China-Vietnam Ties - Blinken-Wang Call - Xi Congratulates Lula da Silva - Han Zheng on Chinese-style Modernisation - Li Shulei on 20th Congress Spirit - New Guidelines on Celebrity Endorsements
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Tuesday, November 1, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: Today’s front page is all about Xi’s engagement with the visiting Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. At the top of the page is a report on Trong being awarded the PRC’s Friendship Medal.
In his remarks at the ceremony, Xi Jinping pointed out that Trong was a “staunch Marxist, a close comrade and sincere friend of the Communist Party of China.” He added that “under his great attention and personal promotion, the traditional friendship between the two parties and countries has been consolidated, political mutual trust enhanced, practical cooperation deepened, and exchanges and mutual learning have been increasingly close.”
Xinhua adds: “Noting China and Vietnam are good neighbors and friends ‘connected by mountains and rivers, as close as lips and teeth,’ Xi said the two countries are like-minded comrades and partners with a shared future committed to the cause of peace and progress of humanity. On the journey of promoting socialist modernization of the two countries, the CPC is willing to work with the CPV led by Trong to inherit the traditional friendship created and carefully cultivated by Mao Zedong, Ho Chi Minh and other older-generation leaders of the two parties and two countries, and to jointly lead China-Vietnam relations to achieve greater development.”
Wang Yi and He Lifeng are mentioned as having attended the ceremony.
The other lead story on the page is about the talks between Xi and Trong. Xinhua English also has the detailed report on this. It says:
“Xi said that, with accelerated changes in the situation unseen in a century, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. He emphasized that China, Vietnam and other socialist countries have succeeded in following the trend of the times and exploring a modernization path in line with their own national conditions, and socialism is becoming more and more vigorous. At the same time, the development of human progress is a long and tortuous process, while the development of socialist countries is facing a very complicated international environment and severe risks and challenges, Xi said. He called on the CPC and the CPV to strive for the happiness of the people and the progress of mankind, make every effort to advance socialist modernization, and never allow anyone to interfere with their progress or any force to shake the institutional foundation of their development. On further developing China-Vietnam relations, Xi stressed that the two sides should adhere to the direction of socialism. ‘For the cause of socialism and China-Vietnam relations, adhering to the correct political direction is paramount.’ He expressed hopes that the two parties should strengthen high-level communication and exchanges of views on major issues concerning bilateral relations in a timely manner. He also called for consolidating the socialist economic foundation on both sides. China is ready to work with Vietnam to synergize their development strategies, promote connectivity between the two countries, and deepen cooperation on health care, green development, the digital economy and climate change, Xi said. (in the Chinese language report, Xi also mentions “jointly building a stable industrial and supply chain system” along with this.) Under the new circumstances, the two sides should focus on the future and work for a long time to carry forward the traditional friendship of ‘comrades and brothers’ nurtured by the older generation of leaders, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, increase mutual acquaintance and amity between the younger generations of the two countries, and deepen cooperation in the field of press and publicity, so as to create an atmosphere of public opinion that is favorable for bilateral relations, he added. Xi stressed that China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and a key region in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and values Vietnam's position and role in ASEAN. ‘We look forward to working with Vietnam to accelerate the building of a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together, and to promote regional economic integration in East Asia’, he said. China is also ready to work with ASEAN to practice true multilateralism and open regionalism, make the regional situation and international order more peaceful, stable, just and equitable, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi added.”
Xinhua adds:
“Trong expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China will definitely achieve the goals set at the 20th CPC National Congress and make a new contribution to the region and the world at large. Trong said he fully agrees with Xi's important proposals on developing relations between the two parties and two countries. He said Vietnam attaches great importance to its ties with China and regards developing friendly cooperation with China as a top priority in its foreign policies. Vietnam will advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China based on the policy of long-term stability, forward-thinking, good neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation, and the spirit of being good neighbors, friends, comrades and partners, he said. Trong said Vietnam firmly follows the one-China policy, opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities, and will not develop any official relations with Taiwan. He said Vietnam will not allow any country to establish a military base in Vietnam, or join any military alliance, or use force against any country, or work with one country to oppose another. He said Vietnam is willing to work with China to maintain high-level exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen political mutual trust, give play to the strategic role of inter-party relations and deepen theory exchanges.”
