Jiang Zemin's Final Farewell - Li Qiang on Expectations from ACFIC - 仲音 Commentary: Be Responsible for Your Own Health
Hi folks,
Today’s edition is rather brief. I didn’t find much that was interesting. So I am also sharing my latest piece with some thoughts on Quad cooperation for the Indo-Pacific Circle.
Among other things, I call for:
Closer coast guard cooperation among the Quad countries, maritime law enforcement, equipment development and training support for littorals in the Indian Ocean Region and the use of ship-rider agreements to boost law enforcement capacities of countries in the region.
Quad countries should engage in more active maritime health diplomacy, leveraging the strengths of partner states in geographies that are of primary interest to each of them. Such an approach can allow for expanded presence for each of them, while leveraging each other’s capabilities and social capital.
Anyway, here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Monday, December 12, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: The entire page is dedicated to the ceremony to scatter Jiang Zemin’s ashes into the sea. There is a detailed English report too. It says: “As a thoroughgoing materialist, Jiang had expressed his wish of having his ashes scattered into the Yangtze River and the sea.” The report basically talks about the ceremony to take the ashes from Beijing to Shanghai and then to the sea. Cai Qi was the PBSC member who accompanied Jiang’s wife Wang Yeping and family members on the vessel.
Page 2: Li Qiang delivered a speech at the opening session of the 13th national congress of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. Li said that:
“Since the 19th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core has adhered to the ‘two unwaverings’, introduced a series of reform measures to support the development of private economy, and constantly created a favourable environment for the development of private economy; the scale and strength of China’s private economy have been greatly improved, and it has played an irreplaceable and important role in promoting development, increasing employment, improving people’s livelihood, promoting innovation, deepening reform, and opening wider to the outside world … 贺词指出，党的十九大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚持“两个毫不动摇”，出台一系列扶持民营经济发展的改革举措，不断为民营经济发展营造良好环境，我国民营经济规模和实力大幅提升，在推动发展、增加就业、改善民生、促进创新、深化改革、扩大开放等方面发挥了不可替代的重要作用。各级工商联作出了突出贡献.
He then added that the 20th Party Congress has established a guide to action for the development of the cause of the Party and the country in the new era. “Federations of industry and commerce at all levels must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, always adhere to the leadership of the party, continuously strengthen ideological and political guidance, deepen education in ideals and beliefs, and guide private economic personnel to be qualified builders of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to China's basic socialist economic system, firmly grasp the ‘two unwaverings’, assist Party committees and governments in formulating, publicising and implementing policies, laws and regulations in order to promote the healthy development of private economy, solidly promote the Party-building work of affiliated chambers of commerce, and participate in and support the Party building work of private enterprises; strive to promote the high-quality development of private enterprises, help in achieving independence and self-reliance in high-level science and technology, help in high-level opening to the outside world, help standardisation construction, and help in the overall coordination of development and security; actively guide private enterprises to promote common prosperity, guide the majority of private economic personnel to practice the people-centered development philosophy, guide private enterprises to actively participate in rural revitalisation, and give full play to the important role of private enterprises in stabilising employment and increasing income, and build harmonious labor relations; efforts should also be made to create a cordial and clean relationship between government and business, and create a policy environment that is suitable for business and beneficial to enterprises, a fair and transparent legal environment, a fair competitive market environment, and a social environment that is friendly to businesses and safe for businesses; solidly promote self-construction, continue to deepen the reform of affiliated chambers of commerce, explore and promote the construction of a modern chamber of commerce system, cultivate and develop chambers of commerce with Chinese characteristics, and promote the effective coverage of united front work across chambers of commerce. 贺词说，党的二十大为新时代新征程党和国家事业发展、实现第二个百年奋斗目标指明了前进方向、确立了行动指南。各级工商联要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，始终坚持党的领导，不断强化思想政治引领，深化理想信念教育，引导广大民营经济人士做合格的中国特色社会主义事业建设者，坚持我国社会主义基本经济制度，牢牢把握“两个毫不动摇”方针，协助党委和政府制定、宣传、落实促进民营经济健康发展的方针政策和法律法规，扎实推进所属商会党建工作，参与和支持民营企业党建工作；努力促进民营企业高质量发展，助力高水平科技自立自强，助力高水平对外开放，助力标准化建设，助力统筹发展和安全；积极引导民营企业促进共同富裕，引导广大民营经济人士践行以人民为中心的发展思想，引导民营企业积极参与“万企兴万村”行动，助力乡村振兴，发挥民营企业在稳就业促增收中的重要作用，构建和谐劳动关系；推动全面构建亲清政商关系，营造宜商惠企的政策环境、公平透明的法治环境、公平竞争的市场环境、亲商安商的社会环境；扎实推进自身建设，持续深化所属商会改革，探索推进现代商会制度建设，培育和发展中国特色商会组织，推动统战工作向商会组织有效覆盖。新一届全国工商联领导机构和领导班子要以高度的政治责任感和改革创新精神，坚定信心、扎实工作、奋发有为，不断开创工商联事业发展新局面.
