Chinese Civilisation Commentary - Wang Yi's Call with Emmanuel Bonne - Unified National Market Plan Implementation - Wang Huning Pitches 'One Country, Two Systems' for Taiwan - Xi Thought & Discipline
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily's edition on Tuesday, June 06, 2023.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a commentary drawing from Xi Jinping’s speech on Chinese civilization and culture. This article picks on the point about the continuity of Chinese civilization, and that this continuity underscores why China must follow its own path. But it adds:
“From a historical perspective, reform and opening up are generally the historical norm of China. History and practice have fully proved that Chinese civilization possesses outstanding innovativeness. This fundamentally determines the enterprising spirit of the Chinese nation of maintaining the tradition of righteousness without being reactionary/conservative, respecting the past while not being retrograde, and the fearless character of the Chinese nation of not being afraid of new challenges and daring to accept new things.” 以数千年大历史观之，变革和开放总体上是中国的历史常态。历史和实践充分证明，中华文明具有突出的创新性，从根本上决定了中华民族守正不守旧、尊古不复古的进取精神，决定了中华民族不惧新挑战、勇于接受新事物的无畏品格.
“The history of China is a history of the diverse ethnic groups blending together to form the unified Chinese nation, and a history in which all ethnic groups have jointly created, developed and consolidated a unified great motherland. The unity and integration of all ethnic groups and the integration of diversity are due to the cultural inclusiveness, economic interdependence and emotional closeness of all ethnic groups, and to the endogenous motivation of the Chinese nation to pursue unity and integration. History and practice have fully proved that Chinese civilization has outstanding unity, which fundamentally determines that the cultures of all ethnic groups of the Chinese nation are integrated and have firmly coalesced together even if despite major setbacks. This has determined the shared belief that the land cannot be divided, the country cannot be in chaos, the ethnic groups cannot be scattered, and the civilization cannot be severed. It determines that the unity of the country will always be the core interest of China, and it determines that a strong and unified country is the destiny of the people of all ethnic groups.” 一部中国史，就是一部各民族交融汇聚成多元一体中华民族的历史，就是各民族共同缔造、发展、巩固统一的伟大祖国的历史。各民族之所以团结融合，多元之所以聚为一体，源自各民族文化上的兼收并蓄、经济上的相互依存、情感上的相互亲近，源自中华民族追求团结统一的内生动力。历史和实践充分证明，中华文明具有突出的统一性，从根本上决定了中华民族各民族文化融为一体、即使遭遇重大挫折也牢固凝聚，决定了国土不可分、国家不可乱、民族不可散、文明不可断的共同信念，决定了国家统一永远是中国核心利益的核心，决定了一个坚强统一的国家是各族人民的命运所系.
The next paragraph says that the Chinese civilization has been renowned throughout history for its openness and inclusiveness.” 中华文明自古就以开放包容闻名于世. Comment: There’s such audacity in making this claim while one is repeatedly calling for sinicizing religions and even architecture. Anyway, from a present-day point of view, the piece mentions BRI as an example of China’s contribution to the world and calls for China to continue to remain open. It says:
“History and practice have fully demonstrated that Chinese civilization possesses outstanding inclusiveness, which fundamentally determines the historical orientation of the Chinese nation towards interaction, exchanges and intermingling, the harmonious pattern of coexistence among various religious beliefs in China, and the Chinese culture’s openness to all world civilizations.” 历史和实践充分证明，中华文明具有突出的包容性，从根本上决定了中华民族交往交流交融的历史取向，决定了中国各宗教信仰多元并存的和谐格局，决定了中华文化对世界文明兼收并蓄的开放胸怀.
The piece adds that China has “no record of colonisation and aggression against other countries” in its history, despite being “one of the most powerful countries in the world for a long time.” 中国历史上曾经长期是世界上最强大的国家之一，但没有留下殖民和侵略他国的记录。”History and practice have fully proved that Chinese civilization possesses an outstanding peaceful nature, which fundamentally determines that China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order. It also determines that China has constantly pursued civilizational exchanges and mutual learning without engaging in cultural hegemony, determines that China will not impose its own values and political system on others, and determines that China will persist in cooperation, refrain from confrontation, and never engage in the formation of exclusive cliques, establishing alliances or coalitions based on political or ideological alignment while alienating those who have different views.” 历史和实践充分证明，中华文明具有突出的和平性，从根本上决定了中国始终是世界和平的建设者、全球发展的贡献者、国际秩序的维护者，决定了中国不断追求文明交流互鉴而不搞文化霸权，决定了中国不会把自己的价值观念与政治体制强加于人，决定了中国坚持合作、不搞对抗，决不搞“党同伐异”的小圈子.