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents on political parties, economy and trade, environmental protection, culture and tourism, justice, customs and local government.
The PD report mentions all the above, but also adds this bit from Xi. “Under the new situation, the two parties should strengthen the exchange and mutual learning of experience in governing the Party and the country, maintain high-level communication and strategic dialogue between the two armies, expand the achievements in law enforcement and security cooperation, and safeguard their respective national political security and social stability.” 新形势下，中越两党要加强治党治国理政经验交流互鉴、保持两军高层沟通和战略对话、扩大执法安全合作成果，维护好各自国家政治安全和社会稳定.
Third, there’s a report about Qiushi publishing a special edition with Xi’s report to the 20th Party Congress along with other related documents from the Congress. Fourth, a report on Xi’s letter to the Global Observance of World Cities Day 2022 and the Second Sustainable Development Goals Cities Global Conference. Xinhua reports:
“Xi called on cities across the world to actively participate in the Global Development Initiative, accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda, facilitate effective economic recovery, improve the ecological environment, enhance urban governance, and jointly promote global sustainable development.”
Fifth, a report on Xi’s letter congratulating the Russia-China Friendship Association on its 65th anniversary. Xinhua says:
“The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has maintained the momentum of high-level development, with ever-deepening exchanges and cooperation in various fields as well as friendship between people of the two countries, Xi noted, adding that the cause of China-Russia people-to-people friendship enjoys broad prospects and great potential for future development. The Chinese president said he hopes that the association will carry forward its fine traditions and play a bigger role in promoting people-to-people bonds between the two countries.”
And finally, a report (English report) on Xi congratulating Lula da Silva on his election victory.
Page 2: A report informing that Li Keqiang will chair the 21st Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO member states today. From India, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar is participating. Also, there’s a report telling us that Han Zheng will be travelling to Singapore today and tomorrow for a bunch of meetings, including the 18th China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation Meeting.
Third, there’s a report on the meeting of the Standing Committee of CPPCC National Committee on Monday to discuss the study and implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th Party Congress. The PD report says that Wang Yang attended, but there’s no comment from him that is reported. Instead, the report focuses on remarks by new propaganda chief Li Shulei.
PD says:
“Li Shulei interpreted and explained the great significance of the 20th Party Congress, the great changes in the new era and the decisive significance of ‘Two Establishments’, the goal and task of opening up a new era of Marxism in China, building a comprehensively modern socialist country, comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernisation, leading the social revolution through self-revolution, and coping with risks and challenges with unity and struggle.” 中共中央政治局委员、中央宣传部部长李书磊应邀出席会议并作关于中共二十大会议情况和会议精神的辅导报告。李书磊在辅导报告中就中共二十大的重大意义、新时代十年的伟大变革和“两个确立”的决定性意义、开辟马克思主义中国化时代化新境界、全面建设社会主义现代化国家的目标任务、以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴、以自我革命引领社会革命、以团结奋斗应对风险挑战等进行了解读和阐释.
Zhang Qingli, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the meeting. Zhang said that the Congress was a meeting of “holding high the banner, rallying strength and forging ahead in unity.” He added that Xi’s report “pointed out the direction for the development of the Party and the country in a new era and on a new journey, and established a guide for action. It is a political declaration and action program…” 他强调，中共二十大是一次高举旗帜、凝聚力量、团结奋进的大会，习近平总书记所作的报告，为新时代新征程党和国家事业发展、实现第二个百年奋斗目标指明了前进方向、确立了行动指南，是党团结带领全国各族人民夺取中国特色社会主义新胜利的政治宣言和行动纲领.
Zhang added that it was necessary to “deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences and achieve the two safeguards, and unswervingly implement the objectives and tasks put forward by 20th Party Congress.” 我们一定要在全面学习、全面把握、全面落实上下功夫，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，坚定不移把中共二十大提出的目标任务落到实处.
