China-Sierra Leone Ties - Guidelines of Expanding on Achievements of Xi Thought Education Campaign - Li Hui Set for Ukraine War Diplomacy - China's UNSC Reform Agenda
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
Page 1: The lead story today is on Xi Jinping’s meeting with Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio. Xinhua reports:
Xi said that “China-Sierra Leone relations are a good example of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation.” He added that “China is willing to work with Sierra Leone to consolidate high-level political mutual trust, advance pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen coordination on international and regional affairs to push bilateral relations to a new level.”
“Xi said China firmly supports the Sierra Leonean people in pursuing a development path suited to their national conditions. He said China stands ready to strengthen exchanges with Sierra Leone on national governance, and work with Sierra Leone to continue supporting each other's major concerns and safeguarding their respective sovereignty, security and development interests. China is also willing to provide assistance and support to the best of its ability for Sierra Leone's development in agriculture, infrastructure construction and human resources, and encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Sierra Leone, Xi said. Both sides should strengthen cooperation on UN Security Council affairs and jointly safeguard the interests of Africa and developing countries, Xi noted. The Chinese president welcomed Sierra Leone to participate in the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.”
He further said that “China has always regarded solidarity and cooperation with African countries as an important cornerstone of our foreign policy.”
Bio called China a “trustworthy and reliable friend”. He added that “China's experience provides inspiration for developing countries to accelerate their development.” “Sierra Leone abides by the one-China principle, supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supports China in safeguarding its core interests.”
The joint statement issued after the talks has some interesting bits:
It says that China-Sierra Leone ties have “set a fine example of a new type of international relations.”
“The two sides reiterated their firm support for each other in independently choosing a development path that suits their national realities,and will further strengthen exchanges and mutual learning on governance. Sierra Leone highly commends that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have made great progress in realizing the transformation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization,and believes that the Chinese path to modernization offers options and solutions to fellow developing countries seeking independent development.”
“The Chinese side reaffirmed its firm support for Sierra Leone in safeguarding national independence, sovereignty, security and developing interests, and expressed firm opposition to any foreign interference in the internal affairs of Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leonean side reiterated its firm commitment to the one-China principle, recognizing that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Sierra Leonean side firmly opposes any form of “Taiwan independence” or external interference in the internal affairs of China, reaffirms that it will not develop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan and will support all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. Sierra Leone firmly supports China’s position on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Xizang.”
There’s a section on supporting BRI. “China commends Sierra Leone’s accession to the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and has added Sierra Leone onto the list of beneficiary countries of the GDI project pool. Sierra Leone will strengthen collaboration with China to promote the implementation of the GDI, the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) at bilateral and multilateral levels.”
“The two sides applauded the cooperation results between the two countries in culture, tourism, education, youth, think tanks, media, sport, public health, and epidemic prevention and control, and agreed to further promote people-to-people exchanges, and deepen and consolidate the foundation of friendship between the two countries and peoples. The two sides will promote exchanges among academia and media. The Chinese side will strengthen cooperation with Sierra Leone in human resource development and continue to dispatch medical teams to Sierra Leone. The Sierra Leonean side expressed gratitude for China’s long-standing support for Sierra Leone’s health sector, especially during Ebola and COVID-19.”
“The two sides will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation on peace and security, increase high-level exchanges between the military and police forces, and strengthen cooperation in areas of personnel training, equipment and technology, prevention of terrorist attacks, joint exercises and training, and combating transnational crimes.”
“The two sides agreed to uphold the principle of equality among all countries regardless of size,oppose hegemonism and power politics, and work to build an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. As developing countries, China and Sierra Leone share extensive common interests and similar positions on international affairs,and will support each other in this regard. The two sides agreed to safeguard the U.N.-centered international system, the international order underpinned by international law, and basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, advance unity and cooperation of the international community, adhere to true multilateralism, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. The two sides advocate humanity’s common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and oppose interference in the internal affairs of other countries on the pretext of “democracy”and “human rights”. China congratulated Sierra Leone again on its election as non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council 2024-2025, and expressed its readiness to strengthen cooperation with Sierra Leone and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.”
