It’s been a busy weekend, with the SCO Summit right around the corner. Today, Xi Jinping will be holding bilateral meetings with Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi. And then, of course, there’s the SCO meeting. So there’s a lot to look forward to. Anyway, let’s begin with the Politburo meeting that took place on Friday, and was on the front page of Saturday’s paper.
The meeting:
Reviewed the Regulations on Ideological and Political Work of the Communist Party of China
Studied the Draft Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting National Unity and Progress.
The meeting pointed out that ideological and political work is the Party’s fine tradition, distinctive characteristic, and outstanding political advantage. The formulation and promulgation of the ‘Regulations on Ideological and Political Work of the Communist Party of China is of great significance for upholding and strengthening the Party’s comprehensive leadership over ideological and political work, and improving the scientific, institutionalised, and standardised level of ideological and political work. The meeting emphasised the need to fully leverage the guiding role of ideological and political work, persist in placing the use of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to concentrate hearts and forge souls in the foremost position, take education in ideals and convictions as the core, and strengthen study, propaganda, and education in close connection with reality in order to better unify thinking, build consensus, strengthen confidence, and inspire fighting spirit. It is necessary to strengthen and improve ideological and political work in the new context, adapt to the development and changes of social groups, and enhance its relevance and effectiveness. The Party’s overall leadership over ideological and political work must be upheld and strengthened, and Party committees (Party groups) must strengthen organisational leadership and ensure implementation. All Party members, especially leading cadres, must strengthen Party spirit cultivation, lead by example in conducting ideological and political work, and promote the continuous creation of new situations in ideological and political work. 会议指出，思想政治工作是党的优良传统、鲜明特色和突出政治优势，制定出台《中国共产党思想政治工作条例》，对于坚持和加强党对思想政治工作的全面领导，提高思想政治工作科学化制度化规范化水平，具有重要意义。会议强调，要充分发挥思想政治工作的引领作用，坚持把用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂放在首位，以理想信念教育为核心，紧密结合实际加强学习宣传教育，更好统一思想、凝聚共识、坚定信心、鼓舞斗志。要加强和改进新形势下思想政治工作，适应社会群体发展变化，增强工作针对性和实效性。要坚持和加强党对思想政治工作的全面领导，党委（党组）要加强组织领导，抓好贯彻落实。全体党员特别是领导干部要加强党性锻炼，以身作则开展思想政治工作，推动思想政治工作不断开创新局面.
The meeting pointed out that the purpose of enacting the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress’ is to transform the Party’s major theoretical and practical achievements in ethnic work into national will through national legislation, improve the institutional mechanisms for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and further enhance the cohesion and centripetal force of the Chinese nation. The meeting stressed the need to continuously consolidate the common ideological and political foundation for the unity and struggle of all ethnic groups, always uphold the Party’s overall leadership, and unswervingly follow the correct path of resolving ethnic issues with Chinese characteristics. It is necessary to persist in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, advance the construction of the Chinese national community, and further promote extensive exchanges, interactions, and integration among all ethnic groups, their common struggle, and common prosperity and development. We must ensure the formulation, promulgation, and implementation of the law, and continuously improve our ability and level of legal governance of ethnic affairs. 会议指出，制定《中华人民共和国民族团结进步促进法》，目的是通过国家立法的方式把党在民族工作中取得的重大理论和实践成果转化为国家意志，健全铸牢中华民族共同体意识制度机制，进一步增强中华民族凝聚力向心力。会议强调，要不断巩固各民族团结奋斗的共同思想政治基础，始终坚持党的全面领导，坚定不移走中国特色解决民族问题的正确道路。要坚持铸牢中华民族共同体意识，推进中华民族共同体建设，进一步促进各民族广泛交往交流交融、共同团结奋斗、共同繁荣发展。要做好法律案制定出台和贯彻实施工作，不断提高依法治理民族事务的能力和水平.
