April Economic Data, Cracking down on 'Evil Forces' at Grassroots, Wang Yi talks to Afghan FM & China's Social Scientists on Xi Thought as 21st Century Marxism
Here are the stories and pieces from the May 18, 2021, People’s Daily edition that I found noteworthy.
Page 1: First, there’s a report drawing from China’s April economic data. It says that “production demand continued to grow, employment prices were generally stable, new kinetic energy was cultivated and expanded, and the national economy continued to recover its development trend steadily.” So this is drawing conclusions on select data points. But let’s look at the SCMP’s report on the data that NBS released. Do keep in mind that year-on-year numbers will have high variances just because of the unprecedented nature of last year.
China’s industrial output grew 9.8 percent in April from a year ago, slower than the 14.1 percent surge in March.
Retail sales rose 17.7 percent year on year in April, down from the 34.2 percent jump seen in March.
Fixed asset investment increased 19.9 percent from Jan to April, year on year. Q1 data for this was 25.6 percent.
Surveyed unemployment rate stood at 5.1 percent in April, down from 5.3 in March.
Reuters reports that average new home prices in 70 major cities grew 0.6% in April from a month earlier. On a year-on-year basis, growth in new home prices rose to an eight-month high of 4.8%, compared with 4.6% in March.
Also note this bit from WSJ’s coverage: “To strip out last year’s pandemic distortions, government statisticians and economists have benchmarked this year’s numbers against 2019’s. By that measure, official data showed industrial production up 14.1% in April, largely in line with March’s growth rate, while the pace of retail-sales slowed to 8.8% from March’s 12.9%.”
Next, we have a report about Li Keqiang speaking to his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi. Li said that the two sides enjoy a “solid bond of interests.” As per Xinhua English, he added that “since last year, the two sides have joined hands to carry out international cooperation in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic, and have achieved positive progress in key cooperation projects...China is willing to work with Italy to promote cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, energy and climate change.”
He then spoke about China-EU ties, saying that “he hopes both sides should steer their relations in the right direction, stick to an open mindset to advance pragmatic cooperation and settle differences through dialogue and coordination based on mutual respect.”
As per the report Draghi said he was committed to “push forward important cooperation projects, deepen bilateral cooperation in energy, aviation, economy and trade, and investment.” He also called the China-EU investment agreement “an important consensus between the two sides” that Italy supports.
Third, today’s piece on Xi’s red footprints focuses on Jiangxi province. It talks about the region as the place where “the Communists fired the first shot of an armed uprising.” The piece references Xi’s comments on the Jiangxi Soviet and then covers his visit to the region, meeting locals. It talks about a local name Peng Xiaying, a resident of Shenshan Village, Maoping Township, Jinggangshan City, whose home Xi had visited. The piece talks about Peng’s journey out of poverty.
Here’s a snippet of what you can read in the piece:
“Recalling the day when General Secretary Xi Jinping came to his home on February 2, 2016, Peng Xiaying is still excited. ‘The general secretary looked at each room and calculated the income and expenditure account with us,’ Peng Xiaying recalls. ‘The general secretary asked, is the income of yellow peaches and tea stable and sustainable? I said there was a dividend, and I showed him the share certificate. He asked how many channels does your TV receive? I said there are around forty or fifty, and the general secretary picked up the remote control to view.”
Likewise, there is a story about Sun Guanfa from Tantou Village, Zishan Town, Yudu County, Ganzhou City. The piece talks about industrial development in the region. It discusses changes in Gutian Village in Jinggangshan, where “red story posters” are pasted on the wall. The focus is on the Jinggangshan Gutian Research and Brigade Base. This is an area that’s being promoted as a red tourism site. The report talks about what’s being done in this context and then quotes Xi’s visit to the region.
“On February 2, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping came to the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery. He said then: ‘Jinggangshan is a revolutionary mountain, a fighting mountain, a heroic mountain and a glorious mountain. Every time I come to remember revolutionary martyrs, my thoughts are baptized and my soul is touched. Looking back on the past years, we have to pay tribute to the revolutionary martyrs. We will always miss them, remember them and pass on their red genes.’”
Page 2: A bunch of reports to cover on the page. First, we have a report on Zhao Kezhi speaking about the crackdown on gangs and organized crime. Zhao, PD says, called for cadres to “adhere to the principle of striking hard according to law, give prominence to key points and strike with precision, prevent evil forces from taking advantage of great power, and resolutely destroy the ‘network’ and ‘protective umbrella’ of evil forces.”
