Comprehensive Deepening Reform Commission Meeting - Weak Export Data - Implementing Xi's Thought on Culture - NDRC Plan on Carbon Peak Pilot Projects - 'Peaceful Reunification' Conference in Jo'Burg
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Wednesday, November 08, 2023.
Page 1: The lead story on the page is about Xi Jinping chairing the third meeting of the Central Comprehensive Deepening Reform Commission on November 7. PBSC members Li Qiang, Wang Huning, and Cai Qi, who are also deputy directors of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform, attended the meeting.
Xinhua informs that:
The meeting reviewed and adopted a set of guidelines. They include:
promoting building a Beautiful China in all respects
improving the budget system of state capital operations
improving the supervision mechanism for natural monopoly networks
strengthening supervision over professionals participating in public decision-making
enhancing region-specific management and control of the ecological environment.
The report informs that Xi said that building a Beautiful China is an important task of building a modern socialist country in all respects. He urged efforts to basically accomplish the goal of building a Beautiful China by 2035. He called to continue to deepen efforts in pollution prevention and control, accelerate the green transformation of development modes, enhance the diversity, stability and sustainability of the ecosystem, maintain the bottom line of safety, improve the security system, and promote the fundamental improvement of the ecological environment. 习近平在主持会议时强调，建设美丽中国是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的重要目标，要锚定2035年美丽中国目标基本实现，持续深入推进污染防治攻坚，加快发展方式绿色转型，提升生态系统多样性、稳定性、持续性，守牢安全底线，健全保障体系，推动实现生态环境根本好转.
With regard to the budget system of state capital operations, he called to expand the scope, strengthen functions, improve revenue and expenditure management, and increase the efficiency of funds. 国有资本经营预算是国家预算体系的重要组成部分，要完善国有资本经营预算制度，扩大实施范围，强化功能作用，健全收支管理，提升资金效能。
He called to improve the supervision mechanism for natural monopoly networks, strengthen institutional design, improve the supervision system, enhance supervision capabilities, enhance the state-owned economy's control over natural monopoly networks, better meet the needs of building a modern infrastructure system, and better protect national security. 要健全自然垄断环节监管体制机制，强化制度设计，完善监管体系，提升监管能力，增强国有经济对自然垄断环节控制力，更好满足构建现代化基础设施体系的需要，更好保障国家安全.
It is necessary to better serve and support public decision-making, strengthen the supervision and management of experts' participation in public decision-making, improve systems and mechanisms, standardise process standards, strengthen whole-process management, and create an environment for experts to participate in public decision-making that makes full use of their talents, is full of vitality, and has integrity. 要立足更好服务和支撑公共决策，加强专家参与公共决策行为监督管理，完善体制机制，规范流程标准，强化全过程管理，营造人尽其才、富有活力、风清气正的专家参与公共决策环境.
Finally, he noted, the country, while strengthening top-level design and optimizing related rules, should tailor region-specific regulatory measures to safeguard ecological functions and improve the environment.
The report adds that the meeting said:
“In accordance with the new needs of high-quality economic and social development and the new expectations of the people for ecological environment improvement, it is necessary to increase efforts to focus on solving outstanding ecological and environmental problems, focus on the construction of ecological civilization systems, give full play to the leading role of pioneering exploration and demonstration, carry out nationwide actions, and promote coordination between local and overall actions, the treatment of symptoms and addressing root causes, as well as the integration of short-term and long-term goals.” 会议指出，党的十八大以来，我国生态文明建设从理论到实践都发生了历史性、转折性、全局性变化，要根据经济社会高质量发展的新需求、人民群众对生态环境改善的新期待，加大对突出生态环境问题集中解决力度，着力抓好生态文明制度建设，发挥好先行探索示范带动作用，开展全民行动，推动局部和全局相协调、治标和治本相贯通、当前和长远相结合.
