Big Focus on Coordinating Development & Security - Xi's SCO Speech - Talent Work in New Era - Disposal of Japanese ACWs
Hi folks,
It was an eventful weekend with the SCO summit coming to a close. Let’s begin with a quick breakdown of Xi Jinping’s speech at the SCO summit before we get to today’s edition of the People’s Daily.
The worldview outlined in the speech: “Human society, like the natural world, has both sunny and rainy days in its development. Our world today is undergoing accelerating changes unseen in a century, and it has entered a new phase of uncertainty and transformation. The once-in-a-century pandemic has continued unabated. Regional conflicts keep flaring up. The Cold War mentality and group politics are resurfacing, so are unilateralism and protectionism. Economic globalization has encountered headwinds. Deficit in peace, development, trust, and governance has grown. Human society has reached a crossroads and faces unprecedented challenges.”
Operative points made in the speech:
“We should strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication, deepen mutual understanding and political trust, and support each other in our efforts to uphold security and development interests. We should guard against attempts by external forces to instigate ‘color revolution’, jointly oppose interference in other countries’ internal affairs under any pretext, and hold our future firmly in our own hands.”
Xi then talked about GSI and then added: “We should continue to carry out joint anti-terrorism exercises, crack down hard on terrorism, separatism and extremism, drug trafficking as well as cyber and transnational organized crimes; and we should effectively meet the challenges in data security, biosecurity, outer space security and other non-traditional security domains. China is ready to train 2,000 law enforcement personnel for SCO member states in the next five years, and establish a China-SCO base for training counter-terrorism personnel, so as to enhance capacity-building for law enforcement of SCO member states. We should ensure that the SCO-Afghanistan contact group and the mechanism of coordination and cooperation among Afghanistan's neighbors continue to play their roles; and we should encourage Afghan authorities to establish a broadly-based and inclusive political structure and remove the ground that breeds terrorism.”
On development issues, he referenced GDI and BRI and said: “We need to implement the two statements on safeguarding international energy and food security to be adopted by this summit and better protect energy and food security. China will provide developing countries in need with emergency humanitarian assistance of grain and other supplies worth 1.5 billion RMB yuan. We welcome the Comprehensive Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation for 2023-2027 to be adopted at this summit. We should fully implement the cooperation documents in such areas as trade and investment, infrastructure building, protecting supply chains, scientific and technological innovation and artificial intelligence to be adopted within the framework of the summit… We need to ensure implementation of the roadmap for SCO member states to expand shares of local currency settlement, better develop the system for cross-border payment and settlement in local currencies, work for the establishment of an SCO development bank, and thus speed up regional economic integration. Next year, China will host an SCO ministers' meeting on development cooperation and an industrial and supply chains forum, and will set up the China-SCO Big Data Cooperation Center to create new engines of common development. China stands ready to carry out space cooperation with all other parties and provide satellite data service to support them in agricultural development, connectivity and disaster mitigation and relief.”
With regard to people-to-people exchanges, Xi said: “China will build a China-SCO ice and snow sports demonstration zone and host the SCO forums on poverty reduction and sustainable development and on sister cities next year. In the next three years, China will carry out 2,000 free cataract operations for SCO member states and provide 5,000 human resources training opportunities for them.”
On multilateralism: “Obsession with forming a small circle can only push the world toward division and confrontation. We should remain firm in safeguarding the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law, practice the common values of humanity and reject zero-sum game and bloc politics.”
On SCO expansion: “China supports advancing SCO expansion in an active yet prudent manner, and this includes going through the procedure to admit Iran as a member state, launching the procedure for Belarus’ accession, admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as dialogue partners, and granting the relevant applying countries the legal status due to them.”
A useful reminder on the SCO declaration:
And do check out this piece below:
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Monday, September 19, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: It’s quite a low-activity front page today. There are only two long articles that I am summarising.