Finally, there’s a report on the Blinken-Wang Yi call. They talked about the 20th Party Congress and Wang Yi had some very snarky comments to offer. Xinhua reports:
“The most important achievement of the congress, Wang said, is that it responded to the common aspirations of the whole party and the people of the whole country, established General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guiding ideology that must be adhered to for a long time. China will continue to unswervingly follow the proven path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, Wang said, adding that the major policies of the Chinese party and government will retain a high degree of continuity and stability. Wang stressed that the important message sent by the congress is that China will stick to the foreign policy objectives of maintaining world peace and promoting common development, continue to pursue the fundamental national policy of opening up, promote the overall progress of mankind with the Chinese path to modernization, and bring new opportunities to the world with China's new developments, which is the greatest stability China offers to the turbulent international situation. The United States should carefully study the report of the 20th CPC National Congress if it really wants to understand China, Wang said, adding that China's domestic and foreign policies are open and transparent, and its strategic intentions are open and aboveboard. He also cautioned the United States against making conjectures by looking through tinted glasses and allowing ideological biases to cloud its eyes. Wang said that bringing China-U.S. relations back to the track of stable development not only serves the common interests of China and the United States, but also meets the common expectations of the international community. The United States should stop containing and suppressing China and refrain from creating new obstacles for bilateral relations, he said. The United States has adopted new export control regulations against China and restricted its investment in China, seriously violating free trade rules and gravely undermining China's legitimate rights and interests, and thus must correct those practices, Wang added.”
The two sides talked about the situation in Ukraine. Xinhua reports: “Wang said that all parties should exercise restraint, make calm decisions and step up diplomatic efforts to prevent the crisis from escalating or even getting out of control. The door of negotiations must not be shut as long as there is a glimmer of hope, and 100 percent efforts should be made for peace as long as there is a 1 percent chance, Wang said.”
Page 3: There’s a long piece by Han Zheng, which is part of the work to study, publicise and implement the guiding principles of the 20th Party Congress. The article discusses Chinese-style modernisation. Han talks about how Xi’s report to the Congress “profoundly expounds the scientific connotation, Chinese characteristics and essential requirements of Chinese-style modernisation, emphasising that the Chinese-style modernisation will comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” He calls for unifying thoughts and actions behind the Central Committee’s decisions.
The first section of the article underscores the point that “Chinese-style modernisation is a socialist modernisation led by the Communist Party of China, a modernisation with Chinese characteristics and in line with China’s reality, and a bright road to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 中国式现代化是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，是具有中国特色、符合中国实际的现代化，是实现中华民族伟大复兴的光明大道.
In this section, there are three points that Han makes.
First, he frames a narrative of continuity with regard to the new policies under the rubric of Chinese-style modernisation. “Over the past century, all the struggles that the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people in have been aimed at building China into a modern and powerful country and realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. During this process, our Party has deepened its understanding of building a modern socialist country, matured its strategy, and enriched its practice, creating a path of Chinese-style modernisation.” 中国共产党百年来团结带领中国人民所进行的一切奋斗，就是为了把我国建设成为现代化强国，实现中华民族伟大复兴. 在这个过程中，我们党对建设社会主义现代化国家在认识上不断深入、在战略上不断成熟、在实践上不断丰富，开创了中国式现代化道路. He adds: General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important expositions on Chinese-style modernisation are an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. They provide fundamental guidelines for building a comprehensively modern socialist country, expand the way for developing countries to modernise, and provide a Chinese solution for mankind to explore a better social system.” 习近平总书记关于中国式现代化的一系列重要论述，是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的重要组成部分，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家提供了根本遵循，也拓展了发展中国家走向现代化的途径，为人类对更好社会制度的探索提供了中国方案。
Second, he argues that Chinese-style modernisation has entered an irreversible historical process in promoting the realisation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. What this implies is China's GDP; education, healthcare and social security systems; environmental protection work, etc., have reached a certain stage of development, which lends confidence for future action.
