Li Calls for Boosting Private Investment in Key Projects - How Provinces are Carrying out Discipline Education - Wang Yi Meets ROK FM - Beijing's Historical Narrative on Sovereignty over Tibet
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.
Page 1: Let’s begin with Li Qiang’s comments during a video conference on supporting the implementation of major national strategies and building up security capacity in key areas.
Li said that the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds was a “major decision” by the Party Central Committee “focusing on the overall situation of building a strong country and national rejuvenation”. It is “conducive to advancing Chinese modernization, promoting high-quality development, and seizing the initiative in development.” 李强指出，发行超长期特别国债支持“两重”建设，是党中央着眼强国建设和民族复兴全局作出的一项重大决策部署，是推进中国式现代化、推动高质量发展、把握发展主动权的重要抓手.
“Li Qiang pointed out that we must focus on the needs of promoting Chinese-style modernization, highlight the strategic, forward-looking, and overall perspectives, and concentrate our efforts on supporting the implementation of a number of major national strategies and the construction of security capabilities in key areas. It is necessary to coordinate ‘hard investment’ and ‘soft development’. It is necessary to strengthen project management and build a number of landmark projects, as well as to overcome deep-rooted obstacles through reforms and innovative measures. It is necessary to actively respond to people’s livelihood expectations, combine physical investment with human capital investment, combine project construction with people's livelihood protection, and promote the implementation of works related to practical issues concerning people’s livelihood the masses care about the most.” 李强指出，要着眼推进中国式现代化的需要，突出战略性、前瞻性、全局性，集中力量支持办好一批国家重大战略实施和重点领域安全能力建设中的大事要事。要统筹抓好“硬投资”和“软建设”，把项目建设和配套改革结合起来，既要编制完善规划，加强项目管理，打造一批标志性工程，也要优化制度供给，用改革办法和创新举措破解深层次障碍。要积极回应民生所盼，把实物投资和人力资本投资结合起来，把项目建设和民生保障结合起来，推动办好一批群众关心的民生实事.
“Li Qiang emphasised that ‘dual’ construction is related to the overall situation and long-term development, and it is necessary to strengthen overall coordination and enhance comprehensive effects. It is necessary to coordinate the arrangements for key tasks for this year and the next few years. This year, we should scientifically screen projects based on strategic importance, urgency and project maturity, and strive for early commencement and early results. Major tasks in the coming years should be combined with the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, aligned with the development needs of the 15th Five-Year Plan, implemented in a step-by-step manner and promoted in an orderly manner. It is necessary to make good use of both conventional and unconventional policies, strengthen the coordinated cooperation between fiscal and monetary financial instruments, and guide more financial resources into the real economy. Efforts should be made to better coordinate government investment and private investment, and greater efforts should be made to guide private capital to participate in ‘dual’ construction, fully tapping into the vitality of private investment.” 李强强调，“两重”建设事关全局和长远，要加强统筹协调提升综合效应。要统筹做好今年和未来几年的重点任务安排。今年要根据战略重要程度、急迫程度和项目成熟程度，科学做好项目筛选，争取早开工、早见效。今后几年的重大任务要与“十四五”规划落实相结合，与“十五五”发展需求相衔接，分步实施、有序推进。要统筹用好常规和超常规的各项政策，加强财政和货币金融工具协同配合，引导更多金融资源进入实体经济。要更好统筹政府投资和民间投资，更大力度引导民间资本参与“两重”建设，把民间投资活力充分激发出来.
He finally said that “all regions and departments should have a strong sense of responsibility and mission, improve work mechanisms, strengthen coordination and cooperation, and unite to ensure the implementation of work. It is essential to strictly control quality and safety, effectively turning ‘dual’ construction projects into high-quality, premium, and reliable projects that can withstand scrutiny from the people and history.” 李强强调，各地区各部门要以高度的责任感和使命感，健全工作机制，加强协同配合，凝心聚力抓好工作落实。要严把质量关、安全关，切实把“两重”项目建设成为优质工程、精品工程、放心工程，经得起人民和历史的检验.
