Civil Service Development - Xu Bu on GSI - Li on Streamlining Approvals & Delegating Power - Guo Jiping on Chinese-style Modernisation - Liu Yuanchun on Chinese Economy - US Violations in Middle East
Hi folks,
Before we get to today’s edition, I’d like to point you to this speech by the Indian Foreign Minister at the Asia Society Policy Institute yesterday. I thought that this was perhaps some of the sharpest criticism of China from India in the recent past. Also, quite clear where India’s interests lie in the emerging geopolitical environment.
Some excerpts:
“the Asian Century requires an effective management of the contradictions of our continent. And that, in particular, means a modus vivendi among its key players. That is why ‘rising but divided’ is such a strong concern. It is said that the pre-requisite for an Asian Century is an India and China coming together. Conversely, their inability to do so will undermine it…From time to time, there is also talk about Asia for Asians. Such thinking needs to be carefully analysed, both from a national interest perspective as well as the implications of the proposition itself. The suggestion that it could be the basis of a united front presumes a stronger convergence within the continent than reality indicates.”
“let me also emphasize that a narrow Asian chauvinism is actually against the continent’s own interest. Precisely because Asia is so energetic and creative, it would like to benefit from the open doors of other regions. That obviously cannot be a one way street. Such an outlook also goes against the reality of globalization. Whether it is resources, markets or supply chains, these can no longer be compartmentalized. There are resident powers in Asia like the United States or the proximate ones like Australia who have legitimate interests. Their contribution is also invaluable for securing the global commons. India’s universalist outlook, expressed in the belief of the world as a family, encourages it to go beyond exclusivist Asian approaches.”
“We can reasonably expect Asia to continue rising because the economic and demographic trends point in that direction. How divided it would be depends on how well or badly its fissures are managed. And this, in turn, would demand adherence to laws, norms and rules. For a start, sovereignty and territorial integrity will have to be respected. Initiatives that impact the region must be consultative, not unilateral. Connectivity, in particular, should be transparent, viable and market-based. Similarly, development agendas also need to be broad-based and reflect the global consensus, rather than just individual national objectives. Contributing to the well-being of the global commons and providing global goods can also make a big difference. And not least, agreements and judgements must be scrupulously adhered to, not regarded as matters of convenience.”
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Tuesday, August 30, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a brief report on Xi’s message of condolence to Pakistan President Arif Alvi over the floods in the country. Xinhua English reports:
“Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in his own name, expressed deep condolences over the victims and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families, the injured and the people in the affected areas. Xi pointed out that as all-weather strategic cooperative partners and ‘ironclad’ friends, China and Pakistan have been sharing weal and woe for a long time, reaching out to each other and responding to major challenges such as natural disasters side by side. After the floods struck, China has responded immediately, and will continue to provide urgently needed assistance to Pakistan and support the country in its disaster relief work, he said. Xi also said he believes that with the joint efforts of the Pakistani government and people, those in the disaster-hit areas will surely overcome the flood and rebuild their homes as early as possible.”
The other top story is a report summarising the development of civil servants since the 19th Party Congress. The piece says that:
“Civil servants are an important part of the Party's cadre ranks, the backbone of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the public servants of the people. Efforts to build a loyal, clean and responsible and high-quality professional civil servants team are related to the effectiveness of the development of the entire cadre team and the Party’s governing ability, foundation and status. Since the 19th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core has taken engaged in great struggles, great projects, great undertakings and great dreams from the strategic perspective of the overall development of the cause of the Party and the country; it has put forward the general requirements for Party building and the organisational line of the Party in the new era, made a series of major decisions and arrangements for the work of civil servants, led and promoted the development of high-quality and professional civil servants in order to achieve historic achievements, provided strong organisational guarantee for promoting the development of the cause of the Party and the country…”公务员是党的干部队伍的重要组成部分，是中国特色社会主义事业的中坚力量，是人民的公仆。努力建设一支忠诚干净担当的高素质专业化公务员队伍，事关整个干部队伍建设成效，事关党的执政能力、执政基础、执政地位。党的十九大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央站在党和国家事业发展全局的战略高度统揽伟大斗争、伟大工程、伟大事业、伟大梦想，提出新时代党的建设总要求和新时代党的组织路线，对公务员工作作出一系列重大决策部署，领导推动高素质专业化公务员队伍建设取得历史性成就，为推进党和国家事业发展提供有力组织保障，为新时代应变局、育新机、开新局、谋复兴汇聚磅礴力量。
The first section of the article emphasises political construction. We are told that:
“General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasised that the political construction is the fundamental construction of the party. The construction of high-quality professional civil servants must be guided by political construction and always put political construction in the first place…All regions and departments regard Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the main and required course across the different training programs for civil servants, and as the content of civil servants' learning center in order to educate and guide civil servants to consciously become firm believers and faithful practitioners of the Party’s innovative theory in the new era, so that they can strengthen the four consciousnesses, four self-confidences and achieve two safeguards. All civil servants receive ideological education and training in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era through different forms and systems.” 习近平总书记强调，党的政治建设是党的根本性建设。建设高素质专业化公务员队伍必须以政治建设为统领，始终把政治建设摆在首位...各地区各部门把习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想作为公务员各类培训的主课、必修课，作为公务员学习中心内容，教育引导公务员自觉做新时代党的创新理论的坚定信仰者、忠实实践者，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”。全体公务员通过不同形式系统接受习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想教育培训.