The two sides agreed “that reform of the U.N. Security Council needs to support developing countries including Africa in playing a bigger role, increase their representation and voice in the Security Council and redress the historical injustices done to Africa…The Sierra Leonean side reiterated the African Common Position as enunciated in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration as the only viable option to address the historical injustices done to Africa.”
Next, there’s a report on Bio’s meeting with Li Qiang. Xinhua reports:
Li said that “China and Sierra Leone have always respected each other, treated each other as equals and cooperated with each other sincerely, and are good friends, good partners and good brothers who share weal and woe.”
“China stands ready to work with Sierra Leone to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, and continue to achieve more win-win outcomes and improve the well-being of the two peoples, the Chinese premier said. Li pointed out that China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Sierra Leone, carry out practical and efficient cooperation, advance the construction of key projects and livelihood projects in an orderly manner, and provide support to the economic and social development of Sierra Leone within its capacity. China will continue to send agricultural technical experts to help Sierra Leone cultivate quality crops and train technical personnel, strengthen exchanges and the sharing of experience in agricultural policy planning with Sierra Leone, and push for deeper and more solid agricultural cooperation between the two countries, Li said. Li added that China is willing to import more quality products from Sierra Leone, encourages Chinese enterprises to expand investment in the country, and hopes that Sierra Leone will continue to provide a good business environment for Chinese enterprises. ‘China stands ready to further strengthen people-to-people exchanges with Sierra Leone on youth, education, training and medical care to consolidate public support for friendly relations between the two countries,’ he said.”
Finally, there’s a report on Zhao Leji’s meeting with Bio. Xinhua reports:
“Zhao said China was willing to work with Sierra Leone to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, consolidate political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation, maintain close coordination in international affairs and push China-Sierra Leone comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. The Chinese side attaches great importance to cooperation with the Sierra Leonean parliament and is willing to strengthen exchanges at all levels of the legislature, provide better legal guarantee for bilateral cooperation, promote exchanges among political parties and localities as well as people-to-people exchanges, and share experience in strengthening democracy and the rule of law, Zhao said.”
Next, there’s the full guideline issued by the General Office of the CPC Central Committee to consolidate and expand the achievements of the thematic education campaign on studying, implementing, and promoting Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
The document is divided into four parts. The first part is about the need to persist in learning to forge/cast souls, and to consistently carry out the deepening and transformation of the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Under this, the document says that “from an ideological perspective, we must rectify the roots, consolidate the foundation, strengthen ideals and beliefs, forge loyalty to the party, stand firmly on the people's stand, and consciously maintain a high level of alignment with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in terms of political stance, political direction, political principles, and political path, and further strengthen the ideological foundation for the unity of the entire party. 从思想上正本清源、固本培元，坚定理想信念，铸牢对党忠诚，站稳人民立场，自觉在政治立场、政治方向、政治原则、政治道路上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，进一步夯实全党团结统一的思想基础.
Then this section contains three points:
“Establish and improve the ‘first issue’ system: “At all levels, Party committees (party groups) should hold standing committee meetings (party group meetings) or party committee (party group) theoretical study center group study meetings to earnestly study Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and important speeches by General Secretary Xi Jinping, and integrate these with practical implementation. In planning major strategies, researching significant issues, formulating major policies, and deploying major tasks, Party committees (Party groups) should align with and follow the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches and directives, grasp the political direction, understand the work requirements, and clarify ideas and measures.” 建立健全“第一议题”制度。各级党委（党组）召开常委会会议（党组会议）或党委（党组）理论学习中心组学习会，要认真学习习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想和习近平总书记重要讲话，结合实际抓好贯彻落实。党委（党组）谋划重大战略、研究重大事项、制定重大政策、部署重大任务，要对标对表习近平总书记有关重要讲话和重要指示批示精神，把准政治方向、领会工作要求、理清思路举措.