The meeting also outlined requirements for further strengthening work on production safety and preventing natural disasters. It emphasised the need to adhere to a people-centered development philosophy, always prioritising the safety of the people and firmly upholding the bottom line that development cannot come at the expense of safety. It emphasised the need to precisely prevent and mitigate safety risks, fully engage in emergency rescue and disaster relief, and promptly and properly resettle affected people. All regions and departments must resolutely fulfill their production safety responsibilities, unremittingly strengthen production safety and natural disaster prevention efforts, and better coordinate high-quality development with high-level safety. 会议还就进一步抓好安全生产和防范自然灾害各项工作提出要求。会议强调，要坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，始终把人民群众生命安全放在第一位，牢牢守住发展不能以牺牲安全为代价这条底线。要精准防范化解安全风险，全力开展抢险救援救灾，及时妥善安置受灾群众。各地区各部门要坚决落实安全生产责任，毫不松懈抓好安全生产和防范自然灾害各项工作，更好统筹高质量发展和高水平安全.
Another report in Saturday’s paper talked about Xi’s instructions to a meeting on Party building held in Beijing on Friday. Cai Qi, head of the Central Leading Group for Party Building, presided over and addressed the meeting. Li Xi, who is the deputy head of the Central Leading Group for Party Building, also attended and addressed the meeting.
The report says:
Xi said that “the Party’s work conduct is the Party’s image; it relates to the direction of popular sentiment/public support, and concerns issues of life and death for the Party. It is necessary to continuously grasp well the implementation of the spirit of the Central Committee’s 8-point Regulations, further make great efforts to build the Party well, forge a team with pure Party spirit and strict discipline, so that our Party will always live up to the people’s expectations and unite and lead the people to successfully complete the historical mission it shoulders.” 中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平近日作出重要指示强调，党的作风就是党的形象，关系人心向背，关系党的生死存亡。要持续抓好中央八项规定精神贯彻落实，进一步下大气力把党建设好，打造一支党性纯洁的队伍、纪律严明的队伍，使我们党始终不负人民，团结带领人民顺利完成所肩负的历史使命.
Xi said that the “latest education campaign to thoroughly implement the 8-point regulations has been carried out faithfully, with notable results achieved.”
Xi Jinping emphasised that the problems of the ‘four winds’ are stubborn and recurrent. It is necessary to maintain determination and perseverance to fight tough battles and protracted battles, persistently implement the spirit of the Central Committee’s 8-point regulations, promote the standardisation and long-term effectiveness of work style construction, unite hearts and gather strength with excellent work styles, truly grasp reality and work hard to continuously create new prospects for the development of our cause. It is necessary to enhance the targeted nature and effectiveness of work style education, highlighting the education and guidance of newly-promoted cadres, young cadres, and cadres in key positions. It is necessary to establish and improve mechanisms for regularly discovering and solving problems, to make genuine rectification and remediation, and continuously release strong signals of grasping to the end and being strict to the end. It is necessary to strengthen supervision and discipline enforcement, to grasp well the daily supervision of Party organisations, effectively give play to the role of mass supervision, and quickly investigate and severely punish those who violate discipline in defiance of these regulations. It is necessary to implement the political responsibility for work style construction, strictly shoulder responsibility, strictly manage those under one’s jurisdiction, forge a good work style with iron rules, and encourage Party members and cadres to be proactive, responsible, and contribute to the well-being of the people. 习近平强调，“四风”问题具有顽固性、反复性，必须以打攻坚战、持久战的决心和恒心，锲而不舍落实中央八项规定精神，推进作风建设常态化长效化，以优良作风凝心聚力、真抓实干，不断开创事业发展新局面。要增强作风教育针对性实效性，突出新提拔干部、年轻干部、关键岗位干部的教育引导。要建立健全经常性发现问题、解决问题机制，动真格整改整治，持续释放一抓到底、一严到底的强烈信号。要强化监督执纪，抓实党组织日常监督，有效发挥群众监督作用，对顶风违纪的速查严处。要落实作风建设政治责任，严负其责、严管所辖，以铁规矩锻造好作风，推动党员干部干事创业、担当作为、为民造福.