The piece talks about the history learning campaign and the campaign on not forgetting the original aspiration to say that “The more than 6 million CCP members across the civil service have received a comprehensive spiritual baptism, have built the foundation of faith, supplemented the spiritual calcium, stabilised the rudder of thought, and constantly improved their political judgement, understanding and execution.” 公务员队伍中600多万名中共党员全面接受精神洗礼，筑牢信仰之基、补足精神之钙、把稳思想之舵，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力。
On the Party’s control over the civil service, the article says that:
“the Third Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee called for strengthening the Party’s centralised and unified leadership over the civil servants; through the Plan for Deepening the Reform of Party and State Institutions, it was clear that the Central Organization Department would manage civil servants' work in a unified manner. On the morning of April 20, 2018, on West Chang'an Avenue in Beijing, a simple and solemn ceremony for the listing of the National Civil Service Bureau was held at the Organization Department of the Central Committee, marking a historic change in the civil servant management system. The unified management of civil servants by the Organization Department of the Central Committee is conducive to better implementation of the principle of the Party’s management of cadres, and gives better play to the Party’s political and organisational advantages in the work of civil servants. After the adjustment of the civil service management system, organization departments at all levels have insisted on promoting the construction of the civil servants teams from the perspective of the overall situation of the Party’s cadre work, realising an effective connection in terms of the selection and training of cadres, maintaining the connection of policies, forming work synergy, and improving the overall efficiency.” 党的十九届三中全会要求，加强党对公务员队伍的集中统一领导，通过《深化党和国家机构改革方案》，明确中央组织部统一管理公务员工作。2018年4月20日上午，北京西长安街，一场简朴而又隆重的国家公务员局挂牌仪式在中央组织部机关举行，这标志着公务员管理体制发生历史性变革。由中央组织部统一管理公务员工作有利于更好落实党管干部原则，在公务员工作中更好发挥党的政治优势、组织优势。公务员管理体制调整后，各级组织部门坚持在党的干部工作全局中推进公务员队伍建设，实现与干部选育管用有效贯通，保持政策衔接，形成工作合力，提升整体效能.
Then there’s a paragraph that tells us that political standards have been prioritised in terms of all aspects related to the civil service - the examination, selection, transfer, appointment, etc. Politically unqualified candidates are being vetoed. 突出政治标准。在公务员考录、遴选、调任、聘任等工作中，各级机关强化对政治信仰、政治立场、政治意识等方面的考察测查，严把入口政治关。把政治标准和政治要求落实到公务员职务职级晋升、交流、奖励等各方面各环节，对政治上不合格的“一票否决”.
The next section of the article talks about the changes to the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Civil Servants, which was revised in 2018. The point being made is that the revision allowed for China’s civil service to enter a phase of “scientific, legal and standardised development.”
“Compared with the original, the revised Civil Servants Law puts forward more clearly that the civil service system should adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, adjust and optimise the position and rank setting of civil servants, consolidated and expanded the achievements of classification reform, improved the incentive and guarantee mechanism, increased prohibitive disciplinary provisions and the content of supervision and management of civil servants, and further tightened the institutional cage for strictly managing civil servants…” 与原公务员法相比，修订后的公务员法更加鲜明提出公务员制度坚持中国共产党的领导，调整优化公务员职务与职级设置，巩固拓展分类改革成果，健全完善激励保障机制，增加禁止性纪律规定和监督管理公务员方面的内容，进一步扎牢从严管理公务员的制度笼子…
The next section talks about the classification reform that has been carried out. For context, read Article 16 from the law below:
“Article 16: The State practices a system of post categorization for civil servants. The posts held by civil servants shall, according to their natures and characteristics and the need of management, be categorized as general management, professional and technical expertise, enforcement of laws and government regulations, etc. Where a post necessitates separate management due to its specific characteristics, a new category for such post may be established in accordance with this Law. The scope of application for different categories of posts shall be prescribed by the State.”
The piece sayest that
Authorised by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, starting from June 2017, the parallel system of titles and ranks applicable to civil servants at all levels has been piloted in some localities and departments. On the basis of summarising the experiences of the pilots, in 2019, the General Office of the Central Committee issued and implemented the ‘Provisions on Parallel Positions and Ranks for Civil Servants’. Since the implementation of the parallel system of positions and ranks, all regions and departments have strictly enforced political standards, paid attention to work performance, and selected the best to promote the civil servants who are loyal to their duties, diligent and conscientious, the ‘vanguard’ who take the lead, the ‘doers’ who have have served for a long time… 经全国人大常委会授权，2017年6月起，适用于各级机关公务员的职务与职级并行制度在部分地方和部门开展了试点。在总结试点经验基础上，2019年，中央办公厅印发实施《公务员职务与职级并行规定》. 职务与职级并行制度实施以来，各地区各部门严格政治标准，注重工作实绩，择优晋升忠于职守、勤勉尽责的公务员、担当作为的“排头兵”、任职较长的“实干家”、默默无闻的“老黄牛”……不同类型公务员受到较好激励，一大批政治素质好、平时表现突出、资历较长的公务员晋升了职级.
Focusing on better serving the high-quality economic and social development, Tianjin, Chongqing, Xinjiang and other places set up the first batch of professional and technical positions in the departments of ecological environment, auditing, water conservancy, and statistics; the State Administration of Taxation, the General Administration of Customs, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate have listed big data, tax risk management, tariff technology, procuratorial technology and other positions…聚焦更好服务经济社会高质量发展，天津、重庆、新疆等地在生态环境、审计、水利、统计等部门设置首批专业技术类职位；国家税务总局、海关总署、最高人民检察院分别将大数据和税收风险管理、关税技术、检察技术等职位列入专业技术类管理...