The piece then calls for maintaining and strengthening cultural self-confidence.
Next, there’s a report on Li Qiang meeting with German Social Democratic Party (SPD) delegation led by Lars Klingbeil, chairman of the SPD. Xinhua says:
“Li said that as an important part of China-Germany relations, inter-party exchanges are of far-reaching significance for the two sides as they strengthen mutual learning and jointly promote prosperity and development. China attaches great importance to its relations and cooperation with Germany, and it is important for the two major, influential countries to stay true to their original aspiration of cooperation and strengthen dialogue and coordination to bring more stability and certainty into the world, Li said. He said the Communist Party of China (CPC) is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the SPD to push the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership to a new level. He said the CPC stands ready to work with the SPD to protect bilateral economic and trade cooperation, which is an important foundation for bilateral relations, and better safeguard the overall interests of bilateral cooperation and the interests of the two peoples. China welcomes more German companies to come to China, and China will continue to expand market access, strengthen intellectual property rights protection, and foster a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, Li said. ‘China is ready to work with Germany to maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, and hopes that the SPD will exert its influence in Germany and in Europe, maintain the general tone of its China policy featuring rationality, dialogue and cooperation, and promote the steady and sound development of China-Germany and China-EU relations,’ he said.”
Third, there’s a report on Wang Huning’s meeting with Wu Cheng-tien, chairman of Taiwan’s New Party. Xinhua says:
“The policies of peaceful reunification and ‘one country, two systems’ are the best way to realize reunification across the Taiwan Strait, which best serves the interests of Chinese people on both sides of the Strait and the entire Chinese nation, Wang said. ‘Taiwan independence’ represents the serious crime of secession that will only bring disaster to the people of Taiwan, and will lead nowhere, he said. Wang stressed the efforts to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, give firm support to patriots in Taiwan who desire reunification including the New Party, take resolute steps to oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ and external interference, safeguard peace and stability in the region and promote cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation and integrated development. Taiwan will have a future only when the country is reunified, Wu said, adding that the New Party takes a clear-cut stance supporting peaceful reunification and opposing ‘Taiwan independence’ and foreign interference in cross-Strait affairs.”
Fourth, there’s a brief report on Vice President Han Zheng meeting with Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand. Han said: “China is ready to work with Thailand to implement key common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, carry forward the traditional relationship of the two countries as close as one family, jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality, and expand cooperation in various fields, in order to achieve common development and prosperity.”
Page 2: There’s a report on a press briefing on the policy of building a unified national market.
Li Chunlin, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, talked about the progress that has been made. He made three broad points:
First, local governments took steps to clean-up, abolish, and correct policies that hinder building a unified market and fair competition.
Second, supporting policies have been introduced in improving property rights, market access, fair competition and credit.
Third, progress has been made in key areas, including the full implementation of the registration-based IPO system, the comprehensive launch of the pilot project to deepen the entry of rural collective construction land into the market, the complete abolition of restrictions on the relocation of used cars, and the promotion of a unified national electricity market system and carbon market, and the construction of a unified and open transportation market.
Fourth, efforts have been intensified to investigate and rectify abuses of administrative power and actions that exclude or restrict competition
“《意见》出台一年多来，各地区各部门扎实推进各项重点任务落实落地。”国家发展改革委副主任李春临介绍了主要进展：一是组织各地对妨碍统一市场政策措施开展自查清理，废止、修订和纠正了一批妨碍统一市场和公平竞争的政策措施；二是在完善产权、市场准入、公平竞争、信用等方面出台了一批配套政策；三是重点领域工作取得积极进展，包括全面实行股票发行注册制改革，全面启动深化农村集体经营性建设用地入市试点，全面取消二手车限迁政策，推进全国统一电力市场体系和碳市场、统一开放的交通运输市场建设等；四是加大对滥用行政权力排除、限制竞争行为的查处力度，整治了一批突出问题.
Then, Zhu Jianqiao, director of the comprehensive planning department of the State Administration for Market Regulation, talked about the priorities:
First, formulate unified market supervision system rules, accelerate the revision of China's Anti-Unfair Competition Law, promote the introduction of the regulation on fair competition review and optimise the registration system for enterprises that move from one region to another
Second, the focus is on improving unified commodity and service markets, establishing and implementing the product quality grading system, and vigorously providing ‘one-stop’ services for quality infrastructure.