Next, there’s a report on Han Zheng’s speech at the opening ceremony of the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2024 in Beijing. As per the report, Han said that China will continue to expand high-level opening up to the outside world and share development dividends with all parties. He pointed out that the current global economic recovery is facing tests, with development opportunities coexisting with risks and challenges. Only by unswervingly promoting trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation and effectively maintaining the resilience and stability of global industrial and supply chains can we tighten the bonds of cooperation and expand the pie of mutual benefit. 中国将持续扩大高水平对外开放，同各方共享发展红利。韩正指出，当前全球经济复苏面临考验，发展机遇与风险挑战并存。只有坚定不移推进贸易和投资自由化便利化，切实维护全球产业链供应链的韧性和稳定，才能把合作纽带拉紧，把互惠蛋糕做大.
“We must seize the opportunities of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial revolution, strengthen scientific and technological innovation and sharing with more open and innovative thinking and measures, and jointly open up new fields, create new models, and cultivate new growth drivers. We must practice true multilateralism, safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, promote the construction of an open world economy, and promote inclusive and inclusive economic globalization.” 要抓住新一轮科技革命和产业革命的机遇，以更加开放、勇于创新的思维和举措，强化科技创新和共享，共同开辟新领域、创造新模式、培育新增长点。要践行真正的多边主义，维护以世界贸易组织为核心的多边贸易体制，推动建设开放型世界经济，促进普惠包容的经济全球化.
Also on the page is a report on how different provincial Party committees are implementing the discipline education campaign. For instance:
In Hebei, special teams at the provincial level have been established to respond to relevant issues, and timely instructions have been issued to all regions, departments, and units. 河北按照党中央要求，立足省情实际，对各项重点任务进行细化、具化、实化；省级层面工作专班制发有关问题答复，及时印发各地区各部门各单位.
In Shanxi, monthly learning guidelines and warning education arrangements have been put in place. A comprehensive liaison and guidance mechanism has been established to strengthen the study, training and guidance of grassroots party branches and party members. There is supervision of county party committees to strengthen overall arrangements, guide grassroots party committees to strengthen guidance and control over the party branches under their jurisdiction in carrying out ‘three meetings and one lesson’, thematic party days and warning education to ensure the quality of results. 山西坚持“实”的导向、务求“实”的效果，加强领导指导，扎实开展党纪学习教育。制定月度学习指引和警示教育安排，构建全覆盖联络指导机制，加强对基层党支部和党员的学习培训辅导，督促县级党委加强统筹安排，指导基层党委对所辖党支部在开展“三会一课”、主题党日及警示教育等方面加强指导把关，保障效果质量
In Jiangsu, a special seminar was held focusing on Party discipline education for provincial leading cadres. The focus was on studying the original regulations, Xi’s thoughts on party discipline and rules and Xi’s thoughts on comprehensive and strict party governance. 江苏举办省级领导干部党纪学习教育专题读书班集中研讨暨省委理论学习中心组学习会，原原本本、逐章逐条学习《条例》，并与深入学习党章和《习近平关于严明党的纪律和规矩论述摘编》《习近平关于全面从严治党论述摘编》等贯通起来，发挥领学带学促学作用，带动广大党员、干部和基层党组织把党纪学习教育落到实处。
Anyway, you get the drift. The article ends by saying that “all regions are solidly promoting the education of party discipline, urging the vast number of party members and cadres to continuously strengthen their political determination, discipline, moral determination, and anti-corruption determination, and firmly support the ‘two establishments’ and resolutely achieve the ‘two safeguards’ through practical actions for fulfilling their responsibilities.” 各地区扎实抓好党纪学习教育，推动广大党员、干部不断增强政治定力、纪律定力、道德定力、抵腐定力，以履职担当的实际行动坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”.
Page 2: There is a report (English report) informing that China has successfully developed its first 100-kilogram class vehicle-mounted liquid hydrogen system.