At the top of the page is an article summarising talent-related work in the new era under Xi Jinping. The piece says that the Party has made a “major assessment that talents are strategic resources in order to achieve national rejuvenation and win the initiative of international competition and the work related to talents has seen historic achievements and changes.” “The great practice of ‘gathering talents from all over the world and making use of them’ is in full swing in China.” 党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央统揽伟大斗争、伟大工程、伟大事业、伟大梦想，作出人才是实现民族振兴、赢得国际竞争主动的战略资源的重大判断，广开进贤之路、广纳天下英才，推动新时代人才工作取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革. 当前，我国人才工作站在一个新的历史起点上。“聚天下英才而用之”的伟大实践，正在中华大地火热展开.
The first section of the piece talks about Xi’s assessment of the significance of human resources and then discusses the eight principles that were put out at the central conference on talent-related work in late September last year. I covered that here, if you are interested. Below are the goals that were outlined in that document:
By 2025, China will have substantially increased its total R&D spending, attracted more top scientists, boasted a large number of scientists and technologists in strategically important and core technological fields, top-level sci-tech leaders and innovation teams.
By 2030, China will be significantly more attractive to global talent, boast some frontrunners in main sci-tech fields and pioneers in emerging frontier and interdisciplinary areas.
By 2035, the country will have competitive advantages in talent competition in many areas, and its strategic sci-tech strength and high-caliber talent teams will be among the strongest in the world.
Then the piece references the Regulations on Organisational Work in the Communist Party of China, which was issued in May 2021, and says that all localities have formulated opinions on the implementation of the Party’s work related to managing talents. In addition, Party committees in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as municipal and county-level party committees have set up leading bodies for talent work. Some provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have established the target responsibility system for talent work, and some localities have set up specialised talent work institutions and bureaus.
The next section talks about easing of certification requirements, changes in the evaluation mechanism for scientific and technological achievements and reform of professional titles, reform related to the management of scientific research funds, etc. In terms of the finding, the two points emphasised are about giving researchers greater autonomy and the establishment of a contract system at national, provincial and city levels, allowing researchers to focus more on their work. The piece references the Ministry of Science and Technology along with other departments issuing the Notice on Carrying out the Special Action to Reduce the Burden of Young Scientific Researchers. This was issued in August. It calls to reduce non-work-related burdens. SCMP has a report on this; it says that: “Scientists aged under 40 are the focus of the latest policy. The document calls for young scientists to be excused from unnecessary meetings and social activities, and to be guaranteed to have at least four-fifths of their work day available for scientific research.”
The final section of the article says that talent work must essentially serve key national development strategies, such as regional coordinated development, poverty alleviation, rural revitalisation, etc. It also talks about work to attract foreign talents.
The piece says:
All localities and departments have grasped the new trend and characteristics of talent globalisation, implemented more active, open and effective talent policies; innovated ways and means; improved work measures; and vigorously promoted international exchanges and cooperation. “The latest data shows that the number of overseas students returning to China for innovation and entrepreneurship in 2021 exceeded 1 million for the first time, and a total of 1.18 million work permits have been issued to foreigners in China. At present, China has established scientific and technological cooperation relations with more than 160 countries and regions around the world, and is participating in more than 200 international organisations and multilateral mechanisms.” 各地区各部门把握人才全球化新趋势新特点，实施更加积极、更加开放、更加有效的人才政策，创新方式方法，完善工作举措，大力推动人才国际交流合作。最新数据显示，2021年回国创新创业的留学人员首次超过100万名，累计发放外国人来华工作许可118万份。目前，中国已与全球160多个国家和地区建立了科技合作关系，参加国际组织和多边机制超过200个.
Another useful data point is that there are at present 4.8 million R&D personnel in China.
The other lead story on the page is also a very, very long feature on the pursuit of high-quality development. The piece basically reiterates some key talking points that we’ve heard over the years, but it’s useful to have them all in one place. Also, the bits about securing supply chains is critical to keep in mind. These tell us about the leadership’s threat perception with regard to the current state of economic interdependence.
