China-EU Summit - New Measures for Shanghai FTZ Opening - Liu Jianchao's Iran Visit - China & Myanmar's Internal Strife - Cui Tiankai: US Needs More Diplomats Like Kissinger
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Friday, December 08, 2023.
Page 1: The lead story today is about Xi Jinping’s meeting with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Xinhua reports:
“Xi said that since the end of last year, the China-EU relationship has shown a good momentum of consolidation and growth, and the China-EU high-level dialogues in the strategic, economic and trade, green, and digital fields have produced rich outcomes, adding this serves the interests of both sides and meets the expectations of their people. Noting China and the EU are two major forces advancing multipolarity, two major markets in support of globalization, and two major civilizations championing diversity, Xi said that amid the increasingly turbulent international situation, the China-EU relationship has strategic significance and implications for global peace, stability and prosperity. ‘It is incumbent on both sides to provide greater stability for the world and stronger impetus for development’.”
“Stressing that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said the two sides need to take stock of history, navigate the trend of the world, and uphold the apt description of the China-EU relationship as a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides need to consolidate the political foundation, view each other from a strategic perspective, fully leverage the guiding role of the China-EU Summit and the five high-level dialogues, strengthen strategic communication, and increase understanding and properly handle differences through constructive dialogue, Xi said. He urged the two sides to develop a right perception of each other, promote mutual understanding and trust, honor commitments, do the right thing and be wholehearted in developing China-EU relations. ‘We should not view each other as rivals just because our systems are different, reduce cooperation because competition exists, or engage in confrontation because there are disagreements’. There is a high degree of complementarity between the Chinese and EU economies, Xi said, adding the two sides should do more to increase the breadth and depth of cooperation and tighten the bond of shared interests. Noting the Chinese economy enjoys a good momentum of steady growth, Xi said that as China pursues high-quality development and high-standard opening up, it sees the EU as a key partner for economic and trade cooperation, a preferred partner for scientific and technological cooperation, and a trustworthy partner for industrial and supply chain cooperation. ‘China is ready to work with the EU for mutual benefit and common development,’ said Xi, urging the two sides to leverage their complementary strengths in terms of market, capital and technology to upgrade traditional industries and foster emerging ones, explore new modes of cooperation, foster new areas of growth, and jointly improve industrial and supply chains. The two sides should also bolster people-to-people exchanges and facilitate personnel interflows, he added.”
“Xi underscored that Chinese modernization and European integration are strategic choices that China and Europe have made respectively with the future in mind. The two sides should respect and support each other, and leverage the complementarity of their development strategies for common progress. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an inclusive platform that has brought real benefits to over 150 countries and their peoples, Xi said. ‘As the saying goes, when you give roses to others, the fragrance lingers on your hand.’ China will continue to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, including by creating synergy between the BRI and the EU's Global Gateway to help developing countries grow faster, he added. The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination in multilateral frameworks including the UN and the G20, uphold multilateralism, oppose camp-based confrontation, and promote the political settlement of international and regional hotspots, Xi said, adding the two sides should conduct dialogue and cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) and other major issues concerning the future of humanity to contribute to the well-being of humanity and rise to global challenges.”
Also on the page is a report (English report) on Li Qiang co-chairing the 24th China-EU Summit. The report says that Li talked about the importance of finding “constants” amid the changes taking place in the world, and this entails “persisting in dialogue and opposing confrontation, persisting in cooperation and opposing ‘decoupling’, persisting in peace and opposing conflict, and accordingly navigating the direction of China-EU relations. 当今世界正发生巨大变化，我们要从变化中找到需要始终坚持的“不变”，即坚持对话、反对对抗，坚持合作、反对“脱钩”，坚持和平、反对冲突，更好把握中欧关系前进的方向.
“China stands ready to work with the EU to uphold the correct positioning of the comprehensive strategic partnership, seek common ground while shelving differences, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and multilateral coordination, make China-EU relations more stable, constructive, and mutually beneficial, and make more contributions to the prosperity, stability, and development of the Eurasian continent and the world at large.”
He further said that:
China stands ready to further expand two-way trade and investment, continue to upgrade trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, deepen green partnership, actively establish digital partnership, and enhance people-to-people exchanges. 进一步扩大双向贸易和投资规模，继续提升贸易投资自由化便利化水平，深化绿色伙伴关系，积极建立数字化伙伴关系，密切人文交流.
China opposes the violation of the basic norms of the market economy and opposes politicising economic and trade issues or overstretching the concept of security. China hopes that the European side will carefully formulate restrictive economic and trade policies and use trade remedy measures prudently, while maintaining openness in trade and investment markets. 中方反对违背市场经济基本准则，把经贸问题泛政治化、泛安全化，希望欧方审慎出台限制性经贸政策和使用贸易救济措施，保持贸易和投资市场开放.