Improve the theoretical study system: This calls for establishing a leadership team book club/study system, integrating it with the theoretical study center group sessions of Party committees (Party groups) at all levels; organize Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era reading sessions annually, encouraging members of the leadership team to sit down, focus, read the original works, study the original texts, and comprehend the principles, and conduct collective learning and discussions to enhance understanding and exchange of ideas…Members of the leadership team of Party committees (Party groups) at all levels are required to give at least one special party class each year at grassroots units or their own party branches, focusing on sharing insights gained from studying and applying the Party's innovative theories. The grassroots party organization secretaries should give effective party classes tailored to the practical needs…” 健全理论学习制度。建立领导班子读书班制度，各级党委（党组）结合理论学习中心组学习，每年举办习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想读书班，组织领导班子成员坐下来、静下心，读原著学原文悟原理，开展集体学习和研讨交流。健全专题党课制度，各级党委（党组）领导班子成员每年到分管领域、部门等基层单位或所在党支部至少讲1次专题党课，重点讲学习运用党的创新理论的收获体会。基层党组织书记联系实际讲好党课。抓实党员、干部经常性学习教育，突出抓好青年党员理论学习，落实“三会一课”、主题党日等制度，运用“学习强国”、共产党员网等平台，采取课堂讲授、政策解读、案例教学、现场体验等方式，推动党的创新理论学习走深走实走心.
The third point is on strengthening Party spirit education. This covers “guiding Party members and cadres to consciously study the Party Constitution, abide by the Party Constitution, implement the Party Constitution, safeguard the Party Constitution, and consciously use the Party Constitution to regulate their words and deeds.” This also covers the use of patriotic education, red resources and revolutionary tradition education in order to “to build a solid foundation of faith, replenish spiritual calcium, stabilize the rudder of thought, and always ensure that cadres are loyal to the party, the people, and Marxism.” 3.强化党性教育。加强党章学习教育，引导党员、干部自觉学习党章、遵守党章、贯彻党章、维护党章，自觉用党章规范一言一行。通过重温入党誓词、过“政治生日”，就近就便用好红色资源、党性教育培训机构，学习先进典型和身边榜样，常态化长效化开展党史学习教育，开展党的宗旨教育、革命传统教育和爱国主义教育等，引导党员、干部筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵，始终忠诚于党、忠诚于人民、忠诚于马克思主义.
Section 2 of the document calls for increasing wisdom through learning, i.e., one’s understanding of laws, clarification of the direction, learning of methods, and enhancement of intellectual capabilities through learning the Party’s innovative theories. The concept outlined is to learn Xi’s thought to “improve political competence, thinking ability, and practical skills to fulfill the political responsibilities entrusted by the Party and the people.” The two points under this section are:
Strengthen cadres’ political education. This entails making sure that they grasp 国之大者, uphold and strengthen the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee as the “highest principle”, good at thinking about problems, making decisions, and doing things from the standpoint of the Party and the people and the overall work of the Party and the country, that their political acumen is enhanced, and it talks about maintaining special focus on the political training for the “key few” and top leaders, etc. 加强党员、干部政治教育和政治训练。分层次分类别分领域开展培训轮训，教育引导党员、干部胸怀“国之大者”，以坚持和加强党中央集中统一领导为最高原则，善于从党和人民的立场、党和国家工作大局出发想问题、作决策、办事情，不断增强政治敏锐性，坚决防止“低级红”、“高级黑”，做政治上的明白人、老实人。突出“关键少数”政治训练，实施“一把手”政治能力提升计划，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力.
Strengthen the performance capabilities related training of Party members and cadres. Under this, it calls to “organise Party members and cadres to study and understand General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches and directives regarding the specific region, department, and field, aligning with their job responsibilities and actual work.” 坚持干什么学什么，组织党员、干部联系岗位职责和工作实际，认真学习领会习近平总书记关于本地区本部门本领域重要讲话和重要指示批示精神. It also calls to “improve strategic thinking, dialectical thinking, systematic thinking, innovative thinking, historical thinking, rule of law thinking, and bottom-line thinking capabilities.” 坚持全面系统学、融会贯通学，不断提高战略思维、辩证思维、系统思维、创新思维、历史思维、法治思维、底线思维能力.