Third, implement unified market supervision and law enforcement, and use credit risk classification results to strengthen supervision
Fourth, effectively regulate improper market competition and market intervention
围绕这方面工作，国家市场监管总局综合规划司司长朱剑桥作了具体介绍：一是制定统一的市场监管制度规则，推动完成反垄断法修改，制定市场主体登记管理条例实施细则；二是完善统一的商品和服务市场，建立实施产品质量分级制度，大力开展质量基础设施“一站式”服务；三是实施统一的市场监管执法，运用信用风险分类结果实施双随机监管和重点监管；四是有效规范不当市场竞争和市场干预行为.
Zhu added “that the market regulatory authorities have fully implemented the fair competition review system. Since 2022, a total of 163,700 new policy measures have been reviewed, 452,000 existing policy measures have been cleared, and 20,400 measures that violated regulations have been repealed, revised, or corrected, closed 78 administrative monopoly cases, and promptly corrected improper market interventions such as designated transactions and obstructing the free circulation of commodity factors.” 朱剑桥说，市场监管部门全面落实公平竞争审查制度，2022年以来，共审查增量政策措施16.37万件，清理各类存量政策措施45.2万件，废止修订、纠正违反2.04万件，办结78件行政性垄断案件，及时纠正了指定交易、妨碍商品要素自由流通等不当市场干预行为.
Zhou Qiang from the Ministry of Commerce said that "The unified national market we are constructing will be a globally oriented and fully open market, which will undoubtedly provide a better environment and a bigger platform for various market entities, including foreign companies.” The example he cited was the promulgation of the Foreign Investment Law and said that 500 regulations were accordingly adjusted. The national negative list of foreign investment access has been reduced from 93 items in 2017 to 31 items in 2022, he added.
He further said: “China will appropriately shorten the negative list for foreign investment to further cancel or relax restrictions on market access. It will align with high-standard international economic and trade rules to deepen reforms in relevant areas and steadily advance institutional opening-up. More efforts will also be made to better serve foreign companies and create a world-class environment for foreign investment.”
The report also informs that a total of 165 cross-border e-commerce comprehensive pilot areas have been established, covering 31 provinces. Zhou further outlined key focus areas for the ministry.
Promote institutional opening up
Promote sound regional cooperation mechanisms by the commercial authorities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta, and enhance regional market integration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
Strengthen the development of commercial systems in counties and cities and strengthen weak links in the distribution network
Accelerate the high-quality development of cross-border e-commerce, and promote the standardised and sound development of new business forms and models, such as live-streaming e-commerce and social e-commerce.
下一步，商务部将重点做好以下几方面工作：推动制度型开放，强化制度规则统一，增强统筹利用两个市场、两种资源能力；推进京津冀、长三角商务主管部门建立健全区域合作机制，提升粤港澳大湾区区域市场一体化水平；加强县域和城市商业体系建设，补齐流通网络短板，健全全国流通骨干网络，完善城乡流通体系；加快推进跨境电商高质量发展，推动直播电商、社交电商等新业态新模式规范健康发展.
Three big agenda items going forward.
Review policies and measures that hinder unified market and fair competition; carry out special rectification on outstanding problems in the fields of market access and exit, compulsory industrial support or investment, engineering construction, bidding and government procurement; formulate lists to caution and prevent improper market intervention, and establish a mechanism for quick response and handling of problems reported by business entities. 开展妨碍统一市场和公平竞争的政策措施清理，对市场准入和退出、强制产业配套或投资、工程建设、招标投标以及政府采购等领域突出问题开展专项整治，制定不当市场干预行为防范事项清单，建立经营主体反映问题快速响应处理机制等，运用约谈整改、问效评估、案例通报等方式强化制度刚性约束.
Accelerate the improvement of supporting policies. Focus on the basic market system, market facilities connectivity, factor and resource markets, commodity and service markets, market supervision and other fields; accelerate the legislative process related to the law on establishment of the social credit system establishment, fair competition review regulations, consumer protection law implementation regulations, revise the negative list for market access; and study and formulate guidelines for building a unified national market standard. 加快完善配套政策。聚焦市场基础制度、市场设施联通、要素和资源市场、商品和服务市场、市场监管等领域，推动加快社会信用体系建设法、公平竞争审查条例、消费者权益保护法实施条例等立法进程，修订市场准入负面清单，研究制定建设全国统一大市场标准指引.