As per the report, Michel and von der Leyen said that “EU-China relations are one of the EU's most important external relations, and the EU is willing to be China's credible and reliable partner. The EU adheres to strategic independence and is willing to advance high-level dialogue with China, enhance mutual understanding, reduce misunderstandings, deepen cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, agriculture and food, climate change, artificial intelligence and other fields, and work together to address global challenges and promote world peace, stability and prosperity. 米歇尔和冯德莱恩表示，欧中关系是欧盟最重要的对外关系之一，欧盟愿作中国可信可靠的伙伴。欧盟坚持战略自主，愿同中方推进高层对话，增进相互理解，减少误解，深化经贸、农食、气候变化、人工智能等领域合作，携手应对全球性挑战，促进世界和平、稳定与繁荣。
The final paragraph says:
The two sides agreed to organise institutional dialogues at all levels in various fields
They will stay committed to openness and mutual benefits, oppose decoupling, provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for each other's companies, and appropriately resolve differences through dialogue and consultation.
They will deepen cooperation on the economy and trade, green development, geographical indications, and intellectual property rights, make good use of the export control dialogue mechanism, explore the establishment of a China-EU early warning mechanism for key raw materials, and build a stable and mutual trust-based supply chain partnership.
They will strengthen cooperation on carbon emissions trading and support the extension of the MoU on the bilateral carbon emissions trading system.
They will hold a meeting of the China-EU High-Level People-to-People Exchange Dialogue Mechanism and accelerate the resumption of flights and personnel exchanges.
They will adhere to and practice multilateralism, strengthen coordination within the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, push for necessary reform of the World Trade Organization, and work together to address global challenges such as food security, climate change, and public health.
They will strengthen communication on major international and regional issues and promote political settlement of hot spot issues.
双方充分肯定今年中欧战略、经贸、环境与气候、数字领域高层对话成功举行，将继续办好各领域各层级机制性对话。双方将坚持双向开放、互利共赢，反对“脱钩断链”，为对方企业提供公平、非歧视的营商环境，坚持通过对话协商妥善解决分歧。双方将深化经贸、绿色、地理标志、知识产权等领域合作，用好出口管制对话机制，探讨建立中欧关键原材料预警机制，构建稳定互信的供应链伙伴关系。双方将加强在碳排放交易方面合作，支持双边碳排放交易体系谅解备忘录延期。双方同意举行中欧高级别人文交流对话机制会议，加速恢复航班和人员往来。双方将坚持和践行多边主义，加强在联合国等多边框架内协调，推动世贸组织进行必要改革，携手应对粮食安全、气候变化、公共卫生等全球性挑战，推动《联合国气候变化框架公约》第二十八次缔约方大会取得积极成果。双方同意就重大国际和地区问题加强沟通，推动政治解决热点问题。
The press release from the EU side says:
“The EU stressed the importance of a well-functioning, rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its core. The leaders discussed Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU reiterated that, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has a special responsibility in upholding the UN Charter's core principles, including territorial integrity and sovereignty. The EU called on China to use its influence on Russia to stop its war of aggression and strongly encouraged China to engage on Ukraine’s Peace Formula. The EU underlined the importance of China continuing to refrain from supplying lethal weapons to Russia. The EU equally urged China to prevent any attempts by Russia to circumvent or undermine the impact of sanctions.”
“On the Middle East, the EU condemned in the strongest terms the indiscriminate and brutal terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel. The EU reiterated Israel's right to defend itself in line with international humanitarian law. Both sides agreed on the importance of ensuring the protection of all civilians, improving the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2712. The EU and China confirmed their commitment to the two-state solution.”
The EU “raised concerns about underlying distortions and the negative effects of manufacturing overcapacity in China's economy. The EU stressed to China the importance of achieving a more balanced economic relationship with a level playing field and reciprocity. The EU equally underlined the need for progress in addressing the core EU interests and longstanding demands (e.g., transparency in the business environment, predictable supply chains, trade distortions including industrial subsidies, and sector-specific trade barriers).”
“The EU recalled that de-risking but not decoupling aims at strengthening resilience by addressing critical dependencies in specific sectors, in full compliance with the World Trade Organisation rules.”
“The EU stressed the two sides' joint responsibility to ensure a transparent and competitive environment for the digital economy, including a level playing field for artificial intelligence that respects human rights and fundamental freedoms. The EU underscored the common goal of avoiding fragmentation of standards for information and communication technologies.”
“As major economies, the EU and China must lead global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions including at the ongoing COP28. The EU acknowledged recent progress on expansion of renewable energy and China’s intention to tackle methane emissions. The EU underlined the urgent responsibility for all states to step up climate ambition and called on China, to join the Global pledge to triple renewable energy capacity and double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, as well as the Global Methane Pledge.”
The EU “underlined its expectation for the next” Human Rights Dialogue will take place in 2024 in China.
“The EU reaffirmed its consistent One China policy and expressed concerns about increased tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Heightened instability in the East and South China Seas threatens regional and global prosperity and security. We oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.”
If you are interested, here is the press statement by Michel and von der Leyen. I am sharing this one bit from it:
“Of course, we also discussed the approach of de-risk, not decouple. China, by the way, has a long-standing similar approach. China called it self-reliance and it was partially included in the dual-circulatory approach. I want to be very clear here too: Europe does not want to decouple from China. We have seen a decoupling of Europe from Russia, for good reasons. We do not want a decoupling from China. What we want is de-risking. De-risking is about managing the risks we see, addressing excessive dependencies through diversification of our supply chains – so strengthening our supply chain, have a more robust supply chain from several suppliers – and thus increasing our resilience. And this is not exclusive to China. It is about learning the lessons from both the global COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's energy blackmail. There, we have felt – first in the pandemic, but then also when Russia started its war – how painful it can be when the single supplier does not deliver anymore. In light of increased geopolitical frictions, it is important for us to strengthen and diversify our supply chains.”