The old development model of extensive and rapid growth is no longer suitable; times are changing, the development environment and development conditions cannot remain the same, nor can the development concept and development model; problems arising in development should be solved with higher-quality development.
High-quality development is the development that can meet the people’s growing needs for a better life, and it is the development that reflects the new development concept
The focus going forward must be on “innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing.”
In the past ten years, China has made great efforts to promote the coordinated development of regions, urban and rural areas, material civilisation and spiritual civilisation, and the ratio of per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents has decreased from 2.88∶1 to 2.5∶1. 非凡十年，我国着力推动区域协调发展、城乡协调发展、物质文明和精神文明协调发展，城乡居民人均可支配收入之比由2.88∶1降低到2.5∶1.
“The key to building a new development pattern lies in the unimpeded economic cycle.” –“构建新发展格局的关键在于经济循环的畅通无阻. This also leads to the idea of building a national unified market.
“The most essential feature of building a new development pattern is to achieve a high level of self-reliance and self-improvement.” This leads to references to making breakthroughs in key core technologies. The fields mentioned are aero-engine blades, lithography machines, and high-performance special materials, and securing the industrial chain. “构建新发展格局最本质的特征是实现高水平的自立自强”。如今，我国在航空发动机叶片、超分辨光刻机、高性能特种材料等领域突破了一批关键核心技术，为保障产业链安全提供有力支撑.
“To build a new development pattern, we must adhere to the strategic basis of expanding domestic demand, make production, distribution, circulation and consumption rely more on the domestic market, and form a virtuous circle of the national economy.” “构建新发展格局，要坚持扩大内需这个战略基点，使生产、分配、流通、消费更多依托国内市场，形成国民经济良性循环.” “This does not imply a development loop behind closed doors, but more open domestic and international circulations, which not only meets China’s own development needs but also for the greater benefit of people in all countries.” “这决不是封闭的国内循环，而是更加开放的国内国际双循环，不仅是中国自身发展需要,而且将更好造福各国人民.
The piece talks about high-quality development being about coordinating development and security. In this regard, it mentions the pandemic and defends the zero-COVID policy; it mentions food security, saying that “Chinese people’s rice bowls should be firmly held in their own hands, and our rice bowls should mainly contain Chinese food.” 中国人的饭碗要牢牢端在自己手中，我们的饭碗应该主要装中国粮. It mentions energy security, saying that China’s “energy rice bowl must be in our own hands.” 中国作为制造业大国，要发展实体经济，能源的饭碗必须端在自己手里”. It warns about maintaining industrial and supply chains for a major manufacturing country is critical; the chain cannot be allowed to break down at critical moments. 产业链、供应链在关键时刻不能掉链子，这是大国经济必须具备的重要特征. It adds that “efforts should be made to reshape the new industrial chain, increase scientific and technological innovation and import substitution across the board. This is the focus of deepening supply-side structural reform and the key to achieving high-quality development.” 而应该努力重塑新的产业链，全面加大科技创新和进口替代力度，这是深化供给侧结构性改革的重点，也是实现高质量发展的关键.
It calls for building an “independent, controllable, secure and reliable domestic production and supply system in domains and nodes that are related to national security, which can achieve self-circulation at critical moments to ensure the normal operation of the economy under extreme circumstances.” 补齐短板——在关系国家安全的领域和节点构建自主可控、安全可靠的国内生产供应体系，在关键时刻可以做到自我循环，确保在极端情况下经济正常运转.
The final bit of the piece emphasises the importance of common prosperity.
Page 3: First, there’s a piece discussing BRI in the context of the recent SCO summit.
The piece says that the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone has opened 17 international freight train routes to Dushanbe in Tajikistan and Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. It talks about the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe Bridge, the Kazakhstan-China pipeline, the China-Kazakhstan International Logistics Base, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan International Highway, CPEC projects, etc.
The piece says that the SCO’s Samarkand Declaration says that the “Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, while reaffirming support for China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, acknowledge the ongoing work to jointly implement the project, including efforts to link the construction of the Eurasian Economic Union and OBOR.”
