Li Meets Mishustin in Moscow - ZhongYin Commentary on Boosting Consumption while Cutting Waste - Wang Yi Meets Syrian FM - Shen Yiqin on China's Social Sector Agenda
Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Page 1: There’s a report on Li Qiang’s visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The report says:
“Li said that not too long ago he and Mishustin held in Hangzhou, the capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, the 30th regular meeting of the Chinese and Russian heads of government, which focused on the implementation of the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting, he said, also comprehensively reviewed the progress of China-Russia cooperation in various fields and made plans on key cooperation in the next stage. China stands ready to work with Russia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, further strengthen communication, continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, and create more benefits for the two peoples.”
“Li Qiang said that China is willing to deepen cooperation with Russia in investment, energy, agriculture, and other fields, welcomes more high-quality Russian agricultural and food products to enter the Chinese market, and hopes that Russia will provide more convenience for Chinese enterprises investing and operating in Russia. Both sides should continue to expand people-to-people exchanges and strengthen cooperation in culture, education, film, and other fields, injecting more humanistic warmth into China-Russia relations. In September this year, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Tianjin Summit achieved a series of landmark and fruitful results. China is willing to closely coordinate and cooperate with Russia to promote all SCO parties to uphold the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ and transform the development blueprint drawn by the leaders into reality as soon as possible. We should deepen pragmatic cooperation, strengthen the development momentum of member states, continuously improve the SCO mechanism, enhance its influence in international affairs, unite the vast number of countries in the Global South, and promote the realisation of an equitable and orderly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalisation.” 李强指出，中方愿同俄方深化投资、能源、农业等领域合作，欢迎俄罗斯更多优质农食产品进入中国市场，希望俄方为中国企业在俄投资经营提供更多便利。双方要持续扩大人文交流，加强文化、教育、电影等领域合作，为中俄关系注入更多人文温度。今年9月，上海合作组织天津峰会取得一系列具有里程碑意义的丰硕成果。中方愿同俄方密切协调配合，推动上合组织各方秉持“上海精神”，将领导人擘画的发展蓝图早日转化为实景图。要深入推进务实合作，壮大各成员国发展动能，同时不断完善上合组织机制建设，提升在国际事务中的影响力，团结广大全球南方国家，推动实现平等有序的世界多极化和普惠包容的经济全球化.
Next, there’s a ZhongYin commentary talking about the need to promote consumption, while minimising waste. After the fourth plenum, there was some discussion around the use of the phrase “invest in people” in the Proposal document. This commentary basically talks to that phrase. It helps interpret the policy significance of that concept. And the understanding that I draw from it is that the concept continues to imply supply-side support for certain sectors. In essence, Beijing still believes that it is supply that must continue to lead demand.
I like how this begins.
“Consumption and waste (消费和浪费), a difference of only one character, yet worlds apart. Encouraging consumption and opposing waste are never contradictory or separate things. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasised: ‘We must enhance consumption capacity, improve consumption conditions, and innovate consumption scenarios so that consumption potential can be fully released’; ‘we must advocate hard work and thrift, resolutely oppose extravagance and waste, and foster a strong atmosphere across society in which waste is shameful and saving is honorable.” The 15th FYP proposal proposed ‘adhering to the strategic focus of expanding domestic demand, and adhering to the close integration of benefiting people’s livelihoods and promoting consumption, and investing in things and investing in people’, and made arrangements for vigorously boosting consumption. These important conclusions and arrangements reflect the inherent unity between encouraging consumption and opposing waste, and are our guiding principles for doing this work well. 消费和浪费，一字之差、云壤之别。鼓励消费和反对浪费，从来不是对立的、割裂的。习近平总书记强调，“要增强消费能力，改善消费条件，创新消费场景，使消费潜力充分释放出来”“要提倡艰苦奋斗、勤俭节约，坚决反对铺张浪费，在全社会营造浪费可耻、节约光荣的浓厚氛围”。“十五五”规划建议提出“坚持扩大内需这个战略基点，坚持惠民生和促消费、投资于物和投资于人紧密结合”，并对大力提振消费作出部署。这些重要论断和部署，体现了鼓励消费和反对浪费的内在统一，是我们做好工作的思想方法.
The piece makes the argument through four case studies.
