Ideological & Political Education - Guo Shengkun on Safe China - State Council on Vocational Skills & SME Payments - China-CELAC Political Parties Forum - 6the Plenum Propaganda - ROK Diplomacy
Here are the stories and pieces from the December 02, 2021, edition of the People’s Daily that I found noteworthy.
Page 1: Let’s begin with the story that’s at the top of the page. Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message (English report) to the United Russia party on the 20th anniversary of its founding. Xi praised the Party for having “won broad support in Russian society” over the past 20 years.
He added that the CPC-United Russia relationship has “played a unique role in implementing the important consensuses between the heads of state of the two countries, consolidating political and strategic mutual trust between China and Russia, promoting the two countries’ all-round cooperation of mutual benefit, and deepening strategic coordination between the two sides.”
On Page 3, there’s a report about ILD’s Song Tao attending a video event “Global Challenges in the 21st century: The Perspective of Political Parties” hosted by the United Russia Party.
Next, there’s a long piece about ideological and political work in educational institutions. This comes after yesterday’s piece on Xi and the youth. So, I guess a conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities is currently underway in Beijing or will be happening shortly. Media, of course, will only inform us once the conference is over.
The piece begins with the National Conference on Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities in December 2016, and talks about Xi’s comment about “taking moral education as the central link, run ideological and political work through the whole process of education and teaching...” The piece says that from “higher education to basic education, and vocational education, the vast number of educators have continuously strengthened and improved ideological and political work in schools. This has brought together a majestic force to educate the Party and the country, and provided strong talent support for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
The piece tells us that the Central Committee with Xi as the core “stands at the strategic height” of training new people to shoulder the great responsibility of national rejuvenation. Basically, it is providing the broad guideline/outline for ideological and political work in schools and universities.
The Party’s history, the piece says, provides “rich spiritual nourishment” and “vivid teaching materials” for this work. For instance, in June this year at Tsinghua, there was a performance of the opera Sister Jiang (something on the show here). The show demonstrated the revolutionary spirit of Sister Jiang, such as being firm in beliefs, having loyalty towards the Party, and even sacrificing one’s life, and had a deep impact on the students and teachers. “红梅花儿开，朵朵放光彩……”今年6月，建党百年来临前夕，交响清唱剧《江姐》在清华大学新清华学堂上演。演出中，“江姐”信念坚定、对党忠诚、舍生忘死的革命精神深深感染着在场师生.
We get a quote from Xi’s visit to Tsinghua in April. He had said:
“we should adhere to the moral education as the fundamental task, the service to the country as the highest pursuit, take serving the country as the highest pursuit, take discipline construction as the foundation of development, take deepening reform as a powerful driving force, take strengthening party building as a strong guarantee, do not forget the original intention, remember the mission, educate people for the party and cultivate talents for the country.” 今年4月，习近平总书记在清华大学考察时指出，“要坚持把立德树人作为根本任务，把服务国家作为最高追求，把学科建设作为发展根基，把深化改革作为强大动力，把加强党的建设作为坚强保证，不忘初心、牢记使命，为党育人、为国育才”.
Here’s the April coverage from PD around Xi’s trip to Tsinghua.
Then there are some key aspects that Xi Jinping has highlighted over the years:
Stick to the correct political direction: This entails spreading the scientific theory of Marxism, laying a “scientific ideological foundation for the growth of students,” “cultivating and promoting core socialist values, and guide teachers and students to be firm believers, active disseminators, and model practitioners of core socialist values.”
Implement the fundamental task of establishing moral education
give full play to the important role of ideological and political lessons: This entails “cultivating students’ confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and cultivating their patriotism.”
This leads to some focus on Xi’s expectations from teachers, who need “to plant the seeds of truth, goodness and beauty to the hearts of students.” In the anecdotes that follow, there’s a mix of emphasis on patriotism and skills.
Later in the piece we get Xi’s comments from the national education conference in 2018, which had termed ideological and political work as the “lifeline of all school work, and party committees at all levels, education departments at all levels and party organizations at educational institutes must firmly grasp it.”
