Breakdown of New Party Regulations Plan (2023-27) - Q1 Economic Data - Implementation of Xi Thought Study Campaign - GSI at Interpol - Uruguay 'Paying High Attention' to GDI, GSI & GCI - G7 Communique
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Page 1: At the top of the page is the full outline plan by the Central Committee to issue and revise Party regulations from 2023 to 2027.
The article says that says that the outline plan is guided by “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, fully implements the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, adheres to top-level design for the formulation of intra-Party laws and regulations in the next five years, and is an important document leading the construction of intra-party laws and regulations at a new starting point. formulation of the plan is of great significance for deepening rule-based governance of the Party, promoting the high-quality development of laws and regulations within the Party, ensuring that the whole Party maintains a high degree of alignment in thought, politics and action with the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core, and for realising the Party's mission and tasks in a new era and on a new journey.” 通知指出，《规划纲要》以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻党的二十大精神，对今后5年中央党内法规制定工作进行顶层设计，是新起点上引领党内法规制度建设的重要文件。《规划纲要》的制定实施，对于深入推进依规治党、推动党内法规制度建设高质量发展，确保全党在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，实现新时代新征程党的使命任务，具有重要意义.
The entire document comprises 28 articles, and is divided into five sections. I’ll do a section-by-section summary.
Section 1 calls for persisting in improving the system of the ‘two safeguards’ to ensure the unity of the whole party and unity of action. 一、坚持以完善“两个维护”制度保证全党团结统一、行动一致 Safeguarding General Secretary Xi Jinping’s position as the core of the Party Central Committee and his position as the core of the entire Party, and safeguarding the authority of the Party Central Committee’s centralised and unified leadership are the highest political principles and fundamental political rules of the Party. This is the key to uniting the Party into a ‘solid piece of steel’. 维护习近平总书记党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，是党的最高政治原则和根本政治规矩，是保证党集中统一、坚强有力，团结成“一块坚硬的钢铁”的关键。It is necessary to improve the two safeguards system and mechanism, and ensure that the whole party always maintains a high degree of alignment with the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core in terms of thought, politics and actions. 要通过完善“两个维护”制度机制，推动全党始终在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致。
Under this, it comprises six points:
Improve the system of arming the whole party and educating the people with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. 健全用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想武装全党、教育人民的制度. This includes training of leading cadres and young cadres, in order to ensure that the “younger generation” “consciously becomes firm believers and faithful practitioners” of Xi’s thought.
Second, improve the Central Committee’s leadership over major tasks. Under this, the document calls for new regulations on the work of the Central Committee. These seek to “ensure that only the CPC Central Committee has the power to make decisions and interpret major principles and policies concerning the whole Party and the country. Improve the system in which the CPC Central Committee takes the overall situation into account and coordinates all parties, and uphold and strengthen the leadership of the CPC Central Committee over the major work of the party, government, military groups, enterprises and institutions. Improve the decision-making system of the Politburo and its Standing Committee, improve the system of investigating and studying major decisions of the Party Central Committee, soliciting opinions and listening to suggestions, and improve the system of the Party Central Committee in leading the advancement of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in setting directions, planning the overall situation, determining policies and promoting reforms.” 坚定维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，制定推动《中国共产党中央委员会工作条例》贯彻落实的配套制度，确保涉及全党全国性的重大方针政策问题，只有党中央有权作出决定和解释。健全党中央总揽全局、协调各方的制度，坚持和加强党中央对党政军群和企事业单位重大工作的领导。健全中央政治局及其常务委员会决策制度，完善党中央重大决策的调查研究、征求意见、听取意见建议制度，健全党中央在领导推进中国特色社会主义事业中把方向、谋大局、定政策、促改革的制度. There is also a call for formulating new regulations on the decision-making, deliberation and coordination work of the CPC Central Committee. 研究制定《党中央决策议事协调机构工作条例》，健全党中央决策议事协调机构的设立和运行机制，发挥对重大工作进行顶层设计、统筹协调、整体推进、督促落实的职能作用.
Third, “improve the system of the Party Central Committee leading various types of organisations at all levels.” 健全党中央领导各级各类组织的制度. It calls to “improve the system of the Party organisations at the central level reporting to the Central Committee, and further strengthen the centralised and unified leadership of the Central Committee over the NPCSC, the State Council, the CPPCC NC, the SPC, and the SPP. Improve the system for Party organisations at the central level to ensure that the Party's theory, line, principles and policies are fully implemented in their own organs, systems and fields, promote all localities and departments to consciously uphold the Party’s overall leadership, and resolutely safeguard the authority of the centralised and unified leadership of the Central Committee.” 完善中央一级党组织向党中央请示报告工作的制度，进一步加强党中央对全国人大常委会、国务院、全国政协、最高人民法院、最高人民检察院党组的集中统一领导。完善中央一级党组织确保党的理论和路线方针政策在本机关本系统本领域全面贯彻落实的制度，推动各地区各部门自觉坚持党的全面领导，坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导.