Third, he says that amid the unprecedented changes taking place in the world today, “China’s development is faced with new strategic opportunities, strategic tasks, strategic stages, strategic requirements and strategic environment, and the risks and challenges to be met, contradictions and problems to be solved are more complicated than ever before.” 当今世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，我国发展面临新的战略机遇、战略任务、战略阶段、战略要求、战略环境，需要应对的风险和挑战、需要解决的矛盾和问题比以往更加错综复杂. This calls for further strengthening the four confidences, i.e., the confidence in path, theory, system and culture. “History and practice have proved that the path of Chinese-style modernisation is in line with China's reality. This road is not only correct and feasible, but also increasingly broadening.” 历史和实践已经证明，中国式现代化道路契合我国实际，这条道路不仅走得对、走得通，而且越走越宽广.
In the second section, he talks about the five key characteristics of Chinese-style modernisation. He details each of these.
First, he talks about China being a large country with a large population, arguing that the Chinese population exceeds “the total population of the existing developed countries.” This, he says, brings unique challenges, i.e., “arduousness and complexity are unprecedented, and the development path and promotion method must also have their own characteristics.” 我国14亿多人口整体迈入现代化社会，规模将超过现有发达国家人口的总和，艰巨性和复杂性前所未有，发展途径和推进方式也必然具有自己的特点.
Han writes:
“In today’s world, although many countries are striving for modernisation, there are not many that have truly achieved comprehensive modernisation. Some developing countries, regardless of their own national conditions and historical orientation, have entirely copied the Western model. Consequently, their development process has been extremely difficult. In the final analysis, no nation or country in human history has ever been able to become strong and rejuvenated by relying on external forces, copying foreign models, and following in the footsteps of others. The reason why China’s modernisation drive has been able to achieve such a good situation today is that our modernisation is a socialist modernisation led by the Communist Party of China. It has the common characteristics of modernisation in all countries and the unique characteristics of China based on its own national conditions, and is in line with China’s reality.” 当今世界，虽然许多国家都在努力建设现代化，但真正全面建成现代化的国家并不多。一些发展中国家不顾自身发展的国情和历史方位，全盘照搬西方模式，结果发展过程极为艰难。归根结底，人类历史上没有一个民族、一个国家可以通过依赖外部力量、照搬外国模式、跟在他人后面亦步亦趋实现强大和振兴。我国的现代化建设之所以能够取得今天这样的好局面，根本在于我们的现代化是中国共产党领导的社会主义现代化，既有各国现代化的共同特征，更有基于自己国情的中国特色，是符合中国实际的.
“China is still in the primary stage of socialism and will remain so for a long time to come. It is still the largest developing country in the world. We need to make long and arduous efforts to build our country into a powerful modern socialist country. We should always proceed from our national conditions, think through problems, make decisions, and manage our affairs. In doing so, we should neither overreach nor follow the old path. We should maintain historical patience, seek progress while maintaining stability, and move forward step by step. We must concentrate on managing our own affairs well, continue to seize and make good use of important periods of strategic opportunities, make scientific plans, take positive actions, and follow the trend of development on the basis of an accurate understanding of the laws of history, the trend of the times and the conditions for development, and make solid progress step by step to solve problems and achieve our goals.” 我国仍处于并将长期处于社会主义初级阶段，仍然是世界最大的发展中国家，把我国建设成为社会主义现代化强国需要付出长期艰苦的努力。要始终从国情出发，想问题、作决策、办事情，既不好高骛远，也不因循守旧，保持历史耐心，坚持稳中求进，循序渐进，持续推进。坚持集中精力办好自己的事，继续抓住并用好重要战略机遇期，在准确把握历史规律、时代大势、发展条件基础上科学谋划、积极作为、顺势而为，在一步一个脚印的扎实推进中破解难题、实现目标.
