CCDI Plenary Preview - Overview of Work Related to Strict Party Governance - Xu Lejiang on Boosting Private Sector Confidence - Yunnan Secretary Wang Ning: Xi Deserves to be Helmsman

Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Monday, January 9, 2023, edition of the People’s Daily.

Page 1: The top story is about Xi Jinping’s comments on judicial, procuratorial, and public security work. These were delivered at a central conference over the weekend, ahead of the Chinese People’s Police Day tomorrow. 

The report has Xi saying that “it is necessary to fully implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over political and legal work, improve political awareness, political judgement, political comprehension and political execution, adhere to the people-centred approach, adhere to the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics, adhere to reform and innovation, adhere to carrying forward the spirit of struggle, strive to promote the modernisation of political and legal work, fully fulfil the duty and mission of safeguarding national political security, ensuring overall social stability, promoting social fairness and justice, and ensuring people’s live and work in peace and contentment. Party committees at all levels should strengthen their leadership over political and legal work and provide a strong guarantee for advancing the modernization of political and legal work.” 要全面贯彻落实党的二十大精神，坚持党对政法工作的绝对领导，提高政治站位和政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，坚持以人民为中心，坚持中国特色社会主义法治道路，坚持改革创新，坚持发扬斗争精神，奋力推进政法工作现代化，全力履行维护国家政治安全、确保社会大局稳定、促进社会公平正义、保障人民安居乐业的职责使命，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴贡献力量。各级党委要加强对政法工作的领导，为推进政法工作现代化提供有力保障.

Xi's instruction was conveyed by Chen Wenqing. Chen called for implementing Xi’s instructions. He added that it is necessary to deeply understand the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences and achieve the two maintenance, and adhere to the Party’s absolute leadership over political and legal work. 中共中央政治局委员、中央政法委书记陈文清在会上传达重要指示并讲话，表示要以新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻落实党的二十大精神，坚决落实总书记对政法工作的重要指示，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”，坚持党对政法工作的绝对领导，坚持统筹国内国际两个大局，坚持统筹发展安全两件大事，全力履行职责使命，奋力推进新时代新征程政法工作现代化，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴贡献力量.

The other leading article on the page is a feature on the work of the Central Committee with Xi as the core to promote comprehensive and strict party governance. The article says that “after 10 years of tempering and 10 years of forging ahead with courage, the Party has become stronger and more energetic in its revolutionary forging.” 十年浴火淬炼，十年勇毅前行，党在革命性锻造中更加坚强有力、更加充满活力. It adds that the Party will continue to temper itself with the spirit of self-revolution. 

The article praises Xi’s foresight in calling for strict Party governance back in 2012. It quotes him as having warned back then:

"If the governance of the Party is weak and lax, and the outstanding problems within the Party that people have expressed strong feelings about are not resolved, then sooner rather than later, our Party will lose its mandate/qualification to rule and will inevitably be eliminated by history. This is by no means alarmist.” “如果管党不力、治党不严，人民群众反映强烈的党内突出问题得不到解决，那我们党迟早会失去执政资格，不可避免被历史淘汰。这决不是危言耸听.”

“All problems that affect the Party’s creativity, cohesion and combat effectiveness must be overcome with all efforts. All diseases that damage the Party’s advanced nature and purity must be thoroughly cured, and all cancers that breed in the healthy body of the party must be resolutely eliminated, so that the CPC will always be of one heart and one breath and share a common destiny with the people.” “凡是影响党的创造力、凝聚力、战斗力的问题都要全力克服，凡是损害党的先进性和纯洁性的病症都要彻底医治，凡是滋生在党的健康肌体上的毒瘤都要坚决祛除，使中国共产党始终同人民心连心、同呼吸、共命运.”

The piece then talks about key milestones in terms of regulations and clarity of thought with regard to the goal of strict Party governance. This mentions the eight-point central regulations, the 10 clears of Xi’s thought that were put out at the 6th Plenum in November 2021, and ends with the six musts that Xi outlined during the January 2022 plenary of the discipline inspection commission. These are:

• adherence to the Party’s political construction as the guide and adherence to the fundamental political direction of self-revolution

• adherence to ideological construction as the basic construction of the Party, and refine the sharp ideological weapon of self-revolution 

• implementation of the spirit of the eight central regulations

• the importance of persisting in “fighting against corruption and punishing evil with the thunder,” which is part of “protracted battle for self-revolution”; 

• strengthening the political function and organisational cohesion of Party organisations, thereby forging a contingent of cadres who dare to struggle and are brave in engaging in self-revolution

• building an institutional system of rules and regulations to guarantee self-revolution

The piece also calls “self-revolution” the second part of the answer to the cave-dwelling question. If you are not familiar with this discourse, you can read more here.