The meeting emphasised that budget work reflects the will of the Party and the state. It is necessary to adhere to and strengthen the leadership of the Party, leverage the institutional advantages of concentrating resources to accomplish major tasks, and focus on promoting the optimization and structural adjustment of the state-owned economy. It is necessary to promote the concentration of state-owned capital in important industries and key areas related to national security and the lifeline of the national economy; focus on public services, emergency response capabilities, and public welfare areas that have a bearing on the national economy and the people's livelihood; focus on forward-looking strategic emerging industries, and better serve and build a new development pattern and promote high-quality development. It is necessary to always adhere to the idea of ‘living austere life’, strengthen the scientific overall planning and rational distribution of financial resources, reasonably determine the scale of budget revenue and expenditure, make overall plans to protect and improve people's livelihood, and put an end to extravagance and waste. It is necessary to adhere to the statutory budget, strengthen budget constraints, promote budget performance management, and give full play to the supervisory role of the National People's Congress. 会议强调，预算工作体现党和国家意志，要坚持和加强党的领导，发挥集中力量办大事的体制优势，聚焦推进国有经济布局优化和结构调整，推动国有资本向关系国家安全、国民经济命脉的重要行业和关键领域集中，向关系国计民生的公共服务、应急能力、公益性领域等集中，向前瞻性战略性新兴产业集中，更好服务构建新发展格局、推动高质量发展. 要始终坚持“过紧日子”的思想，加强财政资源科学统筹和合理分配，合理确定预算收支规模，统筹保障和改善民生，杜绝奢靡浪费等现象。要坚持预算法定，强化预算约束，推动预算绩效管理，发挥人大监督作用.
The meeting pointed out that industries such as electricity, oil and gas, and railways have a natural monopoly characteristic and are key areas in the layout of China's state-owned economy. It is necessary to improve the supervision system, strengthen the supervision capacity building, focus on strengthening the supervision over the implementation of major national strategies and planning tasks, the performance of national security responsibilities, the performance of social responsibilities, business scope and business behaviour in natural monopoly networks, promote enterprises in natural monopoly networks to focus on their main business, increase the investment of state-owned capital in network infrastructure, and enhance the security and reliability of backbone networks. It is necessary to supervise the scope of both monopolistic and competitive businesses in natural monopoly networks in order to prevent the use of monopolistic advantages to extend to upstream and downstream competitive areas.” 会议指出，电力、油气、铁路等行业的网络环节具有自然垄断属性，是我国国有经济布局的重点领域。要健全监管制度体系，加强监管能力建设，重点加强对自然垄断环节落实国家重大战略和规划任务、履行国家安全责任、履行社会责任、经营范围和经营行为等方面的监管，推动处于自然垄断环节的企业聚焦主责主业，增加国有资本在网络型基础设施上投入，提升骨干网络安全可靠性。要对自然垄断环节开展垄断性业务和竞争性业务的范围进行监管，防止利用垄断优势向上下游竞争性环节延伸.
The meeting emphasised that experts are an important intellectual resource to promote reform and development. It is essential to strengthen the political guidance of the expert team, improve policy guarantees and incentive measures for expert participation in public decision-making, and fully mobilise the enthusiasm and initiative of experts. It is necessary to establish and improve the whole process and the whole chain management system from the selection of experts to the assessment and supervision, improve the system and norms of experts' participation in public decision-making for different domains and categories, clarify the responsibilities, rights and obligations and corresponding responsibilities of experts’ participation in public decision-making, and encourage experts to actively contribute to the scientific decision-making of the Party and the government. 会议强调，专家是推进改革发展的重要智力资源，要加强对专家队伍的政治引领，完善专家参与公共决策的政策保障和激励措施，充分调动专家积极性和主动性。要建立健全从专家遴选到考核监督的全过程、全链条管理制度体系，分领域、分类别完善专家参与公共决策的制度规范，明确专家参与公共决策的职责定位、权利义务和相应责任等，激励这些专家积极为党和政府科学决策建言献策。
Finally on enhancing region-specific management and control of the ecological environment, the meeting talked about “implementing the main functional zone strategy” and “coordinating land and spatial planning and land use control.”
At the top of the page is a brief report on China’s foreign trade. Xinhua informs that:
Total goods trade for October was 3.54 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.9%, ending a four-month declining streak. But in dollar terms WSJ reports that “Chinese exports fell 6.4% in October compared with a year earlier, to $275 billion, China’s General Administration of Customs said Tuesday, a steeper decline than the 6.2% fall recorded in September.” Imports, meanwhile, rose 3% in dollar terms. This was in contrast to the Reuters’ forecast for a 4.8% drop from a year ago. The WSJ report adds: “The tumble was also bigger than the 3.5% fall anticipated by economists polled by The Wall Street Journal. Diminishing exports show global demand for Chinese goods is subdued as consumers and businesses contend with slowing growth and higher borrowing costs. Other Asian export powerhouses, such as South Korea and Taiwan, have also reported months of feeble overseas sales.”
In the first 10 months, China’s total import and export of goods expanded 0.03% year on year to 34.32 trillion yuan (about $4.78 trillion), reversing from a decrease of 0.2% in the first three quarters. Exports grew 0.4 percent year on year to 19.55 trillion yuan for January-October, while imports declined 0.5 percent from a year earlier to 14.77 trillion yuan.