“Focusing on improving grassroots governance capabilities and promoting strict, regulated, impartial and civilised law enforcement, Henan, Guangdong and other places have included comprehensive law enforcement teams related to market supervision, ecological environmental protection, and transportation…” 聚焦提高基层治理能力，促进严格规范公正文明执法，河南、广东等地有序将改革到位的市场监管、生态环境保护、交通运输等综合执法队伍列入行政执法类管理。
The next section discusses civil service recruitment, arguing that it has become meritocratic and more professional. The article informs that every year, around 200,000 outstanding talents from various fields are recruited into the civil service. By the end of 2021, 30.1% of the national civil servants were 35 years of age or younger, and 78.8% had a bachelor’s degree or above, an increase of 2.2 percentage points and 6.9 percentage points from 2017, respectively. We are told that Shanghai, Zhejiang, Qingdao, Chengdu and other places have explored the establishment of a market-based selection mechanism to target high-level professionals in financial management, digital economy, smart cities, and village and town planning.
The final section discusses civil servants operating at the grassroots level. The article ends by saying that “under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core, the majority of civil servants firmly defend the Two Establishments, resolutely achieve the two safeguards, bear in mind the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, consciously take the country's prosperity, national rejuvenation and people's happiness as their own responsibility, work hard and courageously…” 百年芳华铸就千秋伟业，铿锵步伐再启复兴征程。在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，广大公务员坚定捍卫“两个确立”，坚决做到“两个维护”，牢记全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨，自觉以国家富强、民族复兴、人民幸福为己任，踔厉奋发、勇毅前行，奏响做人民公仆、为人民服务、让人民满意的时代强音，以实际行动迎接党的二十大胜利召开.
Third, there’s a report on Li Keqiang’s remarks at a teleconference on deepening reforms to streamline administrative approval, delegate power to lower levels, and improve regulations and services. Han Zheng, Sun Chunlan, Hu Chunhua, Liu He, Wei Fenghe, Wang Yong, Wang Yi, Xiao Jie and Zhao Kezhi were present.
“Li Keqiang said that since the beginning of this year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core, everyone has implemented the deployment of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to promote stable development amid a complex and severe environment. On the one hand, we have used fiscal and monetary policies of moderate scale to strengthen macro-control; on the other, we continue to deepen reforms related to ‘streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening regulation and improving services’ in order to enhance the endogenous power of development. The two compliment each other, acting as an important measure to cope with the impact and push the economy forward continuously. Adhere to the reform of ‘streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening regulation and improving services’ in order to solve development problems and optimise the business environment, use the reforms related to ‘streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening regulation and improving services’ in order to improve the macro-policy efficiency, and help all kinds of market players through the direct mechanism of tax refund, tax reduction and fee reduction. Deepening the reform related to ‘streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening regulation and improving services’ is to ‘improve the soil’ for the market players, and innovatively implementing the macro policy is akin to watering and fertilising. The combination of the two has a multiplier effect. The economy has withstood the downward pressure and operated in a reasonable range, and there has been no flood-like stimulus, which has ensured price stability.” 李克强说，今年以来，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，各方面落实党中央、国务院部署，在复杂严峻环境中推动稳定发展。我们一方面运用适度规模财政货币政策加大宏观调控力度，另一方面持续深化“放管服”改革增强发展内生动力，两者相辅相成，是应对冲击、推动经济持续前行的重要举措。坚持以“放管服”改革破发展难题、优营商环境，用“放管服”改革办法提升宏观政策效能，通过退税减税降费直达机制帮扶各类市场主体。深化“放管服”改革是为市场主体“改良土壤”，创新实施宏观政策是“浇水施肥”，两者结合产生倍增效应，经济顶住下行压力、运行在合理区间，又没有搞大水漫灌，保持了物价平稳.
In the next paragraph, Li says that reforms related to streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening regulation and improving services require the scrapping of administrative burdens, promotion of fair competition, and provision of greater freedom and convenience for business startups.
He says that the “integrated development of many large, medium and small market players has supported the doubling of the total economic output, nearly doubled the fiscal revenue, and ensured employment and entrepreneurship. Tax rebates, tax reductions, and fee reductions have also conserved tax sources. The cumulative tax paid by newly established market players in recent years is much higher than the tax reduction in the same period. 众多大中小市场主体融通发展，支撑了经济总量翻番、财政收入增加近一倍，承载了就业创业基本盘。退税减税降费也涵养了税源，新办市场主体近些年累计缴税远高于同期减税.
“The Chinese government has accordingly focused on simplifying administrative procedures for the manufacturing and general services industries. It has also toughened its crackdown on monopoly and protected the legitimate rights and interests of market entities, according to the premier. The reality has shown that the reforms have contributed to eliminating impediments to development and stimulating market vitality as well as public creativity, he said.”
Speaking about the state of the economy, Li says that the economy had been impacted by unexpected factors in the second quarter and the task of shoring up recovery fundamentals remains arduous. “Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we must fully implement the new development concept and efficiently coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development. In response to new challenges, we have decisively launched a package of policies to stabilise the economy and follow-up policies, which are timely, fast, powerful and effective.” He called for focussing on reforms related to streamlining administration, delegating power, strengthening regulation and improving services while focusing on stabilising the overall market, stabilising employment and prices, and keeping the economy operating within a reasonable range. 李克强说，二季度经济受到超预期因素影响，当前巩固经济恢复基础任务繁重。要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻新发展理念，高效统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，我们针对新挑战果断推出稳经济一揽子政策和接续政策，及时快速、有力有效。同时加大“放管服”改革力度。要把这些政策落到位，不懈推进“放管服”改革，着力稳住经济大盘、稳就业稳物价，保持经济运行在合理区间.
Finally, there are two brief data reports. First, China’s SOEs earned (English report) 45.78 trillion yuan (about 6.67 trillion U.S. dollars) in operating revenue in the January-July period, up 9.5 percent from the same period last year. The combined profits of SOEs declined 2.1 percent year on year to 2.68 trillion yuan during the period, the data showed. Total profits of China’s centrally administered SOEs rose 4.3 percent from a year earlier to 1.92 trillion yuan in the period, and their operating revenue edged up 10.6 percent to 25.75 trillion yuan.