Fourth, improve the implementation mechanism of the Party Central Committee’s major decision-making arrangements. Under this, there is a call to formulate new regulations on implementing the decisions of the Central Committee, and strengthening the “political responsibility of all localities and departments” to implement the Central Committee’s decisions. The aim is to regulate every link from the division of work to the assessment of the results and supervision. 制定《贯彻落实党中央重大决策部署条例》，强化各地区各部门贯彻落实的政治责任，完善党中央重大决策部署的任务分工、督办落实、定期报告、检查通报、跟踪问效、监督问责等全链条工作机制，确保党中央政令畅通、令行禁止. The section also talks about a new regulation on the formulation of policy documents by local Party committees. The aim for this is to reduce quantity, improve quality and writing style, and copying and pasting and poor formatting. 制定《规范地方党委政策性文件制定工作规定》，推动地方党委文件精简数量、提高质量、改进文风，切实解决文件配套简单照搬照抄、上下一般粗问题.
Fifth, improve the system to ensure that the whole Party maintains a high degree of alignment with the Party Central Committee. Under this, the document calls for strictly implementing the guidelines on political life of the Party under the new situation, while preventing and opposing individualism, decentralism, liberalism and selfish departmentalism. 严格落实《关于新形势下党内政治生活的若干准则》，完善党内政治生活相关制度，巩固和加强党的团结统一，防止和反对个人主义、分散主义、自由主义、本位主义. It adds: “strictly enforce political discipline and rules, take the the Two Safeguards as the fundamental task of strengthening supervision and accountability and deepen political inspection and supervision, resolutely prevent and correct all wrong perceptions, words and deeds that deviate from the Two Safeguards, and resolutely prevent and correct all forms of ‘low-level red’ and ‘high-level black’.” 严明政治纪律和政治规矩，把“两个维护”作为强化监督执纪问责、深化政治巡视和政治监督的根本任务，坚决防止和纠正一切偏离“两个维护”的错误认识和言行，坚决防止和纠正一切形式的“低级红”、“高级黑”.
Sixth, improve the political capacity building system for Party members and cadres
The second section talks about improving the Party’s leadership “in all aspects and links in the fields of reform, development and stability, internal affairs, foreign affairs and national defence, and governing the party, state and army.” 要坚持和加强党对一切工作的领导，健全党总揽全局、协调各方的领导制度体系，坚持在制度轨道上全面实施党的领导活动，完善领导体制机制，创新领导方式方法，把党的领导贯彻落实到改革发展稳定、内政外交国防、治党治国治军各领域各方面各环节，确保党始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心. Under this, there are four points:
First, “strengthen the Party’s leading core role in various organisations at the same level, improve the systems for the Party’s leadership of people's congresses, government, political consultative bodies, supervisory organs, judicial organs, procuratorial organs, the armed forces, people’s organizations, enterprises and public institutions, community-level self-governing organizations, and social organizations, in order to ensure that at all levels and in all areas, under the centralised and unified leadership of the Party, everyone can take their positions, perform their duties, fulfil their responsibilities, and coordinate their actions in an orderly manner.” 强化党在同级各种组织中的领导核心作用，完善党领导人大、政府、政协、监察机关、审判机关、检察机关、武装力量、人民团体、企事业单位、基层群众性自治组织、社会组织等制度，确保各层级各方面在党的统一领导下，各就其位、各司其职、各尽其责、有序协同.
Second, the next point is about enhancing the Party's leadership in work related to “comprehensively deepening the reform, comprehensively governing the country based on the law, ethnic work, religious work, education work, scientific and technological work, socialist spiritual civilization construction work, cyber security and information work, and ecological civilization construction work.” 健全党领导全面深化改革工作、全面依法治国工作、民族工作、宗教工作、教育工作、科技工作、社会主义精神文明建设工作、网络安全和信息化工作、生态文明建设等方面的制度，不断提高党的领导制度化规范化程序化水平. Specifically, the document talks about new regulations on Foreign Affairs Work being led by the CCP. It further calls for increasing inter-party exchanges, improving the system for inter-party exchanges, and encouraging social organisations to participate in international NGO activities and other forms of people-to-people diplomacy. 制定《中国共产党领导外事工作条例》，加强党中央对外事工作的集中统一领导，维护和塑造良好外部环境。加大党际交往力度，健全党际交往制度，完善社会组织参与国际非政府组织活动等民间外交的制度.