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation said that the development marks a new breakthrough in China’s transportation sector. As one of the core components of liquid hydrogen heavy trucks, the new system is 100 percent domestically produced and will help hydrogen-powered heavy trucks achieve an improved range of over 1,000 kilometers with just one charge. Compared to its predecessor, the system boasts a 20 percent increase in effective volume within the same overall dimensions while cutting costs by more than 30 percent. With a capacity to carry up to 100 kilograms of hydrogen, it matches international standards in terms of system quality, hydrogen storage density, and refueling time, according to an expert with the CASC.
Page 3: First, there’s a report on Wang Yi meeting with Cho Tae-yul, foreign minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK). Xinhua says:
Wang said that “China and the ROK are close neighbors and should maintain regular exchanges. ‘Recently, China-ROK relations have been facing difficulties and challenges, which is not in the common interests of both sides, nor is it what China wants to see,’ Wang said, adding that it is hoped that the ROK side will work with China to stick to the original intention of establishing diplomatic ties, adhere to the direction of good neighborliness and friendship, stick to the goal of mutually beneficial cooperation, remove disturbances, and make joint efforts to push for the sound and steady development of China-ROK relations. He pointed out that China and the ROK should understand and respect each other, strengthen communication and exchanges, eliminate misunderstandings and enhance mutual trust. Wang added that China hopes the ROK side abides by the one-China principle, properly and prudently handles Taiwan-related issues, and consolidates the political foundation of bilateral relations. The two sides should send more objective and positive messages, increase positive guidance, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges to consolidate public support for bilateral relations. ‘China is speeding up the development of new quality productive forces, promoting high-quality development and expanding high-level opening up, which will bring important opportunities to the ROK,’ Wang said, adding that the two sides should deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, be reliable and long-term partners in each other's development process, jointly oppose trade protectionism, safeguard the international free trade system, and ensure stable and unimpeded production and supply chains.”
The South Korean readout says that:
“The two sides held in-depth discussions on issues of mutual interest including overall Korea-China relations such as high-level exchanges and economic cooperation, North Korea and the North Korean nuclear issues, and regional and global affairs. The two sides reaffirmed the importance they attach to the Korea-China relationship and their shared commitment to continuing its sound and mature development, following the telephone conversation (February 6) that took place after Minister Cho assumed office. Minister Cho emphasized that in order to usher in a new phase of Korea-China cooperation, the two countries should devote more efforts to solidify the basis for sustainable development by fostering mutual trust rather than solely focusing on the speed and volume of the development of the bilateral relationship. Minister Cho stated that the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries should continue to be developed based on mutual respect, reciprocity and shared interests. In addition, Minister Cho stated that, for the development of the bilateral relationship, it is important that both sides, not just one side, put in their collective efforts.”
“Minister Cho also stressed that the two countries should build on the cooperative momentum while carefully managing the challenges that might stand in the way. To this end, Minister Cho emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic exchanges and communication at various levels including high levels, and invited Minister Wang to visit Korea. Minister Wang expressed his desire to see Minister Cho’s visit to China lead to further revitalized high-level exchanges between the two countries, and responded that he will visit Korea at a mutually convenient time.”
“Furthermore, Minister Cho called on China to accord special attention and support for ensuring a conducive environment for the stability of investments by Korean companies in China and for resolving their difficulties. Both ministers acknowledged the necessity of improving mutual perceptions and promoting positive sentiments between the peoples of Korea and China, and committed to promote various exchanges between the two countries. In this vein, the two sides agreed to invigorate exchanges between local governments and to resume various exchange and cooperation projects led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the two countries such as the Korea-China Committee for the Promotion of People-to-People Exchanges. Minister Cho emphasized that ensuring unfettered access to cultural content will help bridge the emotional gap between the youths of the two countries.”
