BRI's Future Direction - Wang Yi on US & Taiwan - Huang Kunming: Xi Thought is Key at Home & Revitalising World Socialism
Here are the stories and pieces from the November 22, 2021, edition of the People’s Daily that I found noteworthy.
Page 1: Over the weekend, there was a report about Xi’s remarks at a symposium about BRI. Apart from the standard domains, in his speech, Xi had also highlighted the need to expand to new areas of cooperation under BRI, such as pandemic control, low-carbon development, and e-commerce.
Today, there’s a commentary drawing from that speech. It says that Xi outlined the necessity of building a higher quality BRI going forward. Then he spoke about “the new situation facing the development of BRI.”
“Peace and development remain the theme of our times, the general direction of economic globalisation has not changed, the international landscape and development strategy are favourable to China, and the Belt and Road Initiative still faces important opportunities. At the same time, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century at an accelerating pace. A new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation have brought about unprecedented fierce competition. Global issues such as climate change and epidemic prevention and control are having an unprecedented impact on human society. Faced with such a new situation, it is all the more important for us to pursue high-quality, sustainable and people-friendly development and stay committed to high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. ‘We need to maintain strategic determination and seize strategic opportunities, and balance development with security, balance domestic and international cooperation with struggle, balance stock with expansion, balance the overall with priority areas, and actively respond to challenges, and seek advantages and avoid disadvantages, in forging ahead.’ 明者因时而变，知者随事而制。推动高质量共建“一带一路”，必须正确认识和把握共建“一带一路”面临的新形势。总体上看，和平与发展的时代主题没有改变，经济全球化大方向没有变，国际格局发展战略态势对我有利，共建“一带一路”仍面临重要机遇。同时，世界百年未有之大变局正加速演变，新一轮科技革命和产业变革带来的激烈竞争前所未有，气候变化、疫情防控等全球性问题对人类社会带来的影响前所未有，共建“一带一路”国际环境日趋复杂。越是面临这样的新形势，越是要以高标准、可持续、惠民生为目标，坚定不移推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展。“我们要保持战略定力，抓住战略机遇，统筹发展和安全、统筹国内和国际、统筹合作和斗争、统筹存量和增量、统筹整体和重点，积极应对挑战，趋利避害，奋勇前进。”习近平总书记的重要讲话，为我们坚持以高标准、可持续、惠民生为目标，推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展不断取得新成效指明了前进方向.
The next paragraph says that over the past 8 years, China has “taken the ‘hard connectivity’ of infrastructure as an important direction, ‘soft connectivity’ through rules and standards as an important support, and ‘heart connectivity’ of the people as an important foundation for the co-construction of BRI.” The ultimate goal of this endeavour has been to “better integrate into global supply chains, industrial chains and value chains through all-round interconnection and interoperability, and achieve joint development.” 8年来，我们坚持共商共建共享原则，践行开放、绿色、廉洁理念，致力于实现高标准、可持续、惠民生目标，把基础设施“硬联通”作为重要方向，把规则标准“软联通”作为重要支撑，把同共建国家人民“心联通”作为重要基础，最终目的是通过全方位互联互通，更好融入全球供应链、产业链、价值链，实现联动发展.
Going ahead, the piece says that it is “necessary to actively align with generally accepted international rules and standards, and promote enterprises to follow generally accepted international rules and standards in project construction, operation, procurement, tendering and bidding and other areas, while respecting the laws and regulations of various countries.” In addition, it talks about projects needing to be environmentally, commercially and financially sustainable. The commentary adds: “We should adhere to a people-centered development philosophy, focus on eliminating poverty, increasing employment, and improving people’s livelihood, so that the achievements of BRI can better benefit all people and make tangible contributions to local economic and social development.” This is “an important way to quickly enhance the sense of gain of the people in the partner country.” 要坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，聚焦消除贫困、增加就业、改善民生，让共建“一带一路”成果更好惠及全体人民，为当地经济社会发展作出实实在在的贡献。民生工程是快速提升共建国家民众获得感的重要途径，要加强统筹谋划，形成更多接地气、聚人心的合作成果.