Moving on there’s a brief report informing that Xi Jinping will visit Vietnam on December 12 and 13. MoFA said that Xi will hold talks with “General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Vo Van Thuong, and meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue. The two sides will discuss upgrading the China-Vietnam relations, focus on six major areas including politics, security, practical cooperation, public support, multilateral affairs and maritime issues, and work to deepen and substantiate the comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries.”
Next, there are two reports on Zhao Leji and Han Zheng meeting with Luis Redondo, president of the National Congress of Honduras.
Zhao said that “the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Honduras earlier this year was a major political decision of historic significance made by the two heads of state, and that it has opened a new chapter in the development of bilateral relations between the two countries…Zhao noted that China highly appreciates Honduras' firm adherence to the one-China principle and firmly supports Honduras' efforts to safeguard its national sovereignty and independence, promote its development and improve its people's well-being. China welcomes Honduras to join the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and is willing to accelerate the synergy of development strategies and promote new achievements in practical cooperation, Zhao said. He noted that China appreciates Honduras' support for the global initiatives China has put forward, and hopes to strengthen coordination on multilateral occasions to promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. The NPC of China is willing to facilitate dialogue and exchanges with the National Congress of Honduras, consolidate political mutual trust, and work with Honduras to safeguard the achievements of diplomatic ties between the two countries, Zhao said. The legislatures of the two countries should carry out their duties fully, improve legal systems further to create a sound legal environment for investment, cooperation and personnel exchanges, and serve as a bridge for exchanges between communities to consolidate popular support for bilateral relations, he said. He also noted that China is willing to increase exchanges with Honduras on governance experience, as well as on developing economy and improving people's livelihoods.”
Redondo said that “Honduras adheres firmly to the one-China principle, and supports and actively participates in global initiatives such as the BRI, which are significant contributions that China has made to the progress of human civilization.”
Next, there’s a report (English report) on Ding Xuexiang meeting with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of the Republic of Singapore Lawrence Wong. Ding and Wong co-chaired the 19th meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation, the 24th meeting of China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park Joint Steering Council (JSC), the 15th meeting of the China-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City JSC and the seventh meeting of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity JSC.
In terms of outcomes, the two sides:
agreed to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation
agreed to continue to expand and strengthen the building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor
agreed to deepen cooperation in third-party markets
agreed to upgrade key cooperation projects, actively expand cooperation in digital economy and ocean energy
agreed to build a pattern of diversified and interactive cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and jointly uphold the multilateral trading system.
The two sides announced 24 outcomes of cooperation, including a protocol to further upgrade the CSFTA, and 30-day mutual visa exemption arrangement for ordinary passport holders. Under the protocol, the two countries committed to a negative-list model of services and investment opening-up, which will provide broader space for investors and services providers and expand cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.
Finally, there’s a report on the State Council’s new plan to promote the high-level institutional opening-up of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) by aligning it with high-standard international economic and trade rules. The plan focuses on 7 areas and contains 80 measures. The 7 areas are:
First, accelerate the expansion and opening up of service trade. Promote the high-level opening of key areas, such as finance and telecommunications; enhance the facilitation of cross-border investment and financing; support multinational companies to set up fund management centres; improve the quality of telecommunications services; and lead the institutional opening of the service industry.
Second, improve the level of liberalisation and facilitation of trade in goods. Optimise and improve the import management of specific goods such as inbound repair goods, commercial encryption products, medical equipment, wine, etc.; implement pilot facilitation measures, such as simplifying domestic quarantine procedures and expanding the subjects eligible for pre-ruling applications; and strive to build a scientific, convenient, and efficient management model.
Third, take the lead in implementing high-standard digital trade rules. Support the Shanghai Pilot FTZ to take the lead in formulating important data catalogues, explore the establishment of a legal, safe and convenient cross-border data flow mechanism, accelerate the empowerment of digital technology, promote the application of electronic bills, promote the open sharing of data, and build new advantages in the development of digital trade.
Fourth, strengthen intellectual property protection. Strengthen the protection of trademarks, patents and geographical indications; further strengthen administrative supervision and judicial protection; and comprehensively enhance intellectual property protection capabilities.
Fifth, promote reform in the field of government procurement. In line with common international rules, further optimise procurement procedures, improve procurement management, strengthen procurement supervision, and build a standardised, transparent, scientific and strict government procurement management system.
Sixth, promote the reform of relevant ‘post-border’ management systems. Deepen the reform of SoEs, strengthen the protection of workers’ rights and interests, support international cooperation in the field of green and low carbon, encourage the import and export of environmental products and services, and create a fair, transparent and predictable development environment.
Seventh, strengthen the construction of risk prevention and control systems. Improve the regulatory rules, innovate regulatory methods, improve the regulatory system with clear rights and responsibilities, fairness and justice, openness and transparency, simplicity and efficiency, and promote whole-process supervision.
