BRICS' 'China Moment' - Zhang Siqing's Funeral - He Lifeng on Xi's Economic Thought - John Lee on HK's Future - Xi's Book on Youth

Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Wednesday, June 22, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.

Page 1: Let’s begin with a report about the publication of a new book compiling Xi’s discourses on the CPC’s youth-related work. This includes 60 pieces, some of which have been published for the first time, PD informs. An overwhelming majority of the second page in the paper is dedicated to offering an introduction of the key chapters from the book. 

Next, a report (English report) about Xi, Li Zhanshu and Wang Yang attending the funeral of former procurator-general of China's Supreme People’s Procuratorate Zhang Siqing in Beijing. The choice of the picture here says a lot. The report calls Zhang an “excellent member of the Communist Party of China, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, and an outstanding leader on the judicial, prosecuting and public security front.” The report also informs that “Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng, Wang Qishan, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao had either visited Zhang when he was in hospital or offered condolences to his family after his death.”

There’s a long feature on Zhang’s life on Page 4.

Third, there’s a long feature report on how Xi has led BRICS cooperation. This is largely a recap of Xi’s comments during different summits and meetings, along with information about BRICS activities. A couple of useful points:

• BRICS countries account for 23% of the global economy, 18% of trade in goods, and 25% of foreign investment. 

• It says that “thanks to China’s efforts BRICS cooperation has picked up speed and shifted gears -- from a two-wheel drive driven by politics and economy to a three-wheel drive, featuring economy, trade and finance; political security; and people to people and cultural exchanges.” 在中方推动下，金砖国家合作实现提速换挡——从政治和经济“双轮驱动”，升级为经贸财金、政治安全、人文交流“三轮驱动”架构.

• The article talks about expanding the BRICS ‘circle of friends,’ arguing that the essence of the BRICS+ initiative is to “achieve common development and prosperity” with other emerging markets and developing countries.” 在不断强化金砖国家团结协作内核，提升金砖国家向心力、凝聚力的同时，持续扩大金砖“朋友圈”，同广大新兴市场国家和发展中国家实现共同发展繁荣，这正是习近平主席提出“金砖+”的要义所在.

• In December 2021, the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) announced that it would welcome Egypt as a new member, following the decision to include the United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Bangladesh. Bangladesh and the UAE have so far completed the procedures and become full members. 2021年12月29日，全球目光聚焦金砖国家合作又一具有里程碑意义的时刻：金砖国家新开发银行宣布将迎来新成员国埃及，这是继决定吸纳阿联酋、乌拉圭和孟加拉国之后新开发银行的再次“扩员”。目前，孟加拉国、阿联酋已完成相关程序，成为正式会员国.

• Since opening in July 2015, the NDB has approved and funded more than 80 projects totalling more than $31 billion.

• There’s also a BRICS New Industrial Revolution Partnership Innovation Base, which has been established in Xiamen, Fujian. 

• On GDI, the report says that: “At present, more than 100 countries and international organisations, such as the United Nations, have supported the Global Development Initiative. The ‘Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative’ established by China at the UN has more than 50 members. 目前，已有100多个国家及联合国等国际组织支持全球发展倡议，中国在联合国平台成立的“全球发展倡议之友小组”已有50多个成员.

Ahead of tomorrow’s summit meeting, pages 5 and 6 in the paper today are also dedicated to showcasing BRICS cooperation.

Fourth, we have the Tibet chapter in the series on following Xi’s footprints. This one discusses Xi prioritising the environment and balancing development while protecting the environment, and emphasises national unity. It says that “ecology is 国之大者” and that protecting the ecology of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the greatest contribution to the survival and development of the Chinese nation. 生态，是西藏的“国之大者”。保护好青藏高原生态就是对中华民族生存和发展的最大贡献.