He also warned that “it is necessary to promote the implementation of comprehensive management at the source, resolutely prevent evil forces from eroding and infiltrating grass-roots political power, and resolutely eradicate the breeding ground of evil forces.”
Politburo member Wang Chen spoke about TCM. He wants people to “seize the opportunity for the revitalization and development of Chinese medicine, promote the inheritance and innovation of Chinese medicine in accordance with the law, and make Chinese medicine, a treasure of Chinese civilization, shine with new glory…” In addition, he talked about the need to “earnestly enhance the awareness of the rule of law in the development of Chinese medicine, adhere to the equal emphasis on Chinese and Western medicine, scientifically summarize and evaluate the effects of Chinese medicine in the treatment of COVID-19, pay attention to the use of modern science to interpret the principles of Chinese medicine, and improve the quality of Chinese medicine service supply.”
Vice Premier Sun Chunlan spoke about employment for graduates. Keep in mind that China will have 9.09 million college graduates in 2021. She attended a job fair at China Agricultural University and said that it is important to “seize the critical period before graduates leave school, expand employment channels and positions, promote the quality of campus recruitment, provide targeted employment guidance services, and strengthen employment policy publicity and promotion.”
Also, she added that “it is necessary to support graduates to use entrepreneurship to drive employment, and encourage local governments, financial institutions and enterprises to implement preferential policies such as tax reductions and exemptions, entrepreneurial loans, subsidies, etc., to reduce the pressure on start-ups to survive.”
Next, Guo Shengkun, chief of the Central Political and Legal Committee, spoke at a meeting of the Commission for Law-based Governance of the CPC Central Committee. He said that Xi Jinping’s Thought was the “fundamental guide for action.”
“It is necessary to combine studying, propagating and implementing Xi Jinping's thought of rule of law with the study and education of party history, and thoroughly study the achievements and experiences of our party in promoting the rule of law in the past century, especially the comprehensive rule of law since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, inherit the red genes, strengthen self-confidence in the rule of law, and unswervingly follow the road of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.”
Finally, You Quan, who heads the United Front Works Department, spoke at the Pudong Cadre Academy. PD says that “60 non-party cadres from relevant central units and regions” participated in the event. You said that “in the new era, with the continuous development of the cause of the Party and the state, the training and selection of non-party cadres has become more institutionalized and standardized, which not only builds a broad platform for the growth of non-party cadres, but also puts forward higher requirements for their ability and quality.”
He then basically demanded Party cadre-like adherence from these individuals. You added that “non-party cadres should strive to improve their political ability, learning ability, organizational leadership ability and ability to participate in and discuss state affairs, learn to understand and implement Xi Jinping's socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, learn the theory, principles and policies of the Communist Party of China…”
Page 3: First, there’s a report about Wang Yi’s comments at the UNSC. I covered this yesterday. Next, there’s a story about Wang Yi speaking to Afghan Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar. Wang spoke about BRI, Covid-19, terrorism, etc. Some of this from Xinhua English is worth sharing in full:
“China will continue to provide necessary support for Afghanistan and South Asian countries to fight the pandemic, and is willing to deepen counter-terrorism and security cooperation with Afghanistan and help Afghanistan strengthen its anti-terrorism capacities.”
“China will continue to support the Afghan government in playing a leading role in the country's peace and reconciliation process, and call on all parties to support and implement relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions to promote a smooth transition of the Afghanistan situation, to avoid in particular a resurgence of terrorist forces. The international community and regional countries should uphold justice and fairness and help the Afghan people maintain and consolidate the fruits of peace and reconstruction in the country.”
“China supports all parties in Afghanistan to continue to push forward negotiations among the Afghan people themselves and establish a broad and inclusive political framework for the future based on the principles of political settlement...”
“Wang expressed his hope that Afghanistan’s future leadership will pursue a moderate Muslim policy, promote a foreign policy of peace, maintain friendship with neighboring countries, and firmly combat all forms of terrorism.”
Atmar basically thanked Wang, as per the report.
There’s also a piece on the upcoming WHA meeting. It reiterates China’s policies during last year’s meeting and willingness to work with others, while criticising “some major Western countries (who at that time had) politicized the epidemic, stigmatized other countries, unreasonably accused the World Health Organization, and undermined the overall situation of global unity in the fight against the epidemic.”
Page 4: The two historical figures covered today are Dong Zhentang and Ji Hongchang. The common theme is their opposition to Chiang Kai-shek’s policy of “extinguish the outlaws before fighting against invaders'.” In other words, Chiang’s desire to eliminate the Communists rather than focus on the threat from Japan.