The first case is of Mr. Liu, who is a photography enthusiast and owns a considerable number of professional cameras and lenses. “This year, taking advantage of Shenzhen’s favourable ‘trade-in’ policy, he spent about 10,000 yuan to purchase a drone kit and signed up for private lessons. Buying equipment, scheduling training, obtaining a license, going on self-driving trips…Mr. Liu’s consumption chain reflects the industrial chain. China’s civil drone industry is a global leader, is an important growth point of the low-altitude economy and has also given rise to new professions such as drone pilots, promoting high-quality and sufficient employment. Purchasing high-quality drones satisfies effective demand and is a testament to how quality supply promotes consumption upgrading. Practice tells us that encouraging consumption and opposing waste are for more efficient growth, unified with healthy and sustainable economic development. Today’s China has already abandoned the extensive model of ‘mass production, mass consumption, and mass waste’, and is now using scientific and technological innovation to lead the development of new-quality productive forces, and strong policies to promote a virtuous cycle between effective demand and high-quality supply. Boosting consumption is an important lever for grasping the strategic foundation of expanding domestic demand. By deepening supply-side structural reform, reducing ineffective and low-end supply, using high-quality supply to lead new demand and promote new consumption, and stimulating the advantages and potential of the ultra-large-scale market. Consequently, consumption, the main engine of China’s economy, will continue to release strong momentum.” 不妨从“四本账”领悟其中的道理。第一本是无人机飞手的消费账。爱好摄影的刘先生，专业相机、镜头不少。今年，趁着广东深圳“以旧换新”政策利好，他花约1万元添置了无人机套装、报名了私教课。买器材、约培训、考执照、自驾游……刘先生的消费链折射产业链。中国民用无人机产业全球领先，是低空经济的重要增长点，也催生出无人机驾驶员等新职业，促进高质量充分就业。购买高品质无人机，满足的是有效需求，是优质供给促进消费升级的一个注脚。实践告诉我们，鼓励消费、反对浪费，是为了更有效益的增长，统一于经济健康可持续发展。今天的中国，已经摒弃“大量生产、大量消费、大量废弃”的粗放模式，正以科技创新引领新质生产力发展，以有力政策推动实现有效需求、优质供给的良性循环。提振消费是把握扩大内需这一战略基点的重要抓手。通过深化供给侧结构性改革，减少无效和低端供给，以高质量供给引领新需求、促进新消费，激发超大规模市场的优势和潜力，消费这个中国经济的“主引擎”将持续释放强劲动能.
The second case concerns someone from Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, who invested in an NEV. This decision came after Jiangsu issued a document clarifying the pricing policy for vehicle-to-grid charging. This policy brought estimated benefits of nearly 3,000 yuan annually for vehicle owners, resulting in the person choosing an NEV.
“Charging during off-peak hours and discharging during peak hours—thanks to vehicle-to-grid interaction, electric cars turn into mobile power banks. This reduces operating costs for car owners, alleviates the burden on the power grid, and decreases carbon emissions across society—a win-win situation for all parties involved in green consumption. Practice tells us that encouraging consumption and opposing waste are for a higher quality of life, aligned with the general trend of green and low-carbon development. In today’s China, green products have gone from ‘optional’ to ‘essential’, and ‘recycling youth’ have become a new consumer group. Policies supporting green consumption are forming a synergy, transforming green and low-carbon practices from ‘slogans’ into a ‘trend’, and even a new ‘social currency’. Opposing waste is not a disguised form of consumption downgrade; on the contrary, it is about better meeting the people’s growing needs for a better life, promoting higher quality consumption, lower resource consumption, and new industrial tracks. This is the driving force behind the continuous iteration of ‘Made in China 2025,’ and also the innovative force for global sustainable development.” 谷时充电，峰时放电，得益于车网互动，电动汽车变身移动充电宝，车主使用成本下降，电网负担得到缓解，全社会碳排放减少，一笔绿色消费，几方多赢。实践告诉我们，鼓励消费、反对浪费，是为了更有品质的生活，统一于绿色低碳发展大势。今天的中国，绿色产品从“备选”变为“必选”，“循环青年”成为新消费群体。支持绿色消费的政策形成合力，绿色低碳从“口号”变成“潮流”，甚至成为新的“社交货币”。反对浪费，不是变相的消费降级，恰恰相反，是要更好满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要，促使消费品质向上、资源消耗向下、产业赛道向新。这是“中国智造”持续迭代的驱动力，更是全球可持续发展的创新力.
