Building an Education Power - Delaying Retirement Age - China-Norway Green Dialogue - China-Central Asia Internal Affairs Ministers Meeting - Wang Yi Meets Shoigu - China's Support for Russia's War

Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Wednesday, September 11, 2024.

Page 1: The lead story today is about Xi Jinping’s comments at the National Education Conference in Beijing. September 10 was Teacher’s Day in China. 

“Xi said that education is the foundation of building a strong country and national rejuvenation. Since the 18th Party Congress, we have consistently prioritised education as a critical national strategy and a key task for the Party, fully implemented the Party’s education policy, made major decisions to implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, accelerated the modernization of education, established the goal of building a strong educational nation by 2035, strengthened the Party’s comprehensive leadership over education, continuously promoted reforms in the educational system and mechanisms, and driven historic achievements and transformative changes in the education sector in the new era. Solid steps have been taken toward building a strong educational nation.” 习近平在讲话中指出，教育是强国建设、民族复兴之基。党的十八大以来，我们坚持把教育作为国之大计、党之大计，全面贯彻党的教育方针，作出深入实施科教兴国战略、加快教育现代化的重大决策，确立到2035年建成教育强国的奋斗目标，加强党对教育工作的全面领导，不断推进教育体制机制改革，推动新时代教育事业取得历史性成就、发生格局性变化，教育强国建设迈出坚实步伐.

Xi Jinping emphasised that the education power we want to build is a socialist education power with Chinese characteristics. It should possess strong ideological and political leadership, talent competitiveness, technological support, livelihood assurance, social collaboration, and international influence, so as to provide strong support for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. Xi Jinping pointed out that building an educational powerhouse is a complex and systemic project, which requires focusing on the fundamental task of of fostering virtue and educating people, on cultivating socialist builders and successors with all-round development of morality, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labour, adhere to the socialist direction of education, adhere to and apply a systems concept, and correctly handle major relationships such as supporting national strategies while meeting the needs of the people, balancing knowledge learning and holistic development, cultivating talent while fulfilling societal needs, ensuring orderly regulations while stimulating vitality, and rooting education in China's context while drawing on international experience. 习近平强调，我们要建成的教育强国，是中国特色社会主义教育强国，应当具有强大的思政引领力、人才竞争力、科技支撑力、民生保障力、社会协同力、国际影响力，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供有力支撑。习近平指出，建设教育强国是一项复杂的系统工程，需要我们紧紧围绕立德树人这个根本任务，着眼于培养德智体美劳全面发展的社会主义建设者和接班人，坚持社会主义办学方向，坚持和运用系统观念，正确处理支撑国家战略和满足民生需求、知识学习和全面发展、培养人才和满足社会需要、规范有序和激发活力、扎根中国大地和借鉴国际经验等重大关系.

Xi Jinping stressed that we must persist in using the Thought of Socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era to forge souls and educate people, implementing a new era project of fostering virtue and cultivating talents. continuously strengthen and improve ideological and political education in schools, guiding young students to firmly believe in Marxism, have faith in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and have confidence in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. They should aspire to serve and strengthen the country and become responsible strivers. Pay attention to the use of successful cases of the great changes in the new era, give full play to the educational function of red resources, and continuously expand the space and position of platforms for practical and online education. Increase the promotion of the national common language and characters to promote the building of a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation. 习近平强调，要坚持不懈用新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人，实施新时代立德树人工程。不断加强和改进新时代学校思想政治教育，教育引导青少年学生坚定马克思主义信仰、中国特色社会主义信念、中华民族伟大复兴信心，立报国强国大志向、做挺膺担当奋斗者。注重运用新时代伟大变革成功案例，充分发挥红色资源育人功能，不断拓展实践育人和网络育人的空间和阵地。加大国家通用语言文字推广力度，促进铸牢中华民族共同体意识.

“Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to coordinate the implementation of the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talents, and the strategy of innovation-driven development, and promote education development, scientific and technological innovation, and talent cultivation in an integrated manner. Guided by scientific and technological development and national strategic needs, we should focus on enhancing innovation capacity, optimizing the structure of higher education, improving the adjustment mechanisms for academic disciplines in universities, and refining talent cultivation models, and strengthen the construction of basic disciplines, emerging disciplines, and interdisciplinary disciplines and the cultivation of top talents. Strengthen scientific research cooperation between schools and enterprises, so that more scientific and technological achievements can be transformed into real productivity as soon as possible. Build a vocational education system that integrates vocational and general education, and integrates industry and education, and vigorously cultivate master craftsmen, skilled experts, and highly skilled talent for the nation.” 习近平指出，要统筹实施科教兴国战略、人才强国战略、创新驱动发展战略，一体推进教育发展、科技创新、人才培养。以科技发展、国家战略需求为牵引，着眼提高创新能力，优化高等教育布局，完善高校学科设置调整机制和人才培养模式，加强基础学科、新兴学科、交叉学科建设和拔尖人才培养。强化校企科研合作，让更多科技成果尽快转化为现实生产力。构建职普融通、产教融合的职业教育体系，大力培养大国工匠、能工巧匠、高技能人才.

Xi Jinping emphasised the need to uphold a people-centred approach, continually improving the inclusiveness, accessibility, and convenience of public educational services, ensuring that the benefits of education reform and development are shared more equitably by all the people. Efforts should be made to optimize the allocation of educational resources across regions, promote high-quality and balanced development of compulsory education, and gradually reduce disparities between urban and rural areas, regions, schools, and different groups. Continue to consolidate the achievements of the ‘double reduction’ policy, comprehensively improve classroom teaching standards, and enhance the quality of after-school services. The national education digitization strategy should be implemented in depth, expanding access to high-quality educational resources and improving public services for lifelong learning.” 习近平强调，要坚持以人民为中心，不断提升教育公共服务的普惠性、可及性、便捷性，让教育改革发展成果更多更公平惠及全体人民。优化区域教育资源配置，推动义务教育优质均衡发展，逐步缩小城乡、区域、校际、群体差距。持续巩固“双减”成果，全面提升课堂教学水平，提高课后服务质量。深入实施国家教育数字化战略，扩大优质教育资源受益面，提升终身学习公共服务水平.

“Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to implement the action of cultivating teachers with the spirit of educators, strengthen the construction of teachers’ morality and style, improve the quality of teachers’ training, and cultivate high-level teachers in the new era. Improve teachers’ political status, social status and professional status, strengthen the protection of teachers’ treatment, safeguard teachers’ professional dignity and legitimate rights and interests, and let teachers enjoy high social prestige and become one of the most respected occupations in society. Xi Jinping stressed that it is necessary to further promote the opening-up of education, coordinate ‘bringing in’ and ‘going out’, and constantly enhance the international influence, competitiveness and discourse power of China’s education. Expand international academic exchanges and cooperation in education and scientific research, actively participate in global education governance, and contribute more Chinese strength to promoting the development of global education.” 习近平指出，要实施教育家精神铸魂强师行动，加强师德师风建设，提高教师培养培训质量，培养造就新时代高水平教师队伍。提高教师政治地位、社会地位、职业地位，加强教师待遇保障，维护教师职业尊严和合法权益，让教师享有崇高社会声望、成为最受社会尊重的职业之一。习近平强调，要深入推动教育对外开放，统筹“引进来”和“走出去”，不断提升我国教育的国际影响力、竞争力和话语权。扩大国际学术交流和教育科研合作，积极参与全球教育治理，为推动全球教育事业发展贡献更多中国力量.