The meeting called on the entire Party to “earnestly study, understand, and fully implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions.”
Also in the paper on Saturday was a summary of the achievements of this learning and education campaign to thoroughly implement the Central Committee’s 8-point regulations. It says that:
“General Secretary Xi Jinping attached great importance to this learning and education campaign, providing oversight and guidance, and personally promoting it. He delivered a series of important speeches and issued numerous important instructions and directives, charting the course for the entire Party in carrying out this campaign.” 习近平总书记高度重视这次学习教育，把关定向、全程指导、亲自推动，发表一系列重要讲话，多次作出重要指示批示，为全党开展好学习教育指明方向.
As part of this campaign: “The Party Central Committee, in two batches, successively dispatched 11 central guidance groups, to carry out guidance and supervision in 30 localities and units. At the same time, various localities and relevant units altogether dispatched 8,513 supervision groups, to carry out supervision work in nearly 21,000 localities and units.” 党中央先后分两批派出11个中央指导组，对30个地方和单位开展指导督导。与此同时，各地和有关单位共计派出8513个督导组，对近2.1万个地方和单位开展督导工作.
Finally, there was a report on the State Council Executive meeting, which “called for the advancement of reforms in the market-based allocation of production factors, and studied options to pilot those reforms in certain regions of the country.”
“The meeting pointed out that deepening market-oriented reform of factors of production is a key measure for building a high-level socialist market economic system and a crucial component of advancing the construction of a unified national market. It is necessary to continuously exert effort to advance reform, give play to the decisive role of the market in resource allocation, and promote factor prices to be market-determined, flow to be autonomous and orderly, and allocation to be efficient and fair. It is necessary to stimulate innovation in technological factors, promote the intensive and efficient allocation of land factors, guide the rational flow of human resources factors, accelerate the cultivation and improvement of the data factor market, enhance the ability of capital factors to serve the real economy, and improve the institutional development of resource and environmental markets. It is necessary to focus on key areas and critical links to advance reform pilots, guide pilot regions to boldly innovate according to local conditions, carry out differentiated reform exploration, and accelerate the elimination of institutional and systemic obstacles. It is necessary to do well in the overall coordination and guidance services for pilot work, conduct timely summary and evaluation, and form replicable and promotable experience and practices. 会议指出，深化要素市场化改革是构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制的重要举措，是推进全国统一大市场建设的重要内容。要持续用力推进改革，发挥市场在资源配置中的决定性作用，促进要素价格市场决定、流动自主有序、配置高效公平。要激发技术要素创新活力，推进土地要素集约高效配置，引导人力资源要素合理流动，加快培育和完善数据要素市场，增强资本要素服务实体经济能力，健全资源环境市场制度建设。要聚焦重点领域和关键环节推进改革试点，引导试点地区因地制宜大胆创新，开展差别化改革探索，加快破除体制机制障碍。要做好对试点工作的统筹协调和指导服务，及时进行总结评估，形成可复制可推广的经验做法。
“Also discussed at the meeting was work to develop regular, county-level senior high schools, as well as work to improve primary-level health and medical services. On the development of regular, county-level high schools, the meeting called for greater efforts to improve school development standards, create better teaching and living conditions, and build a stronger teaching workforce. The meeting also approved a plan for the development of primary-level health and medical services. It underlined the need to improve chronic-disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation capabilities at the primary level, and called for the quality of diagnosis and treatment procedures for common and frequently occurring diseases to be bolstered, with the aim of meeting the people's need for diversified, high-quality health care services.”
Now to Sunday, where foreign affairs has taken over the front page. So let’s cover the bilateral meetings that Xi has had ahead of the SCO Summit. Cai Qi, Wang Yi, and Chen Min’er attended the meetings with Xi.