In terms of trading partners:
ASEAN remained China's largest trade partner for the first 10 months of the year. China's trade with ASEAN countries rose 0.9 percent year on year to 5.23 trillion yuan, accounting for 15.2 percent of the country's total trade value.
China-EU trade fell 1.6 percent from a year earlier
China-US declined 7.6 percent year on year
Trade with the five Central Asian countries grew 34.8 percent year on year
Trade with BRI countries rose 3.2 percent year on year
Key commodities:
China’s exports of machinery and electronic products, which accounted for 58.5 percent of total exports, increased 2.8 percent during the period.
Export value of automobiles surged 88.5 percent from a year earlier in the first ten months.
China’s import volume of crude oil grew by 14.4 percent
China’s import of iron ore rose 6.5 percent
Shoe and toy exports fell, while smartphone and home appliance exports rose.
While we are on the economy, WSJ also reported that:
“Foreign firms yanked more than $160 billion in total earnings from China during six successive quarters through the end of September, according to an analysis of Chinese data, an unusually sustained run of profit outflows that shows how much the country’s appeal is waning for foreign capital. The torrent of earnings leaving China pushed overall foreign direct investment in the world’s second-largest economy into the red in the third quarter for the first time in a quarter of a century…A range of factors have contributed to the profit exodus, economists and corporate executives say. Those include a widening gap between China’s interest rates and those in the U.S. and Europe that has made it more attractive to park earnings in the West. While the Fed and other central banks have been raising rates to fight inflation, China has been cutting them as policy makers battle a prolonged downturn in its real-estate market. But many foreign firms are looking for better uses for their money, as China’s economy slows and geopolitical tensions rise. Chilly relations between Beijing and the U.S.-led West have pushed global companies to rethink their supply chains and exposure to China.”
Third, there’s a report on Li Qiang meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Xinhua reports:
“Li said China is willing to work with Australia in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding to further strengthen dialogue and communication, deepen political mutual trust and properly handle differences, so that cooperation will continue to be the main feature of China-Australia relations and win-win results will be reflected in all areas of bilateral cooperation. Noting there is huge potential for China-Australia cooperation, Li said China is ready to work with Australia to follow economic laws and market principles, consolidate and strengthen cooperation in traditional areas such as energy and mining, expand cooperation in emerging areas such as green development, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation and the health industry, and avoid politicizing economic and trade issues and overstretching the concept of security to such areas, to achieve win-win development and promote regional prosperity. Li expressed the willingness to promote exchanges and cooperation with Australia in the fields of education, culture, tourism, sub-national regions, and youth, and further facilitate personnel exchanges between the two sides. Noting China is an important cooperation partner of Australia, and Australia-China relations should not be defined by differences, Albanese said the Australian side adheres to the one-China policy and stands ready to enhance mutual understanding, deepen cooperation in areas of trade, investment, science, technology and people-to-people exchanges, properly handle differences through communication and dialogues, and jointly address global challenges such as climate change, food security and transnational organized crimes.”
The two sides also issued a joint statement. Key excerpts:
“The leaders agreed to continue or expand engagement in:
political dialogue, including through resuming the Annual Leaders' Meeting between the Chinese Premier and the Australian Prime Minister, the Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, the Strategic Economic Dialogue, the Joint Ministerial Economic Commission, as well as other government-to-government mechanisms;
bilateral trade by reaffirming the importance of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and agreeing to the facilitation of trade and economic links, including through holding the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement Joint Commission meetings in Australia at an early date, holding China-Australia CEO Roundtable meetings, reaffirming commitment to the Authorised Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement, progressing the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and working towards MOUs on standards, measurement, intellectual property, competition, education and food safety;
climate change, energy and environment, including through recommencing the bilateral climate change and energy dialogues, and commencing technical cooperation on soil carbon testing and climate-smart agriculture practices;
people-to-people links, including through the 15th Implementation Program under the 1981 Agreement of Cultural Cooperation, and exchanges in culture, sports, education, innovation, academia, aviation, health and tourism; and
the facilitation of exchanges, including the agreement to provide access to three to five year multi-entry visas for visitors and business people on a reciprocal basis.
Moving on, there’s a report on Zhao Leji meeting a Communist Party of Vietnam delegation headed by Tran Cam Tu. Xinhua says:
“Zhao said, noting that China is willing to work with Vietnam to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties, deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and push the relations between the two parties and two countries to a new level in the new era. He stressed that the NPC of China is willing to maintain close exchanges at all levels with the Vietnamese National Assembly, share experience in governance and make positive contributions to building a China-Vietnam community of shared future.”