The third example is of someone traveling across cities for cultural experiences, such as theatre and dance. The article argues that such “cultural ‘migration’, reflects changing consumer demands.”
“Practice tells us that encouraging consumption and opposing waste are for pursuits of greater value, unified with the upward and virtuous development of social civilization. Consumption upgrading is not about spending money extravagantly; mature consumers ‘don’t necessarily want things they can’t afford, but rather seek better value for money’. The consumption outlook of the new era abandons blind comparison and stresses rationality and individuality. The integration of ‘cultivating people with culture’ and ‘nourishing cities with culture’ has cultivated a new consumption landscape for the new era.” 实践告诉我们，鼓励消费、反对浪费，是为了更有价值的追求，统一于社会文明向上向善。消费升级不是花钱大手大脚，成熟的消费者“不是贵的买不起，而是追求更有性价比”。新时代的消费观，摒弃盲目攀比，讲求理性个性。以文化人与以文润城相融合，培育出新时代的消费新图景.
The final example is about the expenditure of the local government of Xiangshan County, Zhejiang Province.
“The government compound appears somewhat shabby at first glance. This is not because they’re too poor to afford new buildings; Xiangshan County’s total fiscal revenue in 2024 reached 11.64 billion yuan. However, ‘official hospitality, official vehicles, and overseas travel’ expenditures were relatively low, while expenditures on people’s livelihoods reached 10.64 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 21.1%, accounting for 77.5% of the general public budget expenditure. The answer lies in careful budgeting, not changing the ‘storefront’ to win people’s hearts, that is the answer. Practice tells us that the Party and government leading by example in tightening their belts is for the benefit of the people, aligned with the value of investing in and benefiting the people. Frugality and simplicity, and a strong rejection of extravagance, are invaluable assets of our Party. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: ‘no matter what level our country develops to, no matter how much people’s lives improve, the spirit of hard work and thrift must never be abandoned. Tightening the belt in Party and government organs doesn’t mean hoarding money; it means spending where necessary, saving where appropriate, and concentrating resources on major projects. This year, the ‘two new’ policies have been expanded and improved. The scale of ultra-long-term special treasury bonds this year has increased by 30% compared to last year. As of the first half of the year, the ‘trade-in’ program has driven sales exceeding 2.9 trillion yuan, with approximately 400 million people benefiting from subsidies and preferential policies. More funds are being used more directly and effectively for the people, fulfilling the original mission and enhancing the happiness index.”
“National strength and the rejuvenation of the nation require the accumulation of material civilisation, but even more so, the sublimation of spiritual civilisation. Combining active and reasonable consumption with opposing extravagance and waste, guiding more funds and resources to ‘invest in people’, we can drive high-quality development and a high-quality life in sync, continuously turning the people’s aspirations for a better life into reality.”
第四本是地方政府的支出账。浙江象山县，政府大院乍一看略显“寒碜”。不是“穷”到盖不起楼，象山县2024年的财政总收入达116.4亿元。只不过，“三公”经费没多少，民生支出达106.4亿元，同比增长21.1%，占一般公共预算支出的77.5%。精打细算过日子，不换“门面”赢“民心”，就是答案。实践告诉我们，党和政府带头过紧日子，是为老百姓过好日子，统一于投资于人、造福于民的价值旨归。节俭朴素，力戒奢靡，是我们党的传家宝。习近平总书记指出：“不论我们国家发展到什么水平，不论人民生活改善到什么地步，艰苦奋斗、勤俭节约的思想永远不能丢。”党政机关过紧日子，也不是捂紧钱包不花钱，而是该花的花，该省的省，集中财力办大事。今年以来，扩围提质实施“两新”政策，今年超长期特别国债规模比去年增加30%，截至上半年“以旧换新”带动销售额超2.9万亿元，约4亿人次享受补贴优惠。资金更多、更直接地用到百姓身上，诠释初心使命、厚植幸福指数。国家强盛、民族复兴需要物质文明的积累，更需要精神文明的升华。把积极合理消费和反对铺张浪费结合起来，推动更多资金资源“投资于人”，推动高质量发展和高品质生活同频共振，定能不断把人民对美好生活的向往变为现实.
Page 2: There’s an article by two researchers at the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Yang Bojiang and Tang Yongliang basically lash out at Japan on the Taiwan issue. This is the continuation of Beijing’s over-reaction to Sanae Takaichi’s comments.