The piece then lists a bunch of documents that have been issued to ensure the political and ideological education work:
Overall Plan for Deepening Educational Evaluation Reform in the New Era
Opinions on accelerating the construction of ideological and political work system in colleges and universities - 关于加快构建高校思想政治工作体系的意见
Regulations on grass-roots organizations in colleges and universities in the Communist Party of China- 中国共产党普通高等学校基层组织工作条例
Opinions on promoting the high-quality development of modern vocational education - 关于推动现代职业教育高质量发展的意见
Guiding outline of ideological and political construction in colleges and universities - 高等学校课程思政建设指导纲要
Opinions on strengthening and improving the construction of teachers’ morality and ethics in the new era - 关于加强和改进新时代师德师风建设的意见
Provisions on the development of ideological and political theory course teachers in colleges and universities in the new era- 新时代高等学校思想政治理论课教师队伍建设规定
Another innovation in ideological and political education. In May, 200 WeChat official accounts of 12 types were selected as key accounts for ideological and political education via WeChat official accounts.
Next, the weekly State Council meeting led to clearing a plan for vocational skills training during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) (English report).
The meeting pointed out that during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, great progress was made in vocational skills training, with nearly 100 million people receiving subsidized training. A three-year campaign to upgrade vocational skills was carried out with unemployment insurance funds, which played an important role in stabilizing and promoting employment. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we will remain employment-oriented, adapt to market demand, and expand the capacity of vocational skills training and improve its quality.
The report adds that during the 14th FYP period, the country will support various vocational schools and training institutions in providing training. It stressed the importance of more support with central-budget investment for the construction of public training bases. More work should be done to advance the training of highly skilled talent in advanced manufacturing and modern services industries, and over 30 million rural migrant workers are expected to receive training during the period.”
In addition, the meeting said that measures would be taken to clear arrears owed to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and ensure migrant workers’ wages are paid on time and in full (English report). On this, the report says that the:
“Regulations on Ensuring Payments for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises will be strictly implemented, to overhaul malpractices including abuse of market advantages for malicious arrears. Government bodies and public institutions that purchase goods, projects and services from SMEs should make payments within 30 days upon order completion, and the time-frame for making such payments should not exceed 60 days. Government bodies, public institutions and large enterprises must not force smaller firms into accepting non-cash payment methods such as commercial acceptance bills, and must not misuse commercial acceptance bills to occupy smaller firms’ funds for their own use in disguised forms. Large enterprises will be urged to disclose the information regarding delinquent payments owed to SMEs in their annual reports...Sub-national governments and competent government departments must earnestly fulfill their jurisdictional responsibility and regulatory responsibility. Audit-based oversight will be intensified, according to the meeting. Delinquent payments by government bodies, public institutions and large state-owned enterprises to SMEs will be strictly investigated, and accountability will be seriously enforced. Serious acts of bad faith will be disclosed to the public.”
The report adds that a “special winter campaign will be carried out to intensify efforts in addressing wage arrears for migrant workers. The project construction sector will be a priority, especially projects funded by governments or undertaken by SOEs...Problems of wage arrears will be punished to the full extent of laws and regulations, and those with dereliction of duty will be named and held to account according to relevant regulations, to effectively safeguard the lawful rights and interests of migrant workers.”
Page 2: A couple of stories. First, Sun Chunlan spoke (English report) at an HIV/AIDS awareness event on Wednesday, which was the 34th World AIDS Day. She said that “the overall HIV/AIDS epidemic situation remains at a low level, with more than 90 percent of AIDS patients receiving medical attention. Sun also stressed stepping up education on HIV infection risks, and moral and legal education for college students, and care for and communication with the elderly, calling for incorporating HIV/AIDS testing into physical examinations for the elderly.”
Second, a report based on a press conference by Cong Liang from the NDRC talking about the new guideline on promoting the high-quality development of Beijing’s sub-center. The guideline basically says that its goals are to “make the sub-center live up to designations of a green city, sponge city and smart city, among others, by 2025, and basically build a modern urban sub-center by 2035.”