It talks about wetland protection, efforts to carry out afforestation and biodiversity protection, and says that “this year, Nyingchi will focus on ecological protection and restoration along with the prevention and control of soil erosion in major river basins such as the Yarlung Zangbo River and Niyang River. It will also accelerate the establishment of a system of rigid constraints for water resources. 今年，林芝重点开展雅鲁藏布江、尼洋河等重要江河流域的生态保护修复及水土流失防治，加快建立水资源刚性约束制度.

The piece also talks about road and rail connectivity. The piece says that as of 2021, the installed energy capacity and under-construction capacity in Tibet is 13.71 million kilowatts and the electricity exported outside Tibet is around 2.5 billion kilowatt hours. It adds that this year, the aim is to build more capacity along the upper reaches of Jinsha River and the middle reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River, add a million kilowatt solar power base and expand wind power capacity. 西藏清洁能源资源丰富。2021年，大古水电站投产发电，拉哇水电站成功截流，西藏建成和在建电力装机达到1371万千瓦，外送电量25亿千瓦时。今年，西藏继续大力发展清洁能源产业，建设金沙江上游和雅鲁藏布江中游水风光储多能互补基地，积极推进百万千瓦级光伏基地和高海拔风电建设，有序推进“新能源+储能”试点示范，力争建成和在建装机1600万千瓦.

Fifth, there’s a report about Li Keqiang’s visit to Hebei. The report focuses on Li’s comments around ensuring grain security and energy supply in order to stabilise the economy and prices. The piece informs that “overall, the production of wheat in the whole country this year has increased compared with last year.”  He added that China's bumper wheat harvest not only satisfies its own domestic needs but also contributes to the stability of the international grain market. 今年小麦丰收保障了中国自身需求、中国粮食市场稳定，一定意义上也是对全球粮食市场稳定作贡献.

There’s also this line about monetary policy: “the main indicators of our monetary policy are within the normal range. This is important to keep inflation in check and leave room for flexible monetary policy implementation in response to new challenges.”近年来我们一直实施稳健的货币政策，没有超发货币，目前货币政策主要指标在正常区间，很重要的也是为了防通胀，为应对新挑战灵活实施货币政策留下空间.

On energy issues, Li said that China was currently going through peak summer, which meant that ​​it is necessary to release the advanced coal production capacity, guarantee electricity supply, resolutely prevent power rationing, and ensure economic operations and people's basic livelihood. He also called for boosting clean and efficient production of coal power and expediting the building of pumped-storage hydroelectric plants.

Xiao Jie and He Lifeng accompanied Li.

Sixth, a report about the NPCSC beginning its latest session. Xinhua English has a good summary.

“Lawmakers reviewed a draft revision to the Law on Physical Culture and Sports, a draft black soil conservation law, a draft amendment to the Anti-monopoly Law, and a draft amendment to the procedural rules of the NPC Standing Committee, all submitted by the NPC Constitution and Law Committee to the session. In its reports to the session, the NPC Constitution and Law Committee said the four drafts are already relatively mature, and suggested the session adopt them. Lawmakers also deliberated a draft law on telecom and online fraud, a draft revision to the Law on Quality and Safety of Agricultural Products, a draft Yellow River protection law, and a draft civil enforcement law, among other reports and bills.”

One of the key points of the amendment to the anti-monopoly law is around the safe-harbour rule. Xinhua reports:

“The first reading version stipulates that businesses with a market share below a certain level will not be subject to the prohibition of monopoly agreements. The current draft further makes clear that businesses should prove that their market share is lower than the standard set by the anti-monopoly law-enforcement agency, while other requirements set by authorities should also be fulfilled.”

Seventh, a report on the ​​plenary meeting of the 22nd session of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. Wang Yang attended the meeting. Xinhua says “twelve national political advisors delivered remarks on topics including ecological restoration, non-fossil fuels, green technology, financial support for low carbon development, electricity market reforms, and grassland protection.