They write that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s “dangerous remarks involving Taiwan” and her “refusal to withdraw them” are an “open provocation against the postwar international order, an even more serious damage to Sino-Japanese relations, and a blatant challenge to China’s core interests.” 在这一历史节点，日本首相高市早苗发表涉台危险言论并拒绝撤回，这是对战后国际秩序的公然挑衅，更是对中日关系的严重破坏、对中国核心利益的公然挑衅.
They argue that:
“Adhering to the one-China principle is a serious political commitment that Japan must fulfil. The Joint Statement of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Japan, signed in 1972 upon the normalization of diplomatic relations, explicitly stipulated that the Japanese government fully understands and respects the Chinese government’s position that Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory and adheres to Article 8 of the Potsdam Declaration. In 1978, the two countries concluded the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People’s Republic of China, legally affirming the principles of the Joint Statement. The third and fourth political documents between China and Japan in 1998 and 2008 both reiterated the joint statement’s position on the Taiwan issue. The Joint Declaration of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Japan on Establishing a Friendly Partnership for Peace and Development reiterated that ‘there is only one China’, and Japan pledged to maintain only non-governmental and regional exchanges with Taiwan, thereby excluding the legal space for Japan to develop official relations with Taiwan. In 2007, then-Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda visited China, further clarifying that Japan does not pursue ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’, does not support ‘Taiwan independence’, does not support Taiwan’s ‘joining’ the United Nations, and does not support a ‘referendum on UN membership’. In comparison to these solemn commitments, it is not difficult to see that Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan clearly violate the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan, and seriously damage the political foundation and mutual trust in Sino-Japanese relations.” 恪守一个中国原则是日本必须履行的严肃政治承诺。1972年中日邦交正常化时签署的《中日联合声明》明确规定，日本政府充分理解和尊重中国政府关于台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分的立场，坚持遵循《波茨坦公告》第八条。1978年两国缔结《中日和平友好条约》，以法律形式确认了联合声明的各项原则。1998年和2008年的中日第三、第四个政治文件，均重申坚持联合声明关于台湾问题的立场。《中日关于建立致力于和平与发展的友好合作伙伴关系的联合宣言》重申“中国只有一个”，日方承诺只同台湾维持民间和地区性往来，从而排除了日本对台发展官方关系的法律空间。2007年，时任日本首相福田康夫访华，进一步阐明日方不搞“两个中国”或“一中一台”，不支持“台独”，不支持台湾“加入”联合国，不支持“入联公投”。对照这些郑重承诺，不难看出，高市早苗涉台言论明显违背了中日四个政治文件精神，严重损害了中日关系政治基础与政治互信.
“Any attempt to militarily interfere in China’s internal affairs will inevitably be met with a resounding defeat. Japanese militarism launched a 14-year war of aggression against China, causing immense harm to the Chinese people, and its crimes against humanity are countless. Under extremely difficult and perilous domestic and international circumstances, the Chinese people fought tenaciously and ultimately achieved a great victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The acts of aggression committed by Japanese militarism also made the people of its own country pay a bitter price; the Peace Constitution came into being amid the social current of reflecting on war. Sanae Takaichi ignores the fact that Japan’s post-war economic and social development was based on reflecting on the lessons of World War II, and attempts to follow the old historical path of militarism borrowing strength from populism. Her political attempt to achieve military expansion by hyping up the Taiwan issue, and her military adventurism that ignores the trend of the times and China’s determination for reunification, will inevitably be met with a resounding defeat by the Chinese people and will certainly be opposed by peace-loving Asian countries.” 图谋武力干涉中国内政必遭迎头痛击。日本军国主义对中国发动长达14年的侵略战争，给中国人民造成了极大伤害，所犯反人类罪行罄竹难书。中国人民在极其艰难险恶的国内外环境和条件下，不屈不挠，浴血奋战，最终取得了抗日战争伟大胜利。日本军国主义侵略行径也使本国人民付出了惨痛代价，和平宪法就是在反思战争的社会潮流中应运而生的。高市早苗无视日本战后经济社会发展是基于反思二战历史教训而取得的事实，企图沿袭军国主义借势民粹的历史老路。借炒作台湾问题实现强军扩武的政治企图、无视时代潮流与中国统一决心的军事冒险主义，必将遭到中国人民的迎头痛击，必然遭到爱好和平的亚洲各国的共同反对.