Second, he talks about ensuring the common prosperity of all people. Han argues that “achieving common prosperity is an important mission of our Party, which is not only an economic issue, but also a major political issue concerning the Party's governing foundation.” 实现共同富裕是我们党的重要使命，这不仅是一个经济问题，而且是关系党的执政基础的重大政治问题. He adds that “Chinese-style modernisation insists on realising people’s longing for a better life as the starting point and the end result of modernisation, and strives to maintain and promote social fairness and justice, promote common prosperity of all people, and resolutely prevent polarisation. We should adhere to the people-centred development philosophy, promote common prosperity through high-quality development, consciously and actively address regional disparities, urban-rural disparities and income distribution disparities, and improve the balance, coordination and inclusiveness of development.” 中国式现代化坚持把实现人民对美好生活的向往作为现代化建设的出发点和落脚点，着力维护和促进社会公平正义，着力促进全体人民共同富裕，坚决防止两极分化。要坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，在高质量发展中促进共同富裕，自觉积极主动地解决地区差距、城乡差距、收入分配差距，提高发展的平衡性、协调性、包容性.
The next bit is important because common prosperity as the current leadership has envisioned it seems to be such an ambiguous concept that has also been misread by so many. So Han says: “Promote common prosperity in common struggle, encourage hard work and innovation to get rich, create more inclusive and fair conditions for people to improve their education level and development ability, prevent social stratification, smoothen channels for upward mobility, and create opportunities for more people to get rich.” —- 在共同奋斗中促进共同富裕，鼓励勤劳创新致富，为人民提高受教育程度、增强发展能力创造更加普惠公平的条件，防止社会阶层固化，畅通向上流动通道，给更多人创造致富机会。 What we are being told is that China’s high growth-oriented economic model is undergoing significant churn, with objectives such as fairness (which is a tricky concept), sustainability and addressing disparities becoming more prominent objectives. This is clearly a very different vision from the idea that the state will nationalise, overwhelm or undercut the private sector or that a new massive welfare system is being established. The changed objectives, however, do imply that enterprises will not come under pressure in other ways. For instance, Han adds:
“Correctly handle the relationship between efficiency and fairness, build basic institutional arrangements for the coordination of primary distribution, redistribution, and third distribution, and establish a scientific public policy system, so that more and more development achievements can benefit all people in a fairer way. Do our best and do what we can, base the protection and improvement of people’s livelihood on the basis of economic development and sustainability of financial resources, and focus on strengthening the construction of basic, universal, and bottom-line livelihood security. Common prosperity for all the people does not mean prosperity for a few, nor does it mean uniform egalitarianism. It is necessary to allow some people to get rich first, but at the same time, it is necessary to emphasise that after getting rich, they must help others to grow richer.” 正确处理效率和公平的关系，构建初次分配、再分配、第三次分配协调配套的基础性制度安排，建立科学的公共政策体系，让发展成果更多更公平惠及全体人民。坚持尽力而为、量力而行，把保障和改善民生建立在经济发展和财力可持续的基础上，重点加强基础性、普惠性、兜底性民生保障建设。全体人民共同富裕不是少数人的富裕，也不是整齐划一的平均主义。要允许一部分人先富起来，同时要强调先富带后富、帮后富.
Third, adhere to the coordination of material civilisation and spiritual civilisation. Han says that “material poverty is not socialism, and neither is spiritual poverty.” 物质贫困不是社会主义，精神贫乏也不是社会主义. He calls for “vigorously developing advanced socialist culture, strengthening the education of ideals and beliefs and inheriting the Chinese civilisation…” In addition, he says that “we should adhere to the guiding position of Marxism in the field of ideology, and constantly push forward the modernisation of Marxism in China. Vigorously promote and practise the core socialist values, and through education guidance, public opinion propaganda, cultural edification, practice development, and institutional guarantees, the core socialist values should be internalised into people's spiritual pursuits, and externalised into people's conscious actions.” 要坚持马克思主义在意识形态领域的指导地位，不断推进马克思主义中国化时代化。大力弘扬和践行社会主义核心价值观，通过教育引导、舆论宣传、文化熏陶、实践养成、制度保障等，使社会主义核心价值观内化为人们的精神追求、外化为人们的自觉行动.