Li Qiang and Ding Xuexiang then spoke. Li said that Xi’s speech provided a fundamental guideline for education policy and a programmatic document guiding the education work in the new era. Ding talked about the need to understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, enhance the four consciousnesses and the four self-confidences, and achieve the Two Safeguards and talked about the importance of understanding “the political attributes, people’s attributes, and strategic attributes of education”. He added: “We must persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge the soul and educate people, crafting key courses that effectively implement the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education.” 丁薛祥在总结讲话中指出，要深入学习贯彻习近平总书记重要讲话精神，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，牢牢把握教育的政治属性、人民属性、战略属性，坚定不移走中国特色社会主义教育发展道路。要坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人，锻造好落实立德树人根本任务的关键课程.

Next, there’s a report on Li Qiang’s meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Xinhua says:

“Li called on the two countries to expand and improve economic and trade cooperation, and further release the potential for cooperation in trade, finance and other fields. China welcomes Norway to increase investment in the Chinese market and stands ready to optimize business environment for Norwegian enterprises to invest in China, and vice versa, according to the premier. The two sides should also deepen cooperation in fields such as culture, art, education, tourism and sports, and facilitate personnel exchanges, Li said. China is willing to work with Norway to promote green development, the green transition of traditional industries and the cultivation of emerging green industries, and advance the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity, Li said. Store said that Norway adheres to the one-China policy and looks forward to expanding practical cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, investment, maritime affairs, green economy, scientific and technological innovation, and the Arctic affairs. Norway is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with China on international and regional issues, promote cooperation in climate change and other fields, and jointly cope with global challenges, Store said. The Norwegian side always advocates free and fair trade, upholds the multilateral trading system and supports enhanced dialogue and cooperation between the European Union and China, he said.”

The two issued a joint statement on the establishment of dialogue on the green transition, and attended the signing of bilateral cooperation documents on green and low-carbon development. The English text of that document is available via Xinhua. It says:

“The dialogue will seek to facilitate contacts and cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve and restore biodiversity and create new green industries and jobs. The dialogue will encompass existing areas of cooperation as well as new initiatives that are conducive to expediting the green transition. As such it will coordinate dialogue on relevant issues including:

• Efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change 

• Just, equitable and orderly transition to renewable energy and low-emission solutions

• Sustainable, nature-based solutions to store greenhouse gases and restore and preserve biodiversity  

• Sustainable ocean management and green shipping

• Plastic pollution and international instruments relating to plastic pollution

• Circular economy and sustainable green value chains

The cooperation and dialogue under the framework will be conducted by relevant authorities, businesses, and organisations in line with mutual interests and available resources and under their respective responsibilities. Where useful, specific thematic dialogues can be held on a regular basis. The dialogue will also facilitate strengthened contacts on multilateral processes of mutual interest. A biennial meeting coordinated by our two Ministers of Foreign Affairs will summarise progress and set new targets for the dialogue.”

Finally, there’s a report on the latest NPCSC session. It says that:

• The meeting heard a report on the review results of the draft revision of the National Defense Education Law

• It heard a report on the review results of the draft amendment to the Statistics Law

• It heard a report on the revision of the draft amendment to the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Law

• It heard a report on the revision of the draft Energy Law

• It heard a report on the revision of the draft amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Law

• The  State Council proposed a motion to submit for deliberation the draft law on responding to public health emergencies

• The State Council proposed a motion to submit the draft National Park Law for deliberation

• The National Supervisory Commission proposed a motion to submit the draft amendment to the Supervision Law for deliberation

• The meeting reviewed the State Council’s proposal to submit for deliberation a draft decision on the implementation of a gradual delay in the statutory retirement age. On behalf of the State Council, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaoping provided an explanation. (More information on this proposed reform on Page 4; although it is still think on details.)

• Xiangli Bin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, delivered a report on the implementation of the national economic and social development plan this year.