The next section of the article talks about the importance of the two establishments, the two safeguards and uniting the Party and the country into a solid piece of steel. This begins by referencing the Chinese flag - four small stars gathering around the big star, i.e., symbolising unity. It adds that guaranteeing unity of the Party and the country depends on the following:

First, it calls for maintaining a high degree of political consciousness

Second, adherence to common ideals and beliefs: 

“Only when our thoughts are unified, can our actions be unified, and our pace will be consistent. In order to ensure comprehensive and strict Party governance, we must persist in the ideological construction of the Party and strengthen the Party theoretically; we must tighten the ‘master switch’ of world outlook, and outlook on life and values.” 只有思想统一，行动才能统一，步调才会一致。全面从严治党，必须坚持思想建党、理论强党，必须拧紧世界观、人生观、价值观的“总开关”. Within this context, the piece talks about education campaigns around the “Three Stricts and Three Honests”, Two studies and One Action”, the campaign around not forgetting the Party’s original intention/aspiration, and the Party history learning campaign. It says that through these, “Party members and cadres have received a comprehensive and profound political education, ideological refinement, and spiritual baptism.” 十年来，党中央先后部署开展了党的群众路线教育实践活动、“三严三实”专题教育、“两学一做”学习教育、“不忘初心、牢记使命”主题教育、党史学习教育等5次党内集中学习教育，频度之密、力度之大、成效之显著，放眼百年党史都不多见。广大党员、干部在学习热潮中接受全面深刻的政治教育、思想淬炼、精神洗礼. The article then talks about theoretical innovation, saying that piece adds that “Based on the foundation of the times, answering the questions of the times and leading the changes of the times, Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has emerged as the times require. It is contemporary Chinese Marxism, 21st century Marxism, and an ideological beacon that unites the entire Party.” 立足时代之基、回答时代之问、引领时代之变，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想应运而生，是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，是团结全党的思想灯塔。Persevering in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to build cohesion and cast souls will ensure that the whole Party will become a more united, indestructible organic whole. 坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，全党成为更加团结统一、坚不可摧的有机整体.

Third, the article talks about building a strict organisational system. It says that “today, the Party’s organisational system is more sound, forming an organisational network that runs horizontally to the edge and vertically to the end. This net connects 3,198 local committees of the Party at all levels, 4.936 million grassroots party organisations, 96.712 million party members, and more than 1.4 billion people…” 　　如今，党的组织体系更加健全，形成了一个横向到边、纵向到底的组织网络。这张网联结着3198个党的各级地方委员会，联结着493.6万个基层党组织，联结着9671.2万名党员，也联结着14亿多人民，党和人民凝聚成一个团结统一、同舟共济的命运共同体. 

The article then praises China’s COVID-19 control policies over the past three years, linking it to the Party’s organisational capacity. “The great experience of the fight against the pandemic has fully proved that our Party has extremely strong leadership, organisation, and execution capabilities, and is the most reliable leadership force that unites and leads the people to overcome difficulties and forge ahead.” 抗疫斗争的伟大实践充分证明，我们党具有无比坚强的领导力、组织力、执行力，是团结带领人民攻坚克难、开拓前进最可靠的领导力量.

Fourth, unity requires adherence to strict discipline and rules. 

The next section talks about adhering to self-revolution, resolutely eliminating all factors that damage the Party's advanced nature and purity, eliminating all viruses that erode the Party’s health, and ensuring that the Party will never deteriorate, change colour or flavour. Under this, the article talks about the PSC’s visit to Yan’an after the 20th Party Congress. It also talks about things like waste, corruption, formalism and bureaucracy and the eight-point regulation. Some data in this regard:

Since the 18th Party Congress, the national discipline inspection and supervision organs have filed more than 4.648 million cases and more than 25,000 cadres at the bureau level and more than 182,000 cadres at the county level have been punished. “打虎”零容忍，“拍蝇”不手软，“猎狐”不止步……党的十八大以来，全国纪检监察机关共立案464.8万余件，其中，立案审查调查中管干部553人，处分厅局级干部2.5万多人、县处级干部18.2万多人.