Next, there’s a commentary on the “two roads spirit.” This refers to the construction of the Sichuan-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet highways in 1954. PD tells us that the roads were critical for “consolidating the southwestern frontier, and promoting national unity and progress.” Xi apparently had spoken about this spirit as being characterised by “facing hardship and death with great courage, and remaining tenacious and dedicated,” along with national unity and military-civilian unity.
Finally, there’s a report arguing that the Chinese government across the board is improving the business environment for market entities. The piece basically relies on a couple of comments and data about the total number of market entities in China. It says that the number of market entities in China topped 150 million. According to the State Administration for Market Regulation, of the total, about 100 million emerged in the past 10 years. The number of individual businesses has exceeded 100 million. Some 700 million jobs are created by these market entities. The article ends by talking about the new regulation on the registration and administration of market entities, which comes into effect in March 2022.
Xinhua had reported in August that the regulation has “unified provisions on the registration and administration of enterprises of all types, self-employed individuals, and specialised farmers' cooperatives that engage in for-profit business activities in China. The regulation will likely streamline market entities’ registration processes, lower institutional costs, and reduce their burden to provide legal safeguards for cultivating and strengthening market entities and promoting fair competition.”
Page 2: There’s a report based on the PBOC’s quarterly monetary policy report. It says that China has adhered to a “normal monetary policy, grasped the strength and rhythm of a prudent monetary policy, comprehensively studied the marginal changes of domestic and international economic and financial situation and possible monetary policy adjustments of major economies, and made forward-looking arrangements on its own initiative.” As of September, broad M2 money supply grew 8.3% from a year earlier, while the stock of social financing grew by 10% year on year.
The report adds that going ahead, “we will increase the amount of small re-lending by 300 billion yuan, step up assistance to micro, small and medium-sized businesses, implement the extension of the two monetary policy tools directly directed to the real economy, take a comprehensive approach to support coordinated development among regions, and increase policy support for scientific and technological innovation, small and medium-sized enterprises, green development, manufacturing and other fields.” 新增3000亿元支小再贷款额度，加大对中小微企业纾困帮扶力度，实施好两项直达实体经济货币政策工具的延期工作，综合施策支持区域协调发展，加大对科技创新、小微企业、绿色发展、制造业等领域的政策支持力度.
Going ahead, “prudent monetary policy should be flexible, targeted, and appropriate.” It also talks about the need to “grasp the strength and rhythm of policy, handle the relationship between economic development and risk prevention, make cross cycle adjustments, maintain the overall stability of the economy.” 报告提出，下一阶段，稳健的货币政策要灵活精准、合理适度，以我为主，稳字当头，把握好政策力度和节奏，处理好经济发展和防范风险的关系，做好跨周期调节，维护经济大局总体平稳，增强经济发展韧性.
Page 3: There’s little new in the stories on the page today. There’s a report about China downgrading ties with Lithuania. The statement read:
Lithuania had “allowed the Taiwan authorities to set up a ‘Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania’. This act openly creates the false impression of “one China, one Taiwan” in the world, renounces the political commitment made by Lithuania in the communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs. The Chinese side expresses its strong indignation and protest against this move, and decides to downgrade its diplomatic relations with Lithuania to the chargé d’affaires level.”
It added that Lithuania’s decision had created “an egregious precedent in the world…The Lithuanian government must bear all the ensuing consequences. We urge the Lithuanian side to immediately put right its mistake and not to underestimate the Chinese people’s strong resolve, will and capability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Next, we had Wang Yi’s comments about Opposing Division Through Solidarity, Promoting Development Through Cooperation at the Global Town Hall themed Managing Competition, Conflict, and Cooperation in a Pandemic World.