《总体方案》聚焦7个方面，提出80条措施。一是加快服务贸易扩大开放。推动金融、电信等重点领域高水平开放，提升跨境投融资便利化，支持跨国公司设立资金管理中心，提高电信业务服务质量，引领服务业制度型开放。二是提升货物贸易自由化便利化水平。优化完善进境修理货物、商用密码产品、医疗器械、葡萄酒等特定货物进口管理，试点实施简化境内检疫程序、扩大预裁定申请主体等便利化措施，着力构建科学、便利、高效的管理模式。三是率先实施高标准数字贸易规则。支持上海自贸试验区率先制定重要数据目录，探索建立合法安全便利的数据跨境流动机制，加快数字技术赋能，推动电子票据应用，推动数据开放共享，构筑数字贸易发展新优势。四是加强知识产权保护。加大商标、专利、地理标志等保护力度，进一步加强行政监管和司法保护，全面提升知识产权保护能力。五是推进政府采购领域改革。接轨国际通行规则，进一步优化采购程序，完善采购管理，加强采购监督，构建规范透明、科学严密的政府采购管理体系。六是推动相关“边境后”管理制度改革。深化国有企业改革，加强劳动者权益保护，支持开展绿色低碳领域国际合作，鼓励环境产品和服务进出口，营造公平、透明、可预期的发展环境。七是加强风险防控体系建设。完善监管规则，创新监管方法，健全权责明确、公平公正、公开透明、简约高效的监管体系，推进全流程监管.
A Global Times report explains the importance of these steps:
“A number of policies involving labor standards, intellectual property protection and state-owned enterprise reform also live up to the recognized standards of the Comprehensive Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), according to analysts. If the Shanghai FTZ trailblazed in the reform, similar policies could likely be applied to other FTZs, paving the way for China's entry to the trans-Pacific trade pact amid a new stage of high-level opening-up, experts said. The measures aim to build a national institutional demonstration zone for opening-up, and to explore new paths and accumulate new experience for comprehensively deepening reform and expanding opening-up. "The measures are quite extensive in terms of the extent of opening-up. They clearly send a positive signal on China's resolve for further opening-up, which is quite important, taking into account the global economic slowdown and complicated geopolitical situation," Tu Xinquan, dean of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, told the Global Times on Thursday.”
One interesting bit in the report: “In services trade, the plan allows financial institutions to transmit data overseas that is required for daily operation under the framework of the national cross-border data transmission security management system, read the plan. With regard to the transmission of financial data abroad, regulators could take measures based on national security and prudential principles while ensuring the security of important data and personal information. It also called on local regulators to study the issue of allowing asset management companies to carry out cross-border transfers of asset-backed securities.”
“The Shanghai FTZ will also be a pioneer in implementing high-standard digital trade rules, according to the plan. For example, it supports the Shanghai FTZ to formulate important data categories, based on a data classified protection system. Also, it supports the application of AI technology in a reliable, secure and responsible way. The FTZ authorities should also draw on international experience in researching and setting up an AI ethics and governing framework.”
“Tian explained that certain measures on financial services opening-up could allow foreign investors to invest in all kinds of yuan-denominated financial assets - not only bonds and securities but also others that could be traded, such as land and basic infrastructure. ‘It equates to speeding up two-way capital flows and therefore is set to draw in more foreign capital,’ he noted.”
Page 3: There’s a report (English report) on the 8th Lancang-Mekong Cooperation FMs meeting. Wang Yi chaired the meeting with Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Than Swe.
Wang said that China will pursue the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness to work with Mekong countries to jointly build a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future, jointly make the region an example for Belt and Road cooperation, a pacesetter for implementing the Global Development Initiative, a pioneer for implementing the Global Security Initiative and a front-runner for implementing the Global Civilization Initiative. Wang suggested that LMC should focus on six areas in the next stage:
building a closer community of shared future
creating a more interconnected economic development belt
creating a more secure development environment
moving towards a more digital development prospect
deepening cultural and people-to-people cooperation with more characteristics, and
advocating a more inclusive cooperation concept
Next, there’s a report on Wang meeting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sok Chenda Sophea. Xinhua reports:
“Wang said China is ready to work with Cambodia and other countries to crack down on online gambling and transnational crimes, thoroughly eradicate relevant criminal gangs and safeguard social stability in regional countries. Noting the infrastructure construction between Cambodia and China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has brought tangible benefits to the Cambodian people, Sok Chenda Sophea said the two sides should further strengthen cooperation to successfully refute the attacks and smears against the BRI by some forces outside the region.”
Speaking of China-Cambodia ties, do read this AP story on the developments related to the Ream Naval Base:
“Chinese naval vessels have become the first ships to dock at a new pier at a Cambodian naval base that the United States and some international security analysts say is destined to serve as a strategic outpost for Beijing’s navy. The docking of the two ships, which received little publicity, coincided with an official visit to Cambodia this week by China’s top defense official, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong. News of at least two Chinese ships docking at the Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand came out indirectly, through a Facebook post on Sunday by Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha. It said he visited the base to see preparations for Cambodian navy training and to inspect progress on infrastructure construction, but did not mention China by name. He also posted photos showing Cambodian officials with Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian, and reviewing Chinese sailors. At least two warships could be seen in the photos, one whose gangway identified it as the Chinese navy corvette Wenshan. Satellite photos taken Sunday by Planet Labs PBC analyzed by The Associated Press show what appear to be two Chinese warships docked at the base. They correspond to the images shared online by Tea Seiha. The AP analysis, comparing the ship’s measurements and the images released by the minister, suggest they may both be Type 56 Chinese corvettes…”
Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that: “The US has hundreds of overseas military bases around the world, but does not accept China having any overseas military bases, even one for logistics support purposes, which exposed the US' Cold War mentality of global military hegemony…”
Moving ahead, I am sharing below a couple of other reports on Wang’s meetings, which were covered over the past two days, but I managed to miss them.