The final section talks about the need for the CCP to focus on meeting the needs of the people for a better life. It says that the CCP is “the party of the people and a party that serves the people.” In this context, it talks about economic goals, disaster prevention, employment, education, flood prevention, disaster relief, housing, etc.

Also on the page is a preview of the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which is being held today. So, there will be a lot more data coming this week. Anyway, the first section talks about the key developments since the 20th Party Congress:

• The first meeting of the Politburo after the 20th Party Congress. It says that the meeting reviewed the detailed rules for the implementation of the eight-point decision on work conduct. 

• The PSC’s visit to Yan’an

• On December 6, at a Politburo meeting, Xi talked about the need to persist in strict Party governance

• On December 26 and 27, the Party held a “democratic life meeting.”

The piece adds that the 20th Party Congress “sent a clear message to the whole Party with a series of pragmatic measures and clear requirements that comprehensive and strict governance of the Party will not be relaxed even for a moment.” It adds that comprehensive and strict Party governance is a “far-sighted major strategic plan.” 

“The 20th Party Congress report gave an in-depth analysis of the historical position the Party is in, the tasks it faces, and the developments and changes in the situation of the Party, and it made a series of major plans for ‘unswervingly exercising strict self-governance over the Party in all respects and deepening the great new project of Party building in the new era’.

• For the first time, it is proposed to ‘improve the system for comprehensively and strictly governing the Party’, which was a major measure to strengthen the overall and systematic layout of Party governance and self-governance and promote it in a coordinated and efficient manner.

• Made arrangements for party building from seven aspects, covering political construction, ideological construction, system construction, organisation construction, work style construction, discipline construction, anti-corruption struggle and other aspects;

• Clarified the requirements of ‘strengthening the Party’s political construction’, emphasising strict political discipline and rules, implementing the main responsibilities of Party committees (party groups) at all levels, and improving the political judgement, political understanding and political execution of Party organisations at all levels and Party cadres;

• For the first time, it made special arrangements for ‘perfecting the Party's system of norms and institutions related to self-revolution’, putting the system construction in a more prominent position, emphasising ‘forming a mechanism to uphold the truth, correct mistakes, identify problems and correct deviations’.”

党的二十大以来，以同志为核心的党中央以一系列务实举措、明确要求，向全党传递出全面从严治党一刻不松、半步不退的清晰信号。将全面从严治党进行到底，这是高瞻远瞩的重大战略部署。党的二十大报告深刻分析党所处的历史方位、面临的形势任务、党情发展变化，对“坚定不移全面从严治党，深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程”作出一系列重大部署——首次提出“健全全面从严治党体系”，这是强化管党治党全面系统布局、协同高效推进的重大举措；从七个方面对党的建设工作作出部署，内容涵盖政治建设、思想建设、制度建设、组织建设、作风建设、纪律建设、反腐败斗争等方方面面；明确“加强党的政治建设”要求，强调严明政治纪律和政治规矩，落实各级党委（党组）主体责任，提高各级党组织和党员干部政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力；首次对“完善党的自我革命制度规范体系”进行专门部署，把制度建设摆在更加突出位置，强调“形成坚持真理、修正错误，发现问题、纠正偏差的机制”；;

Later the piece talks about the anti-corruption campaign. It says that:

• Statistics show that in the past five years, 81,000 people have voluntarily surrendered to the discipline inspection and supervision agencies; since 2020, 216,000 people have voluntarily confessed. This data is shared after talking about the case of Li Chunsheng, former deputy governor and director of the Public Security Department in Guangdong. 

• While on this issue, Xinhua reported a few days ago that China's top anti-graft body has announced the investigation into a total of 32 officials registered at and supervised by the Central Committee in 2022. 

• Some other examples are discussed; for instance, from January to September last year, 53 cases of corruption and misconduct in the eco-environmental field were investigated in Guilin. Then regulatory changes are referenced. In sum, it says: “Statistics show that over the past five years, a total of 111 major laws and regulations on discipline inspection and supervision have been added, and a system of rules and regulations on discipline inspection and supervision with scientific content, strict procedures, complete facilities and effective operation has been initially formed.” 数据显示，五年来，纪检监察主要法规制度共增加111项，初步形成内容科学、程序严密、配套完备、运行有效的纪检监察法规制度体系.