Section three discusses work style/party conduct and self-revolution. Under this, the document calls to:
Practice the Party’s mass line: This talks about cultivating flesh and blood ties with the people, pursuing common prosperity, integrating the people-centered development philosophy into all work and adhering to the Fengqiao Experience. “Party and government leadership groups at all levels and departments and units involved in the field of people's livelihood should, in light of their own realities, establish a list of people's livelihood issues and promote the solution of outstanding problems that are top priorities for the masses.” 各级党政领导班子和涉及民生领域的部门、单位要结合自身实际，建立民生事项清单，推动解决群众反映强烈的突出问题.
Implement the going to the grassroots in all directions system (四下基层): “Provincial Party committees should make overall arrangements, specifying the work content, frequency, and disciplinary requirements for leadership cadres at the county level and above for 四下基层. City and county-level Party committees should implement the policies based on actual conditions and make overall plans to avoid duplication. Promote the Party’s line, principles and policies at the grassroots level, and clearly explain the Party’s innovative theories and major decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee through lectures, visits and discussions. Conduct grassroots investigations and research…Implement a dissecting approach to typical case research; each level of Party committees (Party groups) should review and analyze at least one positive and one negative case from representative and impactful events that occurred within their respective regions and departments each year, drawing general lessons and deduce insights…organize leading cadres to visit areas and units where conflicts are more frequent, situations are complex, and grievances are concentrated and implement the responsibility system for leading cadres to handle cases, solve the problems of the masses, and resolve accumulated complaints and grievances. Conducting on-site offices at the grassroots level involves closely focusing on the needs of development, the expectations of enterprises, and the concerns of the people. Organize leadership cadres to deeply engage with the grassroots, meet with the people, conduct on-site research and coordination, and drive solutions to problems, resolution of conflicts, and the implementation of work at the frontline. Establish a mechanism for young cadres to go to the grassroots and stay connected with the reality of the people.” 7.落实“四下基层”制度。省级党委（党组）作出总体安排，明确县处级以上领导干部“四下基层”的工作内容、时间频次和纪律作风要求。市、县级党委（党组）结合实际抓好落实，搞好统筹，避免扎堆重复。宣传党的路线方针政策下基层，通过讲党课、走访座谈等形式，把党的创新理论和党中央重大决策部署讲清楚讲明白。调查研究下基层，用好“深、实、细、准、效”五字诀，注重采取“四不两直”方式，组织领导班子成员领题调研，推动调研成果转化运用；推行典型案例解剖式调研，各级党委（党组）每年从本地区本部门本系统发生的有代表性、有较大影响的事件中，至少确定1个正面和1个反面案例进行复盘剖析，解剖麻雀、举一反三。信访接待下基层，组织领导干部到矛盾多、情况复杂、信访集中的地方和单位下访接访，落实领导干部包案责任制，解决群众难题、化解信访积案。现场办公下基层，紧盯发展所需、企业所盼、群众所忧，组织领导干部深入基层、走进群众，现场研究、现场协调，推动把问题解决在一线、矛盾化解在一线、工作落实在一线。健全年轻干部下基层、接地气工作机制.