First, Wang met with Myanmar’s foreign minister. He stressed that the “cooperation between the two sides on combating telecom fraud in northern Myanmar had achieved remarkable results, adding that the two sides should strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation, and thoroughly eradicate online gambling and telecom fraud. U Than Swe said that Myanmar attaches great importance to developing relations with China, admires China's development achievements, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in various fields and jointly build a Myanmar-China community of shared future. Myanmar will resolutely crack down on cross-border illegal and criminal activities such as telecom fraud and carry out comprehensive coordination and cooperation with China in this regard, said U Than Swe.”
“When junta foreign minister Than Swe met his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Wednesday, he asked China to use its influence over the Three Brotherhood Alliance to encourage it to stop fighting and enter peace talks with the regime, sources said…The visit occurred after the regime lost control of a substantial swath of its border with China to the alliance comprising the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) and the Arakan Army. Together they launched Operation 1027 on October 27. Than Swe’s visit to Beijing was his first since the coordinated attacks by the alliance began. ‘China hopes that Myanmar will achieve national reconciliation and continue its political transformation process under the constitutional framework as soon as possible,’ Wang Yi said in the meeting according to China’s foreign ministry. Regime media reported that the two discussed accelerating construction of the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port in western Myanmar’s Rakhine State and construction of a railroad linking Rakhine with Yunnan Province via Myanmar’s second-largest city, Mandalay. The two projects are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The pair also discussed stepping up the fight against drugs, human trafficking, and online scams, as well as cooperation in the electricity sector. However, sources familiar with the talks said the message from Naypyidaw to Wang Yi was to broker peace talks between it and the Brotherhood Alliance. The junta wants China to use its influence on the Brotherhood Alliance to make it stop fighting and enter peace talks under new conditions and to deliver the message that junta boss Min Aung Hlaing is ready to make concessions, the sources said. ‘The junta begged for talks with the alliance’, one China source said.
SCMP reports: “Analysts said that while Beijing was willing to support regional stability, it would not intervene in Myanmar’s situation beyond the need to tackle telecoms scams that have targeted Chinese nationals.
Second, Wang Yi also met with his Angolan counterpart Téte António. Xinhua reported:
“China is willing to share with Angola the experience of development and opportunities in the Chinese market, expand practical cooperation on infrastructure, digital economy, clean energy, health care and food security, deepen people-to-people exchanges, and consolidate the popular foundation of China-Angola friendship, said Wang. Wang also expressed China's willingness to strengthen coordination on multilateral platforms with Angola, advance the mechanism building of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction. Antonio said that Angola will stick to the one-China principle and support China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The two countries signed an investment protection agreement too. The deal reportedly stipulates a dispute settlement mechanism and the investment protection obligations of the two sides. According to the Angolan foreign ministry, “the agreement recognizes the importance of providing effective means and procedures to protect rights and interests in investment under national legislation, as well as through international arbitration, to ensure stability and confidence between investors from both countries.”
Another China-Africa ties related story is this one on tariff exemptions:
“Starting on December 25, 98 percent of taxable products from Angola, Gambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Mali and Mauritania will be exempt from tariffs when entering China, according to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council. The African nations are some of the most resource-rich on the continent – especially the DRC, the source of more than 60 per cent of China’s cobalt imports, and Angola, a major exporter of petroleum and diamonds…The commission said it planned to expand its zero-tariff treatment to all of the ‘least-developed countries’ that have diplomatic relations with Beijing. The tariff relief will enable the countries to export to China without facing customs duties on over 8,000 different products or items. This will help China increase African food imports after more than two decades of mostly buying raw materials from the continent while exporting electronics, machinery and textiles. The new measures will allow the DRC to sell goods such as coffee, palm oil, rubber, cotton and cocoa to China while bypassing tariffs, and Angola’s tariff-free items include coffee, sisal, fruit, seafood and spices…However, as Carlos Lopes, a professor at the University of Cape Town’s Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, pointed out in an interview with the Post last year, while the tariff-free treatment applies to 98 per cent of the countries’ tradeable items, it might not cover the items that account for most of the trade value. ‘What the 2 per cent will exclude is important as the percentage is calculated in terms of the schedules, not value, he said, noting that for many of the least-developed countries in Africa, much of that value comes from mineral exports.”
Moving on, there’s a report on Liu Jianchao’s visit to Iran. The PD report is very brief listing the different meetings; in contrast, the ILD’s website has a lot of details. I am not covering all the meetings. But let me break down some of the developments.
