CEWC Readout & Commentary - Socialist Literature and Art - Guo Shengkun on Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law
Hi folks,
Before, I get on with today’s edition, I’m doing a breakdown of the Central Economic Work Conference readout which was published in Saturday’s People’s Daily.
The big takeaway from the readout was that stability is really important for the next year. This isn’t really surprising. It’s a politically important year, and there have been several hints that stability would be prioritised next year. The other key takeaway for me was that development continues to be priority. I’ve been highlighting this for a while amid all the discussion on common prosperity. There have been numerous hints dropped that while the leadership wants to take steps to address the limitations and negative externalities of the existing development model. How far they’ve done this and successful they’ve been is another matter. But there’s no sharp left turn towards redistribution. While going through my breakdown, I also recommend looking at Sinocism and Pekingnology’s coverage on this for insight.
Anyway, the statement after the CEWC highlighted efforts to maintain stability while pursuing progress. The readout says that Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang both spoke at the meeting. Xi’s speech focused on summarising the economic work in 2021, analysing the current economic situation and making plans for the economic work in 2022. Li made specific plans for next year’s economic work and gave a concluding speech.
The readout calls 2021 a “milestone year” for China. The Party “responded calmly to the changes unseen in a century and the epidemic of the century, took new steps toward building a new development pattern, made fresh progress towards high-quality development, and achieved a good start to the 14th FYP.” It praises China’s economic development and epidemic control efforts, saying that “China maintained a leading position globally.” It says that “strategic scientific and technological strength has accelerated”, “the resilience of the industrial chain has been enhanced, reform and opening up have been deepened, peoples’s livelihood has been effectively protected, and construction of ecological civilisation has progressed.” These achievements are owed to the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, and the concerted effort and hard work of all Party members and the people of all ethnic groups across China.” 会议认为，今年是党和国家历史上具有里程碑意义的一年。我们隆重庆祝中国共产党成立一百周年，实现第一个百年奋斗目标，开启向第二个百年奋斗目标进军新征程，沉着应对百年变局和世纪疫情，构建新发展格局迈出新步伐，高质量发展取得新成效，实现了“十四五”良好开局。我国经济发展和疫情防控保持全球领先地位，国家战略科技力量加快壮大，产业链韧性得到提升，改革开放向纵深推进，民生保障有力有效，生态文明建设持续推进。这些成绩的取得，是以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导的结果，是全党全国各族人民勠力同心、艰苦奋斗的结果.
The next paragraph talks about the three pressures on the economy, i.e., “demand contraction, supply shocks and weakening expectations.” It also says that the external environment is “becoming increasingly complicated, grim and uncertain.” “We must face the difficulties squarely while staying confident.” In this sense, the readout says that the Chinese economy remains “highly resilient” and the “fundamentals underpinning long-term growth remain positive.” The readout calls for managing “our own affairs well, consolidating the economic foundations, enhancing the capacity for scientific and technological innovation, adhering to multilateralism, making proactive efforts to align with the highest international economic and trade rules, deepening reform via high-level opening-up, and boosting high-quality development.”
Th readout then talks about how “in the practice of dealing with risks and challenges” the Party has gained a deeper understanding of the laws of doing a good job in economic work. Thereby, it calls for adherence to the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, calmly responding to major challenges and moving forward in unison. “We must adhere to high-quality development, and take economic development as the central task is the requirement of the Party’s basic line. All Party members must concentrate on its implementation in order to ensure the steady qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy. We must prioritise stability while pursuing progress. When adjusting policies and undertaking reforms, it is important to grasp timeliness and effectiveness; persist with the principle of establishing first, breaking later, and to ensure steady advancement. We must strengthen overall coordination and adhere to the systems thinking. 会议认为，在应对风险挑战的实践中，我们进一步积累了对做好经济工作的规律性认识。必须坚持党中央集中统一领导，沉着应对重大挑战，步调一致向前进。必须坚持高质量发展，坚持以经济建设为中心是党的基本路线的要求，全党都要聚精会神贯彻执行，推动经济实现质的稳步提升和量的合理增长。必须坚持稳中求进，调整政策和推动改革要把握好时度效，坚持先立后破、稳扎稳打。必须加强统筹协调，坚持系统观念.