“The report pointed out that the overall implementation of the plan has been good, with positive progress in high-quality development, and the country’s economic strength and overall national power have continued to grow. Moving forward, it is necessary to accelerate the implementation of key reform initiatives, focus on promoting high-quality development, enhance macroeconomic policies, focus on boosting consumption to expand domestic demand, take multiple measures to increase efforts to stabilise foreign trade and foreign investment, continue to prevent and resolve risks in key areas, coordinate the promotion of comprehensive rural revitalization and new urbanisation, deeply promote the implementation of major regional strategies, solidly promote green and low-carbon development, and increase efforts to protect and improve people's livelihood.” 报告指出，今年以来，计划执行情况总体较好，高质量发展取得新的积极进展，经济实力和综合国力不断增强。下一步要推动标志性改革举措加快落地，着力推动高质量发展，宏观政策要持续用力、更加给力，以提振消费为重点扩大国内需求，多措并举加大稳外贸稳外资力度，持续防范化解重点领域风险，统筹推进乡村全面振兴和新型城镇化，深入推动区域重大战略实施，扎实推进绿色低碳发展，加大保障和改善民生力度.

• Minister of Finance Lan Fo’an reported on the budget implementation. He said:

So far this year, “fiscal operation has been generally stable, the expenditures in key areas such as major national strategic tasks and basic people's livelihood have been well guaranteed, and the budget execution has been generally stable. He reviewed the implementation of the budget resolutions passed at the second session of the 14th National People's Congress and proposed that the next steps are to improve the effectiveness of fiscal policies, concentrate financial resources to guarantee key expenditures, deepen the reform of the fiscal and taxation system, build a solid bottom line for the ‘three guarantees’ at the grassroots level, prevent and resolve local government debt risks, and solidly promote scientific fiscal management.” 受国务院委托，财政部部长蓝佛安作了关于今年以来预算执行情况的报告。报告指出，今年以来，财政运行总体平稳，国家重大战略任务和基本民生等重点领域支出得到较好保障，预算执行情况总体平稳。报告介绍了落实十四届全国人大二次会议预算决议情况，提出下一步要提高财政政策效能，集中财力保障重点支出，深化财税体制改革，筑牢兜实基层“三保”底线，防范化解地方政府债务风险，扎实推进财政科学管理.

• Lawmakers also deliberated on a 2023 report on the management of government debts. This is the first time the NPC Standing Committee has heard and reviewed the State Council's report on government debt management since the establishment and improvement of a reporting system.

• Among other things, the meeting also reviewed the written report of Zhao Leji’ visit to Uzbekistan and Russia and his attendance at the 10th BRICS Parliamentary Forum and the 9th Meeting of the China-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in Russia.

Page 2: There’s a report on the first meeting of the China-Central Asia Public Security and Internal Affairs Ministers. This was held at the sidelines of the Lianyungang forum. The report says:

State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong said that “China is willing to enhance the capability for counter-terrorism and transnational crime fighting, build an efficient and pragmatic cooperation platform with Central Asian countries to achieve the vision of universal security…Wang said all parties should strengthen mutual support in key security areas, ensure the security of major projects under the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance the capability for counter-terrorism and transnational crime fighting, and build an efficient and pragmatic cooperation platform. He also called for opening up a new chapter in law-enforcement and security cooperation between China and Central Asian countries and building a closer China-Central Asia community with a shared future. During the meeting, the heads of the delegations jointly signed relevant cooperation documents.”

He also met with the interior ministers of each of the five Central Asian countries separately. The key aspects talked about were anti-terrorism cooperation, dealing with transnational crimes, law-enforcement capacity building, the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions and projects, security for major events,  telecommunications network fraud and cross-border gambling, and drug control.

Also on the page is a report on Peng Qinghua, vice chairman of the NPCSC, meeting with Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexander Babakov in Beijing.

Page 3: There’s a brief report on Li Qiang’s arrival in Riyadh, where he will chair the Fourth Meeting of the High-Level Chinese-Saudi Joint Committee. 