After this, the piece talks about trade expansion among SCO countries. It says that the China-SCO demonstration zone has cultivated 10 trading platforms, including a Cross-border Trade Service Center, to provide enterprises with one-stop cross-border e-commerce comprehensive services, such as customs declaration, cross-border logistics and supply chain finance. From January to July this year, the import and export from the zone to the SCO countries is expected to reach 4.3 billion yuan, an increase of 86.2% over the same period of last year. 目前，上合示范区引进培育了上合跨境贸易服务中心等10家贸易平台，为企业提供通关申报、跨境物流、供应链金融等一站式跨境电商综合服务。今年1至7月，上合示范区对上合组织国家进出口预计完成43亿元人民币，同比增长86.2%.
The piece also mentions the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade and China-SCO Legal Services Committee, although there’s no substantive information on their work. Then the article talks about specific outcomes from Xi’s current visit:
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway MoU
The deal on the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor
Deng Hao, Secretary-General of the SCO Research Center, believes that, under the impetus of the Chinese side, the heads of SCO member states issued four key statements on safeguarding international energy security, international food security, coping with climate change, and maintaining the security, stability, and diversification of supply chain, which will further broaden the areas of cooperation in the joint construction of BRI and promote the further development of BRI. 中国上合组织研究中心秘书长邓浩认为，在中方推动下，此次上合组织成员国元首发表关于维护国际能源安全、维护国际粮食安全、应对气候变化、维护供应链安全稳定多元化等4份重磅声明，将进一步拓宽共建“一带一路”的合作领域，推动“一带一路”建设进一步走深走实.
Second, there’s a commentary drawing from Xi’s speech at the SCO meeting. This basically talks about building political trust and security cooperation. It basically reiterates the related points from Xi’s speech, which I’ve covered above.
Third, there’s a report announcing the visit of Russian Security Council secretary Nikolai Patrushev for the 17th round of China's Russia strategic security consultations and the 7th meeting of the China-Russia law enforcement security cooperation.
Page 4: There’s a report on the activities that were held in different parts of the country to commemorate the anniversary of the September 18th Incident.
Page 6: There’s another long, long article on coordinating development and security. This article was published by Xinhua yesterday under the byline 钟华论 - Zhong Hualun. There’s a lot of praise for Xi Jinping’s leadership, of course.
The first section defends the COVID policy, saying that the hard-won, solid achievements of this year have fully proved the scientificity and effectiveness of the important decision-making and deployment of the CPC Central Committee ‘the epidemic must be prevented, the economy must be stabilised, and development must be secure…’ 来之不易的扎实成绩，充分证明党中央“疫情要防住、经济要稳住、发展要安全”这一重大决策部署的科学性和有效性，为统筹发展和安全写下了生动的实践注解.
“Since the 18th Party Congress, in the face of risks and challenges that are rare in the world and history, General Secretary Xi Jinping has gained insight into the changes in the world, times and history, scientifically grasped the new features and trends of the development and changes in the national security situation, creatively put forward the overall national security concept, insist on incorporating national security into all aspects and the entire process of the work of the Party and the country, planned and deployed together with economic and social development, and made a series of major decisions and arrangements from the overall and strategic perspective.” 党的十八大以来，面对世所罕见、史所罕见的风险挑战，习近平总书记洞察世界之变、时代之变、历史之变，科学把握国家安全形势发展变化新特点新趋势，创造性提出总体国家安全观，坚持将国家安全贯穿到党和国家工作各方面、全过程，同经济社会发展一起谋划、一起部署，从全局和战略高度作出一系列重大决策部署.