Second, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has shared (English report) that from January to July, China’s software business revenue reached 5.456 trillion yuan ($797.26 billion), a year-on-year increase of 10.3 percent. While the growth rate dropped by 0.6 percentage points from the first half of the year, it still sustained double-digit growth. During the same period, the total profit of the software industry came to 569.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 6.6 percent. The export growth rate of the software business continued to pick up. Exports were valued at $29.8 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.3 percent, and the growth rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than that in the first half of the year.
Page 2: Today, there’s another report on the State Council inspections. The piece makes the following points:
The tax and fee reduction policies have achieved “remarkable results.”
Inspection teams found gaps in the implementation of rent and fee reduction policies. There are a few examples mentioned in the report. This is interesting because it not only seeks to demonstrate that central policies are good, but that implementation of those policies at local levels is the real challenge. It also seeks to reaffirm public faith in central leadership at the cost of local officials. For instance, one example given is of Fujian Province. The report says that as of the end of July, the province has investigated and dealt with 19 cases of various types of illegal fees being charged, reducing the burden of 6.18 million yuan for enterprises. This is great; but the message is that if inspections weren’t happening, then illegal charges would have endured. Likewise, in Qinghai, it is the inspection team that demanded the implementation of rent reduction policies, rather than the local government acting proactively. Another dimension of all of this is the financial push-and-pull between the centre and local governments. The latter have all the tasks to carry out while their revenue sources are drying up.
The final point is about expanding financing to enterprises. Here again, the piece talks about the inspection teams urging local officials to expand financing.
Next, there’s a report (English report) on the 19th China-ASEAN economic ties. The report says that the China-ASEAN Expo will be held in Nanning, Guangxi from September 16th to 19th. The report informs that:
Two-way investment between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) exceeded $340 billion at the end of July.
From January to July this year, China-ASEAN trade volume reached US$544.9 billion, a year-on-year increase of 13.1%, accounting for 15% of China's total foreign trade.
Page 3: There’s a page-long Guo Jiping article arguing that “China’s development is a great cause that belongs to the progress of all mankind.”
The first section of the article says that China’s development has led to the creation of a new form of human civilisation. Under this, the piece makes the oft-repeated argument that:
“In the new era, China has provided a pioneering answer to the question of modernisation. It has abandoned modernisation centred on capital, polarised modernisation, the modernisation of materialism expansion, and the modernisation of external expansion and plunder of the West; instead, it has been determined to realise the modernisation of huge population, common prosperity of all people, the modernisation of harmony between material and spiritual civilisations, the modernisation of harmonious coexistence between man and nature, and the modernisation of peaceful development.” 新时代中国对“现代化之问”作出开拓性回答：摒弃西方以资本为中心的现代化、两极分化的现代化、物质主义膨胀的现代化、对外扩张掠夺的现代化，立志实现人口规模巨大的现代化、全体人民共同富裕的现代化、物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化、人与自然和谐共生的现代化、走和平发展道路的现代化.
It argues that the influence of Chinese-style modernisation has already gone beyond the scope of the country and has far-reaching global significance. It adds that “compared with the ‘serial’ modernisation process of industrialisation, urbanisation, agricultural modernisation, and informatisation that has taken place in Western countries, Chinese-style modernisation has the characteristics of parallel connection; in a few decades, it has undergone the development process that took Western developed countries hundreds of years to acheive.” 相较于西方国家工业化、城镇化、农业现代化、信息化顺序发展的“串联式”现代化过程，中国式现代化呈现“并联式”特征，用几十年的时间走过了西方发达国家上百年甚至数百年的发展历程.
The piece then says that Chinese-style modernisation has expanded the pathways for mankind to modernise.
When the western countries took the lead in boarding the modernisation train, and when western powers opened the door to ‘the rest of the world’ with their ships and guns, the myth that ‘modernisation is westernisation’ began to spread. However, with frequent financial crises, severe economic recessions, intensified polarisation, and prominent social contradictions... some Western countries that once led the world in modernisation and development are now also facing many development and governance problems. Consequently, the necessity and urgency of developing countries to independently explore their own modernisation path are more prominent. Looking at the long river of history, seeing through the laws of development, and basing oneself in the land of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping is at the helm of Chinese-style modernisation: China has a vast territory and a large population. If we want to develop and revitalise, the most important thing is to base ourselves on the national conditions and follow our own path…The extraordinary achievements of Chinese-style modernisation have not only ensured that the Chinese people are full of confidence in their own development path but have also ensured that the Chinese wisdom of ‘persisting in one’s own path’ is now valued by more countries. Leaders of political parties in many countries have said that China has created ‘two miracles’, ending the ‘end of history’ thesis, with indisputable facts, providing a new reference for developing countries to independently explore a development path that suits their national conditions.” 当西方国家率先登上现代化列车，当西方列强用坚船利炮打开“其余世界”的大门，所谓“现代化就是西方化”的迷思即开始蔓延。然而，金融危机频发、经济衰退严重、两极分化加剧、社会矛盾凸显……一些现代化发展曾领先世界的西方国家也面临诸多发展和治理难题。发展中国家独立探索自身现代化道路的必要性和紧迫性更加突出。放眼历史长河，透视发展规律，立足中华大地，总书记为中国式现代化掌舵领航：中国幅员辽阔、人口众多，要想发展振兴，最重要的就是立足国情、走自己的路。方向决定道路，道路决定命运。小康梦圆、社会和谐、人民幸福，现代化事业不断迈上新台阶。中国式现代化建设取得的非凡成就，不仅让中国人民对自身发展道路充满信心，也让“坚持走自己的路”的中国智慧为更多国家所重视。许多国家政党领导人表示，中国创造了“两大奇迹”，以不可争辩的事实终结了“历史终结论”，为发展中国家独立探索符合国情的发展道路提供了全新借鉴。
The next chunk in the first section doubles down on Marxism. It argues that Marxism and Xi’s thought as 21st Century Marxism have been the driving force behind China’s development; and that China’s development has infused Marxism with new vigour and vitality.