Finally, there’s a report (English report) on Cai Qi’s comments at a symposium on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. He said that:
“We must deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, resolutely achieve the ‘two safeguards’, adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, and create a new situation in propaganda, ideological and cultural work in the new era, thereby providing a strong ideological guarantee, strong spiritual power, and favourable cultural conditions for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation.” 他强调，要深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚决做到“两个维护”，坚持以习近平文化思想为引领，开创新时代宣传思想文化工作新局面，为全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强思想保证、强大精神力量、有利文化条件.
He said that Xi’s thought on culture “is a theoretical summation of the practical experience in building Party leadership culture in the new era.”
“This important thought profoundly answers fundamental questions such as what banner to uphold, what path to take, what principles to adhere to and what goals to achieve in China's cultural construction in the new era; it enriches and develops Marxist cultural theory; it provides a scientific action guide for doing a good job in propaganda, ideological and cultural work in the new era and on the new journey new journey, and shouldering a new cultural mission; and it contributes China’s wisdom to creating a new form of human civilization and leading the development and progress of world civilization.” 这一重要思想深刻回答了新时代我国文化建设举什么旗、走什么路、坚持什么原则、实现什么目标等根本问题，丰富和发展了马克思主义文化理论，为做好新时代新征程宣传思想文化工作、担负起新的文化使命提供了科学行动指南，为创造人类文明新形态、引领世界文明发展进步贡献了中国智慧.
Cai said that “Xi Jinping Cultural Thought is profound and extensive, offering not only deep insights, strategic planning, and scientific deployment but also teaching the correct positions and effective methods.”
He then called for gaining “a deep understanding of the major innovative ideas, well-conceived methodology, and the strategic planning concerning cultural development encapsulated in the thought…It is important to understand that the thought is an open, systematic and continuously expanding ideological framework, and that the thought is bound to be enriched and further developed through practice. Highlighting both the learning of the thought and its practical application, Cai called for efforts to effectively integrate the thought into all aspects and throughout the entire process of public communication and culture work.”
Page 2: Two reports to note. First, the NDRC has released a new plan (English report) to launch carbon-peaking pilot projects in 100 cities and zones across the country. The plan says that by 2025, the policy mechanism conducive to green and low-carbon development in the pilot areas will mostly be in place, together with many innovative practices and reform measures that are feasible, replicable and can be applied elsewhere.
By 2030, primary tasks, projects and reforms in pilot cities and zones shall be complete, and the policy mechanism conducive to green and low-carbon development shall be fully established. Initially, the plan will cover 15 provincial regions, considering their total carbon emission volume and growth trends, as well as local economic and social development status.
Second, a report on He Lifeng’s comments (English report) at the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit in Hong Kong. These were delivered via video link. He said that “President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the development of Hong Kong. The central government fully supports Hong Kong in maintaining its distinctive status and edges in the long term and consolidating its position as an international financial, shipping and trading center. Hong Kong should continue to retain its characteristics as an internationalised region, bolster its status in the global financial sector, and add more openness and closeness to its exchanges and cooperation with the rest of the world.”
He added: “The region, meanwhile, needs to better integrate into China's overall development, and make greater contributions to advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization…the just-concluded central financial work conference called for efforts to consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international financial center, which showed the central government's expectations for the region to make new breakthroughs in the high-quality development of the financial sector.”
Page 3: A couple of reports to note. First, Wang Yi’s meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ireland Micheal Martin. Xinhua says:
Wang said that “China is willing to further consolidate the political foundation of mutual respect and equal treatment with Ireland, demonstrate the China-Ireland cooperation with the nature of openness, pragmatism and complementary advantages, and push China-Ireland mutually beneficial strategic partnership to a higher level. Noting that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said China-EU cooperation outweighs competition and opportunities outnumber challenges. China hopes that Ireland will continue to play a constructive role in promoting the development of China-EU relations, said Wang. Martin said that the one-China policy is the clear position of successive Irish governments. Ireland is willing to continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with China, and support discussions on the synergy between the EU-proposed Global Gateway program and the Belt and Road Initiative.”
Second, Wang’s meeting with Surinamese Foreign Minister Albert Ramdin. Xinhua reports:
“China is willing to be Suriname's reliable partner in the process of development and revitalization and jointly realize modernization. Wang said China has always viewed the relations with the Caribbean countries from a strategic height and long-term perspective, and is willing to take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Caribbean comprehensive cooperative partnership to deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and strengthen coordination on multilateral affairs. Ramdin said that Suriname always abides by the one-China principle and will continue to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and other major international initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping.”