Meanwhile, Beijing is also pushing back against the “recently announced 330-million-U.S.-dollar U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, vowing to take all necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said:
“the arms sales seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques, grossly interfere in China’s internal affairs, undermine China’s sovereignty and security interests, and send a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces. ‘We are strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this, and have lodged solemn representations with the U.S. side,’ Zhang said. Zhang said that any attempt to aid ‘Taiwan independence’ with military means will only invite trouble upon oneself, and the scheme to ‘use Taiwan to contain China’ is doomed to fail. ‘We urge the U.S. side to immediately stop its wrongful actions of arming Taiwan so as to avoid harming the development of the relations between the two countries and the two militaries’, he said. ‘We also warn the Democratic Progressive Party authorities that squandering the hard-earned money of people in Taiwan to purchase weapons is nothing but a dead end, and that any attempt to seek independence by relying on external forces or resist reunification with arms is destined to fail’, he added.”
Next, there’s a report on Wang Yi hosting Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan al-Shibani in Beijing. So the country’s leader visited the White House and the Foreign Minister traveled to China. The official readout says:
“Wang Yi said that the friendly exchanges between China and Syria have a long history, with the ancient Silk Road connecting the two peoples. Syria was among the first Arab countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. As developing countries, China and Syria share extensive common interests. China believes that all countries are equal regardless of their size, firmly stands with the developing countries, especially small and medium-sized ones, and resolutely safeguards the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South. China pursues a policy of friendship toward all Syrian people and respects their independent choices. The two sides should uphold mutual respect for each other’s core interests, adhere to non-interference in internal affairs, carry forward the tradition of friendship, recalibrate the course of China-Syria relations, and bring bilateral relations back on track.”
“Wang Yi said that China appreciates Syria’s commitment to upholding the one-China principle, and hopes that Syria will continue to staunchly support the Chinese people’s just cause of opposing ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and striving for national reunification, so as to jointly safeguard the political foundation of bilateral relations. The Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement is designated by the United Nations Security Council as an international terrorist organization. Syria has pledged not to allow any entity to use Syrian territory to undermine China’s interests. China appreciates this promise and hopes that Syria will take effective measures to implement it, so as to remove security obstacles to the sound and steady development of China-Syria relations.”
Wang Yi said that next year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Syria. The two sides should gradually resume exchanges at all levels and in all fields. China welcomes Syria’s participation in Belt and Road cooperation, and the two sides should strengthen cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. China is ready to actively consider participating in Syria’s economic reconstruction and contribute to Syria’s social development and improvement of people’s livelihoods. China supports Syria in achieving peace at an early date, upholding the ‘Syrian-led and Syrian-owned’ principle, conducting inclusive dialogue, ensuring both development and security in a coordinated manner, and actively integrating into the international community. China supports Syria in finding a national reconstruction plan that meets its people’s aspirations through political dialogue. China is willing to work with the international community to contribute to Syria’s security and stability.”
Al-Shaibani reportedly said that “Syria firmly abides by the one-China principle, opposes any forces undermining the one-China principle, and strongly supports China in safeguarding its core interests. Syria values China’s security concerns, opposes all forms of terrorism, and will not allow any entity to use Syrian territory to engage in activities that undermine China’s national security, sovereignty, and interests.” He also talked about the importance of BRI and said that “Syria looks forward to continued assistance from China.”
The two sides also issued a joint statement. It says:
“Both sides expressed their willingness to explore cooperation in areas of common concern, such as the economy, development, Syrian reconstruction, capacity building, and improving the lives of Syrians. Both sides stressed the need to combat terrorism in all its forms and agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism and security. Both sides recognised the importance of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in promoting collective cooperation between China and Arab countries and agreed to continue cooperation within the framework of this important mechanism.” 双方表示，愿就经济、发展、叙利亚重建、能力建设、改善叙利亚民生等共同关心的领域合作进行探讨。双方强调打击一切形式的恐怖主义，同意在反恐和安全领域加强协调合作。双方认同中国—阿拉伯国家合作论坛对推动中阿集体合作的重要性，同意在这一重要机制框架下继续合作.