Xinhua English has a detailed report. Wang said:
“The world is far from being tranquil, and the risks of group politics and cold-war confrontations are on the rise. He called for all parties to stay committed to solidarity and oppose division, remain committed to the win-win approach instead of a zero-sum mentality, stay committed to boosting common development through cooperation, and stay committed to managing differences through dialogue. ‘China and the United States are the world’s largest developing and developed countries. Whether they can manage their relations well bears on the future of the world. That’s the “question of the century,” and the two countries must come up with a good answer together,’ Wang said. He noted that President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden had a constructive, in-depth, candid, wide-ranging and substantive meeting on Tuesday. It is hoped that the United States will match its critical statements, including not fighting a new Cold War, not seeking conflict or confrontation, and not supporting "Taiwan independence" with specific policies and real actions...‘Only in this way can the China-U.S. relationship achieve steady and long-term growth and benefit both countries and the whole world,’ Wang added.”
On Taiwan, he added: “I hope that you will all agree that the more unequivocal the opposition against 'Taiwan independence' is, and the more resolute the actions against 'Taiwan independence' are, the more hopeful we can be that a peaceful reunification will be achieved. In turn, the more possible for the Taiwan Strait to be peaceful and stable, and consequently, more peace and prosperity in Asia and the Pacific.”
Page 6: There’s a long piece by Propaganda chief Huang Kunming on the 6th plenum outcomes. Huang emphasises the 10 clarifications 十个明确 that the resolution puts out, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics in the New Era being contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st century Marxism. “On the new journey, we should thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, with a high degree of political consciousness, effectively use it to arm our minds, guide practice and promote work, and create new historical achievements with a new outlook and new actions.” 在新的征程上，我们要以高度的政治自觉深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，切实用以武装头脑、指导实践、推动工作，以新气象新作为创造新的历史伟业.
The first section of Huang’s piece talks about the importance of Marxism as the guiding ideology, and then discusses how Xi Thought localises Marxism to China’s conditions, is based on practice and linked to China’s traditional culture. For him, Xi Thought is “is a model of firmly and conscientiously adhering to and developing Marxism, a product of adhering to the ‘two combinations’ and bravely promoting theoretical innovation, endowing Marxism with distinctive practical characteristics, national characteristics and characteristics of the times.” 习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是坚定自觉坚持和发展马克思主义的典范，是坚持“两个结合”、勇于推进理论创新的产物，赋予马克思主义鲜明的实践特色、民族特色、时代特色，是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义.
The next paragraph provides an assessment of China’s strategic situation.
Since the 18th Party Congress, China has stood at a new historical starting point in its development and entered a crucial period in realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Owing to sustained development since reform and opening up, China’s economic power, scientific and technological power, national defense power, overall national power and international influence have increased significantly. We now have a solid foundation and favourable conditions for moving forward. At the same time, changes in the external environment have brought many new risks and challenges. Domestic reform, development and stability also face many deep-seated contradictions and problems that have not been solved for a long time, as well as some new contradictions and problems. All of these pose major governance challenges for the Party. The new great struggle calls for new theoretical guidance, and the new great practice promotes the pace of theoretical innovation. General Secretary Xi Jinping has insisted on observing the times, grasping the times and leading the times with a Marxist stand, viewpoint and method. He has coordinated the overall situation of the strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the profound changes unseen in a century, answering the questions of the times and people with a series of strategic, forward-looking and creative new ideas and strategies. In doing so, he has responded to the new requirements of the new situation and new tasks for the development of the cause of the Party and the country, creating Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. This thought is a scientific theory developed and continuously enriched in the course of the great struggle with many new historical features and the great leap that the Chinese nation has made from standing up, becoming rich to becoming strong. 这一思想立足中华民族伟大复兴战略全局，是新时代中国特色社会主义伟大实践的理论结晶。党的十八大以来，我国发展站在新的历史起点上，实现中华民族伟大复兴进入关键时期。经过改革开放以来的持续发展，国家经济实力、科技实力、国防实力、综合国力、国际影响力显著提升，我们具备了继续前进的坚实基础和有利条件。但同时，外部环境变化带来许多新的风险挑战，国内改革发展稳定也面临不少长期没有解决的深层次矛盾和问题以及新出现的一些矛盾和问题，党治国理政面临重大考验。新的伟大斗争呼唤着新的理论指引，新的伟大实践推动着理论创新步伐。习近平总书记坚持用马克思主义的立场、观点、方法观察时代、把握时代、引领时代，统筹中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，以一系列具有战略性、前瞻性、创造性的新理念新思想新战略回答时代之问、人民之问，回应新形势新任务对党和国家事业发展提出的新要求，创立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想。这一思想是在坚定推进具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争中，在中华民族迎来从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃中形成并不断丰富发展的科学理论.
