Interpreting Xi's Thought on Culture - Inclusive Finance Guideline - Chinese-style Modernisation: Understanding Strict Party Governance
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Thursday, October 12, 2023
Page 1: At the top of the page is a brief report confirming that Xi Jinping will be attending the opening ceremony of the third BRI forum.
Next, there’s a reaction story from different officials discussing the implications of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. These stories don’t necessarily add new value because people tend to repeat key points that have already been made. But what is useful is to note the breadth and scope of this new thought on culture. For instance, the report covers comments by ministerial-level officials, provincial-level propaganda workers, researchers from CASS, China Writers Association, Central Party School officials, deputy director Liu Cong from CGTN who talked about implications for international communication, etc.
Third, there’s a commentary on Xi’s thought on culture. It says:
“Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has made systematic planning and deployment for propaganda, ideological, and cultural work from an overall and strategic perspective. This has propelled the historical achievements in the cause of propaganda, ideology, and culture in the new era, leading to a comprehensive and fundamental transformation in the ideological field. The cultural confidence of the entire Party and all ethnic groups in the country has significantly increased, and the spiritual outlook has become more vigorous. To better shoulder the new cultural mission of the new era, the most critical thing is to thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping’s cultural thoughts, make good use of this powerful ideological weapon and scientific action guide, consciously implement it in all aspects and the entire process of publicity, ideological and cultural work, and transform it into the vivid practice of solidly promoting the construction of a socialist cultural power and the modern civilization of the Chinese nation.” 这次会议最重要的成果，就是正式提出和系统阐述习近平文化思想，在党的宣传思想文化事业发展史上具有里程碑意义。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从全局和战略高度，对宣传思想文化工作作出系统谋划和部署，推动新时代宣传思想文化事业取得历史性成就，意识形态领域形势发生全局性、根本性转变，全党全国各族人民文化自信明显增强、精神面貌更加奋发昂扬。更好担负起新时代新的文化使命，最关键就是要深入学习贯彻习近平文化思想，用好这一强大思想武器和科学行动指南，自觉贯彻落实到宣传思想文化工作各方面和全过程，更好转化为扎实推进社会主义文化强国和中华民族现代文明建设的生动实践.
The next paragraph says that the 20th Party Congress has drawn up a blueprint for achieving Chinese-style modernisation, while also putting forward “the goals and tasks of building a culturally powerful country and significantly enhancing the country’s cultural soft power by 2035.”
“We must deeply realize that culture is the soul of a country and a nation, and without a high degree of cultural confidence and cultural prosperity, there will be no great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Chinese-style modernization is a modernization that harmonises material civilization and spiritual civilization, and the development of cultural undertakings is the basic way to meet the people's spiritual and cultural needs and protect the people’s cultural rights and interests. Promoting Chinese-style modernization is an unprecedented and pioneering undertaking, and it must inspire the spirit of self-confidence and self-improvement of hundreds of millions of people and gather the powerful force of unity and struggle. On the new journey, we can only adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Party, thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, strengthen cultural confidence, uphold openness and inclusiveness, adhere to integrity and innovation, and fully stimulate the cultural innovation and creativity vitality of the entire nation. Only by constantly consolidating the common ideological foundation for the united struggle of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups and constantly enhancing the national cultural soft power and the influence of Chinese culture can we provide strong ideological guarantee, strong spiritual strength and favourable cultural conditions for building a modern socialist modern country in an all-round way and promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in an all-round way.” 要深刻认识到，文化是一个国家、一个民族的灵魂，没有高度的文化自信，没有文化的繁荣兴盛，就没有中华民族伟大复兴；中国式现代化是物质文明和精神文明相协调的现代化，发展文化事业是满足人民精神文化需求、保障人民文化权益的基本途径；推进中国式现代化是一项前无古人的开创性事业，必须振奋亿万人民自信自强的精气神、凝聚起团结奋斗的强大力量。新征程上，只有坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻党的二十大精神，深入学习贯彻习近平文化思想，坚定文化自信，秉持开放包容，坚持守正创新，充分激发全民族文化创新创造活力，不断巩固全党全国各族人民团结奋斗的共同思想基础，不断提升国家文化软实力和中华文化影响力，才能为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴提供坚强思想保证、强大精神力量、有利文化条件.
The following paragraph reiterates Xi’s comments about China being in a critical period with opportunities, risks and challenges coexisting, and propaganda, ideological and cultural work facing new situations and new tasks. Then the article says:
It is necessary to unify thoughts and actions with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, and effectively enhance the sense of responsibility and mission to do a good job in promoting ideological and cultural work in the new era and on the new journey. 要把思想和行动统一到习近平总书记重要指示精神和党中央决策部署上来，切实增强做好新时代新征程宣传思想文化工作的责任感使命感.
It is necessary to focus on the primary political task of arming the whole party and educating the people with the party's innovative theory, persevere in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to cast or forge souls, work hard on true learning, true understanding, true belief and true application, deepening internalisation and transformation in order to better unify thoughts and actions. 要聚焦用党的创新理论武装全党、教育人民这个首要政治任务，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，在真学真懂真信真用、深化内化转化上下功夫，更好统一思想和行动.
It is necessary to focus on the new cultural mission of continuing to promote cultural prosperity, building a cultural power and building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new historical starting point; raise the banner, gather people's hearts,nurture new talents, promote culture, and develop a new image; engage in cultural creation through practice, achieve cultural progress through the course of historical progress, and maintain the historical context while composing contemporary chapters with a sense of vigour of maintaining integrity and innovation.要围绕在新的历史起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明这一新的文化使命，举旗帜、聚民心、育新人、兴文化、展形象，在实践创造中进行文化创造，在历史进步中实现文化进步，以守正创新的正气和锐气赓续历史文脉、谱写当代华章.