First, Liu delivered a speech at the Institute of Politics and International Studies of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said:
“Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China and Iran have seen increasingly close exchanges at all levels and in various fields, from central to local, and from political and economic to cultural and tourism. Currently, the China-Iran Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement is being implemented. China is willing to work together with Iran to steadily promote practical cooperation in various fields, restore and expand people-to-people exchanges, enhance communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, continue to firmly support each other on issues involving core interests, uphold multilateralism and democratisation of international relations, promote greater development in China-Iran relations, and safeguard international fairness, justice, and the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries…在两国元首战略引领下，中伊双方从中央到地方，从政治经贸到人文旅游等各层级各领域交往日益密切。当前，中伊全面合作计划已经启动落实，中方愿同伊方一道，扎实稳妥推进两国各领域务实合作，恢复并扩大人文交流，加强在国际和地区事务中沟通协调，继续在涉及彼此核心利益问题上相互坚定支持，维护多边主义和国际关系民主化，推动中伊关系取得更大发展，维护国际公平正义和发展中国家正当权益.
The next paragraph deals with Liu talking about ancient connections between Chinese and Iranian civilisations. It is worth noting that Liu mentions the Persian poet Sa'di, 13th century work Gulistan in the following context: “In the 13th century, the famous Iranian poet Sa'di recorded his unforgettable trip to Kashgar, Xinjiang, China, in ‘Rose Garden’ (Gulistan).” 13世纪，伊朗著名诗人萨迪在《蔷薇园》中记录下到中国新疆喀什的难忘游历. Zheng He also gets a mention.
“Both the Chinese people and the Iranian people uphold the spirit of independence, do not fear power, and dare to struggle. The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and the most important feature is the collective rise of developing countries. Peace, development, and win-win cooperation are the trend of the times, and the process of multi-polarization of the world and democratisation of international relations is unstoppable. China highly appreciates the ‘Look to the East’ strategy proposed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, supports Iran's accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS, expanding South-South cooperation to enlarge the forces of global justice.”
Liu then talks about Xi’s proposal of BRI, GDI, GSI and GCI. He says: “Under this framework (of community with a shared future for mankind), China and Iran have achieved fruitful results in the fields of energy, trade, infrastructure and other fields, which will better benefit the two peoples and strengthen the endogenous driving force for maintaining regional security and development. China and Iran have proven through practice that developing countries have the right and ability to independently explore their own unique paths to modernization. China is willing to join hands with Iran to promote exchanges and progress among world civilizations.”
The report states the Iranian side’s “appreciation” of China’s global initiatives and “China's upholding of fairness and justice on the Palestinian issue.”
Liu met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. He said that:
“Under the current circumstances, China-Iran relations have gone beyond the bilateral scope and have important strategic, regional and global impacts…China welcomes Iran's announcement of visa-free entry for Chinese tourists and inclusion of Iran in the second batch of pilot countries for the resumption of outbound group tourism. China hopes that both sides will strengthen cultural exchanges, injecting new momentum into bilateral relations. With the world going through a period of turbulence and changes, China appreciates and supports Iran’s efforts to improve relations with neighbouring countries and play an active role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS cooperation mechanism. China is willing to work with Iran to continue to firmly support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, jointly oppose external interference, resist unilateralism, safeguard the sovereignty, security, and development interests of China and Iran and uphold the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice.” 中方欢迎伊方宣布对中国游客实施免签，将伊朗列入第二批试点恢复出境团队旅游国家名单，希望双方加强两国人文交流，为双边关系注入新的动力。当前世界进入新的动荡变革期，中方赞赏并支持伊朗改善同周边邻国关系，支持伊朗在上海合作组织和金砖国家合作机制中发挥积极作用。中方愿同伊方继续在涉及彼此核心利益和重大关切问题上坚定相互支持，共同反对外来干涉，抵制单边主义，捍卫中伊两国主权、安全、发展利益，维护发展中国家共同利益和国际公平正义.
The report says that they discussed the Palestine issue, Afghanistan and other issues.
Liu also met with Ali Akbar Ahmadian, who recently took over as the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. Liu told him that:
Iran has a special influence in regional affairs, and China supports Iran in playing its role in maintaining regional peace and stability. China is willing to work with Iran to practise true multilateralism, adhere to the basic principles of global governance through consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, respect and uphold the authority and status of the United Nations, and safeguard international fairness, justice, and Asia's enduring security. 伊朗在地区事务上具有特殊影响，中方支持伊朗为维护地区和平稳定发挥自身作用，愿同伊方共同践行真正的多边主义，坚持共商共建共享的全球治理基本原则，尊重和维护联合国的权威和地位，维护国际公平正义和亚洲持久安全.
He added: “China is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperation with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, implement the consensus of the two heads of state, communicate on diplomatic affairs and the international and regional situation, adhere to a comprehensive security perspective, and implement GSI.” 我们愿同伊朗最高国家安全委员会开展交流合作，落实好两国元首共识，就外交事务和国际地区形势等进行沟通，坚持综合安全观，落实全球安全倡议.
Ahmadian talked about his visit to China in May this year; he thanked China for “upholding justice on the Palestinian-Israeli issue in the United Nations Security Council” and added that “Iran is willing to continue close multilateral coordination with China, work together to deal with risks and challenges, and promote regional peace and stability.”
Page 6: A couple of reports around expulsions from the Party for disciplinary reasons.