The next section of the article talks about the taking down of tigers after the 20th Party Congress. In this, the emphasis is on the two safeguards. One example given is Li Xiao Bao, former head of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. Li was taken down on October 30, with the statement saying that he had “abandoned the two safeguards” engaged in clique formation, and not implemented the Central Committee’s decisions in entirety. 通报指出，李小豹“背弃‘两个维护’，搞‘七个有之’，组织‘小圈子’‘小团伙’，落实党中央重大决策部署打折扣、搞变通”，对其“两面人”属性进行了精准画像.

The piece then talks about discipline agencies needing to focus on eliminating political hidden dangers and maintaining political security.

Page 2: There’s an interview with Xu Lejiang, executive vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. Xu talks about the two unwaverings. 

The first question is: “The CEWC pointed out that the requirement for equal treatment of state-owned and private enterprises should be put into practice in terms of systems and laws. What measures will the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce take to implement the requirement of equal treatment?”

Xu answers that efforts will be made in three areas:

• promote the removal of institutional barriers that restrict private enterprises from participating in market competition fairly; in this, he talks about working with different agencies to “promote the improvement of basic market economic systems such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition and social credit, and promote the breaking of hidden barriers in approval, licensing, bidding and factor acquisition, so as to implement fair competition.” 一是推动破除制约民营企业公平参与市场竞争的制度障碍。协同配合有关部门全面梳理涉企法律法规和政策文件，推动清理和修订违反公平开放透明市场规则的法律和政策规定，助推完善产权保护、市场准入、公平竞争、社会信用等市场经济基础制度，推动破除在审批许可、招投标、要素获取等方面的隐性壁垒，把公平竞争落到实处.

• safeguard the property rights of private enterprises and the rights and interests of entrepreneurs according to law.

• promote the clearing of outstanding accounts/arrears for SMEs

The second question asks that as per the CEWC, the development and growth of the private economy and private enterprises should be encouraged and supported in terms of policies and public opinion. What will the Federation be doing in this regard? Among the four points Xu mentions, this is really important:

“In response to all kinds of noises in society that raise questions about China basic economic system, challenge the direction of market economic reform, and deny the role of the private economy, we will unequivocally clarify our attitude and rectify it from the root/source (正本清源); Cooperate with relevant departments to crack down on malicious rumours and smearing of private enterprises according to law, and create a clear public opinion environment for the healthy development of the non-public economy and the healthy growth of people in the non-public economy, i.e., 两个健康.” 针对社会上质疑我国基本经济制度、动摇市场经济改革方向、否定民营经济地位作用的各类杂音噪音，我们将毫不含糊地亮明态度、正本清源；配合有关部门依法打击对民营企业恶意造谣抹黑等行为，为“两个健康”营造清朗的舆论环境.

The third question is about the 两个健康; Xu says that they will focus on”:

• normalising, institutionalising and standardising government-enterprise communication and consultation. 一是推进政企沟通协商常态化、制度化和规范化.

• ​​improving the evaluation of the business environment for private enterprises, and urging local party committees and governments to make greater efforts to optimise the business environment and stimulate the kinetic energy of enterprises. 二是改进万家民营企业评营商环境工作。围绕民营企业需求和企业家感受，持续改进和优化万家民营企业评营商环境工作，推动地方党委政府更大力度优化营商环境、激发企业动能.

• give full play to the role of chambers of commerce 三是充分发挥商会作用. 

• vigorously promote the compliance development of private enterprises…In combination with the construction of a modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics, we will work with relevant departments to implement a third-party supervision and evaluation mechanism for the compliance of the enterprises involved, and promote the improvement of the internal governance and credit system of the enterprises. 四是大力推动民营企业合规发展。结合中国特色现代企业制度建设，联合有关部门落实涉案企业合规第三方监督评估机制，促进企业完善内部治理和信用体系.

The next question is about high-quality development. Here, among other things, Xu talks about “supporting and serving private enterprises to participate in BRI projects and providing them with services to go global at a high level. 在服务开放发展方面，以支持服务民营企业高质量参与共建“一带一路”为重点，为民营企业高水平走出去提供系列服务. He also talks about supporting private enterprises pursuing green and low-carbon development and calling on them to focus on employment stabilisation, rural revitalisation, public welfare and charity and other fields, and guiding private enterprises to fulfil their social responsibilities and promote common prosperity. 在服务共享发展方面，聚焦稳岗就业、乡村振兴、公益慈善等领域，引导民营企业履行社会责任、促进共同富裕.