Third, improve the system of implementing the Party's leadership over the whole process of Party and state institutions performing their duties. This is in the context of setting up institutions and framing laws.
Fourth, improve the Party’s ability to lead and govern. Under this, the document highlights three regulations. 1. Regulations for major decision-making procedures by Party committees党委（党组）重大决策程序规定 – this deals with the deliberative and consultative process; 2. Provisions on the responsibility system for Party committees to implement United Front work 党委（党组）落实统战工作责任制规定; 3. Provisions on maintaining social stability under the new circumstances. 健全落实新形势下维护社会稳定责任制规定
Section 3 deals with the Party’s organisational rules and systems. There are six points in this.
First, improve the Party’s electoral system, by formulating regulations on the election system. 中国共产党中央组织选举工作条例
Second, improve the organisational system. Under this, the document calls to revise regulations on the work of local committees so that they can “implement the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee more closely in line with the actual situation in the region, and more actively plan and promote high-quality economic and social development in the region.” 修订《中国共产党地方委员会工作条例》，促进地方党委在本地区更好履行把方向、管大局、作决策、保落实职责，更加紧密结合本地区实际贯彻落实党中央决策部署，更加积极主动谋划推进本地区经济社会高质量发展. It also calls for regulations related to the work of Party committees in New Areas, Development Zones, and High-tech Zones 制定《新区、开发区、高新区党的工作委员会工作规定》，规范相关党委派出机关的设立和运行, and revising the trial regulation on CPC working organs.
Third, improve systems for Party organisations to perform their political and organisational functions.
Fourth, improve the cadre work system. This covers systems related to cadre training, selection, management and use. One key point here is the call to revise the provisions related to the management of leading personnel at central financial enterprises. 修订《中管金融企业领导人员管理暂行规定》
Fifth, improve the education, management, supervision, and service systems for Party members and cadres. Under this, the document calls for revising regulations related to the development of members and formulating regulations regarding their “democratic appraisal.” It also talks about new ways of supporting members who are retired, on the move or stationed abroad. Finally, it calls for improving regulations on the collection, use and management of Party fees. 适应社会环境新变化和党员队伍新情况，探索不同群体党员实行差异化管理的有效办法，健全流动党员、派驻国（境）外机构工作党员、离退休干部职工党员等教育管理制度。完善党费收缴、使用和管理相关规定，提高党费工作规范化水平，增强党费支出的政治效果.
Sixth, improve the human resource/talent work system.
Section 4 talks about discipline, corruption and promoting the Party's self-revolution. It comprises seven points:
First, adhere to the Party's management of propaganda, ideology and media, improve the systems for managing ideological positions, guiding news media, and guiding public opinion on major public opinions and emergencies, and firmly control the Party's leadership over ideological work. 坚持党管宣传、党管意识形态、党管媒体，健全意识形态阵地管理、新闻媒体导向管理、重大舆情和突发事件舆论引导等方面制度，牢牢掌握党对意识形态工作的领导权. It talks about formulating a code of ideological and moral conduct 中国共产党思想道德准则; regulations to improve ideological and political work; and regulations for the study and learning of Party history. 制定《中国共产党思想道德准则》，筑牢中国共产党人思想道德高地。制定《中国共产党思想政治工作条例》，完善思想政治工作体系，巩固全党全国各族人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础. 制定《党史学习教育工作条例》，弘扬伟大建党精神，完善中国共产党人精神谱系研究宣传阐释机制，持之以恒推进党史总结、学习、教育、宣传，引导党员干部学史明理、学史增信、学史崇德、学史力行，传承红色基因，赓续红色血脉.
Second, implement regulations that improve intra-Party democracy. This deals with getting cadres to engage in Party processes. In addition, it says “improve the system for making Party affairs more transparent…so as to facilitate party members to better understand and participate in inner-party affairs.” It adds: “improve the system in which representatives of Party congresses participate in major decisions, participate in the recommendation and democratic appraisal of important cadres, attend relevant meetings of Party committees…” 健全党务公开制度，改进党务公开方式，加大党务公开力度，方便广大党员更好了解和参与党内事务。健全党的代表大会代表参与重大决策、参加重要干部推荐和民主评议、列席党委有关会议、联系党员群众等制度，更好发挥代表作用.