A China Daily report on the guideline says that the central government has cleared the functions of the Beijing sub-center and Xiong’an New Area, in which Beijing will serve as the country’s political, cultural, international communication and scientific technology center...According to the guideline, all municipal-level Party and government institutions will move to the sub-center in Tongzhou district by 2025. By 2035, construction of a modern sub-center will be completed and it will form a high-quality development with the surrounding areas.
Page 3: First, a report (English report) on FOCAC being a success. This is basically a piece based on the post summit press conference. There are five outcomes that the report highlights:
First, both sides will promote the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation...No matter how the international situation may change and what difficulties and obstacles China and Africa may encounter, the two sides will remain strongly committed to strengthening mutual political trust and deepening practical cooperation so that the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation will be carried forward and passed on from generation to generation.
Second, China and Africa will work together to defeat the pandemic. In this, Wang talks about China’s vaccine diplomacy.
Third, both sides will work to enrich China-Africa cooperation. Here Wang talks about Xi’s “nine programs.”
Fourth, the two sides will work together to practice true multilateralism. “China and Africa will continue to firmly support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns, jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, and enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in international affairs. The two sides will resolutely oppose any unilateral sanctions, any interference in other countries' internal affairs and racial discrimination, and will promote the shared human values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, to make greater contributions to safeguarding world equity and justice.”
Fifth, China and Africa will jointly build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Second, a report about Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the CPC Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will hold consultations with ROK National Security Advisor Suh Hoon in Tianjin on December 2. This AP report is interesting in this context, highlighting that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Seoul.
Third, an announcement that Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Indonesia's Coordinator for Cooperation with China and Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan will visit China from Thursday to Sunday at the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Fourth, there was a two-day SCO judges forum that took place recently (English report). Zhou Qiang, president of the Supreme People’s Court, called for more communication on judicial reform and the building of technology-friendly courts, case handling and trials among SCO member states. He wants to deepen judicial exchanges, reach consensus, practice true multilateralism, and jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations as the core. On Monday, a center for SCO judges to improve communications, hold seminars and organize training sessions was set up in Qingdao.
This exchange from MoFA’s press conference yesterday is reported on the page:
“Beijing Youth Daily: Speaking virtually at a Taiwanese think tank today, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, “A Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-US alliance.” Do you have any comment?
Wang Wenbin: In total disregard of the basic norms governing international relations and the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe blatantly babbled utter nonsense and wantonly leveled criticism on the Taiwan question, and made presumptuous remarks about China’s internal affairs. China deplores and rejects this and has lodged stern representations with the Japanese side through diplomatic channels. Taiwan is China’s sacred territory, where no external interference shall be tolerated. During its colonial rule over Taiwan for half a century, Japan committed innumerable crimes, over which it has grave historical responsibilities to the Chinese people. No one should underestimate the strong resolve, determination and capability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Those who dare to pursue the old path of militarism and challenge our bottom line will find themselves on a collision course with the Chinese people!”
Finally, a report about the meeting of the Third China-CELAC Political Parties Forum, during which Song Tao spoke about the 6th Plenum and the two establishments. The PD report informs that 400 leaders of more than 110 political parties and organizations from 30 Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as more than 20 diplomatic envoys to China, attended the meeting. The report says:
“Under the new circumstances, the CPC is ready to step up exchanges of governance experience with political parties in Latin America and the Caribbean, effectively improve the well-being of the two peoples, promote the continuous development of China-Latin America relations in the new era and jointly build a China-Latin America community with a shared future. Song Tao also talked about Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on the whole process people’s democracy.” 中联部部长宋涛表示，十九届六中全会是在重大历史关头召开的一次极其重要的会议。全会审议通过关于中国共产党百年奋斗重大成就和历史经验的决议，强调了“两个确立”的决定性意义，深刻揭示了中国共产党过去为什么能成功、未来怎样才能继续成功。新形势下，中国共产党愿同拉美和加勒比地区政党加强治国理政经验交流，切实增进双方人民福祉，推动新时代中拉关系不断发展，携手构建中拉命运共同体。宋涛并宣介了习近平总书记有关全过程人民民主的重要论述.