Dong graduated from the Baoding Military Academy in 1923 and then joined the Feng Yuxiang's Northwest Army. In 1930, he joined the National Revolutionary Army and served as the brigade commander of the 73rd Brigade of the 26th Route Army. In 1931, he was transferred to Jiangxi to “suppress the Communists.” However, after the Mukden Incident, he turned sour on Chiang’s policy. He then turned towards the Red Army, participating in the Ningdu Uprising. After years of fighting, finally, he led troops in the battle at Gaotai County, Gansu, in 1937 and was killed in battle.
Ji Hongchang was also someone who was part of Chiang Kai-shek’s forces but then went toward the Red Army. PD says that “he was ordered to ‘encircle and suppress’ the Hubei, Henan and Anhui revolutionary base areas.” He was later relieved of his responsibilities and as PD says “forced to go abroad.” But then the Mukden Incident led Ji to re-examine his policies since the Japanese invasion had been a “national disaster.” He wrote to Chiang saying that he wanted to put together “a strong force to the north to resist Japan.” Ji eventually returned to China and joined the CCP in 1932, participating in the war effort. On November 9, 1934, Ji Hongchang was arrested in Tianjin by the KMT’s forces and taken to Beijing, where he was eventually tortured for information and killed later in the month.
Page 6: First, there was some sort of a seminar held this week on CCP-KMT cooperation, with the focus on Sun Yat-sen’s work. Zheng Jianbang, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and executive vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Revolutionary Committee, spoke at the event. PD says that “he called on compatriots on both sides of the strait and all Chinese people at home and abroad to put the fundamental interests of the country and the nation first, resolutely oppose the separatist forces of ‘Taiwan independence,’ promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, and strive to realize the complete reunification of the motherland.”
Next, a report saying that the Fifth International Forum on Tibetan Think Tanks hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Tibet Think Tank and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences’ Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology was held in Beijing. The report contains no details on who all attended.
Page 14 and 15: The two pages have a lengthy discussion on philosophy and social sciences development in China. This basically is drawn from a symposium held on May 12 by the Theory Department of People’s Daily. Of course, as the report tells us, this all draws from Xi’s May 17, 2016 speech, terming the acceleration of the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics as a “strategic task.”
The piece brings together comments from different scholars.
Zhen Zhanmin, deputy dean at the Central Party School says:
“Self-awareness and self-confidence will help us to be self-reliant, put forward subjective and original ideas and theories, and construct philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics...This self-confidence comes from the scientific guidance of Marxism, the profound accumulation of Chinese civilization for thousands of years, and the great practice of the people led by the Party.”
He then praises Xi Thought calling it “contemporary Chinese Marxism and Marxism in the 21st century.”
Chen Li, director of the Academic and Editorial Committee of the Central Party History and Documentation Research Institute, first quotes Xi as saying that “adherence to Marxism as a guide is the fundamental sign that distinguishes contemporary Chinese philosophy and social sciences from other philosophical social sciences, and it must be adhered to with a clear-cut stand.” He then argues that: “To construct philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics, we must insist on taking Marxism as the guidance with a clear-cut stand.” Chen extols the scientific nature of Marxism in guiding thinking and policy, and then reiterates that “Xi Jinping's thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st century Marxism.”
“Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era has increasingly provided powerful ideological and practical strength in leading China and influencing the development of the world.” And given the unprecedented changes taking place in the world and in China’s development, social sciences need to continue to emphasise Xi’s thought.
Jiang Xiaojuan, dean of the School of Public Administration, Tsinghua University, writes that: In recent years, an increasing number of foreign scholars have devoted themselves to studying and explaining the Chinese miracle, hoping to explain the deep causes of the Chinese miracle from different perspectives, such as political system and governance system. But Chinese scholars should proceed their inquiry from China’s national conditions, conduct in-depth investigation and grasp the laws, adhere to Marxist stand, viewpoint and method, devote themselves to building a complete academic system...and better describe ‘the governance of China’ in academic discourse and explain the universal significance and historical status of the Chinese experience.”
Jiang then talks about the need for research to contribute to national development, improving governance efficiency, by grasping “the new situation, keeping up with the development of the times, studying the laws of governance.” She then draws on Xi’s comments about harmony among civilisations to say that “we should uphold an inclusive attitude, humbly learn from the good things of others” while being independent. In other words:
“to promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities, we must not blindly copy the models of other countries, but we can learn from the useful experience of foreign countries and draw corresponding lessons.”