“Syria reiterates its firm adherence to the one-China principle, recognises the government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and affirms that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. Syria supports China in safeguarding its national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity, resolutely opposes any interference in China’s internal affairs, and supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. Syria appreciates President Xi Jinping’s GDI, GSI, GCI and GGI, and the Belt and Road Initiative, and is willing to actively participate in these initiatives. Syria attaches importance to China’s security concerns and pledges that it will not become a source of threat for any country and will not allow any entity to use Syrian territory to engage in activities that harm China’s security, sovereignty, and interests. Syria thanks China for all assistance provided to the Syrian people, is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, and appreciates China’s advanced development experience, which has brought security and prosperity to all its citizens. Syria thanks China for all assistance provided to the Syrian people, is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields, and appreciates China’s advanced development experience, which has brought security and prosperity to all its citizens.” 二、叙方重申坚定恪守一个中国原则，承认中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府，台湾是中国不可分割的一部分，支持中方维护国家主权、统一和领土完整，坚决反对任何势力干涉中国内政，支持中国政府为实现国家统一所作的一切努力；赞赏习近平主席提出的全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议、全球文明倡议、全球治理倡议和“一带一路”倡议，愿积极参与上述倡议；叙方重视中方安全关切，承诺叙利亚不会成为任何国家的威胁来源，不会允许任何实体利用叙利亚领土从事损害中国安全、主权和利益的活动。叙方感谢中方向叙利亚人民提供的一切援助，愿加强同中方各领域合作，赞赏中国的先进发展经验为全体国民带来了安全与繁荣.
“China emphasised its full respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of the Syrian Arab Republic. It stressed that the Syrian government is the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people, supports the domestic political process led by the Syrian government, appreciates the Syrian government’s sustained efforts to eliminate the harm of drugs, strengthen the rule of law, combat terrorism, and protect the rights of all Syrian people without discrimination, supports Syria’s pursuit of a development path suited to its national conditions, and emphasised that the Golan Heights are internationally recognized occupied Syrian territory.” 三、中方强调完全尊重阿拉伯叙利亚共和国的主权、独立、领土完整和国家统一，强调叙利亚政府是叙利亚人民的唯一合法代表，支持叙利亚政府领导的国内政治进程，赞赏叙利亚政府为消除毒品危害、加强法治、打击恐怖主义、无歧视地保护所有叙利亚人民权利作出的持续努力，支持叙利亚走符合自身国情的发展道路，强调戈兰高地是国际社会公认的叙利亚被占领土.
Also on the page, there’s a report on He Lifeng co-chairing the fourth China-Germany High-Level Financial Dialogue with German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil in Beijing. Xinhua reports:
“He, who was China’s lead person in the dialogue, said that China is willing to work with Germany to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and to make new contributions to the stability and growth of the global economy. Klingbeil, who was Germany’s lead person, said that Germany is willing to engage in close exchange and cooperation with China in the financial and monetary sector, in a bid to drive greater progress in bilateral relations. He and Klingbeil also attended the second China-Germany Financial Roundtable.”
Page 6: Today’s post-fourth plenum article is by Shen Yiqin, who talks about efforts to safeguard and improve people’s livelihood. In section one, she makes five points:
First, uphold and strengthen the Party’s overall leadership. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasised that the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest advantage of the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must integrate respecting public opinion, gathering public wisdom, pooling public strength, and improving people’s livelihoods into all aspects of the Party’s governance of the country, consolidating the Party’s class foundation and strengthening its mass base.
Second, uphold the people-centered development philosophy. This emphasises that the country is the people, and the people are the country. Livelihood work is closest to ordinary people and most closely connected to their lives. The people’s aspiration for a better life is our goal of struggle. We must uphold the concept of putting the people first, and highlight the people-oriented nature in the direction of modernisation. In planning economic and social development for the 15th FYP period, we must not forget our original intention, and take benefiting the people as the fundamental value orientation.
Third, uphold the comprehensive deepening of reform. This emphasises that we must plan and promote reform from the perspective of the people’s overall, fundamental, and long-term interests, follow the Party’s mass line in the new era, and focus on identifying the points of effort and breakthroughs for reform from among the pressing difficulties and anxieties of ordinary people in employment, income growth, schooling, medical care, housing, administrative services, childcare and eldercare, and the safety of life and property.