Page 4: There’s a report with comments from Mo Rong, president of the Chinese Academy of Labour and Social Security, discussing the proposal to push back the statutory retirement age. Mo said that:

This “is a major reform based on the needs of the development of China’s economic, social, and demographic situation. It takes a long-term perspective and is the result of extensive deliberation, thorough research, and careful decision-making. It is an objective requirement for economic and social development and an inevitable choice for China to adapt to the new normal of population development. It is related to supporting Chinese-style modernization with high-quality population development, and it has objective necessity and practical urgency.” “实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄是基于我国经济、社会、人口形势发展需要，着眼长远，经过长期酝酿、充分研究、审慎决策作出的重大改革，是经济社会发展的客观要求，是我国适应人口发展新常态的必然选择，事关以人口高质量发展支撑中国式现代化，具有客观必然性和现实紧迫性。”中国劳动和社会保障科学研究院院长莫荣研究员说.

This reform responds to the objective reality of increased life expectancy and years of education in China, addressing the need to enhance the effectiveness of human resource development and utilisation. With the improvement in living standards, advancements in medical technology, and better health and sanitation conditions, China’s average life expectancy has risen to 78.6 years. At the same time, the average years of education for new labour force entrants has increased from 8 years in 1982 to 14 years in 2023, marking a significant rise. ‘This also means that the age at which the labour force starts working has been delayed. If the statutory retirement age remains unchanged, the reduction in average working years will lead to issues such as a lower utilisation rate of human capital,’ Mo Rong explained. Drawing from international experience and China’s own circumstances, implementing delayed retirement reform helps increase the labour participation rate of younger elderly people, enhances the potential and quality of labour supply, promotes human resource development, and transforms the demographic dividend into a human resource dividend. This reform also addresses changes in the working-age population and the need to increase the effective labour supply across society.” 这项改革是适应我国人均预期寿命、受教育年限普遍增加的客观情况，提升人力资源开发利用效益的需要。随着生活水平提高、医疗技术进步及卫生环境改善，我国人均预期寿命已提高到78.6岁，同时，我国新增劳动力人均受教育年限从1982年的8年增加到2023年的14年，实现大幅提高。“这也意味着，劳动力开始工作的年龄有所推后。在法定退休年龄不变的情况下，平均工作年限缩短将导致人力资本利用率降低等问题。”莫荣表示，结合国际经验和我国国情，实施延迟退休改革有利于提高低龄老年人劳动参与率，提高劳动力供给潜力和质量，促进人力资源开发利用，推动人口红利向人力资源红利转变。这项改革是适应劳动年龄人口变化，增加全社会劳动力有效供给的需要.

Mo added that “by the end of 2023, China’s population aged 60 and above reached 297 million, accounting for 21.1% of the total population”. Mo added that “in recent years, China’s working-age population has declined, and the proportion of working-age population in the total population will continue to decline going ahead. ‘The implementation of delayed retirement age reform is conducive to stabilising the labour participation rate, maintaining the momentum and vitality of economic and social development, and is an important measure to implement the national strategy of actively responding to population ageing. It can better support the high-quality development of the economy and society’.” “当前我国人口发展呈现少子化、老龄化、区域人口增减分化的趋势性特征，劳动力年龄结构发生了重大转变。”莫荣告诉记者，截至2023年底，我国60岁及以上人口达2.97亿人，占总人口比重为21.1%。近年来，我国劳动年龄人口出现下降，劳动年龄人口占总人口比重还将不断降低，“实施延迟退休改革有利于稳定劳动参与率，保持经济社会发展的动力和活力，是实施积极应对人口老龄化国家战略的重要举措，能够更好支撑经济社会高质量发展.”

He finally clarified that the reform will follow the principles of being voluntary and flexible. In other words it will be implemented “fully considering the needs of different groups, allowing workers to choose a retirement plan that suits their own work and life circumstances. Employees who wish to retire earlier, and meet conditions such as the minimum contribution period for pension insurance, can opt for flexible early retirement. Younger elderly people who are willing, able, and qualified to continue working are not forced out of the labour market prematurely and can choose to keep working”. “延迟退休改革按照自愿、弹性原则，充分考虑了不同群体的诉求，让劳动者可以自主选择适合自己工作和生活的退休方案。想早一些退休的职工，在满足养老保险最低缴费年限等条件下，可以选择弹性提前退休。有意愿、有能力、有条件继续工作的低龄老年人，也不用过早退出劳动力市场，可以选择继续工作。”莫荣认为，改革将为老年人社会参与创造条件，使拥有更强劳动意愿、更高人力资源禀赋的大龄劳动者可以发挥更大价值.