First, Xi met with Min Aung Hlaing, acting president of Myanmar. The readout says:
“President Xi noted that Myanmar was part of the Eastern battlefield of the World Anti-Fascist War and it is an important dialogue partner of the SCO. The China-Myanmar pauk-phaw friendship, rooted in the hearts of the two peoples, is as strong and relevant as ever. The two sides should seize the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations to deepen strategic cooperation, accelerate the building of their community with a shared future, and bring greater benefits to people in both countries. President Xi stressed that China supports Myanmar in following a development path suited to its realities, in safeguarding its sovereignty, security and development interests, in rebuilding after the earthquake, and in delivering a better life to its people. China also supports Myanmar in unifying all domestic political forces as much as possible and restoring stability and development. The two sides should advance key projects of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor and promote economic and trade cooperation. Joint efforts should be made to combat cross-border crimes, maintain peace and tranquility in the China-Myanmar border region, and ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, institutions, and projects in Myanmar. The two sides should carry forward the spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and jointly safeguard the U.N.-centered international system.”
As per the readout, “Myanmar will steadfastly uphold the one-China policy.” The two sides signed multiple bilateral cooperation agreements in the fields of customs, news media, and others.
Second, the readout of Xi’s meeting with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly says:
“President Xi noted that Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, and China-Egypt relations are now at their best in history. Next year marks the 70th anniversary of China-Egypt diplomatic ties. The two sides should take it as an opportunity to steer the bilateral relationship toward the goal of building a China-Egypt community with a shared future in the new era, add new impetus to China-Arab and China-Africa relations, and make greater contributions to upholding world peace and stability and promoting global development and prosperity. President Xi emphasized that under the new circumstances, China and Egypt should be good brothers that firmly support each other, keep consolidating political trust, and continue providing mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns. The two countries should be good partners that deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, foster greater synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Vision 2030, and take cooperation on parks and zones such as the Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone as the main driver to strengthen cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, joint manufacturing and new energy. The two countries should be good friends that closely collaborate in multilateral affairs, shoulder historical and major-country responsibilities as important members of the Global South, safeguard the victorious outcomes of World War II, jointly oppose unilateralism and bullying practices, and defend the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law.
As per the readout: “Egypt places high importance on its relations with China, and is firmly committed to the one-China principle.”
Third, the readout of Xi’s meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet says:
“President Xi underscored that the China-Cambodia friendship, having stood the test of time, is rock-solid and the shared asset of the two peoples. Amidst an ever-changing international landscape, China and Cambodia, as ironclad friends, should keep the big picture in mind, adopt a long-term perspective, and steadfastly follow the path of friendship opened by the older generation of Chinese and Cambodian leaders. The two sides should maintain unwavering solidarity, enable each other’s success, promote the well-being of their people, and contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity of the region. President Xi stressed that China supports Cambodia in safeguarding national stability, upholding independence, and achieving development and revitalization. China will, through the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, work with Cambodia to deepen ‘Diamond Hexagon’ cooperation, advance both the Industrial and Technological Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridor, expand trade ties, and help Cambodia enhance its capacity for self-reliant development. The two sides need to resolutely crack down on cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, so as to protect the life and property of the two peoples.”
As per the readout, Hun Manet said:
“The Chinese people forged peace with courage and unity, which is truly admirable. The traditional friendship between Cambodia and China has grown ever stronger over time. Cambodia appreciates China’s long-standing, valuable support and assistance. Despite the changing international landscape, Cambodia will firmly pursue a policy of friendship toward China, remain firmly committed to the one-China principle, and firmly support the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by China. President Xi’s historic state visit to Cambodia last April yielded fruitful outcomes. Cambodia looks forward to working with China to implement the important consensus reached during the visit, deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries, lend each other support on issues involving their core interests and major concerns, expand cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure, combat online gambling and telecom fraud, and further advance the two countries' all-weather community with a shared future.”