The second section says that the happy life of the people is ‘国之大者’. Under this, the article references people-centred development.
“In 2021, the gross enrollment rate of higher education will reach 57.8%, and the average life expectancy will reach 78.2 years; from 2012 to 2021, the per capita disposable income of Chinese citizens has increased from 16,510 yuan to 35,128 yuan; the average annual growth rate has outperformed the economic growth rate; in 2021, the Engel coefficient was 29.8%, reaching the standard of abundance defined by the United Nations… 2021年，高等教育毛入学率达到57.8%，人均预期寿命达到78.2岁；2012年到2021年，全国居民人均可支配收入从16510元增至35128元，年均增速跑赢了经济增速；2021年全国居民恩格尔系数为29.8%，达到联合国划定的富足标准…
On common prosperity then, the piece adds that “we cannot wait for modernisation to solve the problem of common prosperity. Instead, we must always take meeting people’s new expectations for a better life as the starting point and goal of development, and solve this problem gradually and continuously in the process of modernisation. Looking around the world, the problem of income inequality is increasingly prominent. In some countries, the gap between the rich and the poor and the collapse of the middle class have led to social fissures, political polarisation and rampant populism. The lesson from this is very profound. The way to govern the country is to enrich the people. Chinese-style modernisation is socialist modernisation, and common prosperity has been the goal of struggle from the very beginning.” ——“我们不能等实现了现代化再来解决共同富裕问题，而是要始终把满足人民对美好生活的新期待作为发展的出发点和落脚点，在实现现代化过程中不断地、逐步地解决好这个问题。”环顾世界，收入不平等问题突出，一些国家贫富分化，中产阶层塌陷，导致社会撕裂、政治极化、民粹主义泛滥，教训十分深刻。治国之道，富民为始。中国式现代化是社会主义现代化，从起步处就把共同富裕作为奋斗目标.
“In the new era, China has placed the gradual realisation of common prosperity of all people in a more important position, promoted regional coordinated development, adopted effective measures to safeguard and improve people’s livelihood, won the tough battle against poverty, and built a comprehensive moderately prosperous society, thereby creating favourable conditions for promoting common prosperity. Now, it has reached the historical stage of solidly promoting common prosperity…by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, all people will have made solid progress in common prosperity, and the gap between residents’ income and actual consumption level will have gradually narrowed; by 2035, the common prosperity of all the people will achieve more substantial progress, and the equalisation of basic public services will have been achieved; by the middle of this century, common prosperity for all people will be basically achieved, and the gap between residents' income and actual consumption levels will be narrowed to a reasonable range.” 新时代中国把逐步实现全体人民共同富裕摆在更加重要的位置上，推动区域协调发展，采取有力措施保障和改善民生，打赢脱贫攻坚战，全面建成小康社会，为促进共同富裕创造了良好条件。现在，已经到了扎实推动共同富裕的历史阶段。新擘画指引新行动：到“十四五”末，全体人民共同富裕迈出坚实步伐，居民收入和实际消费水平差距逐步缩小；到2035年，全体人民共同富裕取得更为明显的实质性进展，基本公共服务实现均等化；到本世纪中叶，全体人民共同富裕基本实现，居民收入和实际消费水平差距缩小到合理区间。
After this, the section discusses the development of spiritual civilisation and ecological civilisation.
Section three talks about political civilisation, i.e., the system of whole-process democracy. Democracy is the common value of all mankind. How to effectively realise democracy? How to ensure the positive interaction between democratic development, political stability and social progress? This is a key issue that countries cannot avoid in the process of modernisation. Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core has deepened its understanding of the laws of development of China's democratic politics, put forward the important concept of whole-process people's democracy and vigorously promoted it, laying a solid foundation of democracy for socialist modernisation and contributing Chinese wisdom to the development of human political civilisation. 民主是全人类共同价值。如何有效实现民主？如何确保民主发展与政治稳定、社会进步良性互动？这是各国现代化绕不开的关键问题。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央深化对中国民主政治发展规律的认识，提出全过程人民民主重大理念并大力推进，为社会主义现代化建设筑牢民主基石，为人类政治文明发展贡献中国智慧。
The piece tells us that this whole-process democracy “is in line with China’s national conditions and has been sincerely supported by the people.” “The flower of democracy in China is blooming brilliantly, adding vitality to the garden of world civilisation.” 中国的民主之花绚丽绽放，为世界文明的百花园增添蓬勃生机.
After this, the author reiterates that “democracy is not an ornament to be used for decoration; it is to be used to solve the problems that the people want to solve.”
“In recent years, the international community has been increasingly discussing the effectiveness of democracy. In some countries, democratic practice tends to be ‘sloganised’ and ‘formalised’. People only wake up when they vote, and they go into hibernation after they vote. They only end up listening to hyped up slogans during elections, but they have no right to speak after the election.They are favoured when one is canvassing for votes, and they are left out after the election. The alienation of democracy and the disorder of governance have given birth to deep thinking about the relationship between democracy and state governance. More people around the world have noticed that China’s development of whole-process people’s democracy has significantly improved governance efficiency and pooled strength for development.” 近年来，国际社会围绕民主有效性的讨论不断增多。在一些国家，民主实践趋于“口号化”“形式化”。人民只有在投票时被唤醒、投票后就进入休眠期，只有竞选时聆听天花乱坠的口号、竞选后就毫无发言权，只有拉票时受宠、选举后就被冷落。民主异化、治理失序，催生关于民主与国家治理关系的深层思考。更多国际人士注意到，中国发展全过程人民民主，显著提升了治理效能、凝聚了发展力量.