Fourth, adhere to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. In this, he argues that China must “strike a balance between development and protection, and must not take the path of ‘polluting first and treating later’.” 我们必须把握好发展与保护的关系，决不能走“先污染后治理”的路子. He adds that China must “adhere to the path of sustainable development, give priority to conservation, protection, and natural restoration, protect nature and the ecological environment like we protect our eyes…” He talks about the need to “persistently promote green and low-carbon development, take the realisation of the synergistic effect of pollution reduction and carbon reduction as the general starting point to promote comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development…” He mentions the need to form a “green development mode,” which pertains to the “adjustment of the industrial structure, energy structure, transportation structure and land use structure.” 要坚持可持续发展，坚持节约优先、保护优先、自然恢复为主的方针，像保护眼睛一样保护自然和生态环境，坚定不移地走生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展道路，实现中华民族永续发展。践行绿水青山就是金山银山理念，坚持不懈推动绿色低碳发展，把实现减污降碳协同增效作为促进经济社会发展全面绿色转型的总抓手，加快推动产业结构、能源结构、交通运输结构、用地结构调整，形成绿色发展方式.
Fifth, he talks about adhering to the path of peaceful development. Here, he talks about China “standing on the right side of history” and argues that while “some countries achieved modernisation through wars, colonisation and plunder…the Chinese nation is a peace-loving nation.” He talks about Zheng He’s voyages. He adds:
“We will persist with an independent foreign policy of peace, adhere to mutual respect and equal consultation, bridge differences through dialogue, resolve disputes through negotiation, oppose all forms of hegemonism and power politics, and encourage all countries to follow the path of peaceful development and build a new type of international relations. We will advance the construction of a system of win-win cooperation and opening-up, comprehensively improve the level of opening-up, promote the liberalisation and facilitation of trade and investment, promote the high-quality development of BRI, and support an open, transparent, inclusive and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system. We will actively develop global partnerships, enhance political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation with other countries. Persevere in improving global governance, firmly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, safeguard and practise true multilateralism, and actively promote the development of economic globalisation in a more open, inclusive, balanced and win-win direction.” 坚持胸怀天下，坚持独立自主的和平外交政策，坚持相互尊重、平等协商，以对话弥合分歧，以谈判化解争端，反对一切形式的霸权主义、强权政治，推动各国共同走和平发展道路，推动建设新型国际关系。推进合作共赢开放体系建设，全面提高对外开放水平，推动贸易和投资自由化便利化，推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展，支持开放、透明、包容、非歧视的多边贸易体制。积极发展全球伙伴关系，同世界各国增进政治互信、深化务实合作。坚持不懈推动完善全球治理，坚定维护以联合国为核心的国际体系、以国际法为基础的国际秩序、以联合国宪章宗旨和原则为基础的国际关系基本准则，维护和践行真正的多边主义，积极推动经济全球化朝着更加开放、包容、普惠、平衡、共赢的方向发展.
The third and final section of the article says that in order to achieve this goal of Chinese-style modernisation, everyone must:
Thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; understanding the decisive significance of the Two Establishments and the 4-4-2 formulation, along with aligning politically, in thought and in actions with the Central Committee.
Adhere to the overall leadership of the Party
Grasp the missions and tasks at hand
Page 4: A report telling us that the Central Propaganda Department, the Central and State Organs Working Committee, the Ministry of Education, the Political Work Department of the CMC, and the Beijing Municipal Committee held a session on learning and implementing the spirit of the 20th Party Congress. Li Shulei spoke at the meeting. About 800 cadres were in attendance. Li talked about the modernisation goal and tasks in that regard, and, of course, the Two Establishments and 4-4-2 formulation.
Next, there’s a report on Chen Wenqing presiding over a plenary meeting of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Chen talked about the need to earnestly study, publicise and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress. He emphasised the importance of the Two Establishments and the 4-4-2 formulation. He stressed on the need to “persist in strengthening the Party’s absolute leadership over political and legal work, fulfil the main responsibilities of safeguarding national political security – ensuring the overall social stability, promoting social fairness and justice, and ensuring that people go about their lives and work in peace and contentment. He also called for contributing political and legal strength for building a comprehensively modern socialist country and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 会议强调，要认真学习宣传贯彻党的二十大精神，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，坚持和加强党对政法工作的绝对领导，履行好维护国家政治安全、确保社会大局稳定、促进社会公平正义、保障人民安居乐业的主要职责，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴贡献政法力量.