Fourth, the readout of Xi’s meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev says:
“President Xi pointed out that China and Kazakhstan are strategic partners that can trust and count on each other. No matter how the international landscape evolves, the two sides should stay committed to the overarching policy of good-neighborliness and friendship, the guiding principle of openness and win-win cooperation, and the overall direction of jointly building a community with a shared future. The two sides should firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, consolidate and expand all-round cooperation, and bring China-Kazakhstan relations to new heights. President Xi emphasized that the two countries should further synergize their development strategies, explore more converging interests and new areas of growth in cooperation; consolidate energy cooperation as the foundation，and deepen cooperation on connectivity, especially advancing hard connectivity of infrastructure and soft connectivity of policies and mechanisms; continue to promote people-to-people exchanges, and ensure the success of the China-Kazakhstan year of cultural exchange; step up multilateral coordination, consolidate and strengthen the SCO, jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, and work for a more just and equitable international order.”
As per the readout, the two sides inked “more than 20 bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as alignment of development strategies, energy, science and technology, housing and urban development, education, sports, and wildlife protection, and the unveiling of two new Luban Workshops in Kazakhstan.”
Finally, the readout of Xi’s meeting with Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli says:
“President Xi noted that China and Nepal are neighbors linked by mountains and rivers and enjoy lasting friendship. The two are also peace-loving countries who stand on our own feet. Over the past 70 years of diplomatic relations, the two peoples have stood together through thick and thin and written a historic chapter of good-neighborliness and friendship. China and Nepal are now making steady progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the two peoples have forged a closer bond with each other. China stands ready to work with Nepal to carry forward the traditional friendship and take to a new height the China-Nepal strategic partnership of cooperation featuring ever-lasting friendship for development and prosperity. President Xi stressed that the two sides need to enhance mutual strategic trust and firmly support each other on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns. We need to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, jointly advance Belt and Road cooperation, and strengthen connectivity through ports, roads, power grids, aviation and telecommunications. We need to enhance cooperation in areas such as industry, agriculture and animal husbandry, new energy, environmental protection, oil and gas, artificial intelligence, education, health, law enforcement, and security. We need to continue the successful activities in celebration of the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. We need to enhance communication and coordination in multilateral platforms such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, jointly support free trade and sustainable development, and safeguard international fairness and justice.”
As per the readout, Oli said:
“Nepal is firmly committed to the one-China principle, resolutely opposes ‘Taiwan independence,’ and does not allow any force to use its territory to undermine China’s interests. Nepal is committed to achieving continuous development and looks forward to deepening cooperation with China in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative. We will enhance cooperation with China on trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, tourism, climate response, and other fields and deliver more positive outcomes. Nepal supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China, values the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, actively upholds the ‘Shanghai Spirit’, and looks forward to China playing an even bigger role in international affairs.”
Finally, the readout on Xi’s meeting with UN Secretary General António Guterres says:
“President Xi noted that the founding of the United Nations was the most important decision made by the international community at the end of the Second World War. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. History teaches that multilateralism, solidarity and cooperation are the right way to address global challenges. We should rededicate ourselves to the founding mission of the U.N., reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and enable the U.N. to respond to the changing situation with enhanced authority and vitality, so that it will remain the premier platform for coordinating actions among countries and responding to common challenges. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China always stands firmly on the right side of history and practices true multilateralism. China will always be a trustworthy partner of the U.N. China will deepen cooperation with the organization, support its central role in international affairs, and work with the U.N. to shoulder responsibility for safeguarding world peace and promoting development and prosperity. President Xi stressed that amidst the once-in-a-century transformations, China is a source of stability and certainty. We will continue to create new opportunities for the world through China’s new development and work with other countries to create a better future through the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Guterres reportedly called China “a cornerstone of multilateralism.” He added: “The U.N. will strengthen cooperation with China to uphold the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, defend the basic norms of international relations, advance a multipolar world, enhance the representation of developing countries, and enable the U.N. to play a greater role in international affairs. The two sides need to strengthen cooperation in areas such as the reform of the global governance system, artificial intelligence, and climate response, so as to better serve the wellbeing of humanity.”