Weng Tiehui, a junior minister at the Ministry of Education, talked about Xi’s 2016 speech, calling the major requirements it outlined as “political, ideological and instructive.” She talks about strengthening “ideals and beliefs” the "four self-confidences” and cultivating “scientific thinking” among students. For him, the fundamental task for social scientists and philosophers in China is to:
“explain clearly the rationale and philosophy behind the ‘Chinese miracle’, and explain clearly why the Communist Party of China can, why Marxism works, and why socialism with Chinese characteristics is good.”
The job further is to “explain international experience and practice through Chinese discourse in order to serve the goal of building a community of human destiny; to effectively enhance discourse power and international influence of Chinese academic discourse; and to continuously improve the national cultural soft power.” In other words: “Tell the story of China well to the world so that the world can better understand China.”
Here’s more: “The Ministry of Education is developing an action plan for the high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences in colleges and universities for 2035, guided by Xi Jinping's thought of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, to build a discipline system that actively adapts to national needs and leads academic development, builds an academic system that effectively enhances national cultural soft power along with building a discourse system with Chinese characteristics with global sentiment in mind…”
She also wants to focus on building greater strength in understanding Marxist ideas and theories with the aim of building “a strong academic system, and building a discourse system around telling Chinese stories and spreading Chinese voices, so as to better transform the study and implementation of Xi Jinping's socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era into a clear theoretical consciousness, firm political belief and scientific thinking method.”
Wang Linggui, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, talked about building new think tanks. Wang said that “To build a new type of think tanks with Chinese characteristics, we must improve the political position, strengthen the engagement and interaction with decision-making departments, broaden our horizons, reform the management mode of scientific research work, and fully stimulate the creativity of talents of various disciplines and types.”
He then says that they must always “adhere to the correct political orientation, value orientation, and academic orientation. Always adhere to the leadership of the party…” And while doing this, think tanks must “take the construction of high-level applied research talents as a strategic task for the sustainable development...and establish a relatively stable core research teams...”
This is a valuable insight for not just Chinese but other researchers too:
“Pay attention to forward-looking research, focusing not only on what the party and the country are thinking and trying to do in the future, but also on what the party and the country need to do in the future, so as to form the research results of applied policy measures that are rich in insight, originality, and strategic vision.”
The next bit he talks about is focussing on integrating theory with practice and ensuring engagements with external think tanks. Of course, one of the goals in all this is also to “extensively publicize Chinese wisdom, Chinese ideas, and Chinese plans, and establish a Chinese think tanks’ brand image on the international stage.”
Liu Wei, President of Renmin University, spoke about what his university is essentially doing. Ma Huaide spoke about building a legal education system with Chinese characteristics.
“To build a legal education system with Chinese characteristics, it is necessary to refine the concepts, major propositions and core of the socialist rule of law theory with Chinese characteristics on the basis of in-depth study of the core essence, spiritual essence, rich connotation, and practical requirements of Xi Jinping’s Thought on rule of law.” He also talks about systemic issues such as cultivating high quality talents, interdisciplinary work, and ensuring academic support for national governance modernisation.
Next we have CICIR’s Yuan Peng, who says:
“Amidst major changes in the world unseen in a century, China's development has attracted worldwide attention and affects the overall situation. To study the theory of international relations and international phenomena, one cannot simply analyze it in isolation. It is necessary to learn to look at problems in the interactive relationship between my country and the world, deeply understand that China cannot do without the world, and the world cannot do without China, and deeply analyze my country's status in the evolution of the global structure.”
Also this is good advice:
“Throughout the history of China and foreign countries that have had extensive influence on international relations, they all have had profound academic research and focus on solving practical problems. This tells us that academic research and policy research are inseparable. If policy research lacks the support of academic research, it will simply be pale; if academic research does not pay attention to and respond to the problems of the times, it will be empty and meaningless.”
And this is noteworthy:
“In the study of the theory of international relations with Chinese characteristics, we should focus on the outstanding problems facing major power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, summarize, sort out and improve them from a doctrinal level, and propose solutions and ways to solve them, so that the research will have both academic depth and strong problem awareness and realistic approach, and provide intellectual support and policy recommendations for continuously creating a new situation of major-power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and building a community of human destiny.”
Finally, we have Wang Bo, vice president of PKU, talking about the need to strengthen cultural self-confidence, focus on problem solving approaches, and enhance a sense of mission among China’s social scientists and academics.
“For philosophical and social science workers, they should be guided by Xi Jinping's thought of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, rooted in the Chinese land and based on Chinese practice, to thoroughly study and answer the major theoretical and practical issues facing our country's development and our Party's rule.”