The final bit is about boosting the confidence of private enterprises. In this, he talks about organising education and training activities to clarify the profound connotation of Xi Jinping Economic Thought and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on doing a good job in the Party's united front work in the new era. He also talks about engaging in communication with regard to the major policies of the Party Central Committee.

Page 3: There’s a Zhong Sheng commentary again lashing out at Western media for ignoring the “positive factors that China's epidemic prevention policy adjustment has brought to China and the world economy, and baselessly slandering the Chinese economy.” It says:

“The international community is more optimistic about China’s economic development prospects, and believes that China’s decisive adjustment of epidemic prevention policies will create better impetus for China’s economic recovery and growth. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and other international investment institutions have raised their forecasts for China’s economic growth in 2023. According to a survey by Bank of America, after the adjustment of China’s epidemic prevention policy, the proportion of fund managers who think China will achieve a higher growth rate has soared to about 3/4ths. The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, said that China’s adjustment of epidemic prevention policies would help support the development of the world economy. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann pointed out that China’s adjustment of epidemic prevention policy ‘will support the recovery of China and the whole world’.” 国际社会更加看好中国经济发展前景，认为中国果断调整防疫政策将为中国经济复苏增长创造更好的动力。摩根士丹利、高盛、摩根大通等国际投资机构纷纷上调2023年中国经济增速预测。美国银行的一项调查显示，中国防疫政策调整后，认为中国会出现更高增速的基金经理比例已飙升至约3/4。世界贸易组织总干事伊维拉表示，中国调整防疫政策有助于支撑世界经济发展。经合组织秘书长科尔曼指出，中国调整防疫政策“将支持中国和全球的复苏力度”.

I looked up the BOA survey cited, and here are two data points:

• A net 69% of respondents expect weaker Chinese growth next year, a modest improvement from the 73% in November, reflecting what strategists led by Michael Hartnett called “stable pessimism” among investors.

• 75% of managers in the December survey forecast a stronger China economy in 2023, up significantly from a net 13% in November and the most optimistic survey result since May 2021.

The next paragraph criticises the media for ignoring these positive assessments and focusing on the negatives. It adds that: “When China insisted on ‘dynamic zero clearing’, these media outlets exaggerated the negative impact of China’s epidemic prevention policy on the world economy for no reason. After China actively optimised the prevention policy according to the situation, these media outlets made the same argument again. Such a paradox exposes not only their deep-rooted political bias when looking at China, but also their sinister intention of fearing the good of China.” 然而，一些西方媒体不仅对中国经济的积极变化和国际经济组织、商业机构的权威判断置若罔闻，还毫无底线、毫无根据地唱衰中国经济。在中国坚持“动态清零”时，这些媒体无端渲染中国防疫政策对世界经济的负面影响，在中国因时因势主动优化防控政策后，这些媒体又抛出同样的论调。如此自相矛盾，除了暴露其看待中国时根深蒂固的政治偏见，更让人看到其惟恐中国好的险恶用心.

The next two paragraphs discuss China’s policy changes, arguing that “China’s positive actions have also made important contributions to ensuring the stability and smoothness of the global industrial and supply chains and promoting the development of the world economy.” Then, we get this.

"Since the outbreak of the pandemic, how to strengthen the coordination of macroeconomic policies and jointly promote the recovery and growth of the world economy has always been an urgent task before the international community. However, some major countries that have significant influence on the world economy have acted without any sense of responsibility; they have paid attention only to their self-interest and repeatedly raised interest rates to shift inflationary pressure to the whole world not only repeatedly raising interest rates to transfer inflationary pressure to the world, while also engaging in ‘decoupling and breaking chains’ and extreme sanctions, adversely affecting others and themselves and continuously adding risks to the world economy. Some western media ignore the favourable factors brought about by the adjustment of China's epidemic prevention policy to China’s economy and the world's economy, and are spreading absurd arguments about China’s economy. However, these fallacies cannot change the confidence of the international community in China’s economic development at all, nor can they stop the general trend of strengthening mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between all parties and China.” “疫情发生以来，如何加强宏观经济政策协调，共同推动世界经济复苏增长，始终是摆在国际社会面前的一项急迫任务。然而，个别对世界经济具有举足轻重影响的大国行事毫无责任感可言，不仅只顾一己私利一再加息向全球转嫁通胀压力，还大搞损人不利己的“脱钩断链”、极限制裁，不断给世界经济增加风险。一些西方媒体无视中国防疫政策调整给中国经济和世界经济带来的利好因素，散布有关中国经济的荒谬论调。然而，这些谬论丝毫改变不了国际社会对中国经济发展的信心，也阻挡不了各方同中国加强互利共赢合作的大势.