Page 4: There are three reports on the page about 6th Plenum outcomes publicity work by senior cadres in their respective domains.
So, Liu He had two meetings, on November 26th and 30th.
Chen Xi addressed folks at the Organization Department
Guo Shengkun spoke to folks at the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, with key officials from the legal affairs domain being there.
Page 6: Today’s post-6th Plenum piece is by Guo Shengkun. The focus of the piece is the work done to build a higher level of “safe China” - 平安中国.
Guo argues that “a review of the Party’s century-long struggle shows that the Party has always taken happiness of the people as its original aspiration and social peace and stability as a major task in its governance.” Since the 18th Party Congress, Xi has issued a number of instructions “clearly pointing out that efforts should be made to build a higher level of safe China...comprehensively expounding the major theoretical and practical issues of overall, strategic and fundamental importance in the construction of a safe China, marking a new leap in the Party’s understanding of the construction of a safe China.” He, therefore, emphasises adherence to Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, adhering to the four consciousness, four self-confidences and achieving the two safeguards, and the need to firmly grasp the requirements of the goal of building a higher level of safe China going ahead.
The first section of the piece he talks about how since the 18th Party Congress, the Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core, has “focused on the long-term stability of the country and the peace and contentment that people have in their lives and work.” It has placed the construction of a safe China within the context of the overall development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, planned and promoted it, gradually improved the system and mechanism of the construction of a safe China, further advanced the tasks of the modernization of social governance, steadily improved the overall level of risk prevention and control, continuously improved the laws, regulations and systems, and formed an initial work pattern of co-construction, co-governance and sharing. Outstanding problems affecting national security and social stability have been effectively resolved; social governance has been socialized, legalized, intelligentized and specialized, and people’s sense of gain, happiness and security has become more substantial, secure and sustainable. This has resulted in the development of a positive situation when it comes to people’s peace and contentment, social stability and order, and thereby supporting long-term social stability. 特别是党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央着眼于国家长治久安、人民安居乐业，把平安中国建设置于中国特色社会主义事业发展全局中谋划推进，平安中国建设体制机制逐步完善，市域社会治理现代化试点深入推进，风险防控整体水平稳步提高，法律法规制度不断健全，共建共治共享工作格局初步形成，影响国家安全和社会稳定突出问题得到有效解决，社会治理社会化、法治化、智能化、专业化水平大幅度提升，人民获得感、幸福感、安全感更加充实、更有保障、更可持续，发展了人民安居乐业、社会安定有序的良好局面，续写了社会长期稳定奇迹.
Guo then writes that the “ability to safeguard national political security has been further improved. The Party attaches great importance to striking a balance between reform, development and stability, and regards safeguarding national security and social stability as a basic task for the Party and the country, thereby creating a sound security environment for reform, opening up and socialist modernisation.”
Under Xi, he writes that the Party has implemented the overall national security concept, strengthened the national security system and capacity building, effectively prevented, defused and dealt with all kinds of political security risks, and effectively safeguarded national political security amid a complicated and chaotic international environment and rapid and profound economic and social changes.特别是党的十八大以来，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，我们落实总体国家安全观，加强国家安全体系和能力建设，有效防范化解处置各类政治安全风险，在纷繁复杂的国际乱象和快速深刻的经济社会变革中有力维护了国家政治安全，这是平安中国的首要标志.
“In the face of extreme external suppression and containment, we have given full play to its institutional strengths, coordinated resources, effectively prevented and responded to relevant security and legal risks, strengthened protection of China’s overseas interests, and resolutely safeguarded China’s sovereignty, security, and development interests.” 面对外部极端打压遏制，充分发挥制度优势，统筹资源力量，有效防范应对相关安全和法律风险，加强我国海外利益保护，坚决维护了我国主权、安全、发展利益.
Guo gives three examples of this, i.e., the policies to end “violence” and “disorder” in Hong Kong, cyber security-related work and crackdown on terrorism. In regard to cyber security, he emphasises that China has “firmly safeguarded the security of national power, system and ideology.” And in regard to terrorism, he writes “we have effectively prevented and cracked down on violent terrorist crimes, and achieved a fundamental improvement in the anti-terrorism struggle.”