Finally, a report (English report) informing us that the three astronauts who were part of the Shenzhou-13 crewed mission have been awarded medals for their service to China’s space endeavours. Zhai Zhigang, the mission commander, and Wang Yaping, the first female on China’s space station, were honoured with second-class aerospace achievement medals, while Ye Guangfu received a third-class medal and the honorary title ‘heroic astronaut’. 

Page 2: A report about Sun Chunlan discussing the need to focus on employment of college graduates during her visit to Shanxi province. Sun said that cities with no new cases of social transmission for 7 consecutive days should carry out campus recruitment activities as normal, and actively provide convenience for employers to recruit graduates seeking jobs. Second, a report with Hu Chunhua calling for strengthening grain production across southern provinces.

Page 3: A report confirming that Wang Menghui was elected Hubei party secretary. Also, there’s the first in a new series of 仲音 commentaries on human rights. 

The article says that:

“Adhering to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, respecting the dominant position of the people, proceeding from the reality of our country, adhering to the basic human rights with the right to subsistence and development as the first priority, adhering to the protection of human rights in accordance with the law, and actively participating in global human rights governance...These are the main aspects of China’s human rights development…” 坚持中国共产党领导，坚持尊重人民主体地位，坚持从我国实际出发，坚持以生存权、发展权为首要的基本人权，坚持依法保障人权，坚持积极参与全球人权治理……这既是中国人权发展的主要特征...

It adds:

“It should be noted that human rights are historical, concrete and realistic. Different countries have different national conditions, different historical cultures, social systems, and different levels of economic and social development. We must and can only proceed from the actual situation of our country and people’s needs to explore our own human rights development path. Being divorced from reality and completely copying other countries’ systems and models will not only lead to challenges of acclimatisation (i.e., the system being out of place), but also bring disastrous consequences, which will ultimately hurt the broad masses of the people. China’s human rights development practice fully shows that China’s human rights development path not only embodies the principle of universality of human rights, but also conforms to China's reality, and it is an effective path for human rights development and protection that has been proved by practice. On the new journey, we should have the determination and confidence to ‘keep our ambition and our path unchanged’, so as to promote the broader development of human rights in China, and to make greater achievements in human rights in China.” 应当看到，人权是历史的、具体的、现实的，各国国情不同，历史文化、社会制度、经济社会发展水平存在差异，必须也只能从本国实际和人民需求出发，探索适合自己的人权发展道路。脱离实际、全盘照搬别国制度模式，不仅会水土不服，而且会带来灾难性后果，最终受害的还是广大人民群众。我国人权事业发展实践充分说明，中国人权发展道路既体现人权普遍性原则又符合中国实际，是经过实践证明行之有效的人权发展和保障之路。新征程上，我们要有“志不改、道不变”的决心和信心，推动中国人权发展道路越走越宽广，推动我国人权事业取得更大发展成就.

Page 8: The lead article on the theory page is by He Lifeng on Xi Jinping’s economic thought. He basically emphasises the recently released book on this. He writes that Xi’s economic thought has “broad historical background, profound theoretical origins and a solid practical foundation; it comprises firm ideals and beliefs, a clear people-oriented stand and grand global vision; it is an important aspect of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era; it is the latest theoretical achievement in Marxist thinking on political economy in China, and is a scientific guide for China's high-quality economic development and for building a comprehensively modern socialist country.” 　　习近平经济思想具有广阔时代背景、深厚理论渊源和坚实实践基础，蕴含着坚定的理想信念、鲜明的人民立场、宏大的全球视野，是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，是马克思主义政治经济学在当代中国、21世纪世界的最新理论成果，是我国经济高质量发展、全面建设社会主义现代化国家的科学指南.

He later calls it a “major theoretical achievement formed by using the basic principles of Marxist political economy to guide the practice of economic development in the new era.”

Going forward, He talks about key tasks:

• Strengthen the Party's overall leadership over economic work: in this regard, he largely calls for strengthening alignment with the requirements and deployments of the central leadership with Xi at the core.