Also on the page is a report on the ILD holding a special briefing on January 6 on China's epidemic prevention policy for senior foreign diplomats stationed in China. Diplomats from 130 countries apparently attended the meeting. The piece quotes some positive comments from foreign diplomats.

Third, there’s a report on Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif thanking China and Chinese enterprises’ for their assistance to the flood-affected people of the country. Xinhua reports: 

“Speaking at a meeting for donation of funds to the flood-affected people by the China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) at the Prime Minister's House here on Friday, Sharif expressed his gratitude to China for its support to Pakistan. The prime minister thanked Chinese companies for the help they have provided to the Pakistani people in flood-affected areas since severe floods hit Pakistan last year. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has brought benefits to the people of Pakistan with Chinese enterprises' contribution in the fields of energy and infrastructure in Pakistan, Sharif said, adding that Pakistan welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest in the new energy industry, especially photovoltaic energy project.”

Finally, there’s a story (English report) informing that “the land ports of Manzhouli and Erenhot on China's borders with Russia and Mongolia, respectively, saw cross-border passenger traffic on Sunday, three years after the two ports in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region suspended services due to COVID-19 epidemic control measures.”

Page 7: There’s a report on the State Council’s Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism’s press briefing. CGTN has an English report, sharing the key points:

• China officially started to manage COVID-19 as a Class-B infectious disease on January 8, said Mi Feng, spokesperson for the National Health Commission (NHC), at a press conference in Beijing. China issued its COVID-19 treatment guideline on Friday and the 10th version of its guideline on COVID-19 management on Saturday, signaling a shift from preventing infections to preventing severe diseases. Mi said the control measures for at-risk areas and personnel would also shift from quarantine to hospital visits. The implementation of Class-B management of COVID-19 emphasizes more scientific, precise and efficient epidemic prevention and control and better coordinates epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, according to Mi.

• On the XBB and XBB 1.5 variants, Chen Cao, a researcher at the National Institute for Viral Diseases Control and Prevention under the NHC, said that observing these two, “We didn't see more severe cases or deaths.” Chen also addressed the question of whether XBB could become the dominant strain in China. Chen said that those infected with BA.5.2 and BF.7 strains should have antibody protection with regard to the XBB strain. So people could have some natural immunity for around six months. 近期，大部分人感染了BA.5.2和BF.7两个毒株以后，在短期内会产生针对XBB系列变异株交叉保护的抗体，短期内对XBB的系列变异株有一定的保护作用，个别人可能保护作用会持续6个月左右。所以，现阶段XBB不会造成本土大规模的流行。

• Chang Zhaorui, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, advised people to continue masking in public places during the holidays and maintain personal hygiene.

• Lei Zhenglong, director of the Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control at the NHC, called on people to avoid visiting relatives and travelling to areas with high rates of cases. (Is data being published regarding outbreaks to do this?). Lei also said that the elderly and those with serious underlying conditions should try their best to avoid travel; he added that people should try not to hold large-scale family gathering activities and even try to meet for a shorter period of time; finally, people should ensure prevention and control measures such as ventilation and disinfection during gatherings. 一是倡导群众避免去疫情高流行地区探亲、旅游，倡导疫情高流行地区的群众减少出行，老年人以及有严重基础疾病的人应该尽量避免出行；二是尽量不要举办大规模的家庭聚集性活动，减少亲朋聚餐聚会的规模、人数，缩短聚会时间；三是根据疫情情况，尽量不举办大型活动，落实通风、消毒等防控措施.

There’s a celebration of the opening of travel between the mainland and Hong Kong. Third, there’s a report on talks with regard to medicines to be covered by China's national medical insurance system for treatment of COVID. Xinhua reports:

“China's National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) said negotiations on medicines to be covered by China's national medical insurance system concluded on Sunday, with two more anti-COVID drugs successfully included. During the four-day negotiations, three anti-COVID drugs, including Pfizer's Paxlovid antiviral combination, Azvudine tablets and a herbal granule medicine, participated, with the latter two drugs entering the list, said an NHSA official. Paxlovid has not been included due to its high quotation, said the official, adding that under the current policy, the medical insurance system will continue to reimburse the use of Paxlovid until the end of March. After the negotiations, there are now more than 600 kinds of drugs for treating COVID-related symptoms such as fever and cough in the catalog of medicines covered by national medical insurance system, according to the official. In the next step, the administration will further adjust the catalog to effectively reduce the burden on patients, said the official, adding that the final results of the catalog negotiation are expected to be announced in the near future.”