The next paragraph talks about the three-year special campaign to eliminate criminal gangs and deal with Party members harbouring gangs - the so-called protection umbrella-related work. He says that in that time some 3,644 mafia-like groups and 11,675 criminal organizations have been busted in China. Also, the country’s discipline inspection and supervisory authorities have handled 89,700 gang-related corruption and ‘protection umbrella’ issues and filed cases against 115,900 people. Some 54,700 weak and lax village party organizations were investigated and around 42,700 ‘village tyrants’ were dealt with. The campaign has “fundamentally curbed” these kinds of crimes, he argues, adding that this is an “extraordinary achievement in the history of China and the world against organized crime.”
In the next paragraph, he talks about Xi stressing the importance of persisting, innovating and developing on the ‘Fengqiao Experience.’ The effort, Guo says, has been to innovate governance to resolve contradictions/problems at the grassroots level, while maintaining Party control over governance. He says that owing to the work done in this regard, petitings and civil litigation numbers have declined significantly.
Quick thought: This is fascinating, and I plead ignorance in terms of how this has worked on the ground. But I am taken by how Guo views the fact that rule of law is being implemented/exercised outside courts of law as a marker of success. I understand the perspective of having limited judicial capacity and the challenges of heavy caseloads and delayed justice requiring having alternative modes such as mediation. But what does such a systematic exercise to keep issues out of the formal system do to the objectives of institutional memory and long-term knowledge and capacity development? How does this not make justice more arbitrary? How does one ensure fairness and consistency? And if those things are missing, how is the system sustainable over the long term?
In the next paragraph, Guo offers crime-related data to say that social security is at an all-time high. For instance, “China’s homicide rate is 0.56 per 100,000 people, one of the lowest in the world. The number of criminal cases per 100,000 people was 339, one of the lowest in the world.” He says that these “historic achievements” are products of the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core. In particular, since 2020, in the backdrop of profound changes unseen in a century interlinked with the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘Governance of China’ has become more sophisticated and its advantages are more obvious, and the people’s enthusiasm for supporting the core, supporting the CPC, and loving the country has increased. This has laid a more solid political, social and mass foundation for building a higher level of safe China. 平安中国建设取得历史性成就，最根本的在于习近平总书记领航掌舵，在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引，在于以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导。特别是2020年以来，在世界百年未有之大变局和新冠肺炎疫情全球大流行交织的背景下，“中国之治”的成色更足、优势更加彰显，人民群众拥戴核心、拥护共产党、热爱国家的热情更加高涨，为建设更高水平的平安中国奠定了更加坚实牢固的政治基础、社会基础、群众基础.
In the next section, he outlines some points about what has been learned from the work done to build a safe China so far. He summarises these learning as:
It is important to ensure Party’s overall leadership
It is key to “adhere to the Chinese path and transform our political advantages and the strength of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics into effective social governance.” 历史和现实深刻启示我们，建设更高水平的平安中国必须坚持中国道路，把我们的政治优势和中国特色社会主义制度优势转化为社会治理效能.
The practical significance of Xi Jinping Thought on rule of law. He says that it is important to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on rule of law and be good at using the rule of law thinking and means and improve the ability to use legal means to lead and strengthen social governance.
Keeping in mind that the people are the Party’s source of strength. Consequently, it must “adhere to the people-centered principle, adhere to the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, solve the outstanding problems that concern the masses…” He also talks about having institutional channels for the people to participate in the construction of safe China. -- Folks, any good reads which tell us more about what are these institutional channels the Guo is talking about?
The importance of keeping up with the times and innovating.
The final section talks about future work.