Fourth, solidly promote common prosperity for all people. This emphasises that ensuring people’s livelihood is crucial to their vital interests and is a fundamental project for promoting common prosperity and creating a high-quality life. Achieving common prosperity for all people is a long-term historical process that cannot be accomplished overnight; it requires historical patience and unremitting efforts.
Fifth, enhance people’s well-being in development. This emphasises that people’s livelihood connects to domestic demand, and connects to development. It is essential to fully grasp the interdependent relationship between people’s livelihood and development, creating more effective demand for economic development and ensuring that improvements in people’s livelihood and economic development are effectively linked, forming a virtuous cycle and complementing each other. We must adhere to seeking truth from facts, doing our utmost while acting within our capabilities, and base the improvement of social security levels on the foundation of sustainable economic and fiscal growth.
Sixth, strengthen the inclusive, basic, and bottom-line livelihood construction. This emphasises that we must go deep among the masses, deep to the grassroots, adopt more measures that benefit people’s livelihood and warm people’s hearts, focus on solving the urgent needs and pressing concerns of the people. Focus on improving the level of public services, precisely provide basic public services in areas the people and masses care about most such as education, medical care, elderly care, and housing, secure the basic living bottom line for people in difficulty. We must give extra attention, extra love, and extra care to people in difficulty, keeping their safety, well-being, and warmth always in our hearts.
一是坚持和加强党的全面领导。习近平总书记强调中国共产党领导是中国特色社会主义最本质的特征，是中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势。要把尊重民意、汇集民智、凝聚民力、改善民生贯穿党治国理政全部工作之中，巩固党执政的阶级基础，厚植党执政的群众基础。二是坚持以人民为中心的发展思想。强调江山就是人民，人民就是江山。民生工作离老百姓最近，同老百姓生活最密切。人民对美好生活的向往，就是我们的奋斗目标。我们要坚守人民至上理念，突出现代化方向的人民性。谋划“十五五”时期经济社会发展，要不忘初心，把造福人民作为根本价值取向。三是坚持全面深化改革。强调要从人民的整体利益、根本利益、长远利益出发谋划和推进改革，走好新时代党的群众路线，注重从就业、增收、入学、就医、住房、办事、托幼养老以及生命财产安全等老百姓急难愁盼中找准改革的发力点和突破口。四是扎实推进全体人民共同富裕。强调民生保障事关人民群众切身利益，是促进共同富裕、打造高品质生活的基础性工程。实现全体人民共同富裕是一个长期的历史过程，不可能一蹴而就，必须保持历史耐心、进行不懈努力。五是在发展中增进民生福祉。强调民生连着内需、连着发展。要全面把握民生和发展相互牵动、互为条件的关系，为经济发展创造更多有效需求，使民生改善和经济发展有效对接、良性循环、相得益彰。要坚持实事求是，既尽力而为又量力而行，把提高社会保障水平建立在经济和财力可持续增长的基础之上。六是加强普惠性、基础性、兜底性民生建设。强调要深入群众、深入基层，采取更多惠民生、暖民心举措，着力解决好人民群众急难愁盼问题。重在提升公共服务水平，在教育、医疗、养老、住房等人民群众最关心的领域精准提供基本公共服务，兜住困难群众基本生活底线。要格外关注、格外关爱、格外关心困难群众，时刻把他们的安危冷暖放在心上.
In the second section, she talks about the “historic and groundbreaking achievements” in terms of livelihood policies.
First, the employment situation is overall stable. Since the 14th FYP, urban newly added employment has exceeded 12 million people for four consecutive years. The urban surveyed unemployment rate is lower than the expected control target. The scale of employed people lifted out of poverty has consistently remained above 30 million people.
Second, residents’ incomes have grown steadily. National per-capita disposable income increased from 35,100 yuan in 2021 to 41,300 yuan in 2024, and the urban–rural income ratio has narrowed to 2.34:1.
Third, the degree of education popularisation has continued to increase. Steps have been taken to gradually exempt preschool care and education fees. In 2024, the gross enrolment rate in preschool education and the gross enrolment rate at the upper-secondary stage both reached 92%, and all 2,895 county-level jurisdictions nationwide achieved basic balanced development in compulsory education.
Fourth, social security system construction has entered a new stage. The gradual postponement of statutory retirement age reform is being implemented prudently. The individual pension system has been established and comprehensively implemented. As of the end of 2024, over 1 billion people possess basic old-age insurance, 1.327 billion people possess basic medical insurance, and the basic livelihood of approximately 45 million people receiving subsistence allowances and people in extreme difficulty has been effectively secured.