Third, improve the system of correcting formalism and bureaucracy.
Fourth, improve the systeming of preventing privileges among leading officials. This deals with having “higher standards and stricter requirements” to ensure the honesty and integrity of leading cadres. It calls to “improve the system of Party spirit education, political morality education, warning education and family tradition education” and urging leading cadres to “improve their Party spirit awareness, cherish integrity and honour, adhere to strict self-cultivation, strict use of power, and strict self-discipline, resolutely get rid of privileged thoughts and behaviours…Carry forward the style of hard work, diligence and thrift, and strictly improve the regulations on the work and living conditions of leading cadres.” 坚持更高标准更严要求促使领导干部保持清正廉洁，健全党性教育、政德教育、警示教育和家风教育制度，督促领导干部提高党性觉悟、珍惜操守名节，坚持严以修身、严以用权、严以律己，坚决破除特权思想和特权行为，以自身廉、自身正赢得自身硬。弘扬艰苦奋斗、勤俭节约作风，从严从紧健全领导干部工作和生活待遇制度规定. “Improve and standardise the regular management mechanism for the behaviour of spouses, children and their spouses of leading officials to conduct business in enterprises, clarify restrictions on the employment of relatives of leading officials, strictly restrict the employment of staff around leading officials after their resignation, and effectively prevent relatives and staff around leading cadres from using their special position to seek illegitimate interests.” 健全规范领导干部配偶、子女及其配偶经商办企业行为常态化管理机制，明确领导干部亲属从业限制，严格领导干部身边工作人员辞职后从业限制和从业行为管理监督，切实防止领导干部亲属和身边工作人员利用特殊身份牟取不正当利益. It talks about formulating specific regulations in this regard. 规范高级干部配偶、子女及其配偶在国（境）外工作学习生活规定
Fifth, improve regulations in Party discipline.
Sixth, improve error prevention and rectification mechanisms. This entails having more inputs in policy implementation, preventing mistakes and correct deviations. It all sounds benign. But the one really critical and rather lethal tool in this to ensure political control over all actors is: “Improve the system for lifelong accountability and retrospective investigation of major decision-making mistakes made by leadership teams and leading cadres, and strictly implement decision-making responsibilities.” 完善领导班子和领导干部重大决策失误终身责任追究和责任倒查制度，严格落实决策责任.
Seventh, improve the system in which Party members do not dare to, do not desire to and cannot be corrupt. In this, the document calls to “improve the system for investigating and handling corruption cases in which political issues and economic issues are intertwined.” It also warns that there will be action against “new corruption and hidden corruption.” The document also talks about standardising regulations related to part-time engagement of leading Party and government officials and retired cadres in business enterprises and social organisations along with rectifying issues such as ‘escaping through resignation’ and the revolving door between politics and business. 进一步规范党政领导干部在企业兼职任职、退休干部经商办企业和社会兼职任职，规范相关行业离任人员从业，整治重点领域和关键岗位“逃逸式辞职”和政商“旋转门”等问题，推动构建亲清统一的新型政商关系.
The fifth and final section largely deals with improving intra-Party supervision and encouraging cadres to take responsibility. Some interesting bits here are about improving supervision with regard to use of natural resources and accountability for environmental damage, regulations regarding the correct exercise of discipline and law enforcement power, encouraging cadres to development a correct perspective on political performance, and revising regulations around practising thrift and opposing waste.
Next, there’s a long Xinhua article praising Xi’s leadership through Q1 this year. This is in the context of Q1 data that was released yesterday. I’ll focus on the data.
The data says:
China’s GDP grew 4.5 percent year on year to 28.5 trillion yuan (about $4.14 trillion) in the first three months. This was a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2.2% from the fourth quarter of the previous year. CNBC informs that this marks the highest growth since the first quarter of last year — when China’s economy grew by 4.8%.
In the first quarter, the added value of agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry and fishery increased by 3.8% year-on-year.
The service sector contributed 69.5 percent to overall GDP growth in the first quarter. The value-added output of the service sector rose 5.4 percent year on year in the first three months. The accommodation and catering sector surged 13.6 percent year on year in the first quarter, in sharp contrast to a decline of 5.8 percent in the fourth quarter last year.
Retail sales of consumer goods went up 5.8 percent year on year in the first quarter, reversing a decline of 2.7 percent in the final quarter of last year.