By the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan, development security will be more vigorous, national political security will be further strengthened, the level of social governance modernisation will be significantly improved, the institutional mechanism for preventing and defusing major risks will be improved, risk prediction and early warning prevention capabilities will be further enhanced, major criminal cases, mass incidents and public safety accidents will be reduced, social security stability will be continuously consolidated, and the people’s sense of access, happiness and security will be further enhanced. By 2035, the construction of safe China will reach a higher level. 到“十四五”末，使发展安全保障更加有力，国家政治安全防线进一步筑牢，社会治理现代化水平明显提高，防范化解重大风险体制机制不断健全，风险预测预警预防能力进一步提升，重大刑事案件、群体性事件、公共安全事故不断减少，社会安全稳定局面持续巩固，人民群众获得感、幸福感、安全感进一步增强；到2035年平安中国建设达到更高水平
To do this, he says that it is important to:
Balancing development and security. “Keeping in mind that security is the prerequisite for development, we should integrate security and development into the whole process of high-quality development, and realize all-round governance of economic, political, cultural, social and ecological security. We should also keep in mind that development is the guarantee of security, and ensure social security and stability and lasting peace and stability of the country through high-quality development.” So he calls to “promote mutual progress in development and security.”
Firmly seize the initiative in maintaining political security. He calls for guarding against and severely cracking down on “hostile forces’ infiltration, subversion and sabotage activities,” carrying out an “in-depth anti-terrorism and anti-secession struggle,” and earnestly building “an iron wall to safeguard national security.” 严密防范、严厉打击敌对势力渗透颠覆破坏活动，深入开展反恐怖反分裂斗争，切实筑牢维护国家安全的铜墙铁壁.
Adhere to both prevention and control of crime, accelerate the development of a multi-dimensional and intelligent system for preventing and controlling public security, strengthen comprehensive efforts to improve public security, carry out regular campaigns to crack down on organized crime, and intensify efforts to crack down on prominent and new types of crimes like cyber crimes and transnational crimes.
Address hidden dangers related to workplace safety.
Adhere to and develop the Fengqiao Experience in the new era.
The last paragraph on future work is really interesting. He talks about the change in people’s expectations in terms of a desire for a better, higher-quality life. And so, he calls for:
Focus on common prosperity. This involves promoting the improvement of relevant laws and regulations, the coordinated construction of the primary distribution, redistribution, and tertiary distribution, promoting the work of legally protecting legitimate income, regulating excessive income and banning illegal income, and focusing on solving the deep-seated risks and hidden dangers caused by income distribution and other issues...一要聚焦促进共同富裕，推动完善相关法律法规，促进构建初次分配、再分配、三次分配协调配套的基础性制度，助力推进依法保护合法收入、调节过高收入、取缔非法收入的各项工作，着力解决收入分配等问题带来的深层次风险隐患，让发展成果更多更公平惠及全体人民.
Focus on more efficient handling of cases to protect people’s rights.
Focus on upholding fairness and justice, further promote scientific legislation, strict enforcement of law, impartial administration of justice, and ensure that the law is observed by all.
Focus on better service provision through delegation and use of digital platforms
Page 16: I am not going into details, but the page has the full Dakar Declaration issued after the FOCAC meeting, and a China-Africa declaration on climate change cooperation. The only story on the page is about comments (English report) by Zhang Jun at the 45th Annual Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77 and China.
Other Stories:
This is outside of PD: China aims high in informatization, industrialization integration in 2021-2025
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Tuesday released a development plan on integrating its industrial sector with information technologies, specifying key goals and measures in the field for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025)...By 2025, the deeper and higher-level integration of informatization and industrialization should occur in more fields../In terms of quantitative targets, the national integration development index...should reach 105 by 2025, an increase of about 20 from 2020. The country also aims to achieve an 80 percent usage rate of digital tools across corporate management and operation by 2025. In addition, China targets 85 percent of research and development design tools becoming digitalized, 68 percent of crucial production procedures being digitally controlled, and 45 percent of industrial internet platforms penetration rate. The plan highlights the need to accelerate digital transformation and upgrading in six industries and sectors, including raw materials, equipment manufacturing, consumer goods, and electronic information...China will also promote new intelligent products such as smart robots, industry-level smart hardware, unmanned aerial vehicles, and smart wearable equipment, and develop new application scenarios for intelligent products.