Finally, a report on the 2023 Global Overseas Chinese Conference on Promoting China’s Peaceful Reunification, which was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Tuesday. Su Hui, CPPCC National Committee vice chairman and Vice Chairman of the China Association for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification, addressed the meeting. This is really important to note:
Su Hui emphasised that cross-Strait reunification is the irresistible trend, the will of the people and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, and it cannot be stopped by anyone or any force. In the great struggle against ‘Taiwan independence’ and for the promotion of national reunification, the vast majority of compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese have upheld the cause of national justice, acted with dedication, remained steadfast in their commitment to the right path, and fearlessly resisted suppression, thereby playing a significant role in advancing the great endeavour of the peaceful reunification of the motherland. In the face of new situations and new challenges, we must fully understand the legitimacy and righteousness of opposing ‘independence’ and promoting reunification, accurately grasp the principled and flexible nature of the struggle against separatism and interference, deeply comprehend the importance and urgency of fostering cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, enhance the effectiveness and precision of external communication and exchanges, actively attach importance to the comprehensiveness and representativeness of the forces against ‘independence’ and in favour of reunification, continuously promote the in-depth development of the global anti-independence and pro-unification movement, and unswervingly advance the great cause of national reunification in the process of comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization.” 苏辉强调，两岸统一是大势所趋，人心所向，中华民族根本利益所在，是任何人、任何势力都无法阻挡的。在反对“台独”、促进统一的伟大斗争中，广大港澳台同胞和海外侨胞秉持民族大义，躬身力行、坚守正道、不惧打压，为推进祖国和平统一大业发挥了重要作用。面对新形势和新挑战，要充分认识反“独”促统的正当性和正义性，准确把握反分裂反干涉斗争的原则性和灵活性，深刻理解开展两岸交流合作的重要性和紧迫性，切实增强对外传播交流的实效性和精准性，积极重视反“独”促统力量的广泛性和代表性，不断推动全球反“独”促统运动深入发展，在以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴进程中，坚定不移推进祖国统一大业.
Page 6: A few reports to note. First, a report informing that the Central Party School is hosting the Inter-Civilizational Communication and Global Development Forum, which began on Tuesday. The three-day event, gathering some 150 representatives from 30 countries, is discussing the essence of exchanges between civilizations. Some of the comments are in this report. Do note this one below:
“There is no fixed model for the road to modernization, the one that suits is the best. However, for a long time, modernization seemed to be Westernized. It seemed that we had to follow the path of Western developed countries to achieve modernization. The Communist Party of China adheres to independence and unswervingly follows its own path. On the basis of adhering to its own ideas, values and basic systems, it absorbs the common achievements of human civilization created by other countries and regions, including Western countries,” said Xie Chuntao, executive vice president of the China National Academy of Governance.
Second, there’s a report (English report) informing that Li Zaiyong, a former senior political advisor of Southwest China's Guizhou province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office over serious violations of Party discipline and laws.
“He is found to have lost his ideals and convictions, betrayed his original aspirations and mission, seriously deviated from the CPC Central Committee's key decisions and plans with wrong views on performance evaluation and power, and failed to implement the new development philosophy. Li instead launched wasteful vanity projects and debt financing in breach of regulations, which resulted in major debt risks and severe damage to the local ecological environment, while rejecting investigations into his problems, and engaged in superstitious activities for an extended period, according to an official statement. Li is found to have violated the eight-point code on improving Party and government conduct by accepting money, gifts and arrangements for banquets and tourist activities to seek special treatment, sought gains for others in the selection and promotion of officials, and traded power and money for sex. He interfered with the people's right to decision-making for production and management, as well as judicial and law-enforcement activities, was long addicted to gambling, took advantage of his positions to benefit others in project contracting and approval for large sums of money and valuables in return, and abused his power, causing major losses in public property and the interests of the country and the people. These actions have gravely breached Party discipline and constitute serious duty-related offenses, the official statement said, adding that Li is also suspected of the crimes of accepting bribes and abuse of power.”
The case will be referred to the procuratorate for criminal investigation and prosecution, the report adds.
Third, a report (English report) informing that Zhu Congjiu, a former senior political advisor in East China's Zhejiang province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China and dismissed from public office over serious violations of Party discipline and laws.
“The investigation found that Zhu had lost his ideals and beliefs, and had formed political cliques, which seriously damaged the political ecology. He was also found to have brought illegal publications into the country and to have read them over a long period of time. He resisted investigations into his problems and committed a series of wrongdoings in disregard of the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct, such as attending banquets and accepting invitations to travel. The investigation also found that he had abused his power by seeking benefits for others in company listing, financing and loans, and accepted massive amounts of money and gifts in return. In line with Party regulations and laws, a decision has been made to expel him from the Party and dismiss him from public office, confiscate his illicit gains, and hand over his case for judicial proceedings.”