“Minister Cho expressed concern that North Korea has been raising tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region through bellicose rhetoric and various provocations, rejecting unification and defining inter-Korean relations as adversarial, and continuing illicit military cooperation with Russia. Minister Cho called on China to strengthen its constructive role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the denuclearization of North Korea. Furthermore, Minister Cho communicated domestic and international concerns about the forcible repatriation of North Korean defectors, and requested China’s special attention and cooperation to ensure that North Korean defectors are not repatriated against their will and instead transferred to their desired destinations. In response, Minister Wang stated that China’s policy regarding the Korean Peninsula remains unchanged, and that China will play a constructive role in resolving Korean Peninsula issues. The two ministers agreed to continue their cooperation for the success of the 9th Korea-Japan-China Summit to be held soon in Korea. The two sides also discussed regional and global affairs including the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East and the U.S.-China relationship.”
A delegation led by ILD vice minister Zhao Shitong visited Vietnam. As per the report, Zhao met with Le Hoai Trung, secretary of the Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee and chairman of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for External Relations. The Chinese delegation also held talks with the officials in charge of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for Popularization and Education and the CPV Central Committee's Commission for External Relations.
Page 11: There is an article by Li Decheng from the China Tibetology Research Center. Li writes that:
“In recent years, overseas separatist forces have been stirring up the so-called historical issues of Tibet, openly denying the historical fact that Tibet has been an integral part of China since ancient times, in order to concoct a so-called ‘legal’ basis for splitting China. Some international anti-China forces have also made a big fuss about this, intending to create trouble. Tibet has been an inalienable part of China since ancient times. This is determined by the historical development of China and Tibet. It is also determined by the objective fact that the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet have flesh-and-blood ties with all ethnic groups in China. Since ancient times, the Tibetan people have formed inseparable and unbreakable blood ties with the various ethnic groups of China, tightly connecting the Tibetan people with the various ethnic groups of China.” 近年来，境外分裂势力炒作所谓西藏历史问题，公然否定西藏自古以来就是中国不可分割的一部分的历史事实，为分裂中国拼凑所谓“法理”依据。一些国际反华势力也以此大做文章，图谋制造事端。西藏自古以来就是中国不可分割的一部分，这是由中国的历史发展和西藏地方的历史发展决定的，也是由西藏各族人民与中华各民族血肉联系的客观事实决定的。自古以来，西藏各族人民就与中华各民族形成了不可割裂、无法阻断的血脉纽带，将西藏人民与中华各民族紧密联系在一起.
Li’s first argument is that geography naturally binds the Tibetan plateau to the “motherland” to create a “shared homeland”. Li writes: In the Palaeolithic era, the Himalayas served as a massive geographical barrier spanning between the Tibetan Plateau and South Asia, as well as a significant ethnic and cultural barrier between the two. While hindering foreign exchanges, this also led to a closer integration of ethnic interactions and cultural exchanges between the eastern and northern Tibetan Plateau and other regions of the motherland, resulting in the merging of bloodlines, deeper cohesion and geographical linkages. This natural geographical link has determined that the Tibetan people have always been inward-looking since ancient times, closely connected and integrated with other regions of the motherland, forming an inseparable bond and a shared homeland…It is precisely because of the role of this geographical link that Tibet has always been integrated with China since ancient times, always existing within the territory of China, and always being a part of China. The Tibetan people, along with other ethnic groups, have made outstanding contributions to the development, construction, and defense of the southwestern border areas of the motherland. 地缘纽带，使西藏地方与祖国大地形成共有家园。西藏高原从远古时期就是中华民族重要的繁衍和居住地。旧石器时代，喜马拉雅山脉成为横亘于西藏高原和南亚之间的一道巨大地理屏障，也成为西藏高原与南亚之间的一道巨大的民族和文化屏障，在阻滞对外交往的同时，也使西藏高原东向、北向与祖国其他地区之间的民族交往交融、文化交流融合更加紧密，血脉相融，浑然一体，形成地缘纽带。这种天然的地缘纽带，决定了西藏人民自古以来始终倾心内向，与祖国其他地区交往交流交融，密不可分，形成共有家园...正是地缘纽带的作用，自古以来，西藏始终与中华大地连成一体，始终存在于中国版图之中，始终是中国的一部分。西藏人民与中华各民族共同为开发、建设、守卫祖国的西南边地作出了杰出贡献。
The second argument is that “historically, the ancestors of the Tibetan and Han ethnic groups flourished and interacted with each other in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. They have always maintained a close blood relationship and kinship. This deeply reflects the common origin of the Tibetan and Han peoples. The formation of the Tibetan ethnicity is the result of the blending of bloodlines among various ethnic groups of China. The Tibetan and Han, along with other ethnic groups of China, have been one family since ancient times.” 历史上，藏族和汉族的先民在黄河中上游地区的繁衍生息、相互交融中，始终保持着密切的血缘亲缘关系，深刻反映出血缘上汉藏同源，以及藏族的形成是中华各民族血脉交融的结果，汉藏等中华民族自古一家.