Page 10: A report (Reuters’ report) informing that Guangzhou is planning 1,722 projects in 2023, worth more than 6.5 trillion yuan. The annual planned investment is 526.1 billion. It will cover areas including transport, new energy vehicles and biomedicine. 

Page 11: There’s an article today by Yunnan Party Secretary Wang Ning. He says that:

“To resolutely safeguard the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralised and unified leadership, the most important thing is to resolutely safeguard the position of General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the entire Party. We must deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences, and achieve the two safeguards. At all times and under all circumstances, we must maintain a high degree of unity with the Party Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core, always work under the unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and resolutely respond to what the Party Central Committee advocates, resolutely comply with its decisions, and resolutely refuse to do what the Party Central Committee forbids; at all times and under all circumstances, we must be absolutely loyal to the Party, unite behind the Party Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core, truly love the Party, always worry about the Party, firmly protect the Party and make every effort to revitalise the Party, and act as consciously loyal supporters and staunch practitioners of the Two Establishments.” 坚决维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，最关键的是坚决维护习近平总书记党中央的核心、全党的核心地位。我们要深刻领悟“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”，任何时候任何情况下都要坚持同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，始终在党中央统一领导下开展工作，做到党中央提倡的坚决响应、党中央决定的坚决照办、党中央禁止的坚决不做；任何时候任何情况下都要坚持对党绝对忠诚，与以习近平同志为核心的党中央同心同德，真心爱党、时刻忧党、坚定护党、全力兴党，更加自觉地做“两个确立”的忠诚拥护者、坚定践行者.

In the first section, he talks about how cadres like Bai Enpei, Qin Guangrong and others had in the past engaged in serious violations of discipline and law in Yunnan, undermining the unity of the Party, polluting the political ecology within the Party, and seriously affecting the implementation of the Party's central committee’s decision-making and deployment. Consequently, the Provincial Party Committee “carried out in-depth special actions to ‘eliminate poison, eliminate influence, rectify at the roots, and foster righteousness’, and strengthened the education of the Party Constitution and regulations…” 过去，云南曾发生白恩培、秦光荣等人严重违纪违法案件，破坏党的团结统一，污染党内政治生态，严重影响党中央决策部署的贯彻落实。对此，云南省委深刻反思，深入开展“肃流毒、除影响、清源头、树正气”专项行动，加强党章党规教育，切实把正确思想、严明纪律、优良作风、良好导向、正面典型立起来.

It adds that after the 20th Party Congress, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee revised and promulgated the ‘Several Specific Provisions of the Standing Committee of Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China on Firmly Maintaining the Centralised and Unified Leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrades Xi Jinping as the Core’, further tightened political discipline and rules, and resolutely safeguarded the authority and centralised and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core through practical actions.党的二十大闭幕后，省委常委会及时修订出台《中共云南省委常委会关于坚定维护以习近平同志为核心的党中央集中统一领导的若干具体规定》，进一步严明政治纪律和政治规矩，以实际行动坚决维护以习近平同志为核心的党中央权威和集中统一领导。

Wang ends the first section of the article saying that “On the new journey, the Two Establishments are the greatest certainty, the greatest confidence, and the greatest guarantee to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and deal with all uncertainties. The closer we get to the goal, the more complicated the situation becomes, and the more arduous will be the tasks that we face; therefore, we must even more strengthen our political stance and achieve the Two Safeguards as a fundamental political requirement. 新征程上，“两个确立”是战胜一切艰难险阻、应对一切不确定性的最大确定性、最大底气、最大保证。越是接近目标，越是形势复杂，越是任务艰巨，我们越要坚定政治立场，把坚决做到“两个维护”作为根本政治要求来落实.

In the second section, Wang has more praise for Xi, while calling for safeguarding his position as the core and the centralised and unified leadership of the Central Committee.

“General Secretary Xi Jinping is the people’s leader; he has emerged from the people and is deeply loved by them. He is worthy of being the helmsman and navigator of the great ship of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 习近平总书记是从人民中成长起来、深受人民爱戴的人民领袖，不愧为中华民族伟大复兴号巨轮的掌舵者、领航人.