Other Stories:

• US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has said that Beijing is giving Moscow “very substantial” help to beef up its war machine, and in return Russia is handing over its closely guarded military tech on submarines and missiles, as per Politico. The report says:

“Speaking with a group of journalists, including POLITICO, after meetings with European Union and NATO counterparts in Brussels, Campbell upped the ante on Beijing. The U.S. previously focused on Beijing’s supply of what's known as dual-use technologies — which can be applied for military or civilian purposes. Now Washington is unambiguously saying that China is aiding the Russian military. With Moscow facing international sanctions, it desperately needs technology to boost its military production to be able to continue its war against Ukraine. ‘These are not dual-use capabilities," Campbell said, referring to the latest materials China is giving Russia. ‘These are basically being applied directly to the Russian war machine." "These are component pieces of a very substantial effort on the part of China to help sustain, build and diversify various elements of the Russian war machine’, he added. ‘We're seeing efforts at the highest levels of both governments to try to both hide and protect certain elements of this worrisome collaboration ... Most of these activities have been driven underground.’ China has frequently issued statements denying it is supplying Russia with arms to use in Ukraine, insisting it does not provide either side with weapons and has an ‘impartial position’ on the war. In exchange for Beijing’s help, Russia has started giving China submarine, missile and other sensitive technologies. Historically, Moscow has been wary of giving Beijing its very latest military technology. ‘The capabilities that Russia is providing is support in areas where previously they had been frankly reluctant to engage directly with China,’ Campbell said. ‘We are concerned about a particular number of military arenas where there appears to be some determination to provide China with greater support. ‘That has to do with submarine operations, activities of aeronautical design, including stealth; that also involves capacities on missile capabilities,’ he said.”

• Xinhua reports that China’s Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday expressed willingness to engage in further consultations with the European Union (EU) concerning the anti-subsidy case involving Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). The report says:

“The EV case is complex and has a wide impact, and there are certain challenges facing the quest for China and the EU to reach an agreement through consultation, the spokesperson noted, adding that China believes that as long as the EU shows sincerity and works towards the same goal, the two sides can succeed in addressing each other’s concerns through consultation. ‘China is willing to continue to work closely with the EU to reach an early solution that meets the common interests of both sides and conforms to World Trade Organization rules, so as to promote the sound and steady development of China-EU economic and trade relations’.”

• Wang Yi Meets Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Sergei Shoigu: As per the report, Wang said that “in face of unprecedented changes in a century, the stable and healthy development of China-Russia relations are fundamentally due to the guidance of the two countries’ heads of state…He stressed that China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Russia, give full play to the role of the China-Russia strategic security consultation mechanism and the BRICS Meeting of High Representatives on National Security mechanism, and continuously enrich the strategic connotations of China-Russia relations. Meanwhile, Wang said that China supports Russia’s work as the rotating chair of BRICS and is willing to join hands to deepen mutual trust and cooperation among BRICS countries, to shape the BRICS mechanism into a major channel for emerging powers to make their voices heard and an important platform for solidarity and cooperation of the ‘Global South’ and to continuously create new paradigms for ‘BRICS+’ cooperation.”

The report adds:

“The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Shoigu explained Russia’s position on the issue. He welcomed the ‘six-point consensus’ jointly proposed by China and Brazil, saying Russia is pleased to see this consensus widely recognized by the international community. Wang stated that China has always maintained an objective and fair attitude on the Ukraine issue and will continue to commit to increasing the voice of balance, objectivity, and rationality in the international community, to gather more international consensus and accumulate necessary conditions for an early ceasefire and a political resolution to the crisis.”