“Recent research findings in archaeology, molecular biology, genetics, and physical anthropology all demonstrate that the ancestors of the Tibetan people belonged to the East Asian population system and are genetically very close to the Han population, indicating that the two have a common origin. In recent years, Chinese scientists’ research on the origins of Sino-Tibetan language groups has concluded that: approximately 6,000 years ago, a group of primitive Sino-Tibetan speaking people in the middle and upper reaches of the Yellow River migrated westward and southward through the Tibetan-Yi corridor into the Himalayan region. This migration led to the differentiation of the ancestral populations of the Sino-Tibetan language group into the Chinese language group and Tibeto-Burman language group. Studies of population systems and language genealogy have proven that today’s Han and Tibetan Chinese people are homologous. Blood ties connect the Tibetan people to all ethnic groups in China and determine that the Tibetan people have been an inalienable part of the Chinese nation since ancient times. 现今考古学、分子生物学、遗传学和体质人类学的研究成果均证明，藏族祖先属东亚人群系统，并与汉族人群之间有着非常近的遗传距离，表明二者在起源上有着共同的渊源。近年来，我国科学家对于汉藏语系人群起源研究的结论是：约6000年前，黄河中上游地区的汉藏语原始人群中的一支通过藏彝走廊向西、南迁徙进入喜马拉雅地区，由此产生了今汉藏语系祖先人群中汉语语族和藏缅语族人群的分化. 人群系统、语言系属的研究均证明，今天的汉藏等中华民族乃是同源民族。血缘纽带，使西藏人民与中华各民族血脉相连，决定了西藏人民自古以来就是中华民族不可分割的组成部分.
The third argument is about political linkages. Li writes: “It is a historical fact that the sovereignty of Tibet belongs to China. No matter which dynasty or ethnic regime it has been under, Tibet has always been connected by political ties with other Chinese regimes since ancient times and has always been an inalienable part of China.” 西藏主权归属中国是历史事实，无论曾处于哪个王朝或哪个民族政权的统治管理之下，西藏地方自古以来始终与华夏其他政权有政治纽带相连，始终是中国不可分割的一部分. The argument here is that historically, “various local regimes in Tibet during different historical periods interacted and integrated with other regimes of the motherland through alliances, agreements, and tributes, etc…” This led to political, economic and cultural ties being formed. (To my mind, this narrative does not stand scrutiny. For more, I highly recommend reading Shyam Saran’s book: How China Sees India and the World. You can also check out my review of the book, which deals with the argument on Tibet.) From here, Li quickly goes on to stating the importance of the May 23, 1951, agreement, or the 17-Point Agreement.
The fourth argument is that economic ties make the Tibetan people and all ethnic groups in China interdependent and inseparable.
And the fifth point is that cultural ties integrate Tibetan culture with Chinese culture. In this, Li argues that “Tibetan culture and Chinese culture share the same origin and have developed together.” Li also argues that historically, all dynasties’ central governments adopted policies keeping in mind Tibet's special natural geographical environment, religious and ethnic characteristics.