The next paragraph talks about Xi Thought being rooted in China’s national conditions, history and culture. Therefore, it has “strong historical penetration, cultural appeal, and spiritual appeal.”
The second section of Huang’s article talks about how Xi Thought addresses the nature of socialism with Chinese characteristics that must be developed going forward. He says that “the most fundamental thing is to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We should strengthen path self-confidence, theoretical self-confidence, institutional self-confidence and cultural self-confidence. We should not take the old road of being closed and rigid, and neither should we take the evil road of changing the banner. It is important to consistently adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics.” 党要在新的历史方位上实现新时代党的历史使命，最根本的就是高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜；要坚定道路自信、理论自信、制度自信、文化自信，既不走封闭僵化的老路，也不走改旗易帜的邪路，一以贯之坚持和发展中国特色社会主义。 Following this, Huang basically argues that Xi has correctly identified the shift in the principal contradiction, talked about high-quality development, outlined the “Five in one” overall arrangement and the “Four comprehensives” strategy.
More praise for Xi Thought: “This thought organically connects socialism with Chinese characteristics with the realisation of socialist modernisation and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, demonstrates high self-confidence and strong determination, and demonstrates the vigour and vitality of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. It not only writes a new chapter of adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, but also promotes socialism with Chinese characteristics to become the banner of scientific socialism development in the 21st century, the mainstay of revitalising world socialism, and makes great contributions to the new development of scientific socialism.” 这一思想把中国特色社会主义和实现社会主义现代化、实现中华民族伟大复兴有机贯通起来，彰显了高度自信和强大定力，彰显了新时代中国特色社会主义的蓬勃生机和活力，既书写了坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的崭新篇章，也推动中国特色社会主义成为21世纪科学社会主义发展的旗帜，成为振兴世界社会主义的中流砥柱，为科学社会主义新发展作出了重大贡献.
The next section talks about how Xi’s thought has answered major questions of the times about China’s modernisation.
Based on a profound understanding of the laws of development of human society and a scientific grasp of China’s national conditions, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the modernisation that we are promoting has features that are common in terms of the modernisation of many other countries and it has certain specific Chinese characteristics, which are based on China’s national conditions. China’s modernisation is a modernisation with a huge population, a modernisation of common prosperity for all people, a modernisation in which material civilisation and spiritual civilisation are coordinated, a modernisation in which man and nature coexist harmoniously, and a modernisation that takes the path of peaceful development. We should unswervingly push forward Chinese modernisation and promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese modernisation. Focusing on the overall goal of building a comprehensive modern socialist power, General Secretary Xi Jinping also put forth the goals of building a strong country in science and technology, manufacturing, quality, network, transportation and digital domains, along with building a strong country in culture, education, talent, sports and health. It is important to adhere to the people-centered development philosophy and make more substantial progress in promoting all-round human development and common prosperity for all. We should focus on the new stage of development, apply the new development philosophy, build a new development pattern, promote high-quality development, and balance development and security. 基于对人类社会发展规律的深刻认识和对我国国情的科学把握，习近平总书记指出，我们所推进的现代化，既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于国情的中国特色，我国现代化是人口规模巨大的现代化，是全体人民共同富裕的现代化，是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化，是人与自然和谐共生的现代化，是走和平发展道路的现代化，要坚定不移推进中国式现代化，以中国式现代化推进中华民族伟大复兴，不断为人类作出新的更大贡献。围绕全面建成社会主义现代化强国这一总目标，习近平总书记还提出建设科技强国、制造强国、质量强国、网络强国、交通强国、数字中国，建成文化强国、教育强国、人才强国、体育强国、健康中国等目标；提出坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，推动人的全面发展、全体人民共同富裕取得更为明显的实质性进展；提出立足新发展阶段、贯彻新发展理念、构建新发展格局、推动高质量发展，统筹发展和安全；等等.