Improve long-term systems and mechanisms, such as the fiscal, taxation, statistics and local performance appraisal systems and strengthen the overall planning of industrial policies, and promote the construction of a regional economic layout and a land space system with complementary advantages and rational division of labour and high-quality development. 以构建全国统一大市场为导向，进一步完善财税、统计以及地方政绩考核制度。加强对重大生产力布局的统一规划和宏观指导，强化产业政策统筹，推动构建优势互补、合理分工、高质量发展的区域经济布局和国土空间体系.
The article ends with a call on all authorities to break down local protectionism and selfish departmentalism.
Next, there’s a report on comments by Politburo member and NPCSC vice chairman Li Hongzhong at a study session held for senior local lawmakers from across the country. He emphasised the importance of the Xi thought education campaign, the need to improve the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics and refine the mechanisms for soliciting public comments and collecting ideas.
Page 3: There’s a report on Wang Yi’s call with Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic counselor to French President Emmanuel Macron. Xinhua reports:
“President Macron's visit to China in April was a great success, and the two countries' heads of state reached a series of strategic consensuses. Both sides should step up the implementation, jointly push forward the next important agenda, and demonstrate the high level of China-France comprehensive strategic partnership, said Wang. China appreciates that President Macron has made important remarks recently on international multilateral platforms, which reflect France's independent diplomatic tradition, and that European countries are also more active in dialogue and contact with China, said Wang. As two major forces in the multi-polar process, China and the EU share far more common interests than differences. The two sides should think more about cooperation and less about rivalry, and work together to provide more stability for the world, said Wang.”
As per Xinhua, Bonne said: “France believes that Europe should remain united, uphold independence and establish a partnership with China based on mutual respect and common prosperity.”
The two sides also discussed global issues.
“Wang said China has always been an important member of the Global South and maintained that developed countries should take concrete actions to support the development of Global South countries. Meanwhile, as the largest developing country, China is committed to providing assistance to developing countries through South-South cooperation and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Global South countries, Wang said. The two sides also coordinated their positions on the Ukraine issue and agreed to continuously accumulate and create conditions for the start of a political settlement process.”
Next, there’s a report on MoFA’s comments on China and Argentina signing a BRI cooperation plan. Here’s what Wang Wenbin said:
“In February last year, China and Argentina signed an MOU on Belt and Road cooperation, making Argentina an official participating country of the BRI. The cooperation plan on promoting the building of the BRI signed between the two countries is an important step for increasing the strategic synergy and practical cooperation between the two countries. It will also deepen and substantiate Belt and Road cooperation between China and Latin American and Caribbean countries. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI proposed by President Xi Jinping. BRI cooperation between China and Latin America has improved the life of the peoples of both sides and brought the two continents closer together. Latin America now has 21 countries that have joined Belt and Road cooperation with China. China has been Latin America’s second largest trading partner for ten consecutive years. Trade between the two sides hit a new record last year. We believe the Belt and Road Initiative will help strengthen China-Latin America relations in a new era characterized by equality, mutual benefit, innovation, openness and more benefits for the people, and open up brighter prospects for cross-Pacific friendship and cooperation.”
Earlier, the NDRC said that the agreement will deepen cooperation in infrastructure, energy, economy and trade, as well as finance. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Argentina has signed a deal to renew its currency swap line with China and double the amount it can access to near $10 billion. Argentina’s central bank said on Friday that “the two countries had agreed to renew the total 130 billion yuan ($18.4 billion) swap line for three more years, and eventually double the freely accessible part of the swap from 35 billion yuan to 70 billion yuan ($9.9 billion).”
Next, there’s a brief report on a Chinese delegation led by Qu Qingshan, who heads the Central Research Institute of Party History and Literature, visiting Egypt. The visit entailed discussions and exchanges with youth political leaders, a ‘From the Great Wall to the Pyramid’, and on the 20th Party Congress.
Page 4: A report on the changes in personnel appointments by the State Council.
Liu Jian was appointed vice president of Xinhua News Agency.
Liu Zhiqiang was removed from the post of vice minister of justice.
Ou Wenhan will no longer serve as assistant minister of finance.
Weng Jieming will no longer serve as deputy head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.
Jia Qian was removed from the post of deputy head of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.
Lin Shanqing was removed from the post of deputy head of the National Energy Administration.
Zhang Tianfeng will no longer serve as deputy head of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration.