• Promote the construction of a new development pattern: this includes supply side reform, expansion of domestic demand, foreign trade, building a unified national market

• Deepen reform and opening up: this includes building a high-standard market system, promoting the reform of market-based allocation of factors, and innovating and improving macro-control, along with trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and reform and development of the global governance system.

• Implement major national development strategies: this includes the innovation-driven development strategy to address chokepoint technologies, rural revitalisation strategy and regional development strategies.

• Protect and improve people’s livelihood: this includes employment focus, addressing challenges of income inequality, focusing on common prosperity, public health challenges, social security and cultural issues.

• Coordinate development and security: this includes food and energy security, along with stability and security of the industrial chain and supply chain and preventing systemic risks.

Page 10: There’s a report from Hong Kong, talking about steps taken over the years to address the city’s many challenges. There was a similar article yesterday too. That one talked about the city’s GDP expansion since 1997, its emergence as an international finance, trade and shipping, and the advancement of its four key industries, i.e., trade and logistics, tourism, finance, professional services. It said that the one country, two systems mechanism was beneficial to Hong Kong and that the city must integrate with overall PRC development. Today’s piece talks about transportation infrastructure development in the city and addressing challenges related to property prices and housing. There is a lot of speculation about Xi visiting Hong Kong for the July 1 celebrations, given that it marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to Chinese rule.

The other piece on the page is a commentary on the upcoming BRICS summit. It talks about the BRICS’ 中国时刻 - China Moment. The article basically frames the BRICS as a grouping that is not only advocating for the rights and interests of emerging markets and the developing world but is also critical of US policies.

The piece says that the summit is expected to “strengthen BRICS solidarity and cooperation with the vast number of emerging markets and developing countries, inject stability and positive energy into international relations amid the turbulent changes that are taking place, and safeguard world peace and development.” 

“BRICS cooperation carries the expectations of emerging markets and developing countries and even the entire international community. At present, the effects of the once-in-a-century profound changes are intertwined with the impact of the once-in-a-century pandemic; the international situation is increasing marked by instability, uncertainty and insecurity; unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying have intensified, and the deficits of governance, trust, development and peace have increased. In such a situation, it is more important than ever to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries. The desire of the vast number of emerging markets and developing countries to participate in BRICS cooperation is stronger than ever. BRICS countries should stick to their original aspirations, demonstrate their responsibilities, and focus on the urgent needs of emerging markets and developing countries, effectively promoting world peace and development.” 金砖合作承载着新兴市场和发展中国家乃至整个国际社会的期望。当前，百年变局和世纪疫情叠加影响，国际形势中不稳定、不确定、不安全因素日益突出，单边主义、保护主义、霸凌行径愈演愈烈，治理赤字、信任赤字、发展赤字、和平赤字有增无减。在此形势下，加强新兴市场和发展中国家团结合作比以往任何时候都更为重要，广大新兴市场和发展中国家参与金砖合作的愿望比以往任何时候都更加强烈。金砖国家坚守初心、展现担当，聚焦广大新兴市场国家和发展中国家的迫切需求，将有力推动世界和平发展.

It adds that “BRICS countries should shoulder the mission of putting development back at the core of the international agenda. Complex factors such as the global pandemic, regional conflicts, contestation between major countries and de-globalisation are intertwined; consequently, the global poverty reduction process has suffered a severe setback. What is even more worrying is that the issue of development is increasingly being marginalised in terms of the global agenda, aid commitments from developed countries are far from being implemented, and there is a huge gap in global development resources. This does not lend to any optimism in terms of achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development goals. Faced with severe challenges, BRICS countries should not only strengthen mutual development cooperation, but also push the international community to focus on global development, boost development partnerships, create a favourable development environment, and make the development achievements further benefit emerging markets and developing countries. 金砖国家肩负推动发展问题回归国际核心议程的使命。全球疫情、地区冲突、大国博弈、逆全球化等复杂因素相互交织，全球减贫进程严重受挫。更令人担忧的是，发展问题在国际议程中日益被边缘化，发达国家援助远未落实，全球发展资源缺口巨大，如期实现联合国2030年可持续发展议程不容乐观。面对严峻挑战，金砖国家不仅要加强彼此发展合作，还应推动国际社会聚焦全球发展事业，提振发展伙伴关系，塑造有利发展环境，让发展成果惠及更多新兴市场和发展中国家.