Then the author talks about understanding the requirements of the seven exertions 七个着力.
strengthen the Party's leadership over propaganda, ideological and cultural work
build a socialist ideology with strong cohesion and guiding force,
cultivate and practice core socialist values
enhance the credibility of the influence of news and public opinion
maintain the Chinese context, promote the creative transformation and innovative development of Chinese excellent traditional culture
promote the prosperity and development of cultural undertakings and cultural industries
strengthen the construction of international communication capacity and promote exchanges among civilisations and mutual learning
要牢牢把握“七个着力”重大要求，着力加强党对宣传思想文化工作的领导，着力建设具有强大凝聚力和引领力的社会主义意识形态，着力培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，着力提升新闻舆论传播力引导力影响力公信力，着力赓续中华文脉、推动中华优秀传统文化创造性转化和创新性发展，着力推动文化事业和文化产业繁荣发展，着力加强国际传播能力建设、促进文明交流互鉴，不断开创新时代宣传思想文化工作新局面.
A couple of news reports on the page. First, Vice President Han Zheng met with Jacob Wallenberg, Chair of the Board of Sweden-based Investor AB, in Beijing. Xinhua says:
“Noting that China's economy has generally picked up and improved since the beginning of this year, and the annual growth target is expected to be achieved, Han said that China's policy of reform and opening up will remain unchanged in the course of advancing Chinese modernization, which will bring more space for the development of China-EU and China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation. China is willing to strengthen communication with Sweden on the basis of mutual respect, trust, equality and mutual benefit, properly handle differences and push bilateral relations steadily in the right direction, Han said. He expressed the hope that the Swedish business community will continue to play a positive role and make due contributions to strengthening China-EU cooperation and maintaining the stability of industrial and supply chains.”
Second, Ding Xuexiang met with Oliver Blume, chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, in Beijing. Xinhua says:
Ding said that “the Chinese and German economies are highly complementary and have huge space for cooperation. As important economies and responsible major countries, China and Germany should work together to promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, work together to maintain the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains, and contribute to global economic growth and governance, Ding said. Noting that China's door to the outside world will only open wider, Ding said China and Germany enjoy broad cooperation prospects in the automotive field, and China stands ready to provide a better environment and improved conditions for foreign enterprises, including Volkswagen, to invest and do business in China. ‘We welcome Volkswagen to continue to leverage its advantages and expand investment in China to achieve greater development through win-win cooperation,’ he added. Blume thanked China for its strong support for Volkswagen's development in China, noting that Volkswagen cherishes its friendship with China and the Chinese people and will increase investment in key areas.”
Third, there’s a report informing that the State Council has released a guideline document specifying policies and measures to promote the high-quality development of inclusive finance over the next five years. The report says that the guidelines:
Call to optimise products and services in key areas in inclusive finance, support the sustainable development of small and micro business entities, assist in the effective implementation of the national strategy of rural revitalization, improve the quality of financial services in the people’s livelihood, and give play to inclusive finance’s role in supporting green and low-carbon development.
Deepen the supply side structural reform in the finance sector, improve the multi-level institutional organisation system of inclusive finance, guide all kinds of banking institutions to maintain their focus and engage in healthy competition, improve the high-quality inclusive insurance system, enhance the efficiency of the capital market to serve inclusive finance, and promote the development of digital inclusive finance in an orderly manner.
Efforts should be made to prevent and resolve financial risks in key areas, focus on accelerating the reform of small and medium-sized banks, improving the governance mechanism of small and medium-sized banks, and resolutely crack down on illegal financial activities, so as to safeguard the bottom line of preventing systemic financial risks.
Call to improve the public’s financial literacy and financial capabilities, establish a system for protecting the rights and interests of financial consumers, improve the legal framework for inclusive finance, strengthen policy guidance and coordinated governance, establish mechanisms for credit information sharing and risk-sharing compensation in key areas so as to create a good ecology for the high-quality development of inclusive finance.
《实施意见》提出，要优化普惠金融重点领域产品服务，支持小微经营主体可持续发展，助力乡村振兴国家战略有效实施，提升民生领域金融服务质量，发挥普惠金融支持绿色低碳发展作用。要持续深化金融供给侧结构性改革，健全多层次普惠金融机构组织体系，引导各类银行机构坚守定位、良性竞争，完善高质量普惠保险体系，提升资本市场服务普惠金融效能，有序推进数字普惠金融发展。要着力防范化解重点领域金融风险，聚焦加快中小银行改革化险、完善中小银行治理机制、坚决打击非法金融活动等工作，守住不发生系统性金融风险底线。要提升社会公众金融素养和金融能力，健全金融消费者权益保护体系，提升普惠金融法治水平，加强政策引导和治理协同，健全重点领域信用信息共享、风险分担补偿等机制，为普惠金融高质量发展营造良好生态.
The final paragraph says that:
the Party’s overall leadership must be upheld and strengthened, and be effectively implemented in all fields, aspects and links to promote the high-quality development of inclusive finance
strengthen monitoring and evaluation and establish a sound evaluation system
promote pilot demonstrations and actively and steadily promote mature experiences
improve coordination; strengthen the linkage between the central and local governments, and promote the high-quality development of inclusive finance in coordination with local conditions
《实施意见》明确，要坚持和加强党的全面领导，把党的领导有效落实到推进普惠金融高质量发展的各领域各方面各环节。要强化监测评估，建立健全评价体系。要推进试点示范，积极稳妥推广成熟经验。要加强组织协调，优化推进普惠金融发展工作协调机制，强化中央与地方联动，因地制宜、协同推进普惠金融高质量发展.
Page 6: Today’s article from the Face to Face with Chinese-style Modernisation book deals with strict Party governance. This is available below for paid subscribers.