First, Qu Min, a former senior political adviser for northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, has been expelled from the Party. Xinhua reported:
“Qu was found to have accepted money and property and violated regulations in the selection and appointment of officials. Engaging in the trade of power for money, Qu exploited his position to secure benefits for others in business operations and project contracting, and unlawfully received substantial amounts of money, the statement said. It said that Qu's behavior had constituted serious violations of the CPC's discipline on political and organizational fronts, among others. Qu has seriously breached his duties and is suspected of bribery crimes, it added. Qu's illicit gains will also be confiscated, and his case will be transferred to a procuratorial organ for further examination and prosecution in accordance with the law…”
Second, Li Jinzhu, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People's Congress, has been expelled from the Party. Xinhua reported:
“Li is accused of abandoning his political responsibilities, going against major decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and engaging in improper activities that polluted the political environment. He accepted banquets in violation of regulations and utilized his positions to assist others in appointments, promotions, business operations, and project acquisition, receiving illicit gains in return. Additionally, Li engaged in unauthorized business ventures, interfered in market economic activities, and influenced the allocation of public financial funds. The statement emphasized the severe disciplinary measures due to the negative impact of Li's actions on the political environment and the workplace. Li Jinzhu, 68, a native of Hebei province, had a long-standing career in the coal-related industry and held various significant positions in Shaanxi province. He joined the Party in 1976 and was placed under investigation in May 2023.”
Page 9: There’s an article by Huang Hanquan, president of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, discussing the six “continuous improvements” 六个“持续向好”that demonstrate the resilience of China’s economy.
Huang writes that:
China’s GDP in the first three quarters was 91.3 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.2% at constant prices, 2.2 percentage points faster than last year, and higher than market expectations. The growth rate in the first, second and third quarters were, 4.5%, 6.3% and 4.9%, respectively…Domestic demand, especially consumption, is playing an increasingly important role as the ‘ballast’ of economic growth…In the first three quarters, domestic demand contributed 113% to economic growth, of which final consumption expenditure contributed 83.2% to economic growth…breakthroughs and industrialization of key core technologies in certain fields have been realised, such as the maiden commercial flight of domestically-produced large aircraft, delivery of domestically-produced large cruise ships, completion of the Chinese space station, and the launch of domestically-produced smartphones equipped with advanced domestically produced advanced processing chips; the driving role of scientific and technological innovation in economic growth has been enhanced. The pace of green and low-carbon transformation has accelerated. From January to October, wind and solar power generation increased by 10.8% and 12.5%, respectively…In the first three quarters, the production of solar cells and new energy vehicles increased by 63.2% and 26.7%, respectively year-on-year. In the context of slowing global economic growth and ongoing geopolitical conflicts, China's economy has withstood pressure and maintained a growth rate that ranks among the forefront of major economies, remaining the world's largest growth engine… 前三季度国内生产总值（GDP）91.3万亿元，按不变价格计算，同比增长5.2%，比去年全年快2.2个百分点，高于市场预期。其中，第一、二、三季度分别增长4.5%、6.3%、4.9%...内需特别是消费对经济增长的“压舱石”作用增强。前三季度，内需对经济增长的贡献率达113%，其中最终消费支出对经济增长的贡献率达83.2%...随着高水平科技自立自强扎实推进，部分领域关键核心技术实现突破和产业化，如国产大飞机完成商业首航、国产大型邮轮交付、中国空间站全面建成、搭载国内先进制程芯片的国产手机开售等，科技创新对经济增长的带动作用提升...绿色低碳转型步伐加快。1—10月份，风力、太阳能发电量同比分别增长10.8%和12.5%，显著高于全国规模以上工业发电量4.4%的增长；前三季度，太阳能电池、新能源汽车产量分别同比增长63.2%和26.7%。在全球经济增长动能放缓、地缘政治冲突持续发酵的情况下，我国经济顶住了压力，经济增速在主要经济体中位居前列，仍然是全球增长最大引擎。这样的成绩难能可贵、来之不易.
He then argues that industrial growth has been steady over the first three quarters.
“In the first three quarters, the added value of the service industry accounted for 55.1% of GDP, and its contribution to economic growth reached 63.0%...In the first three quarters, the added value of the manufacturing industry accounted for 27.2% of GDP…The national summer grain output was 146.13 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 0.9%, ranking the second highest in history.”
In the next bit, he talks about other specific data points from January to October. I am not capturing everything. But here’s a snapshot:
The total retail sales of consumer goods was 38.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.9%
The retail sales of services increased by 19.0%
The national investment in fixed assets was 41.9 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.9%
The total value of foreign trade was 34.3 trillion yuan, which was basically the same as that of the same period of last year. In particular, he points to the export of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products
The internal structure of the three major demands of investment, consumption and export has continued to improve.
1—10月份，社会消费品零售总额38.5万亿元，同比增长6.9%，持续保持在较高水平；服务零售额在批发零售、旅游出行、餐饮住宿、观影等服务型、接触型消费明显回暖带动下，增长19.0%；全国固定资产投资41.9万亿元，同比增长2.9%；外贸进出口总值34.3万亿元人民币，同比基本持平，其中10月份货物进出口同比实现正增长。同时，投资、消费、出口三大需求内部结构持续改善.
“From January to October, manufacturing investment increased by 6.2% year-on-year, significantly higher than all investment. Among them, investment in high-tech manufacturing increased by 11.3%, laying a good foundation for the growth of new industries and new drivers. 投资结构中制造业投资表现突出。1—10月份，制造业投资同比增长6.2%，明显高于全部投资。其中，高技术制造业投资增长11.3%，为新产业新动能成长壮大打下了较好基础.