The meeting also called for “unswervingly implementing the overall national security concept, promoting the modernisation of the national security system and capabilities, and resolutely safeguarding the security of the state power, system, and ideology.”
Page 7: There’s a fresh crackdown on celebrity endorsements. The SAMR along with six other agencies announced new guidelines on Monday regulating celebrity endorsements. The PD report is very limited, but here’s the actual document, if you are interested. Some key points in there:
Celebrities should consciously practise socialist core values in their advertising endorsement activities, and endorsement activities should conform to social morals and traditional virtues; do not publish material that is detrimental to the dignity or interests of the country; do not engage in words and deeds that hinder social stability and public order; do not promote obscenity, pornography, gambling, superstition, terror, violence, etc.; do not promote ethnic, racial, religious and gender discrimination; no hype around privacy; do not promote extravagance, waste, money worship, entertainment first and other misconceptions and abnormal aesthetics; no advertising endorsement shall be made with the image or similar image of the party and state leaders, revolutionary leaders, heroic models, etc…坚持正确导向。明星在广告代言活动中应当自觉践行社会主义核心价值观，代言活动应当符合社会公德和传统美德。不得发布有损国家尊严或者利益的言论；不得实施妨碍社会安定和社会公共秩序的言行；不得宣扬淫秽、色情、赌博、迷信、恐怖、暴力等内容；不得宣扬民族、种族、宗教及性别歧视；不得炒作隐私；不得宣扬奢靡浪费、拜金主义、娱乐至上等错误观念和畸形审美；不得以饰演的党和国家领导人、革命领袖、英雄模范等形象或近似形象进行广告代言（以饰演的其他影视剧角色形象进行广告代言的，应当取得影视剧版权方授权许可）；不得宣扬其他违背社会良好风尚的言论和观念.
Celebrities should have a full understanding of the enterprises and goods that they are endorsing. They should also “properly record information about the enterprises they endorse, experience and use of commodities, maintain relevant advertising endorsement contracts and consumption bills of endorsed commodities…”
Endorsements must be done keeping in mind the law; this talks about protecting state secrets and personal privacy; not endorsing for enterprises operating without licence or those that need certain regulatory approvals but have not been approved; no endorsements should be done for tobacco and tobacco products (including e-cigarettes), off-campus training, medical treatment, drugs, medical devices, health food and formula food for special medical purposes; no engagement in exaggeration, commercial slander or unverified data; and there are restrictions on what asset management products and financial advertising can say.
Two interesting bits later in the document are an emphasis on celebrities themselves using the products that they endorse and on the obligations of the enterprise when selecting the endorser.
For instance, enterprises are being warned against choosing individuals who “have made wrong political statements or other statements contrary to the core values of socialism have caused adverse social impacts.” They are also warned against choosing celebrities who have engaged in “illegal and criminal activities such as drug abuse, gambling, drunk driving, indecent assault, tax evasion, fraud and insider trading of securities have caused adverse social impact.” 准确认定选用违法失德明星广告代言情形。企业明知、应知明星发表过错误政治言论或者其他违背社会主义核心价值观言论造成恶劣社会影响，仍选用明星进行广告代言的，应当根据事实情节，认定相关广告妨碍社会安定、妨碍社会公共秩序。企业明知、应知明星存在吸毒、赌博、酒驾、强制猥亵、偷漏税、诈骗、证券内幕交易等违法犯罪行为造成恶劣社会影响，仍选用明星进行广告代言的，应当根据事实情节，认定相关广告违背社会良好风尚.
Page 13: On the international page today, the lead report emphasises that the US bears unshirkable responsibility for the suffering of Afghans. There’s also a report on the collapse of a bridge in Gujarat, India, which has led to the death of over 140 people.