Later the piece says that “some Western countries have long regarded democracy as their own ‘patent’, and they often dictate and interfere in the internal affairs of other countries in the name of ‘democracy’. Only by breaking this deliberately created ‘democracy monopoly’ can the vast number of developing countries find their own democratic development path.” 一些西方国家长期将民主视为自身“专利”，动辄以“民主”之名对他国指手画脚、横加干涉。破除这种刻意制造的“民主垄断”，广大发展中国家才能找到适合自身的民主发展道路.
Section 4 says that:
“In recent years, the world economy has been struggling to shake off the ‘sense of weakness'; development in many countries has stagnated. Amid this complex and severe situation, China has withstood the test of many risks, made great achievements of ‘stunning the world’, demonstrated the development trend of ‘the scenery here is unique’, and steadily moved towards the goal of modernisation. Among these, the strategic vision of the helm is extremely critical.” 近年来，世界经济始终难以摆脱“乏力感”，许多国家发展徘徊不前。同样是在复杂严峻的形势下，中国却顶住了重重风险考验，取得“当惊世界殊”的伟大成就，展现“风景这边独好”的发展态势，稳步迈向现代化目标。这其中，掌舵者的战略远见极为关键.
It adds that the 20th Party Congress is at the historical intersection of the two centennial goals. Based on the special historical stage, only with forward-looking thinking can we lead the great ship China to a bright future. 从党的十九大到党的二十大，是“两个一百年”奋斗目标的历史交汇期。立足特殊历史阶段，唯有拿出前瞻性思考，才能引领中国号巨轮不断驶向光明未来. After this, there’s praise for China’s development and its COVID containment, adding that “over the past 10 years, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward new concepts, new ideas and new strategies for governing the country, leading to the continuous advancement of Chinese-style modernisation, and broadened the vision and path for the modernisation of mankind.” 10年来，习近平总书记提出的治国理政新理念新思想新战略，引领中国式现代化不断推进，也为人类现代化事业拓宽了视野和路径.
Section 5 talks about pursuing the path of peaceful development. Under this, the piece talks about how China does not seek the path of hegemony.
“China doesn't agree with the old logic that ‘a strong country must dominate’. In today’s world, can the old path of colonialism and hegemonism still work? The answer is no…Only the path of peaceful development can work. Therefore, China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. ‘Continuing the Chinese nation’s harmonious culture and the ideal of great harmony, grasping the profound changes in the international order and the trend of the times, China in the new era has given firm answers to the ‘China question’ that are of concern to all countries.” 中国不认同‘国强必霸’的陈旧逻辑。当今世界，殖民主义、霸权主义的老路还能走得通吗？答案是否定的。不仅走不通，而且一定会碰得头破血流。只有和平发展道路可以走得通。所以，中国将坚定不移走和平发展道路。”赓续中华民族和合文化和大同理想，把握国际秩序和时代潮流的深刻变化，新时代中国对各国关切的“中国之问”给出坚定回答.
The piece then references GDI and GSI as Chinese solutions amid a turbulent world.
Section 6 says that “after 10 years of progress and 10 years of glory, the Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up, becoming rich to becoming strong, and realisation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. Compared with the political disorder, economic downturn and social chaos in some countries, the certainty displayed by Chinese-style modernisation is difficult to find. Because of this, ‘looking east’ has gradually become an international trend, and decoding the ‘governance of China’ has become a global hot topic.” 10年奋进，10年辉煌，中华民族迎来了从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃，实现中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程，这是今日“中国自信”的底气所在。相较于一些国家陷于政治失序、经济低迷、社会纷乱，中国式现代化展现出的确定性更显不易。正因为此，“向东看”渐成国际潮流，解码“中国之治”成为全球热门话题.
Page 4: A report on a new exhibition on the achievements in national defence and military construction in the new era.
Page 5: There’s an article by Liu Yuanchun, President of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. Liu writes that the fundamentals of China’s economy are stable and have not changed. The economy “has strong resilience and vitality.” His basic argument is that economic data does not indicate all-round weakness and that one must have confidence and adhere to the plan charted out by the Politburo in July to address economic issues. In particular, however, Liu does point to the real-estate market being a key problem, although he doesn’t identify any solution. So I guess part of economic policy is still:
“We should correctly understand the reasons for some of the data fluctuations in July, grasp the elasticity and resilience of China’s economy, and recognise the solid foundation and development trend of China’s economic recovery. For example, despite the month-on-month decline in consumption in July, office supplies and automobiles maintained high growth, which shows that China's consumption is still in the process of continuous improvement. The slowdown in investment growth was mainly reflected in private investment, real estate and the tertiary industry. However, investment in infrastructure, high-tech industries and social sectors all maintained double-digit growth, indicating that investment still has great potential for recovery.The slowdown in the industrial and service sectors was mainly reflected in the decline of energy-intensive industries and contact services. However, automobile manufacturing, electrical machinery and equipment manufacturing maintained rapid growth, indicating that the internal driving force for industrial recovery has not weakened. China's export growth rate continues to increase, indicating that Chinese products continue to enjoy strong competitiveness even in the environment of high inflation in other countries. This is enough to prove that the fluctuations of some data in July are contingent and exogenous to a certain extent, and do not mean that the trend of China's macroeconomic recovery has changed. More importantly, there is still room for further improvement in the core indicators that signal a sustained improvement in the Chinese economy.” 我们要正确认识7月份一些数据波动的原因，把握中国经济的弹性和韧性，认清中国经济恢复的坚实基础和发展趋势。比如，尽管7月份消费环比回落，但办公用品、汽车等保持了高速增长，这表明中国消费依然在持续改善的进程中；投资增速的回落主要体现在民间投资、房地产、第三产业等领域，但基建投资、高技术产业投资、社会领域投资等都保持了两位数增长，说明投资仍然具有较大恢复潜力；工业和服务业的回落主要体现在高耗能产业和接触性服务业的下滑上，但产业汽车制造、电气机械和器材制造业保持高速增长，表明工业复苏的内生动力并没有减弱；中国出口增速则持续提升，表明中国产品在各国通货膨胀全面高企的环境下具有强大的竞争力。这足以证明，7月份一些数据的波动具有一定的偶然性和外生性，并不意味着中国宏观经济复苏的趋势发生了变化。更应看到，标志着中国经济持续向好的核心指标仍有进一步改善的空间.