Conduct regular political physical examinations of the leadership team
Carry out discipline education
Persevere in correcting formalism and bureaucracy
The fourth and final section calls to “adhere to promoting learning and practice, and implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee to the letter”. The points made under this are:
Establish the correct view of political achievements: Party committees at all levels should organize Party members and cadres to deeply study and comprehend General Secretary Xi Jinping's important discourse on establishing and practicing a correct view on political achievements. They need to address the questions of ‘for whom achievements are made, what kind of achievements to pursue, and how one should achieve them.’ It is necessary to establish and practice a correct outlook on political achievements as an important part of Party spirit analysis, make good use of the list of main problems in terms of the deviations with regard to political achievements of local leadership bodies and leading cadres, and organize them to conduct in-depth investigation and analysis from aspects such as awareness of purpose, work style, and discipline and rules. Provide guidance for local governments and departments to improve assessment and evaluation methods, rectify practices of being excessively detailed, fragmented and mechanistic assessment indicators. Incorporate the establishment and practice of a correct view on political achievements into the important aspects of inspections, supervisions, cadre assessments, and audits. Discover and rectify deviations and misalignments in views on political achievements promptly. Give full play to the exemplary and warning role of good and bad examples, educate and guide party members and cadres to create achievements that can stand the test of practice, the people, and history.” 树立和践行正确政绩观。各级党委（党组）要组织党员、干部深入学习领会习近平总书记关于树立和践行正确政绩观的重要论述，解决好“政绩为谁而树、树什么样的政绩、靠什么树政绩”的问题。要把树立和践行正确政绩观作为党性分析重要内容，用好地方领导班子和领导干部政绩观偏差主要问题清单，组织领导班子和领导干部从宗旨意识、工作作风、纪律规矩等方面深入查摆剖析。指导地方和部门完善考核评价办法，纠治考核指标过分细化碎片化、机械僵化等做法。把树立和践行正确政绩观情况纳入巡视巡察、干部考核考察、审计整改监督的重要内容，及时发现和纠治政绩观偏差、错位问题。发挥优劣典型的示范警示作用，教育引导党员、干部创造经得起实践、人民、历史检验的业绩.
Promote high-quality development: This calls to adhere to quality development as “the last word” in the new era. “Educate and guide leading bodies and cadres at all levels to implement the new development concept completely, accurately and comprehensively. Prevent issues such as pursuit of grandiosity and seeking external solutions, blind and reckless actions, ostentation without substance, data falsification, over-exploitation causing harm to both people and resources, etc…” Among other aspects of the policy agenda, this reiterates that the goal is to “achieve effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth” of the economy.推动高质量发展。把坚持高质量发展作为新时代的硬道理，教育引导各级领导班子和领导干部完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，防止出现贪大求洋、盲目蛮干，华而不实、数据造假，竭泽而渔、劳民伤财等问题。各级党委（党组）要结合职责，把准融入和服务新发展格局的切入点着力点，用好改革开放关键一招，谋划用好牵引性、撬动性强的工作抓手，着力发展新质生产力，切实增强经济活力，防范化解重点领域风险，突破影响和制约高质量发展的瓶颈问题，推动经济实现质的有效提升和量的合理增长.
Encourage cadres to take on their responsibilities. This largely reiterates the concept of meritocracy in promotion and demotion.
Give full play to the vanguard and exemplary role of party members. This calls for cadres to be brave and stand-up at critical moments; organize party members to play their roles in promoting reform and development, maintaining security and stability, promoting comprehensive rural revitalization, and strengthening grassroots governance; in case of emergencies, encourage local Party groups to transform into emergency response units; and Party organizations at all levels must strengthen ideological guidance and public opinion guidance in cyberspace; and organize and guide Party members to actively speak out and brandish their swords in cyberspace, let positive energy flow, and let the Party flag fly high in cyberspace. 14.充分发挥党员先锋模范作用。严格党员日常教育和管理，使广大党员平常时候看得出来、关键时刻站得出来、危急关头豁得出来。深化立足岗位作贡献、建言献策等活动，组织党员在推动改革发展、维护安全稳定、推进乡村全面振兴、加强基层治理等各方面发挥作用。发生重大自然灾害、重大公共安全事件等突发事件，党组织要组织在职党员、村（社区）党员、流动党员、新就业群体党员等就近就地转化为应急处突力量，冲锋在前、英勇奋斗。各级党组织要在网络空间加强思想引领和舆论引导，组织引导党员在网络空间主动发声亮剑，让正能量形成大流量，让党旗在网络空间高高飘扬.
Regularly carry out rectification of outstanding problems
The guideline ends by saying that consolidating and exp[anding on the achievements of the thematic education campaign are a “major political task”. It also reiterates the importance of the two safeguards. It adds that leading Party members “must adhere to higher standards and stricter requirements”.