The value-added industrial output increased by 3 percent year on year in the first three months. Fixed-asset investment went up 5.1 percent year on year in the first quarter. In terms of sectors, infrastructure investment increased by 8.8%, manufacturing investment increased by 7.0%, and real estate development investment decreased by 5.8%.
The sales area of commercial housing nationwide was 299.46 million square metres, a decrease of 1.8%; the sales volume of commercial housing was 3,054.5 billion yuan, an increase of 4.1%.
In terms of industries, the investment in the primary industry increased by 0.5%, the investment in the secondary industry increased by 8.7%, and the investment in the tertiary industry increased by 3.6%. Private investment increased by 0.6%.
Investment in high-tech industries increased by 16.0%, of which investment in high-tech manufacturing and high-tech service industries increased by 15.2% and 17.8% respectively.
In the high-tech manufacturing industry, the investment in the electronic and communication equipment manufacturing industry, medical equipment and instruments manufacturing industry increased by 20.7% and 19.9% respectively; in the high-tech service industry, investment in the e-commerce service industry and the transformation of scientific and technological achievements service industry increased by 51.5% and 51.3% respectively. Investment in social fields increased by 8.3%, of which investment in health and education increased by 21.6% and 6.2% respectively.
In the first quarter, final consumption expenditure contributed 66.6% to economic growth, which was higher than the contribution of total capital formation.
At the press conference, NBS spokesperson Fu Linghui said that “future growth would be underpinned by increased consumption and steady fixed asset investment. He pointed out that property sales witnessed positive changes in the first quarter, and property investment will likely stabilize gradually.”
In the first quarter, the national surveyed urban unemployment rate averaged 5.5%, down 0.1 percentage points from the fourth quarter of the previous year. In March, the national surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.3% , down 0.3 percentage points from the previous month. The surveyed unemployment rate for the 16-24 and 25-59 labour force was 19.6 percent and 4.3 percent, respectively. Among the labour force aged 25-59, the surveyed unemployment rates for those with junior high school education and below, high school education, junior college education, and undergraduate education and above were 4.8%, 4.8%, 4.0%, and 3.1% respectively.
Consumer Price Index rose by 1.3% year-on-year. The core CPI excluding food and energy rose by 0.8% year-on-year, the same as in January and February, and remained basically stable.
In the first quarter, the total import and export of goods was 9,887.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.8%. Among them, exports were 5,648.4 billion yuan, an increase of 8.4%; imports were 4,239.3 billion yuan, an increase of 0.2%. The balance of imports and exports resulted in a trade surplus of 1,409 billion yuan.
Next, there are a couple of reports of engagements by top leaders. First, a report on Zhao Leji’s meeting with Boris Kollar, speaker of the Slovak National Council. Xinhua reports:
“Zhao said in recent years, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) cooperation, China and Slovakia have scored positive cooperation outcomes in the fields of economy and trade, science and technology, tourism, culture, and interconnectivity, among others, delivering benefits to the two peoples. Zhao added that China is willing to work with Slovakia to earnestly carry forward, maintain, and develop their traditional friendship. He urged the two sides to strengthen cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, and transportation, adding that China welcomes Slovak enterprises to expand the market in China via platforms including the China International Import Expo and the China Import and Export Fair, and hopes the Slovak side can provide a fair, just, and unbiased business environment for Chinese companies. Zhao also said China and Slovakia should continue deepening people-to-people exchanges, facilitate understanding among peoples, especially the youth, regarding their national realities, history, and culture, and join hands in promoting China-CEE cooperation and seeking more achievements in mutually beneficial cooperation. Noting that China's NPC has maintained friendly exchanges with the Slovak National Council, which has played an important role in facilitating bilateral ties, Zhao said China is ready to conduct exchanges with the Slovak National Council on various levels via multiple channels, strengthen experience exchanges in legislation and supervision, deepening reform, and environmental protection, among others, to enhance a mutual understanding about development paths and foreign policies. While briefing the Slovak side on the system of people's congresses, Zhao said Chinese people are full of confidence in the political development path and system chosen themselves. China respects and supports people of all countries to take the development paths suited to their respective national conditions and is ready to work with Slovakia to deepen state governance experience exchanges and champion the diversity of world civilizations.”
As per Xinhua, Kollar said “the world is colorful, and no one is in a position to seek confrontation or lecture others due to differences in political systems.”
Second, Ding Xuexiang’s meeting with COP28 UAE President-Designate Sultan Al Jaber in Beijing. Xinhua reports: “Ding said China will work actively and prudently toward the goals of reaching peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality and continue to contribute to climate change response. China hopes that the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will firmly uphold multilateralism, focus on implementation and send a positive signal to the international community of cooperation on climate change response through practical actions and promote the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, Ding added.”