Zhang Yongli was removed from the post of deputy head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration).
Page 6: Today’s article on the learning from the volumes of select readings of Xi Jinping thought is by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and National Supervisory Commission.
I am not doing a detailed breakdown. Rather, I am briefly sharing the key points:
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the leadership of the Party is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics…and only when the Party is strong can the country be strong and prosper. 习近平总书记指出，党的领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，治国必先治党，党兴才能国强。
“An advanced Marxist party is not born, but tempered through continuous self-revolution…In the new era and on the new journey, the reason why our Party has maintained political consciousness and action consciousness to address the unique problems facing big parties is because the Party has always represented the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people and does not represent the interests of any interest groups, power groups, or privileged classes.” 先进的马克思主义政党不是天生的，而是在不断自我革命中淬炼而成的...新时代新征程上，我们党之所以具有解决大党独有难题的政治自觉和行动自觉，也正是因为党始终代表最广大人民根本利益，不代表任何利益集团、任何权势团体、任何特权阶层的利益. In other words, it is important to maintain the “selfless and fearless self-revolutionary character” of the Chinese communists.
Always keep in mind the 六个如何始终.
The second section makes three broad points:
Solving the unique problems of a big party fundamentally lies in firmly supporting the Two Establishments and resolutely achieving the two safeguards. 解决大党独有难题，根本在于坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”. In other words, Xi Jinping’s leadership is critical to the CCP’s continued evolution and rule. This paragraph heaps praise on Xi and says that the two establishments are the “most significant political achievement and the most important historical experience in the new era” and the two safeguards essentially imply “safeguarding the highest, fundamental, and long-term interests of the Party and the country.” “两个确立”是新时代最重大政治成果、最重要历史经验，“两个维护”本质上就是维护党和国家最高利益、根本利益、长远利益。
Maintain a strict tone and advance the Party’s self-revolution. “We must be soberly aware that the tests of governance, reform and opening up, market economy and the external environment faced by the Party will persist for a long time. The dangers of mental slackness, lack of ability, being divorced from the masses and corruption will also persist for a long time. In addition, Party building, especially the building of a clean and honest work style and the anti-corruption struggle will face many intractable and frequent problems. It is imperative to not relax the comprehensive and strict Party governance and persist with the Party’s self-revolution.” 必须清醒看到，党面临的执政考验、改革开放考验、市场经济考验、外部环境考验将长期存在，精神懈怠危险、能力不足危险、脱离群众危险、消极腐败危险将长期存在，党的建设特别是党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争面临不少顽固性、多发性问题，全面从严治党永远在路上，党的自我革命永远在路上，管党治党一刻也不能放松.
Improve the comprehensive and strict party governance system.
The third section offers six points of action for the discipline agencies:
Uphold the Party constitution, and ensure that the Party always keeps the original intention and mission in mind.
Strengthen political supervision and promote the unity of thought, will and action across the whole Party. This deals with the two establishments and two safeguards. But it also mentions: “It is necessary to strictly observe political discipline and rules, find out and solve the ‘七个有之’ (seven types of problems) in time, resolutely combat behaviours related to political conspiracies and cliques, resolutely prevent leading cadres from becoming spokespersons and agents of interest groups and powerful groups, and eliminate hidden political dangers that endanger the unity and integrity of the Party.” 要严明政治纪律和政治规矩，及时发现、着力解决“七个有之”问题，旗帜鲜明同搞政治阴谋、搞团团伙伙的行为作斗争，坚决防止领导干部成为利益集团和权势团体的代言人、代理人，消除危害党的团结统一的政治隐患.
Deepen the construction of a good work style. This deals with formalism and bureaucracy, one’s view on political achievements, focusing on the interests of the masses, etc.
Balance strict management with care and positive incentives
Improve and better institutionalise the supervision system
Deal with both symptoms and root causes of corruption and improve the political ecology.
Pages 7 & 8: On these pages today, there are excerpts of the reporting by local governments, ministries, departments and agencies on the implementation of the Xi Jinping thought education campaign. This was part of their reporting to the Central Leading Group during symposiums held as part of the campaign. It’s just not possible to translate and summarise all these. But this is a useful resource for anyone studying how the campaign is being implemented.
Page 17: On the international page, the lead story is about protests and dissatisfaction in Japan over the Fukushima wastewater issue. Also on the page is a report on a new Confucius Institute being established at the Prince Sultan University in Saudi Arabia.