In the next section, he argues that technological innovation is continuing to empower the real economy, new industries and new drivers are continuing to develop and grow, and their role in driving economic growth is increasing. Huang writes that:
From January to October, the industrial value-added of the automobile manufacturing industry and the electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing industry increased by 11.3% and 13.6% year-on-year, respectively. Key technologies such as edge computing, industrial big data, and general artificial intelligence are thriving, promoting the accelerated integration of the service industry and manufacturing industry. The core industry scale of industrial Internet platforms exceeds 1.2 trillion yuan, and nearly 8,000 digitized workshops and smart factories have been established. 1—10月份，汽车制造业、电气机械和器材制造业工业增加值同比增长11.3%、13.6%。边缘计算、工业大数据、通用人工智能等关键技术研发和产业化方兴未艾，推动服务业和制造业加速融合发展，工业互联网网络平台核心产业规模超过1.2万亿元，建成数字化车间和智能工厂近8000个。
Through this year, the business activity index of cultural-related industries such as telecommunications, radio, television, and satellite transmission services, as well as internet software and information technology services, has consistently remained in the high prosperity zone. In the first three quarters, the cultural, entertainment, and leisure services industry showed strong momentum of recovery, with a revenue growth of 67.2% year-on-year. Digitization and intelligent development have also injected momentum into the development of the cultural industry, with the revenue growth rates of sub-industries such as digital publishing, internet search services, internet entertainment platforms, multimedia games, and animation being around 20%. 今年以来，电信广播电视及卫星传输服务、互联网软件及信息技术服务等文化相关行业的商务活动指数一直处于高景气区间。前三季度，文化娱乐休闲服务行业回升势头强劲，营收同比增长67.2%。数字化智能化也为文化产业发展注入动能，前三季度数字出版、互联网搜索服务、互联网文娱平台、多媒体游戏动漫等细分行业营收同比增速都在20%左右.
In the final bit, he talks about employment, saying that in the first three quarters, 10.22 million new jobs were created in cities and towns across the country. That’s 85% of the annual target. 前三季度，全国城镇新增就业1022万人，完成全年目标任务的85%.From January to October, the national average urban surveyed unemployment rate was 5.3%, down 0.3 percentage points from the same period last year.1—10月份，全国城镇调查失业率平均值为5.3%，比去年同期回落0.3个百分点.
Huang then writes that corporate profits and residents' incomes are also picking up.
“From the perspective of business operations, since the third quarter, the decline in the industrial PPO has continued to narrow; the prices of some industrial products have begun to recover to an upward trajectory; and in October, the profits of industrial enterprises above designated size nationwide increased by 2.7% year-on-year, achieving positive growth for three consecutive months. 从企业经营看，三季度以来，工业生产者价格指数降幅持续收窄，部分工业品价格进入回升通道，10月份全国规模以上工业企业利润同比增长2.7%，连续3个月实现正增长.
“In the first three quarters, the per capita disposable income of residents across the country was 29,398 yuan, a nominal increase of 6.3% year-on-year; after deducting price factors, the actual growth was 5.9%, which is 0.1 percentage points faster than the first half of the year, and higher than the GDP growth rate. The disposable income of rural residents was 15,705 yuan, a nominal growth of 7.6% year-on-year, and a real growth of 7.3%; the per capita disposable income of urban residents was 39,428 yuan, a nominal growth of 5.2% year-on-year, and a real growth of 4.7%. 从居民收入看，前三季度，全国居民人均可支配收入29398元，同比名义增长6.3%；扣除价格因素实际增长5.9%，比上半年加快0.1个百分点，高于GDP增长速度。其中，农村居民人均可支配收入15705元，同比名义增长7.6%，实际增长7.3%；城镇居民人均可支配收入39428元，同比名义增长5.2%，实际增长4.7%.
Page 15: I am not doing a detailed summary, but there’s an article by Cui Tiankai commemorating Kissinger and his legacy for Sino-US ties.
Cui writes that Kissinger’s “wisdom” with regard to China, “stemmed from his appreciation, understanding and respect for China and Chinese civilization.” 基辛格的外交智慧，源于他对中国和中华文明的欣赏、理解和尊重. “It was precisely because of his wisdom and knowledge that his discussions about China were free from some Western biases and superficial views. This was also the reason he consistently earned the respect of the Chinese people and Chinese leaders.” 正是因为他的智慧和学识，他关于中国的论述中没有一些西方人的偏见和肤浅，这也是他始终赢得中国人民和中国领导人尊重的原因. (Comment: So in effect, Cui tells us that policymakers around the world should appreciate China like Kissinger and maybe then Chinese leadership will then consider bestowing upon you some respect.)
Cui also argues that Kissinger understood world history and that’s why wanted a “stable world order”, which requires China and the US to learn to co-exist.
Cui also has some advice for the State Department:
“At present, the United States needs more diplomats like Kissinger, transcending ideological prejudice, and taking a responsible attitude towards history, people and the world, and working with China to explore the correct way for China and the United States to get along in the new era, in order to promote the healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations and benefit the two countries and the world.” 当下的美国，需要更多像基辛格这样的外交家，超越意识形态偏见，本着对历史、对人民、对世界负责的态度，同中方一道探讨新时期中美正确相处之道，推动中美关系健康稳定发展，造福两国，惠及世界.