Third, there’s a report on Han Zheng meeting with Francisco Bustillo Bonasso, Uruguay’s minister of Foreign Affairs in Beijing. Xinhua reports:
“The two countries should take the 35th anniversary of the bilateral ties as an opportunity to deepen political mutual trust, promote practical cooperation, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and enhance strategic coordination, so that the China-Uruguay strategic partnership will be further promoted, Han said. He said China is ready to share development opportunities with Uruguay, support each other in independently exploring the path of modernization and jointly move towards prosperity. Bustillo said although the two countries are far apart geographically, their relations have continued to develop and the bilateral cooperation remains steady. Uruguay firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in various fields for a better future of the two countries and two peoples, Bustillo added.”
Finally, the front page has a report on how different institutions and localities are implementing the Xi thought study campaign. It says that as the campaign was initiated, all localities and departments immediately held mobilisation and deployment meetings, set up leading groups and offices, and established guidance groups to strengthen leadership and guidance on the campaign.” 各地区各部门第一时间召开动员部署会，成立领导小组及办公室，组建巡回指导组，加强对主题教育的领导和指导. The first section of the article is basically about different localities and institutions setting up work plans and identifying priority areas.
The second section is about classes and study sessions being conducted to read and understand Xi’s thought; in other words, to undergo theoretical armament. For instance, there’s an example of the Xiamen Party School, where students are reading from Xi’s books. This is part of an activity to learn new ideas for one hour in a day. “The activity requires that two students take the stage to read the learning materials every day, and the rest of the students conduct exchanges and discussions.” 这是厦门市委党校在中青班开展“每天一小时 共学新思想”活动中的一幕。作为主题教育的一部分，活动要求每天由2名学员上台领读学习材料，其余学员展开交流研讨，力求让理论学习更扎实、更聚焦、更有针对性.
Apart from Party and government organs, China Construction Bank and COSCO arranged special rounds of training classes for in-depth study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. 建设银行、中国远洋海运、招商局举办专题轮训班，深入学习习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想.
The next section talks about cadre training work and sending out teams to conduct grassroots investigation and research. This is because “the purpose of learning is all about application. All localities will carry out investigation and research as an important part of the theme education, adhere to the orientation in combination with local conditions, carry out the problem sorting and troubleshooting, and strive to get through the blocking points, stagnation points and difficulties in implementation, promote the realisation of high-quality development, and continuously enhance the people's sense of gain.” 学习的目的全在于运用。各地将开展调查研究作为主题教育的重要内容，结合当地实际，坚持问题导向，实行问题大梳理、难题大排查，着力打通贯彻执行中的堵点、淤点、难点，推动实现高质量发展，不断增强群众的获得感.
Page 3: There is a Zhong Sheng commentary, the sixth in the series on how the US has become an “obstacle” in global human rights development. It says that the US is the “biggest saboteur of the international human rights cause and should be seated as the defendant in the courtroom of global human rights.” 热衷于高喊人权口号、对他国人权状况指手画脚的美国，恰恰是国际人权事业的最大破坏者，最应该坐到世界人权的“被告席”上.
The article basically deals with the recent report released by the White House on the withdrawal from Afghanistan. It says that the report acknowledges that “there was a ‘huge intelligence failure’ during the withdrawal process” and “blames the previous administration for the hasty withdrawal.” It adds that the US “should understand that the military withdrawal does not mean that its responsibilities are done away with, and the release of the report does not mean that the despicable behaviour of the United States in Afghanistan has come to an end. It is clear to the international community that the 20-year war in Afghanistan launched by the US is the main cause of the current difficult situation in Afghanistan. All parties call on the US to immediately lift the unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan, immediately return overseas funds belonging to the Afghan people, and stop creating new humanitarian disasters in Afghanistan.” 美方应该明白的是，军事撤离并不意味着撇清责任，发布调查报告也不意味着美国在阿富汗令人不齿的行径画上了句号。国际社会看得十分清楚，美国发动的长达20年的阿富汗战争是造成当前阿富汗困难局面的主要原因，各方呼吁美方立即解除对阿富汗的单边制裁，立即归还属于阿富汗人民的海外资金，停止在阿富汗制造新的人道主义灾难.