Hao Mingjin, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee as well as chairperson of the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, said that the democratic parties and the ACFIC are important components of the patriotic united front; he also called for uniting behind the Party Central Committee with Xi as the core.
Jiang Guangping, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, said that it is necessary to thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thoughts on doing a good job in the Party’s united front work in the new era and implement united front work. Gao Yunlong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC and chairperson of the ACFIC, delivered a work report. He talked about implementing Xi’s thought and the spirit of the 20th Party Congress. He emphasised the focus on the healthy development of the private economy and people engaged in the private sector (两个健康). As part of this, he called for giving “full play to the guiding role in the ideological and political construction of individuals engaged in the private economy, and service role in the reform and development of private enterprises; promote the high-quality development of private economy, and actively guide the majority of individuals engaged in the private economic to strive to become models of patriotism and dedication, law-abiding operations, pioneering and innovation, and giving back to society, and emerged as qualified builders of the cause of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, thereby making new and greater contributions to building a modern socialist country in all respects and realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 全国政协副主席、全国工商联主席高云龙代表全国工商联第十二届执行委员会作工作报告。报告在全面回顾工商联五年来的工作后指出，工商联要全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，深入学习贯彻党的二十大精神，认真落实中央统战工作会议精神，围绕促进“两个健康”主题，充分发挥在民营经济人士思想政治建设中的引导作用、在民营企业改革发展中的服务作用，推动民营经济高质量发展，积极引导广大民营经济人士争当爱国敬业、守法经营、创业创新、回报社会的典范，做合格的中国特色社会主义事业建设者，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、实现中华民族伟大复兴作出新的更大贡献.
Page 6: This is where we have the reports related to the COVID situation. First, there’s a 仲音 commentary. This one says that governments are not only implementing the COVID policy optimisation measures, but have also worked to enhance health literacy through publicising health knowledge, “promptly guiding people to have a rational understanding of the novel coronavirus” and telling that they are “the first responsible person for their own healths.” 新十条优化措施出台后，各地各部门在有力有效落实各项优化防控措施的同时，切实加强健康知识普及，及时引导人们理性认识新冠病毒，做好自己健康的第一责任人.
The piece reiterates the weakened pathogenicity of the Omicron variant and the improvement in medicines and vaccines as being reasons behind adopting the 10 measures. It says that the 10 measures were adopted following “research and assessment of the epidemic trend, the evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention and control measures, and comprehensive consideration of various factors. They are further improvements and optimisation of the prevention and control measures, in order to better adapt to the new situation of the epidemic prevention and control and the new characteristics of the COVID-19 variants. One of the purposes of optimising the prevention and control measures is to reduce the impact of the epidemic on people’s normal work and life, and through effective resource allocation, ensure the treatment of critically ill and high-risk groups, better coordinate COVID-19 prevention and control and normal medical services, and better meet the health needs of the people. The key to implementing good policies is to be scientific and precise. From optimising and adjusting quarantines, to accelerating the vaccination of the elderly, improving the health status mapping and classification of key groups, ensuring the normal functioning of society and provision of basic medical services, we are required to focus on various optimisation measures in a realistic and meticulous manner.” 专家指出，通过前期的努力，我们等来了奥密克戎病毒致病性明显下降，等来了有效的疫苗和药物，也等来了进一步优化疫情防控措施的时机。新十条正是根据对疫情趋势的研判、对防控措施的成效评价、综合考虑各方因素作出的重大决策，是对疫情防控措施的进一步完善和优化，能够更好地适应疫情防控的新形势和新冠病毒变异株的新特点。优化防控措施的目的之一，就是为了降低疫情对人民群众正常生产生活的影响，通过有效的资源配置，重点保障重症和高危人群的救治，更好地统筹新冠防控和正常的医疗服务，更好地满足人民群众的健康需求。执行好政策的关键是科学精准，从优化调整隔离方式，到加快推进老年人新冠病毒疫苗接种，从加强重点人群健康情况摸底及分类管理，到保障社会正常运转和基本医疗服务，都要求我们把各项优化措施抓实抓细.