This is followed by some more exceptionalism, hubris, and desire to export ideas:
“Looking forward to the middle of this century, China’s population of more than one billion will evolve a modern society as a whole, and it will completely rewrite the modern world map. This is a significant event in human history. The theory and practice of Chinese-style modernisation is creating a new form of human civilisation, expanding the way of human modernisation, providing a brand-new choice for countries and nations in the world who want to accelerate development and maintain their independence, and contributing Chinese wisdom, Chinese programs and Chinese strength to solving major human problems.” 展望本世纪中叶，我国十几亿人口将整体迈入现代化社会，将彻底改写现代化的世界版图，在人类历史上是一件有深远意义的大事。中国式现代化的理论和实践，创造了人类文明新形态，拓展了人类走向现代化的途径，给世界上那些既希望加快发展又希望保持自身独立性的国家和民族提供了全新选择，为解决人类重大问题贡献了中国智慧、中国方案、中国力量。
The fourth section of the article talks about the qualities that the Party must cultivate in the new era, with a focus on discipline and self-revolution.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has made in-depth analysis of the major risks and tests the Party faces and the prominent problems within the Party, giving profound answers to the major issues of the times, concerning what kind of long-term ruling Marxist party to build and how to build a long-term ruling Marxist party. He wants to address the fuzzy understanding of the importance of upholding the Party leadership, deal with actions that weaken the Party, strengthen four consciousnesses, four self-confidences and two safeguards. He wants to address challenges related to “ineffective party management and lax party self-governance” and corruption. Huang calls for improving “the Party’s political, ideological, organizational, conduct, and discipline to ensure that institutions are strengthened throughout the process.”
He ends the piece saying:
The Party’s establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the whole Party, and the guiding position of Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era reflect the common aspiration of the whole Party, the whole army and the people of all ethnic groups in China, which is of decisive significance to the development of the party and the country in the new era and the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation...On the new journey, Xi Jinping thought on socialism socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era must be used to arm the mind, unify thoughts, unite strength and promote practice. It is necessary to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era as the primary political task of the whole party, work hard to learn, understand and practice, deeply understand the core essence, spiritual essence, rich connotation and practical requirements of this thought, deeply grasp the Marxist standpoint, viewpoint and method that runs through it, constantly improve the Marxist theoretical level of the whole party, and constantly improve the political judgment, political understanding and political execution of the majority of party members and cadres...党确立习近平同志党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，确立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的指导地位，反映了全党全军全国各族人民共同心愿，对新时代党和国家事业发展、对推进中华民族伟大复兴历史进程具有决定性意义...当前，全面建设社会主义现代化国家的新征程已经开启，全党全国人民正意气风发向着实现第二个百年奋斗目标、实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦进军。在新的征程上，必须用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想武装头脑、统一思想，凝聚力量、推动实践。要把深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想作为全党的首要政治任务，在学懂弄通做实上下功夫，深刻理解这一思想的核心要义、精神实质、丰富内涵、实践要求，深刻把握贯穿其中的马克思主义立场观点方法，不断提高全党马克思主义理论水平，不断提高广大党员干部的政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力.
Other Stories:
On the theory page, there’s a piece from the Central Party School’s Xi Thought center emphasising the importance of using Marxist standpoints, viewpoints, and methods to observe the times, grasp the times, and lead the times.
On the international page, there’s a report about China’s new aid to Afghanistan. This includes 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid materials and daily necessities. This apparently was the third China-Xinjiang-Afghanistan freight train carrying supplies.
Also check out this Xinhua English report: “Key CPC session offers new impetus for China's pursuit of common prosperity”