The nest paragraph talks about maintaining a stable and healthy economic environment, a social environment that is peaceful and secure and a political environment that is clean and with integrity. “To do a good job in next year’s economic work, we should take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide…adhere to the general tone of making steady progress; completely, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept; accelerate the construction of a new development pattern; comprehensively deepen reform and opening up; adhere to innovation-driven development; promote high-quality development; and adhere to the supply-side structural reform as the main line. Make overall plans for epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development’ make overall plans for development and security, continue to do a good job in terms of the six stabilities and six guarantees’ continuously improve people’s livelihood; maintain the economic operation within a reasonable range, maintain overall social stability…”
The meeting called for ensuring steady economic work next year and making progress while maintaining stability; all regions and departments should shoulder the responsibility of stabilising the macro economy, and all sectors should actively introduce policies that are conducive to economic stability…”
After this, there are 7 key points that the readout highlights:
Macroeconomic policies should be sound and effective. We should continue to implement a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy…It is necessary to ensure the intensity of fiscal expenditure and accelerate the progress of expenditure. We will implement the new tax reduction and fee reduction policy, strengthen support for small and medium-sized enterprises, individual industrial and commercial households, manufacturing industry, risk mitigation, and carry out infrastructure investment appropriately ahead of schedule. Party and government bodies must tighten their belts and ensure strict fiscal discipline. Resolutely curb new implicit local government debt. A prudent monetary policy should be flexible and appropriate, and liquidity should be maintained at a reasonable and abundant level. Guide financial institutions to increase support for the real economy, especially small and micro enterprises, technological innovation and green development…We will implement the strategy of expanding domestic demand and enhance the endogenous power of development.
Microeconomic policies should continue to stimulate the vitality of market players. It is necessary to boost the confidence of market players, further promote the implementation of fair competition policy, strengthen anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition, and ensure fair competition through fair supervision. Strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights and create a good environment for the competitive development of all kinds of ownership enterprises. Strengthen the spirit of contract, and effectively control malicious arrears and evasion of debts.
Deepen the supply-side structural reform with a focus on smoothing the circulation of the national economy…To enhance the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry, start a number of industrial infrastructure re-engineering projects, and stimulate the emergence of a large number of ‘specialised, refined, distinguished, and new’ enterprises. Accelerate the formation of internal and external connectivity, and a safe and efficient logistics network. Accelerate the digital transformation and promote the upgrading of traditional industries. Adhere to the positioning that houses are for living, not for speculation; strengthen efforts to guide expectations, explore new development models, adhere to both renting and purchase, accelerate the development of long-term rental market, promote the construction of affordable housing, support the commercial housing market to better cater to the reasonable demand of home buyers and adopt city-specific policies to boost the virtuous cycle and healthy development of the sector.
It is necessary to implement a three-year action plan for the reform of the science and technology system and formulate and implement a ten-year plan for basic research…strengthen the leading role of enterprises in innovation and deepen the linkages between enterprises, universities and research institutes…Continue to carry out international scientific and technological cooperation.
Reform and opening-up policy should activate the development momentum. We will carry out comprehensive trials to reform the market-based allocation of factors of production, fully implement a registration system for stock issuance, complete the three-year action task for SOE reform, and steadily advance the reform of natural monopoly industries, such as power grids and railways…encourage local governments to take the initiative in carrying out reform in light of local conditions. Expand high-level opening to the outside world, promote institutional opening-up, implement national treatment of foreign-funded enterprises, attract more investment from multinational companies, and accelerate speed up the implementation of major foreign-funded projects. Promote the high-quality development of BRI.
Promote more balanced and coordinated regional development.
