to actively participate in and set in motion public welfare undertakings.” The fourth point also included the need for entrepreneurs to have “courage to innovate, to strive for excellence, and to make greater contributions to building a new pattern of development and promoting high-quality development.”
The fifth point described the importance of preserving the cultural heritage and ecological health of the Grand Canal. This point asserted that the Grand Canal can be “transformed and upgraded, in order to [promote] regional economic and social development, and to improve [in the] creation of advantageous conditions for people’s livelihoods.”
The sixth point mentioned the need to “strengthen planning and construction on the North-South Water Diversion Project, the need to strengthen planning and construction proposals, to ensure that the “North-South Water Diversion Project” serves as an optimal water resource allocation,” and to “safeguard the potable water safety for the masses, revitalize the river and lake ecological [health], to [create] the lifeline of an unimpeded north-south economic loop.”
Xi Jinping: Promoting the Positive Role of Rule of Law in the Modernization of the National Governance System and Capabilities
11.15 Xi Jinping published an article in Qiushi that promotes governing by the rule of law and consolidating China’s institutional foundation. Xi Jinping emphasized that he has consistently pointed out that adhering to a comprehensive rule of law is a significant advantage of the Socialism with Chinese Characteristics system and national governance system in providing stability. In order to promote and give play to its positive role, the following aspects need to be followed:
Improve the party’s ability to govern the country by law. The constitution already stipulates the place for the party’s all-around leadership. Cadres at all levels need to do better at making the party's argument become the will of the state through legal procedures to promote institutionalization.
Uphold and improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics. China must adhere to the joint advancement of governing by a rule of law, being in power through rule of law, and administering through rule of law in order to absorb the spirit of Chinese legal culture and resist the influence of incorrect Western thought.
To better make use of guiding, regulating, and safeguarding the rule of law’s reform, development, and stability. The rule of law must play a leading, standardized, and safeguarding role in line with the “five in one” and “four comprehensives” strategic layouts.
Build a high-quality legal work team. China needs to create a long-term plan for the training of law students’ political and ideological quality of legal teams that are loyal to the party, the country, the people, and sees law through a socialist ideology perspective.
Xi pointed out it is necessary to encourage the masses to learn that constructing the rule of law in rural areas is the foundation for rural revitalization and having an all encompassing rule of law in China. Reform must be centered on “letting the person hearing the case referee because the referee takes responsibility” (让审理者裁判、由裁判者负责). However, Xi mentioned that the medium and long-term goal in constructing the rule of law must take into account the international and domestic situation. Top-level design is needed to accelerate the development of a scientific and complete legal system in which all of society participates to form a good social order.
Xi Jinping at Central Work Conference on Comprehensive Rule of Law: Unswervingly Walk the Path of Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics to Provide a Strong Legal Guarantee for Comprehensively Building a Modern Socialist Nation
11.18 On 16 and 17 November the Politburo Standing Committee presided over the “Central Work Conference on Governing the Nation by Rule of Law.” Xi Jinping delivered key remarks at the conference and the entire Politburo Standing Committee was in attendace. Xi spoke on the importance of “grasping [the] new stage of development, implementing the new development concept, and to proceed from the actual situation in constructing new development patterns.”
Xi highlighted the importance of “insisting on the leading role of the Party,” and “the general objective of constructing a socialist rule of law nation,” [which] “centers on the construction of a Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Rule of Law System (中国特色社会主义法治体系).” In addition, Xi noted that the “people [are to be] in charge of the house, the rule by law [system] will organically [bring about] unification, [and] will focus on resolving prominent issues in the field of law, to unswervingly [remain] on the path of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Rule of Law.”
“China’s governance system and capacity will be modernized,” Xi explained, “on the track of rule of law.” The rule of law system will provide a powerful legal guarantee (提供有力法治保障) for the “comprehensive construction of a modern socialist nation,” and “the great revitalization of the Chinese nation and Chinese Dream.” Xi emphasized the importance of the Party’s leadership role in governing the nation according to law. Xi’s remarks also described the importance of “insisting on the central role of the people.” Xi described the need to “insist on making collaborative progress in rule of law,” “rule of law in governance, administration,” and “for an integrated whole to construct rule of law nation, government, and society.”
While Li Keqiang presided over the meeting Xi summarized the accomplishments of the Party in construction legal institutions since the 18th National Party Congress, Xi “clearly elucidated the weighty significance of [China’s] entrance into a new era of comprehensive rule of law.” Xi also “systemically expounded on Socialist Rule of Law with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era Thought.”
Xi Jinping: Support More Veteran Comrades in Caring for the Next Generation, Make New and Greater Contributions to Cultivation of Builders of Socialism and Successors
11.17-18 A conference commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the working committee to care for the next generation was held in Beijing.. Xi Jinping gave a speech in which he pointed out the importance of young people for China’s future and highlighted the important role the committee had played in “uniting and leading numerous retired veteran officials, soldiers, experts, teachers, and role models” to promote the “healthy growth” of young people. He emphasized that the “Five Elders” mentioned above are the “treasured riches” of the Party and the nation that “reinforce the political work of youth thought” and urged “all levels of Party committees and governments” to “strengthen their leadership in caring for the next generation.” Propaganda Department Head Huang Kunming and Vice Premier and Politburo committee member Sun Chunlan also gave speeches. Huang conveyed important instructions from Xi and Sun reiterated the important contributions made by the working committee before calling on the relevant committees and individuals to implement Xi’s instructions. More than 300 people from relevant departments attended the conference.