“Over the past 10 years, national security has been comprehensively strengthened, and it has withstood the test of risks and challenges from politics, economy, ideology, nature and other areas, providing a strong guarantee for the prosperity and long-term stability of the Party and the country.” 10年来，国家安全得到全面加强，经受住了来自政治、经济、意识形态、自然界等方面的风险挑战考验，为党和国家兴旺发达、长治久安提供了有力保证。
The piece then talks about China’s development over the past 10 years, because development “is the last word and the key to solving all problems in China.” 发展是硬道理，是解决中国所有问题的关键. And it says that under the guidance of Xi’s thought, the “balance, coordination and sustainability of China's economic development have been significantly enhanced, and China's economy has embarked on a road of higher quality, higher efficiency, fairer, more sustainable and safer development.”在习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引下，我国经济发展平衡性、协调性、可持续性明显增强，我国经济迈上更高质量、更有效率、更加公平、更可持续、更为安全的发展之路。
“The great changes in the new era over the past 10 years have revealed to us that it is only by doing a good job of ensuring national security as the ‘top priority’ and grasping development as the ‘first priority’ that we can build a solid foundation for national governance and security, strengthen the confidence to overcome difficulties, and promote the giant ship China to cut through the waves and move steadily and far. 新时代10年的伟大变革启示我们，既办好保证国家安全这个“头等大事”，又抓好发展这个“第一要务”，才能筑牢治国安邦的根基、增强攻坚克难的底气，推动中国号巨轮劈波斩浪、行稳致远.
The second section says that Xi has proposed GDI and GSI in the context of the major changes that are taking place in the world. The “core of these is to attach equal importance to development and security, promote sustainable security with sustainable development, and guarantee sustainable development with sustainable security. These are Chinese solutions to promote sustainable development in the world and address the difficult issues of global security governance, which is a long-term strategy to promote human peace and development.” 习近平总书记先后提出全球发展倡议和全球安全倡议，其核心要义在于坚持发展和安全并重，以可持续发展促进可持续安全，以可持续安全保障可持续发展，为推动世界可持续发展、应对全球安全治理难题贡献了中国方案，是推动人类和平与发展的长远之策.
The article reiterates that the tasks of domestic reform are arduous, and there will be no shortage of struggles. “Contemporary China is undergoing the most ambitious and unique practice innovations in human history. The task of reform, development and stability, the number of contradictions, risks and challenges, and the challenges of governing the country are unprecedented…” 当代中国正在经历人类历史上最为宏大而独特的实践创新，改革发展稳定任务之重、矛盾风险挑战之多、治国理政考验之大都前所未有，世界百年未有之大变局深刻变化前所未有.
The third section emphasises the need to adhere to the “people-centred” development philosophy. Basically the point being made is that maintaining popular legitimacy is important. The fourth section acknowledges that globalisation is facing serious headwinds; “the internal and external environment of my country’s economic development has become more complex and severe.” 我国经济发展的内外部环境更趋复杂严峻. Therefore, China needs to build a new development pattern, i.e., dual circulation.
The fifth section references food, energy and financial security, securing the industrial and supply chains and maintaining ethnic unity. “General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that it is an important principle of our Party to coordinate development and security, enhance the sense of urgency and hardship, and be prepared for danger in times of peace.”习近平总书记深刻指出，统筹发展和安全，增强忧患意识，做到居安思危，是我们党治国理政的一个重大原则.
What’s interesting in this is that the piece compares the current situation to Mao’s assessment during the 7th Party Congress, when he talked about the need to ‘prepare for losses’, listing 17 difficulties and calling for policies to be based on worst-case outcomes. 早在1945年，毛泽东同志在党的七大上讲“准备吃亏”时就一口气列了17条困难，强调在看到光明的同时，更要准备迎接困难，“要在最坏的可能性上建立我们的政策”. And it compares the situation to Deng in 1988 saying that “We should focus our work on preventing greater risks and prepare countermeasures. In this way, even if there are great risks, the sky will not fall.” 1988年，在谈到改革与风险时，邓小平同志强调：“我们要把工作的基点放在出现较大的风险上，准备好对策。这样，即使出现了大的风险，天也不会塌下来.”