Ensure that our social policies meet the bottom line of people’s wellbeing. This talks about ensuring employment, flexible employment and social security. It also talks about old-age insurance and family planning policy. For instance, Xinhua English says: “Efforts will be made to boost the employment of young people, including college graduates, and optimize flexible employment and social security policies.”
After this, the readout talks about grasping the “many new major theoretical and practical problems” that China currently encounters. These are:
We should correctly understand and grasp the strategic objectives and practical ways to achieve common prosperity. In China’s socialist system, it is necessary to constantly liberate and develop social productive forces, create and accumulate social wealth, and prevent polarisation. To achieve the goal of common prosperity, we must first make the ‘pie’ bigger and better through the common efforts of the people of the whole country, and then cut and divide the ‘pie’ well through reasonable institutional arrangements. This is a long-term historical process, and we should steadily move towards this goal. It is necessary to give priority to employment while promoting high-quality development and make employment the driving force for economic growth. We should give full play to the function and role of distribution, adhere to the principle of distribution according to work as the mainstay, improve the policy of distribution according to factors, and increase the efforts to adjust taxation, social security and transfer payments. Support willing and capable enterprises and social groups to take an active part in public welfare and charity undertakings…” In this context, the paragraph talks about education, health care, pensions, housing, etc, as issues of public concern.
It is necessary to give full play to the positive role of capital as a factor of production, while effectively controlling its negative role. It is necessary to set up ‘traffic lights’ for capital, strengthen effective supervision of capital according to law, and prevent the barbaric growth of capital. We should support and guide the standardised and healthy development of capital, adhere to and improve the socialist basic economic system, unswervingly consolidate and develop the public sector of the economy, and unswervingly encourage, support and guide the development of the non-public sector of the economy.
The next paragraph deals with “ensuring the supply of primary products.” In this regard, the readout talks about a “comprehensive conservation strategy.” It talks about the need to “raise the public’s awareness about conservation and advocating a simple, moderate, green and low-carbon lifestyle.” It also talks about strengthening “the ability to ensure resource production at home” and accelerating “the development and application of advanced technology to exploit petroleum and natural gas.” It also talks about “revitalising the seed industry, improving agricultural machinery and equipment, and ensuring reasonable returns for grain farmers. The Chinese people’s ‘rice bowls’ should be firmly in their own hands at all times.”
The next paragraph calls to “correctly understand, guard against and defuse major risks.” This entails strengthening “the rule of law in the financial sector, consolidating the responsibilities of local governments, financial regulators, and industry executives…” It also talks about the consolidating with enterprises the “main responsibilities for self-rescue.” In addition, the paragraph mentions the need to ensure capacity building for and strengthening of the financial regulatory cadres.
The next paragraph says that “achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is an inherent requirement to promote high-quality development. This should be unswervingly promoted, but it is impossible to accomplish all the tasks at once…The gradual withdrawal of traditional energy sources should be based on the safe and reliable substitution of new energy sources. Basing ourselves on the basic national conditions, where coal is the dominant source of energy, we should do a good job to make clean and efficient use of coal, increase our capacity to absorb new energy, and promote the optimal combination of coal and new energy. Pay close attention to tackling key problems of green and low-carbon technologies. It is necessary to carry out scientific assessments and ensure that the newly added renewable energy and raw material energy consumption are not included in the total energy consumption control…large enterprises, especially state-owned enterprises, should take the lead in ensuring supply and price stability.
The next paragraph talks about “new tax cuts and fee reductions for market entities,” especially small, medium and micro-enterprises and individual business households. It talks about financing support being directed to the “real economy;” efforts to ensure “employment for key groups, and implement measures to reduce the number of jobs and stabilise employment”; “regulation of coal, electricity, oil, gas, and transportation to ensure adequate supply of electricity”; “using market-oriented mechanism to encourage enterprises to invest in innovation”; “expand high-level opening, take measures to stabilise foreign trade, ensure the stability of industrial chain and supply chain, and increase efforts to attract foreign investment.”