The article also talks about the need to focus on the responsibilities of localities, departments, units and individuals, enhancing grassroots level capabilities and strengthening residents' health management and services. It also says that in epidemic prevention and control, “there are no bystanders and no outsiders; the whole society is a participant, everyone is a line of defence. Keeping a rational and scientific attitude, everyone can protect themselves and their families effectively, and build the first barrier of epidemic prevention and control. We should be soberly aware that vaccination can effectively reduce the risk of severe illness and death. People who have no contraindications and meet the vaccination conditions, especially the elderly, should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible, and those eligible for booster doses should receive them as soon as possible. The graded or classified management of positive COVID-19 infections is an important part of the optimisation measures. For mild and asymptomatic infections, people without underlying illnesses or people with underlying illnesses who are stable can take care of themselves at home, and patients with severe or severe risks should be admitted to designated hospitals. 世纪疫情防控没有旁观者，没有局外人，全社会都是参与者，每个人都是一道防线。保持理性和科学的态度，每个人有效做好个人防护，才能保护好自己、保护好家人，筑牢疫情防控的第一道屏障。要清醒认识到，接种疫苗可以有效降低重症和死亡风险，没有禁忌症、符合接种条件的人群特别是老年人，应当尽快接种新冠疫苗，符合加强接种条件的要尽快加强接种。新冠病毒阳性感染者分级分类管理工作是优化措施中一个重要内容，对于轻症和无症状感染者，没有基础性疾病或者基础性疾病处于稳定期的人群，可以进行居家自我照护，对于重症或者有重症风险的患者要收治到定点医院.
“In order to be the first responsible person of one’s own health, we should further enhance our understanding of Covid-19 and personal health awareness, maintain healthy and civilised living habits, master personal knowledge of protection and disease prevention, and turn professional knowledge of epidemic prevention and control into health ability. Do your job with due diligence, truly stay at home when you should stay at home, report when you should report, and consciously abide by various epidemic prevention requirements. This is not only the responsibility for one’s own health, but will also provide a strong support with regard to the overall situation of epidemic prevention and control.” 做好自己健康的第一责任人，要进一步提升对新冠病毒的认识和个人健康的意识，保持健康文明生活习惯，掌握个人防护和预防疾病的知识，让专业疫情防控知识转化为健康能力。尽职尽责做好分内事，该居家时真正居家，该报备时务必报备，自觉遵守各项防疫要求，这既是对自己的身体健康负责，也是对疫情防控大局的有力支持.
The final paragraph praises central policies as correct, scientific, and effective” 实践充分证明，以习近平同志为核心的党中央确定的疫情防控方针政策是正确的、科学的、有效的. It calls on all actors to “completely, accurately, and comprehensively implement the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee, effectively respond to the uncertainty of the epidemic situation with the stability of the prevention and control strategy and the flexibility of prevention and control measures…” 完整、准确、全面贯彻落实党中央决策部署，以防控战略的稳定性、防控措施的灵活性有效应对疫情形势的不确定性，朝着共同的目标凝聚共识、形成合力，使我们对疫情的抵抗力更有韧性和持续性，就一定能迎来抗击疫情的全面胜利。
Also on the page is a Q&A with Wang Quan from the Beijing Children's Hospital on what one should do when children suffer from fevers. He basically says that parents should monitor their children’s conditions for two to three days before rushing to the hospital. There’s also advice in there from Liu Qingquan, director of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Liu basically says that one should keep an eye on the temperature, particularly if it exceeds 38.5 degrees centigrade and for using both “Western” and Chinese medicines.
Finally, although this is not in PD, reports inform that Beijing is abolishing its Covid-19 tracking service, the “Mobile Itinerary card” 通信行程卡. CNN reports:
“Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, China has used the itinerary card system to track individuals’ travel histories over 14 days. The system is tied to people’s phone numbers and aims to identify individuals who have visited cities with any area designated a “high-risk zone” by authorities. If a person has been to a city with a “high-risk zone” in the prior 14 days, then the city will be marked with a star sign in the system. This system, together with a health QR code that tracks individuals’ health statuses regarding Covid-19, determined people’s movements into public spaces across China. It has been a point of criticism for many Chinese people on social media for allowing local governments to make generalized policies banning entry to those who’ve visited a city that has a “high-risk zone,” even if they did not go to the high-risk zones within that city. The announcement the system is ending follows China’s unveiling last week of 10 new guidelines that loosened some Covid-19 restrictions, a sign that the country was moving away from its zero-Covid 19 approach.”
I also highly recommend this thread for a deeper understanding.