The article quotes John Mearsheimer’s critique of US foreign policy. It then says: The Afghan war launched by the US is a clear proof that American hegemony harms the world. America’s military ‘conquest’ has not brought a moment of peace in Afghanistan. The 20 years of US occupation in Afghanistan have been a period of conflict and turmoil.The 20 years of American occupation of Afghanistan were 20 years of conflict and turmoil in Afghanistan. The more the United States opposes terrorism in Afghanistan, the more terrorist organizations in Afghanistan have increased from single digits 20 years ago to more than 20 today, leaving a huge ‘security black hole’. The US forced the ‘democratic transformation’ of Afghanistan, which has delayed national reconciliation in the country. The US promised to help Afghanistan build a ‘democratic and prosperous’ country, but in the end, it left its people with nothing but instability and poverty.” 美国发动的阿富汗战争就是美国霸权危害世界的明证。美国武力“征服”并未换来阿富汗片刻安宁，美军占领阿富汗的20年是阿冲突和动乱的20年。美在阿富汗越反越恐，踞阿恐怖组织从20年前个位数增加到如今20多个，留下巨大“安全黑洞”。美国强行对阿富汗进行“民主改造”，导致阿富汗内部民族和解问题延宕至今。美国曾宣称要帮助阿富汗建立“民主、繁荣”的国家，但其最终给阿富汗人民留下的却只有动荡和贫困. — Comment: As much as this is a critique of America, it’s worth keeping in mind that if this is Beijing’s view on the security situation in Afghanistan, then what merit is there in reports of China rushing in to fill the void left by America or rushing in to capture Afghanistan’s natural resources? To me, it is clear that US withdrawal has created more problems than opportunities for China for the moment.
The next couple of paragraphs lash out at America for its wars and sanctions policy, for triggering human rights crises in other countries.
Next, there’s a report on Qin Gang meeting with Uruguay's Francisco Bustillo Bonasso. Xinhua reports Qin saying that:
“The two sides should further consolidate political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation, and continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and take China-Uruguay strategic partnership to a new level…Bustillo said Uruguay attaches great importance to its relations with China and looks forward to closer cooperation in the economy, trade and other fields. Uruguay is paying high attention to the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China, and considers them to be important contributions to world peace and human development, he added.”
Third, there’s a report on ice Premier Liu Guozhong meeting with Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov in Beijing. Xinhua reports: “Liu introduced China's achievements and experience of poverty alleviation upon request, adding that China will strengthen cooperation in poverty reduction and promote the development of the global poverty reduction cause. Kuchkarov said Uzbekistan is willing to learn from China's experience in poverty reduction and development and deepen exchanges and cooperation with China in various fields.”
Fourth, there’s a report on Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meeting with Interpol chief Jurgen Stock in Beijing. Xinhua reports: “Wang said that China is willing to work with Interpol to promote the implementation of the Global Security Initiative and make greater contributions to maintaining global security and development. China highly appreciates Interpol's firm support for the one-China principle, Wang said, adding that China is willing to continuously deepen practical bilateral cooperation in combating transnational crimes and in other fields. Stock thanked China for its support of Interpol and expressed the willingness to continuously strengthen pragmatic cooperation between the two sides in various fields.”
Page 15: On the international page, there’s a report covering remarks by Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, to the UNSC.
He said that “the current political process in Yemen has maintained a good momentum, all parties concerned have maintained communication on resuming the truce, and Saudi Arabia, Oman and other countries in the region have made active efforts to ease the situation in Yemen and achieve a permanent ceasefire.” He added: “China hopes that all parties in Yemen will put the interests of the people first, make political decisions, meet each other halfway, push for visible progress in the Yemeni political process at an early date and end the suffering of the Yemeni people at an early date.” He added that “China calls on all parties to the conflict, especially the Houthis, to maintain calm and restraint, avoid provocative actions that can undermine mutual trust and create tensions, avoid further deterioration of the security situation, and provide good conditions for a political solution to the Yemen issue.” 耿爽说，当前也门政治进程保持良好势头，有关各方就恢复休战保持沟通，沙特阿拉伯、阿曼等地区国家为缓和也门局势、实现永久停火作出积极努力。中方对此表示欢迎，也赞赏联合国也门问题特使格伦德贝里的劝和促谈工作。中方希望也门各方以人民利益为重，作出政治决断，坚持相向而行，尽早推动也门政治进程取得可视进展，尽早结束也门人民的苦难。耿爽指出，近期也门安全局势趋紧。中方呼吁冲突各方特别是胡塞组织保持冷静克制，避免采取损害互信、制造紧张的挑衅行动，避免安全形势进一步恶化，为政治解决也门问题提供良好条件.