“Since the 18th Party Congress, in the face of risks and challenges that are rare in the world and rare in history, General Secretary Xi Jinping has strategised and commanded decisively, leading the people to fight against poverty, build a well-off society, fight the flood peak, fight the epidemic situation, turn one crisis after another in to opportunities and deal with emergencies; he has made great achievements one after another, winning the heartfelt love and high trust of the whole Party, the whole army and the people of all ethnic groups in the country. People of all ethnic groups in Yunnan feel very deeply about this. It is under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee and the cordial care of General Secretary Xi Jinping that 9.33 million rural impoverished people in Yunnan have been lifted out of poverty as per schedule — the lives of the people of all ethnic groups in the border areas has been constantly improving. People of all ethnic groups in Yunnan support the Party's leadership, the Party Central Committee, and General Secretary Xi Jinping from the bottom of their hearts. On the new journey, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the helm to guide us, we are confident, strong, and hopeful. We must be unswervingly loyal to the core, support the core, maintain the core, and defend the core. Always follow the Party Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core. 党的十八大以来，面对世所罕见、史所罕见的风险挑战，习近平总书记运筹帷幄、指挥若定，带领人民反贫困、建小康、斗洪峰、战疫情、化危机、应变局，取得一个又一个伟大成就，赢得全党全军全国各族人民的衷心爱戴和高度信赖。对此云南各族人民感受十分深刻。正是在党中央的坚强领导和习近平总书记的亲切关怀下，云南933万农村贫困人口如期脱贫，11个“直过民族”和人口较少民族实现第二次“一步跨千年”，边疆各族人民群众的日子越来越好。云南各族人民发自内心拥护党的领导、拥护党中央、拥护习近平总书记。新征程上，有习近平总书记掌舵领航，我们特别有信心、特别有力量、特别有希望，一定要坚定不移忠诚核心、拥戴核心、维护核心、捍卫核心，始终做到紧跟以习近平同志为核心的党中央.

Later he talks about arming the mind and guiding action via Xi’s thought and focusing on his instructions for Yunnan, and adhering to the decision-making and deployment of the Central Committee.

In the final section of the article, he talks about pursuing Chinese-style modernisation in Yunnan. In this context, Wang mentions Yunnan’s “3815” strategic development goals, i.e., developmental goals for three, eight and 15 years periods. He says that promoting “high-quality leap-forward development” is an “urgent task.” He writes: “Since the 11th Provincial Party Congress, on the basis of deepening understanding of the provincial situation, we have focused on industrial development, infrastructure, business environment and investment attraction, market players, reform and innovation, and opening up and development. We have planned and implemented a series of three-year actions and achieved initial results.” 结合省情完善思路举措。云南仍是欠发达和后发展地区，推动高质量跨越式发展，是我们面临的紧迫任务。省第十一次党代会以来，我们在深化省情认识的基础上，大抓产业发展，大抓基础设施，大抓营商环境和招商引资，大抓市场主体，大抓改革创新，大抓开放发展，谋划和部署实施一系列三年行动，取得阶段性成效。

He then says that following the 20th Party Congress, the focus will now be on three areas:

• First, expand the resource economy. “Yunnan is rich in green energy, mineral resources, plateau agriculture, cultural tourism resources, etc., which is the biggest capital for us to speed up development and catch up.” In this context, he talks about effective resource management in order to “truly transform resource advantages into development advantages.” 一是壮大资源经济。云南绿色能源、矿产资源、高原特色农业、文旅资源等十分丰富，是我们加快发展、实现后来居上的最大本钱。我们将坚持全省资源管理“一盘棋”，坚持创新驱动，坚持绿色发展，大抓产业招商，强化电力保供，加强与周边国家资源合作，以资源换产业、以资源换市场、以资源换技术，以资源推动产业发展，真正把资源优势转化为发展优势.

• Second, strengthen the port economy. In this, he talks about enhancing the level of transportation and logistics and vigorously developing the service economy, while pursuing reform and innovation, so that the port economy will truly become an important breakthrough and a new growth point of industrial transformation and upgrading in the province. 二是壮大口岸经济。云南有8个边境州（市）、25个边境县（市），有27个口岸、5类开放型园区，发展口岸经济的优势较为明显。我们将找准口岸定位，做强口岸产业，提升交通物流水平，大力发展服务经济，大力改革创新，使口岸真正成为全省产业转型升级的重要突破口和新的增长点.

• Third, strengthen the park economy. In this, he talks about strengthening and supporting the 89 industrial parks in the province.