Propaganda Work
Zhong Sheng Series Continued: The True Face of the United States--A Menace to Global Security
11.14 The sixth installment in People’s Daily’s Zhong Sheng series on how the US threatens global security entitled “Implement Internet Supervision, Threaten Global Data Security,” discussed the Trump Administration’s Clean Network program in the context of American hegemony. The commentary uses examples of the NSA wiretapping controversies to argue that the United States has implemented large-scale network monitoring “with tentacles all over the world,” and the United States has nothing to do with the word "clean" in terms of data security. The objective is not to maintain data security but to maintain its digital hegemony. The United States calls itself a victim, but in reality the United States is “calling out thief to catch the thief” (贼喊捉贼). To illustrate US hypocrisy, Zhong Sheng uses examples of the US engaging in cyberattacks on China, and describes the United States as having “a heart with an evil song” (怀揣邪曲之心) that spreads rumors “like a snowball” through its "rumor robots" (造谣机器人”) to disrupt the internet order and threaten the global data security. In order to combat the United States, Zhong Sheng argues to not believe US politicians who introduce irrelevant factors of ideology and geopolitics into data security, but instead to “tear off their painted skin” (撕掉他们的“画皮). The commentary concludes that the world should strengthen communication, deepen dialogue and cooperation, and jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
United Front Work
CPPCC National Committee Holds Bi-weekly Consultation Forum
11.14 Wang Yang hosted the 43rd meeting of the 23rd session of the CPPCC National Committee stressing the need to follow Xi Jinping’s declaration to effectively tell the story of China's human rights achievements to gain the international community's recognition of China’s accomplishments. According to the article, some Westerners look at China wearing "colored glasses" (“有色眼镜”), disregard the facts of China's human rights progress, and willfully slander China’s human rights situation, which is neither fair nor popular. CPPCC National Committee members recommended strengthening planning and ability to broadcast to the international community China’s stories on human rights that are based on equality and mutual respect. They argue it is necessary to adhere to the combination of "inviting in" and "going out" (“请进来”和“走出去”), and strengthen exchanges with international organizations and foreign political parties, governments, parliaments, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations. Officials from the Propaganda Department gave the introductory remarks, and the United Front Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and National Ethnic Affairs Commission all engaged in the discussion.
Central Military Commission
Central Military Commission Issues "The People's Liberation Army’s Joint Operations Outline (Trial)"
11.14 With the personal approval of Xi Jinping, the Central Military Commission (CMC) issued a trial joint operations outline that took effect on November 7 that lays out ways to achieve the party’s goal of strengthening the military in the new era and building the People’s Liberation Army into a world-class military. The implementation of the new outline was announced with a short Xinhua article. The outline focuses on establishing joint operations and their respective legal system, concepts, and clarifying basic rights and responsibilities. According to the Xinhua report, it answers the major question of "which battle to fight, and how to fight it (打什么仗、怎么打仗)" by strengthening clear guidelines in preparing for war, and consolidating and deepening leadership . The outline emphasizes guiding principles and concepts that focus on macro-level guidance and criteria for implementation. It provides clarity to problems of implementation in organizations, and emphasizes a unified thinking for power sharing and responsibility to guide combat operations, support, mobilization, and political work. The CMC demanded that all levels of the military to implement this outline into organizing and executing their joint operations.
International Liaison Work
11.17 International Department Head Song Tao (宋涛) held a video conference with José Ramón Machado Ventura, Second Secretary of the PCC Central Committee; Salvador Valdés Mesa, Member of the Political Bureau of the PCC Central Committee and Vice President of Cuba; Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Member of the Political Bureau of the PCC Central Committee and Foreign Minister of Cuba; and Alejandro Gil, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Planning of Cuba.
11.17 Song Tao held a video briefing with more than 160 political leaders from 43 parties in 36 different countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as some important think tanks and media representatives. Head of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomics Wang Changlin (王昌林), and Deputy Director of the Philosophy Department of the Central Party School Dong Zhenhua (董振华) answered questions about the 14th 5-Year Plan and 2035 Long-Range Objectives.
11.17 International Department Assistant Head Qian Hongshan (钱洪山) held a video call with the Vice President of the Serbian Progressive Party Marko Đurić.
11.17 International Department Deputy Head Wang Yajun ( 王亚军) gave a speech to heads and deputy heads from Development Research Center of the State Council, the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam at the "China-Vietnam Economic and Trade Investment Cooperation Online Seminar in the Post-Epidemic Era."
11.18 Qian Hongshan had a video call with the First Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Dmitry Novikov.
11.19 Song Tao met with Pakistan Ambassador to China Inam-ul-Haq.
11.19 Wang Yajun ( 王亚军) and Deputy Head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolution Party Song Phong delivered speeches at the opening ceremony of the Lao People's Revolution Party Central Department Cadre Network Training Class.
11.19 Wang Yajun met with the newly-appointed Mongolian Ambassador to China T. Badrle.
11.20 Qian Hongshan met with newly-appointed Tajik Ambassador to China Saidzoda Zohir Ozod.
Organization Work
11.16 Liu Xiangmin (刘祥民) was appointed General Manager of Aluminum Corporation of China.
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