This exchange from yesterday’s MoFA press conference is also reproduced in the paper.
The Paper: According to reports, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said in an interview that he was shocked to find that the US government had full access to all users’ private direct messages. Do you have any comment?
Wang Wenbin: We noted relevant reports. The US has long eavesdropped on the phone calls of leaders of European countries. The recent leak of US military documents also exposes the US’s large-scale surveillance over its allies. For a country that doesn’t even respect the privacy of the leaders of its allies, it is hardly surprising that it would monitor the users’ private data on social media platforms. Without hard evidence, the US has been accusing foreign companies of monitoring and stealing US users’ data. What Musk said again proves the belief shared by many online that “the US either has done or is doing what it accuses you of”. It is increasingly clear that protecting cyber security is just a pretext the US uses to perpetuate its cyber hegemony.
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First, if you are interested, you can read the full G7 communique, which has a section on China. Beijing’s response to this came in the MoFA briefing yesterday, which ended with this:
“We once again urge the G7 to stop maligning and slandering other countries and stop inciting antagonism and confrontation. They need to reflect on their own strategic security policies, earnestly fulfill relevant international arms control obligations, and shoulder their due responsibilities for world peace and security.”
Some key points from the G7 readout:
“We acknowledge the need to work together with China on global challenges as well as areas of common interest, including on climate change, biodiversity, global health security, and gender equality. We reiterate our call for China to act as a responsible member of the international community. We stand prepared to work together to build constructive and stable relations through dialogue and to promote global economic recovery and people-to-people exchanges in a mutually beneficial way. It is in the interest of all countries, including China, to ensure transparent, predictable, and fair business environments. Legitimate business activities and interests of foreign companies must be protected from unfair, anti-competitive, and non-market practices, including through illegitimate technology transfer or data disclosure in exchange for market access. We encourage China to uphold its commitments to act responsibly in cyberspace, including refraining from conducting or supporting cyber-enabled intellectual property theft for commercial gain.”
“There is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and we oppose China’s militarization activities in the region. We emphasize the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirm UNCLOS’ important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas. We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceeding, and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.”
We reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element in security and prosperity in the international community, and call for the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues…We support Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, including in the World Health Assembly and WHO technical meetings, as a member where statehood is not a prerequisite and as an observer or guest where it is…
“We are also concerned about China’s ongoing and accelerating expansion of its nuclear arsenal, and development of increasingly sophisticated delivery systems, without transparency, good faith arms control or risk reductions measures. The G7 urges China to engage promptly in strategic risk reduction discussions with the US and to promote stability through greater transparency of China’s nuclear weapon policies, plans, and capabilities. Our security policies are based on the understanding that nuclear weapons, for as long as they exist, should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war and coercion.”
Finally, Qin Gang is heading to the Philippines soon. The past few months have been rather tricky between Beijing and Manilla. More recently, Rappler reports that “China’s ambassador to the Philippines last week caused a stir when he accused the country of “stoking the fire” of regional tensions by offering expanded military base access to treaty ally the United States, which he accused of interfering.” In his remarks, Ambassador Huang Xilian also ended up talking up the threat to Overseas Filipino Workers, in effect damaging Beijing’s message.
Here’s an excerpt from his remarks:
“it should not be hard to understand why the announcement of the four additional EDCA sites has caused widespread and grave concern among Chinese people.
Facts speak louder than words. Obviously, the US intends to take advantage of the new EDCA sites to interfere in the situation across the Taiwan Strait to serve its geopolitical goals, and advance its anti-China agenda at the expense of peace and development of the Philippines and the region at large. Many Filipino politicians and ordinary Filipino people are questioning whether opening new bases will serve the national interests of the Philippines. “Why are the new EDCA sites only a stone’s throw away from Taiwan?” “How will the Philippines effectively control the prepositioned weapons in the military bases?” “Why will the Philippines fight for another country through the new EDCA sites?” These are soul-searching questions of the Philippine people and also doubt by people in China and across the region.
Some tried to find excuse for the new EDCA sites by citing the safety of the 150,000 OFWs in Taiwan, while China is the last country that wishes to see conflict over the Strait because people on both sides are Chinese. But we will not renounce the use of force, and we reserve the option of taking all necessary measures. This is to guard against external interference and all separatist activities. The Philippines is advised to unequivocally oppose “Taiwan independence” rather than stoking the fire by offering the US access to the military bases near the Taiwan Strait if you care genuinely about the 150,000 OFWs.