Liu’s recipe for action is: “To seize the window of economic recovery, it is necessary to strengthen endogenous development power through policy support, further implement the strategy of expanding domestic demand, intensify efforts to resolve major contradictions and risks, and accelerate the cultivation of endogenous driving forces…” 抓住经济恢复的窗口期，需要在政策性扶持中增强内生发展动力，进一步实施好扩大内需战略，加大化解主要矛盾和重大风险的力度，加速培育经济大循环内生动能.
“In addition to the frequent outbreaks of COVID-19, we should deeply grasp the deep-seated problems that affect China’s sustained economic recovery,” Liu adds.
“In addition to the frequent impact of the epidemic, we need to have a deep understanding of the underlying issues that affect sustained economic recovery: how to effectively prevent the spillover risks of real estate enterprises, explore new development models, and promote a virtuous circle and healthy development of the real estate industry; How to avoid all kinds of risks affecting people's expectations of economic development and enhance confidence in economic recovery? In fact, the meeting of the Politburo held at the end of July formulated a scientific plan and made a comprehensive deployment in this regard. As long as thoughts and actions are unified into the analysis and judgement of the Central Committee on the economic situation and the decision-making and deployment of economic work, and the central spirit is combined with grassroots innovation, the package of policies and measures to stabilise the economy will surely be able to play a further role, and the confidence of economic entities will be comprehensively enhanced and they will demonstrate new vitality.” 我国经济具有强大的弹性和韧性，恢复的基础依然十分坚实。除了疫情散发多发的冲击外，还要深刻把握影响经济持续恢复的深层次问题：如何有效防范房地产企业风险外溢，探索新的发展模式，促进房地产业良性循环和健康发展；如何避免各类风险影响人们对经济发展的预期，增强对经济恢复的信心。实际上，7月底召开的中央政治局会议已经制定了科学的方案、作出了全面的部署，只要把思想和行动统一到党中央对经济形势的分析判断和对经济工作的决策部署上来，将中央精神与基层创新相结合，必定能够使稳经济一揽子政策措施进一步发挥作用，使经济主体信心全面提升并呈现出新的活力。
Page 7: There are two reports on the Tangshan restaurant assault case. First, a report informing us about the prosecution of 28 people, including the main suspect Chen Jizhi. Second, there’s a report about the procuratorate authorities of Hebei filing cases against 15 people holding public positions. Eight of these were taken into custody for their suspected abuse of power, corruption and offering a ‘protection umbrella’ for criminal gangs. This Global Times English report has a good wrap of the developments.
Page 11: The lead article is by Amb. Xu Bu, who is the President of the China Institute of International Studies. He writes about the Global Security Initiative. I didn’t think there was anything new in this really. But here goes:
The first section of the piece outlines the need for GSI. This is quite straightforward, i.e.,
“the world is going through a “profound and complex evolution.” “Multi-polarisation, economic globalisation, social informatisation, and cultural diversification are developing in depth, the reform of the global governance system and the international order is accelerating; emerging market countries and developing countries have developed rapidly, and the balance of international power has become more balanced. The destinies of people all over the world have never been so closely linked as they are today. At the same time, the global security situation is becoming increasingly severe, regional security hotspots are emerging one after another, traditional security and non-traditional security issues are complex and intertwined, and the sources of global instability and risks have increased significantly. The threats of unilateralism, hegemonism, and power politics are on the rise. Some countries are sticking to the Cold War mentality, engaging in exclusive ‘small groups’, insisting on provoking group confrontation and deliberately creating contradictions and conflicts. The world faces the real risk of division and confrontation. Human beings need to join hands to meet security challenges and protect their common home.” 当前，国际形势深刻复杂演变，百年变局和世纪疫情交织。世界多极化、经济全球化、社会信息化、文化多样化深入发展，全球治理体系和国际秩序变革加速推进，新兴市场国家和发展中国家快速发展，国际力量对比更趋均衡，世界各国人民的命运从未像今天这样紧密相连。同时，全球安全形势日益严峻，地区安全热点此起彼伏，传统安全和非传统安全问题复杂交织，全球动荡源和风险点明显增多。单边主义、霸权主义、强权政治威胁上升，一些国家固守冷战思维，大搞排他性“小集团”，执意挑起集团对抗，刻意制造矛盾冲突，世界面临分裂对抗的现实风险。人类需要携手应对安全挑战，守护共同家园。
Xu then says that in this environment, Xi has called for focus on the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security and abandoning the Cold War mentality and group confrontation. He then references the six principles of GSI, which Xi had outlined at the Boao Forum and says that GSI “is an important public product provided by China to the international community in the field of global security.”