Towards the end, the readout says that in doing economic work, one must respect objective reality and the needs of the masses, and must ensure systematic thinking and scientific planning…Leading officials should strengthen their knowledge of economics and science and technology, and, in particular, gain a thorough understanding of the people-centered development philosophy. They should uphold the correct view of their achievements, Revere history, culture and ecology, and make prudent decisions and exercise power prudently.” 会议指出，领导经济工作必须尊重客观实际和群众需求，必须有系统思维、科学谋划…领导干部要加强经济学知识、科技知识学习，特别是要悟透以人民为中心的发展思想，坚持正确政绩观，敬畏历史、敬畏文化、敬畏生态，慎重决策、慎重用权.
In this effort, towards the end, the readout calls for the Party to rally around the Central Committee with Xi at its core.
Now, on to the People’s Daily’s edition on Monday, December 13, 2021.
Page 1: There’s a commentary based on the Central Economic Work Conference today. The focus today is about “doing our own thing well,” which is the key to overcoming “all kinds of risks and challenges.” This says that the fundamentals underpinning China’s long-term growth remain positive, as the readout mentioned. It talks about the three pressures on the economy, i.e., demand contraction, supply shocks and weakening expectations, and then the challenges of the external environment.
It then talks about managing “our own affairs well, consolidating the economic foundations, enhancing the capacity for scientific and technological innovation, adhering to multilateralism, making proactive efforts to align with the highest international economic and trade rules, deepening reform via high-level opening-up, and boosting high-quality development.”
The next paragraph says that practice has shown that “the more risks and challenges we face, the more we need to adopt a comprehensive, dialectical and long-term perspective on China’s development, and strengthen our confidence.” After listing some of China’s economic strengths, the paragraph argues that “the fundamentals of China’s stable and long-term economic development have not changed, the basic characteristics of China's economic potential, resilience, vitality, room for manoeuvre and many policy tools have not changed, and the advantages and conditions for China’s development have not changed. Time and momentum are on our side. This is where our strength and stamina lie, as well as our determination and confidence. On this new journey, we have strong resolve, strong will and solid national strength to meet the challenges. We have the confidence, capability and wisdom to overcome all kinds of risks and tests.” 实践充分表明，尽管国际国内形势发生了深刻复杂变化，但我国经济稳中向好、长期向好的基本面没有变，我国经济潜力足、韧性大、活力强、回旋空间大、政策工具多的基本特点没有变，我国发展具有的多方面优势和条件没有变。时与势在我们一边，这是我们定力和底气所在，也是我们的决心和信心所在。新征程上，我们有坚强决心、坚定意志、坚实国力应对挑战，有足够的底气、能力、智慧战胜各种风险考验.
The next paragraph calls for adherence to the “four musts” 四个必须 that have emerged from the conference:
must adhere to the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, and calmly respond to major challenges and move forward in unison
must adhere to high-quality development, and take economic development as the central task is the requirement of the Party’s basic line...all Party members should concentrate on its implementation in order to ensure the steady qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy
in economic work, the Party must prioritise stability while pursuing progress
must strengthen overall coordination and adhere to the systems thinking
These four musts, the piece says, demonstrate the “excellent/superb wisdom” 高超智慧 of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core. The last two paragraphs talk about the need to “completely, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept; accelerate the construction of a new development pattern; comprehensively deepen reform and opening up; adhere to innovation-driven development; promote high-quality development…” and having confidence in China’s economy.
Next, there’s a report about the Long March carrier rocket series completing its 400th launch on Friday morning, ferrying a new group of satellites into space. Third, a report (English report) that tells us that the South-to-North Water Diversion Project has transferred nearly 50 billion cubic meters (49.4 billion cubic meters to be precise as per PD) of water from major rivers in the south to the drought-prone north over the past seven years. Sunday marked the seventh anniversary of the comprehensive operation of the project. It has “benefited 140 million people and optimised the economic development pattern of more than 40 large and medium-sized cities. The project has changed the water supply pattern in northern China, promoted the rehabilitation of rivers and lakes, optimised and adjusted the industrial structure, and produced enormous economic, social, and ecological benefits, said a Ministry of Water Resources official.”