“BRICS cooperation shoulders the important task of advocating the global governance concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Under the guise of multilateralism, some countries are inciting ideological confrontation, severely impacting the international order and exacerbating the global governance deficit. Faced with unprecedented changes and chaos, the BRICS countries must adhere to true multilateralism, advocate openness and inclusiveness, and oppose closure and exclusion. We must resolutely safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, oppose the formation of ‘small circles’ and coercion of other countries to choose sides; It is necessary to promote the global governance system to better reflect the legitimate concerns and reasonable demands of most countries, especially developing countries.” 金砖合作肩负倡导共商共建共享的全球治理观的重任。个别国家打着多边主义幌子，煽动意识形态对抗，严重冲击国际秩序，加剧全球治理赤字。面对前所未有的变局乱局，金砖国家要坚持真正的多边主义，倡导开放包容，反对封闭排他；要坚定维护以联合国为核心的国际体系，反对拉帮结派搞“小圈子”，反对胁迫别国选边站队；要推动全球治理体系更好反映大多数国家特别是发展中国家的正当关切和合理诉求.

The next part talks about China’s desire to develop BRICS+ cooperation. 

Page 13: There is an interview with Hong Kong’s chief executive designate John Lee. Xinhua has the English version of Lee’s comments. The English version contains the policy-relevant bits:

• Over the next five years, the HKSAR government will focus on economy and people's livelihood, trying to solve the problems accumulated over the past years, while remaining vigilant about safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests

• “From my point of view, development is the key to solving problems in Hong Kong,” Lee said, adding that the focus of the new HKSAR administration is to promote development to benefit Hong Kong residents, so that the issues long plaguing the Hong Kong society will be gradually solved.

• According to the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development, Hong Kong is being supported in establishing itself as an international center for innovation and technology, a center in the Asia-Pacific region for international legal and dispute resolution services, a regional center for intellectual property trade, and a center for cultural and art exchanges with other countries. Hong Kong should give full play to its own advantages, enhance its international competitiveness, and better integrate into the country's overall development, Lee said.

• It is the HKSAR's constitutional responsibility to achieve the Article 23 legislation under the HKSAR Basic Law. “We will do a full legal study to ensure that local legislation can handle the national security risks that may be encountered in the future,” he said.

• Lee backed the one country, two systems, saying that Hong Kong had become “more resilient and dynamic” after weathering challenges

• “We need to further improve the overall development of Hong Kong and heighten its international reputation to make the city more successful, Lee said. “This is the key objective of promoting the 'one country, two systems.”

• He also talked about his comprehensive youth policy

In PD, there’s a chunk where Lee talks about his experience of watching the handover ceremony of 1997. He talks about how the handover ceremony is an unforgettable moment for him; how his blood boiled/the strong sense of emotion or passion 热血沸腾 that he experienced when he saw the PRC flag being hoisted along with the HKSAR flag. 

Anyway, on the youth policy, do check out this SCMP report:

“Only 2 per cent of Hong Kong’s youth identify as “Chinese”, a drop from 5.4 per cent some six months ago, according to latest findings of a half-yearly tracking poll released on Tuesday. This was despite overall survey results showing an increase in recent years of residents’ sense of being “Chinese”, with the latest rating at 6.52 on a scale of zero to 10, up from 6.13 last time, also the highest since the poll in December 2018 when the rating was 6.6.”