Finally, there’s a report on Li Xi’s remarks at a teleconference on the education and rectification of the country's Party discipline inspection commissions and supervision agencies. Li called for “continuous efforts to consolidate the results of education and rectification work, emphasizing that relevant officials should take strict steps to improve their ideological purity, loyalty and competence.” He, of course, called on “discipline inspection and supervision organs at all levels should adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a guide, earnestly study and implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, firmly support the ‘two establishments’, and resolutely uphold the ‘two safeguards.’
He added that over the past year, the discipline organs had “integrated educational rectification with the theme education of studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focused on building political loyalty, eliminating harmful elements, improving the strict management system, and enhancing the ability to struggle, and maintained ideological purity and organizational integrity.” 中央纪委国家监委和各级纪检监察机关把开展教育整顿同开展学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育紧密结合，聚焦铸就政治忠诚、清除害群之马、健全严管体系、增强斗争本领，坚定不移纯洁思想、纯洁组织...
Li Xi emphasized that consolidating and expanding the achievements of education and rectification is a long-term task, and forging a discipline inspection and supervision force absolutely loyal through the spirit of self-revolution is an eternal topic. It is necessary to always maintain a high degree of alignment in thought, politics, and actions with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, firmly support the ‘two establishments’ and resolutely achieve the ‘two safeguards.’ And unswervingly become a loyal defender of the Party and the people. 李希强调，巩固拓展教育整顿成果是一项长期任务，以自我革命精神锻造绝对忠诚的纪检监察铁军是一个永恒课题。要始终在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，把坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”的职责使命摆在首位，矢志不渝做党和人民的忠诚卫士。
Page 2: A few reports to note. First, starting from Saturday, China’s envoy Li Hui (English report) will conduct the second round of shuttle diplomacy on seeking a political settlement of the Ukraine conflict. Li will visit Russia, the EU headquarters, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and France.
Second, Wang Yi met with Tareq M. A. M. Albanai and Alexander Marschik, co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Reform of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly, in Beijing on Wednesday. Xinhua says:
“In a world that is undergoing both transformation and upheaval, countries expect the UN to effectively play a leading role in addressing global challenges and the Security Council to shoulder the important responsibility of maintaining international peace and security entrusted to it by the UN Charter, said Wang. Wang added that China supports the steady progress of Security Council reform in the right direction, increasing the representation and voice of developing countries, giving more small and medium-sized countries the opportunity to participate in decision-making, and enabling all member states to benefit from the reform. It is necessary to put the solidarity and cooperation of the international community in an important position and seek the broadest consensus of the international community, Wang said.” (Comment: From an Indian perspective, none of what China is saying with regard to UNSC reform sounds appealing. It’s actually quite problematic, when Beijing talks about making “steady progress” and focussing on “small and medium-sized countries”.)
Third, there’s a report on Li Qiang meeting with a US. Chamber of Commerce delegation led by the chamber's President and CEO Suzanne Clark. Xinhua says:
Li said that “cooperation is the only correct choice.” “Based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, China is ready to work with the United States to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state to promote the sound and steady development of bilateral relations, he said. Li noted that the Chinese and U.S. economies are highly complementary, and their interests are deeply integrated. Both sides benefit from each other's development, and strengthening economic and trade cooperation is beneficial to both countries. The two sides should be partners rather than rivals, he said, noting that engaging in ‘decoupling’ or ‘small yard, high fence’ strategies is not in the fundamental interests of either side and will only bring huge losses to enterprises in the two countries, to the economy, and even to global development. Li said that China is pursuing Chinese modernization through high-quality development and will continue to unleash huge demand in advanced manufacturing, new-type urbanization, the upgrading of the consumption structure, and green and low-carbon transformations. He noted that U.S. companies are welcome to continue investing in China and deepening their presence in the Chinese market to share the development opportunities. He said that China will open its door even wider to the outside world, continue to foster a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, and provide more support and convenience for U.S. companies and foreign firms from other countries to invest and do business in China. It is hoped that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its entrepreneurs will continue to serve as a bridge in promoting increased communication and mutual understanding between the two countries, Li said.”