Finally, a piece about how literary and art workers have followed a people-centered approach under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics. The story talks about creations around the themes of Party centenary, history, the poverty alleviation campaign, the fight against the pandemic, etc. Later on Page 4, there is another piece that offers a summary of the evolution of the literary and artistic space since the 18th Party Congress. It argues that there have been “fruitful results” that have been achieved. You can read through these, and also take a look at the Xi Jinping Thought series piece that was published in September, which talks about Xi’s views on socialist art.
Page 3: A couple of stories to note. First, law-enforcement authorities from China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand joined forces on Friday for the 112th Mekong River joint patrol. This is the 10th anniversary of the establishment of this joint patrol mechanism. Since then, there have been more than 180 joint operations on land and water. Over the past 10 years, the piece says that the patrols have cracked 36,173 drug cases along the Mekong River and border areas, seized 136.93 tons of drugs, and cracked 66 human trafficking cases.
Second, a report about the 7th Global China Dialogue forum, which was held on Friday at the British Academy. The theme of the event was “reforming global governance.” Yang Xiaoguang from the Chinese embassy in the UK delivered a speech, talking about practicing “true multilateralism.” He also spoke about how “peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom” are shared values of mankind.
Xinhua English’s story on this also notes:
“Martin Albrow, British sociologist and former honorary president of GCA, said in his keynote speech that the proven durability of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and its success in achieving its first centenary goal contrasts with the progressive fragmentation of Western institutions. Socialism with Chinese characteristics, asserting human values and placing limits on technocracy, may best contribute to the reform of global governance by reaching out to those civil society groups in the West who are committed to global missions, he added. During the forum, Albrow also launched his new book China and a Shared Human Future: Exploring Common Values and Goals, which is his second book on China, offering an insight into how China participates in the shaping of a global society.”
Page 6: There’s a long piece today by Guo Shengkun about Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law.” He starts by talking about the Study Outline that was published in November. When the book was published, the report had noted that with “13 chapters, the book fully embodies the original contribution of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the realm of the rule of law.” Guo writes that the book systematically explains the “great significance, rich connotation, core essence, spiritual essence and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law.”
Guo argues that the most important outcome of the November 2020 Central Work Conference on Comprehensively Advancing the Rule of Law was the establishment of the guiding role for Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law for law-based governance in China. The conference made it clear that 2021 would be the first year for the implementation of this effort. And so far, all “localities and government departments have resolutely implemented the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, and made progress in studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law and the spirit of the Central Work Conference on law-based governance, and have achieved phased results.” 各地区各部门坚决贯彻党中央决策部署，深入推进学习贯彻习近平法治思想和中央全面依法治国工作会议精神落地落实，取得阶段性成效.
Then he lists some key achievements through the year:
The first paragraph talks about publicity work. This includes book publications, lectures, training programs based on Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law.
The next point is about how the Party’s leadership over comprehensively governing the country according to law has been strengthened and the institutional mechanism of the Party’s leadership over comprehensively governing the country according to law has become more perfect.” He argues that the PBSC “held meetings to study the top-level design for strengthening the rule of law in all respects, deliberated on important laws, planned major strategic issues concerning law-based governance, ensured the Party’s leadership over legislative work, law enforcement, supported the judiciary, and took the lead in observing the law. We further incorporated Party leadership into laws and regulations, and the Organic Law of the National People’s Congress and the Supervision Law and other laws explicitly stipulated that the Party’s leadership should be upheld. The principal Party and government leaders are consolidating and meeting their duties as being the primary individuals responsible for promoting the rule of law…” 中央政治局常委会召开会议，研究加强全面依法治国顶层设计，审议重要法律，谋划法治建设重大战略问题，党领导立法、保证执法、支持司法、带头守法形成制度性安排。深入推进党的领导入法入规，新制定修改的全国人民代表大会组织法、监察官法等法律明确规定坚持党的领导。党政主要负责人履行推进法治建设第一责任人职责压紧压实...