The second section of the article talks about GSI from the perspective of theoretical innovation. So, he says that GSI has evolved from the perspective of the common interests of all mankind, examining issues of global security from a Marxist global outlook and methodology, embodies the ideological essence of Chinese excellent traditional culture, and reflects the regular understanding (规律性认识) of global security development. This important initiative transcends the western geopolitical security theory and has great theoretical innovation significance. 全球安全倡议站在全人类共同利益高度，以马克思主义世界观和方法论看待全球安全问题，汲取中华优秀传统文化的思想精髓，体现出对全球安全发展的规律性认识。这一重要倡议超越了西方地缘政治安全理论，具有重大理论创新意义.
In this context, he talks about the indivisibility of security and that countries should not be seeking absolute security. He then adds that despite the changes taking place in the world, the “general direction of multi-polarisation, economic globalisation, and democratisation of international relations has not changed. People of all countries have a stronger desire for peaceful development, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and countries increasingly recognise multilateralism in which world affairs are handled through consultation.” 把握全球安全治理的时代要求。在世界百年未有之大变局中，世界多极化、经济全球化、国际关系民主化的大方向没有改变，各国人民对和平发展、公平正义、合作共赢的期盼更加强烈，各国越来越认同世界上的事由大家共同商量着办的多边主义。
He adds that GSI “calls on all countries to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, resolve differences and conflicts between countries in a peaceful manner through dialogue and consultation, abandon the Cold War mentality, unilateralism, and camp confrontation, advocates adhering to consultations on an equal footing, and focus on the common security interests of all countries to promote security cooperation, seek peace through cooperation, and promote security through cooperation.全球安全倡议呼吁各国遵守联合国宪章宗旨和原则，通过对话协商以和平方式解决国家间的分歧和矛盾，摒弃冷战思维、单边主义、阵营对抗，倡导坚持平等协商，着眼各国共同安全利益，推进安全合作，以合作谋和平、以合作促安全。
He then talks about GSI grasping the relationship between development and security. “Development is the foundation of security and the master key to solving security problems.” 发展是安全的基础，是解决安全问题的“总钥匙”. “A few countries practice double standards and abuse unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’ to curb the economic and technological development of other countries, which has further aggravated the livelihood difficulties of all countries in the world, especially developing countries. GSI advocates a sustainable security concept, insisting on paying equal attention to development and security in order to achieve lasting security. We are committed to resolving crises through peaceful means, oppose the abuse of unilateral sanctions and ‘long-arm jurisdiction’, and oppose the generalisation of the concept of national security, in order to create a peaceful environment for people of all countries to pursue a better life. Safeguard the legitimate right to development of all countries, improve people’s lives, promote balanced development, and lay a solid foundation for lasting peace in the world.” 少数国家搞双重标准，滥用单边制裁和“长臂管辖”，对其他国家经济科技发展进行遏制，进一步加剧了世界各国特别是发展中国家的民生困难。全球安全倡议倡导可持续的安全观，坚持发展和安全并重以实现持久安全。坚持以和平方式解决危机，反对滥用单边制裁和“长臂管辖”，反对泛化国家安全概念，为各国人民追求美好生活创造安宁环境。维护各国正当的发展权利，改善人民生活，促进均衡发展，为世界持久和平奠定坚实基础.
The third section talks about implementation of GSI. Xu writes that China will work with other countries.
“It is necessary to uphold and practice genuine multilateralism, maintain 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 United Nations Charter, and carry forward the common values of all mankind, such as peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom, adhere to mutual benefit and win-win, do not engage in zero-sum games, and oppose all forms of unilateralism, hegemonism, and power politics.” 要坚持和践行真正的多边主义，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，弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值，坚持互利共赢，不搞零和博弈，反对一切形式的单边主义、霸权主义、强权政治。
“Advocate a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, safeguard the right of all countries to participate in regional security affairs on an equal footing, promote all countries to share the responsibility of maintaining regional security, enhance mutual trust, strengthen and expand cooperation, and jointly create a peaceful and stable development environment.” 倡导共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观，维护各国平等参与地区安全事务的权利，推动各国共担维护地区安全的责任，增进互信，加强和扩大合作，共同营造和平稳定的发展环境.
He then argues that China has sought to achieve peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue. China stands on the side of fairness and justice, make active efforts to solve hot issues and achieve regional security through dialogue. 中国将继续站在公道正义一边，为通过对话解决热点问题、实现地区安全积极努力，体现负责任大国担当. In this, he mentions Ukraine, Afghanistan, the Korean nuclear issue and the five-point initiative on achieving security and stability in the Middle East.
Finally on global security governance, he mentions the pandemic and global issues such as terrorism, climate change, cyber security and bio-security, data security and bio-diversity.
The piece ends by saying that:
“China’s peaceful development starts from, relies on and benefits Asia. China will firmly safeguard peace in Asia, actively promote Asian cooperation and jointly promote Asian unity. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement came into effect, and the China-Laos Railway was completed and opened to traffic…Asia’s win-win cooperation has continuously taken new steps. China opposes piecing together "small circles" to create divisions, and advocates that Asian countries uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, pursue a policy of good-neighbourliness and friendship, and continue to develop and build Asia well.” 维护亚洲和平稳定，促进亚洲安全和发展。中国和平发展始于亚洲、依托亚洲、造福亚洲。中国坚定维护亚洲和平，积极推动亚洲合作，共同促进亚洲团结。《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》正式生效，中老铁路建成通车……亚洲合作共赢不断迈出新步伐。中国反对拼凑“小圈子”制造分裂，倡导亚洲各国秉持相互尊重、平等互利、和平共处等原则，奉行睦邻友好政策，继续把亚洲发展好、建设好.
Page 17: The lead story on the international page is around “modern slaves”/ forced labour in the US. The other story worth noting is a report on the All-China Journalists Association hosting an event themed ‘Human Rights violations in the Middle East by the United States’. Here’s an English report on this.