In this context, it talks about Xi’s identification of 16 risk areas in 2018; his call for adherence to bottom-line thinking; and his warning desiring vigilance against both ‘black swan’ and ‘grey rhino’ events.
Section six says that it is important “to ensure overall planning of epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development. Not only must one insist on dynamic clearing and creating favourable conditions for economic and social development but also insisting on scientific precision, protecting people's life and health to the greatest extent, and minimising the impact of epidemic on economic and social development. Correctly understand and grasp the characteristics and behaviour rules of capital. This requires not only setting up ‘traffic lights’ to strengthen the effective supervision of capital according to law but also to support and guide the standardised and healthy development of capital, in order to promote the healthy development of non-public economy and the healthy growth of actors engaged in the non-public economy. In promoting a high level of opening to the outside world, we must not only insist on strengthening international scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation but also not wait or delay promoting scientific and technological self-reliance, strive every day to break through the chokepoint problem, and strive to master the key core technologies and equipment manufacturing industry, maintaining control in our own hands…” 统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，既坚持动态清零，为经济社会发展创造良好条件，又坚持科学精准，最大程度保护人民生命安全和身体健康，最大限度减少疫情对经济社会发展的影响；正确认识和把握资本的特性和行为规律，既设置“红绿灯”，依法加强对资本的有效监管，又支持和引导资本规范健康发展，促进非公有制经济健康发展和非公有制经济人士健康成长；在推进高水平对外开放中，既坚持加强国际科技交流合作，又要时不我待推进科技自立自强，只争朝夕突破“卡脖子”问题，努力把关键核心技术和装备制造业掌握在我们自己手里…
There’s also an article about mainland authorities being concerned about the recent earthquakes in Taiwan.
Page 10: There’s an article by the NDU Research Centre on Xi Jinping Thought for Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The basic point being made here is that the Party must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping's thought and people-centeredness in terms of governance because this is not just about morals but also a “requirement of scientific truth.” Later it says that “adhering to the people-centred development approach must not stop at theory, but must be implemented into the great practice of the Party’s governance of the country, which requires us to follow the Party mass line.” 坚持以人民为中心，不能止步于理论，必须落实到党治国理政的伟大实践中，这就要求我们必须走好党的群众路线.
Page 17: On the international page, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary on the recent meeting with an OPCW delegation discussing with China and Japan about the latter’s abandoned chemical weapons in China. The piece says that:
“Today, Japanese chemical weapons have been found in more than 120 locations in 18 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government in China…Japanese ACWs are one of the serious crimes committed by Japanese militarists during their invasion of China. They have long jeopardised the lives, health and ecological security of people in relevant regions of China.
The piece recounts a bit of recent history to conclude that in 1999, China and Japan signed an MoU on the destruction of chemical weapons abandoned by Japan in China. However, the process of destroying Japanese ACWs has lagged behind and missed deadlines. It says that Japan should have finished the process of destruction by 2007, but so far, only 60,000 pieces have been destroyed and more than 90,000 pieces have been excavated and recovered. Japan has not provided China with complete and accurate burial details, and the total number of chemical weapons left behind by Japan and their specific burial location details are still unclear. Japanese chemical weapons have been buried underground for decades, leading to soil contamination. This needs to be treated with urgency. However, the Japanese side has been reluctant to take responsibility for it. 然而，日遗化武销毁进程一直磕磕绊绊。根据《禁止化学武器公约》规定，日本应在2007年完成销毁，但日方重视不够、投入不足、意愿不强，销毁进度严重滞后。至今仅销毁6万余枚，挖掘回收9万余枚，这无法向中国人民交代，也无法向国际社会交代。日本没有向中方提供完整、准确的埋藏线索，日遗化武总数和具体埋藏地点迄今无法明确。日遗化武埋藏地下数十年，造成大量污染土壤亟待处理，但日方百般推脱，一直不愿承担责任.
The piece basically then calls on Japan to live up to its responsibilities.
Second, there’s an article on the recent water crisis in Jackson Mississippi being a product of decades of systemic racism.