Integrated development of the country, government, and society under the rule of law has reached a new stage…
New achievements have been made in comprehensively promoting scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, fair administration of justice, and in terms of people abiding by the law...accelerated legislation in key areas and emerging areas, formulated the data security law, and amended the criminal law and national defense law...construction of the government under the rule of law was further promoted...put forward opinions on strengthening the legal supervision of procuratorial organs in the new era...accelerated the reform and development of the system of restraint, oversight and accountability for law enforcement and judiciary…efforts have been put to highlight Xi Jinping Thought on the rule of law, the Constitution and the Civil Code, and improve the rule of law and moral quality of the people.
new measures have been introduced to ensure law-based governance and ensure high-quality development. This includes things like public health, and documents like the Hainan Free Trade Port Law, the Rural Revitalization Promotion Law, and the Yangtze River Protection Law, etc. The last sentence says: “Promote the new development pattern, amend the anti-monopoly law, strengthen the anti-monopoly and anti-unfair competition law enforcement justice, guarantee and serve the healthy development of private enterprises according to law, and create a market-oriented, rule-of-law and international business environment.” 助推构建新发展格局，修改反垄断法，强化反垄断和反不正当竞争执法司法，依法保障和服务民营企业健康发展，营造市场化、法治化、国际化营商环境.
new progress has been made in systematically planning solutions to prominent problems in the rule of law that the people feel strongly about. Here Guo promises action on law enforcement and judicial officials “abusing power for personal gain.” He also talks about work done with regard to the rights and interests of “delivery personnel and drivers of online ride-hailing services.”
The next point is about foreign-related rule of law work. “Chinese law firms have set up more than 150 branches in 35 countries and regions to help effectively build the BRI. There has been deeper participation in pragmatic cooperation, institutional reform and rule-making in areas such as health, trade and the digital economy. China’s voice and influence in the world have been growing.” 开展涉外法律服务示范机构创建活动，我国律师事务所已在35个国家和地区设立150余家分支机构，有效助力“一带一路”建设。深度参与卫生、贸易、数字经济等领域务实合作、机制改革和规则制定，我国际话语权和影响力不断提升.
The last point is education of law enforcement and judicial personnel, dealing with “black sheep” and emphasising political integrity for personnel.
Guo ends the section by saying that these achievements are a product of the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era and particularly Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law, and the leadership of the Central Committee with Xi at its core.
In the next section, Guo argues for keeping in mind the “two overall situations” and 国之大者, while constantly working to deepen understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law. He emphasises the need to “thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the Sixth Plenary Session” and then puts forward five points:
deepen the understanding and grasp of the rule of law through reviewing the Party’s century-long history. He says that Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law “refines and sublimates the experience of the construction of China’s socialist rule of law, endows it with a connotation of the times, with new vision and new understanding, and provides a powerful ideological weapon for the socialist rule of law system with Chinese characteristics and the construction of a socialist country ruled by law.” 习近平法治思想，在继承和发扬优良传统的基础上，对我国社会主义法治建设经验进行提炼和升华，以新的视野、新的认识赋予其新的时代内涵，为中国特色社会主义法治体系和社会主义法治国家建设提供了强大的思想武器.
deepen understanding and grasp of the new journey towards the second centenary goal. In this regard, he talks about the need for law to be based “on the new development stage,” and its utility to “implement the new development concept and build a new development pattern.”
“continue to strengthen the institutional foundation for the governance of China, respond to major challenges, fend off major risks, overcome major obstacles, and resolve major contradictions in accordance with the law, and make the rule of law more effective in modernising China’s governance system and capacity.” 要坚持顶层设计和法治实践协同推进，不断夯实“中国之治”的制度根基，依法应对重大挑战、抵御重大风险、克服重大阻力、解决重大矛盾，提升法治促进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的效能.
Always put the people in the highest position, take the people’s satisfaction and dissatisfaction as the standard for judging the construction of rule of law, actively respond to the people’s new demands and expectations, adhere to the problem-oriented and goal-oriented, systematically study, plan and solve the outstanding problems that matter most to the people...要始终把人民放在最高位置，以人民群众满意不满意作为法治建设的评判标准，积极回应人民群众新要求新期待，坚持问题导向、目标导向，系统研究谋划和解决法治领域人民群众反映强烈的突出问题，以良法善治守护人民群众高品质生活.
It is necessary to speed up the strategic layout of foreign-related rule of law work, improve the effectiveness of law enforcement and justice related to foreign affairs, and better safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. We must firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core, firmly safeguard the international order based on international law, firmly safeguard the basic principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, and promote the reform of global governance and the construction of Community of Shared Future for Mankind. 要加快涉外法治工作战略布局，提升涉外执法司法效能，更好维护国家主权、安全、发展利益。要坚定维护以联合国为核心的国际体系，坚定维护以国际法为基础的国际秩序，坚定维护以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为基础的国际法基本原则和国际关系基本准则，推动全球治理变革，推动构建人类命运共同体.
In the third section, Guo talks about creating “a new situation of comprehensively governing the country according to law in a new era.” He writes:
Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of law “is both a major strategic thought and a major work plan.” He stresses the importance of constantly improving “the political judgment, political understanding and political execution...promote the implementation of the major decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee on comprehensively governing the country according to law, in order to continue to write a new chapter in the governance of China.”
It is important to continue to pursue study and publicity work around Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law
“Focus on serving the overall situation, and give full play to the important role of the rule of law in consolidating fundamentals, stabilising expectations and benefiting the long term...foster a unified, level playing field, regulated and orderly market system...improve the supporting laws and regulations of the Foreign Investment Law, and optimise the foreign investment access and information reporting system...advance legislation on climate change and carbon emission trading, and provide legal guarantee for achieving carbon peak and neutrality targets...establish a sound legal system that effectively links the consolidation and expansion of poverty alleviation achievements with rural revitalisation...improve laws, regulations, policies and systems governing the digital economy, strengthen law enforcement and justice in the field of the digital economy, and prevent platform monopoly and disorderly expansion of capital...improve laws and regulations on intellectual property protection, accelerate the development of a system for protecting intellectual property in new fields, new forms of business and new applications, and strictly implement the punitive damages system.”
All localities and departments will be urged to conscientiously implement the outline of the plan for the construction of China under the rule of law, a government under the rule of law and a society under the rule of law.
He then says that it is important to focus on people’s expectations and enhance their sense of gain, happiness and security...the fundamental purpose of advancing law-based governance is to protect the people’s rights and interests in accordance with the law...“improve laws and regulations on taxation, finance, banking, and social security, consolidate the basic economic system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, balance the development gap between regions, narrow the income gap, and promote common prosperity...fully implement the Civil Code, unleash the vitality of labor, knowledge, technology, management and capital, and ensure that the fruits of development benefit all the people in a more equitable manner...推动完善税收、财政、金融、社会保障领域法律法规，巩固中国特色社会主义基本经济制度，平衡地区发展差距，缩小收入差距，促进共同富裕。深入贯彻民法典，让一切劳动、知识、技术、管理和资本的活力竞相迸发，让发展成果更多更公平惠及全体人民.
Next, Guo talks about the significance of work at the grassroots level “for comprehensively advancing law-based governance and modernising China's system and capacity for governance.”
Finally, he emphasises the need for “building a team of highly qualified legal workers with integrity and ability.” In this regard, “ideological and political construction,” “ideals and beliefs education” and imbibing “core socialist values” are critical for Guo. This is particularly because he wants them to be able to “resolutely resist the influence of erroneous Western ideological trends such as constitutionalism, separation of powers and judicial independence.” 突出政治引领，加强法治专门队伍思想政治建设，加强理想信念教育，深入开展社会主义核心价值观和社会主义法治理念教育，坚决抵制西方“宪政”“三权鼎立”“司法独立”等错误思潮影响，不断打牢高举旗帜、听党指挥、忠诚使命的思想基础.