Fifth, new progress has been made in ensuring that people have housing to live in .During the 14th FYP period, we constructed and raised over 11 million units of various types of affordable housing and resettlement housing such as urban village and urban dilapidated old housing renovation, benefiting over 30 million masses.
Sixth, the level of health and medical services has been continuously improved. In 2024, the number of practicing physicians and registered nurses per 1,000 people reached 3.61 and 4.16, respectively. In 2025, the per-capita subsidy standard for basic public health services was raised to 99 yuan. The fertility-support policy system has been improved, and a childcare subsidy system established. Coverage under the long-term care insurance system reached 190 million people. Significant results were achieved in the prevention and control of key diseases.
Seventh, the population quality structure has further improved. In 2024, China’s per capita life expectancy of residents reached 79 years, maintaining a relatively rapid growth momentum of increasing 1 year every 5 years, exceeding 21 high-income countries globally. The average years of education of the working-age population reached 11.21 years. The accumulation level of high-quality human resources has steadily improved.
Eighth, the equalisation of basic public services accelerated in advancement. We formulated and dynamically adjusted national basic public service standards, guaranteeing that the masses fairly enjoy 81 basic public service items in 9 areas. The gap in urban-rural basic public services has continued to narrow.
一是就业形势总体平稳，“十四五”以来城镇新增就业连续4年超过1200万人，城镇调查失业率低于预期控制目标，脱贫人口务工规模始终保持在3000万人以上。二是居民收入平稳增长，全国居民人均可支配收入从2021年的3.51万元增至2024年的4.13万元，城乡居民收入比缩小至2.34∶1。三是教育普及程度持续提高，推动逐步免除学前教育保育教育费，2024年学前教育、高中阶段教育毛入学（园）率均达92%，全国2895个县域全部实现义务教育基本均衡发展。四是社会保障体系建设迈入新阶段，渐进式延迟法定退休年龄改革稳妥实施，个人养老金制度建立并全面实施，截至2024年底，超10亿人拥有基本养老保险，13.27亿人拥有基本医疗保险，约4500万低保和特困人员基本生活得到有效保障。五是住有所居取得新进展，“十四五”期间建设筹集各类保障性住房和城中村、城市危旧房改造等安置住房1100多万套（间）、惠及3000多万群众。六是卫生健康服务水平不断提高，2024年每千人口执业（助理）医师数、注册护士数分别为3.61人、4.16人，2025年人均基本公共卫生服务经费补助标准提高至99元；完善生育支持政策体系，建立育儿补贴制度；长期护理保险制度参保覆盖达1.9亿人；重点疾病防控取得显著成效。七是人口素质结构进一步改善，2024年我国居民人均预期寿命达79岁，保持每5年增长1岁的较快增长态势，超过全球21个高收入国家；劳动年龄人口平均受教育年限达11.21年，高素质人力资源积蓄水平稳健提升。八是基本公共服务均等化加快推进，制定并动态调整国家基本公共服务标准，保障群众公平享有9个领域81项基本公共服务项目，城乡基本公共服务差距持续缩小.
Shen adds:
“At the same time, we must be soberly aware that some shortcomings and weaknesses still exist in the social and livelihood sectors. Structural employment contradictions are prominent, and the protection of the rights and interests of people in new employment forms needs to be strengthened; the coverage of social security needs to be further expanded, and the social security system still has shortcomings; investment in the health and medical services system needs to be increased, and maintaining the long-term balance of the medical insurance fund faces pressure; the phenomenon of ‘urban overcrowding and rural emptiness’ in compulsory education still exists; and the aging population is becoming increasingly severe, with many constraints still hindering the urbanisation of the permanent population. There is no end to safeguarding and improving people’s livelihoods. In the new era and on the new journey, we must do a good job in all aspects of people’s livelihood undertakings and address shortcomings in the field of people’s livelihoods in the process of promoting high-quality development, and strive to promote people’s well-being to a higher level.” 同时也要清醒地看到，社会民生领域仍存在一些短板弱项：结构性就业矛盾凸显，新就业形态人员权益保障还需要加强；社会保障的覆盖面需要继续扩大，社会保障体系仍存在不足；卫生健康体系投入保障力度有待加大，医保基金长期保持平衡面临压力；义务教育“城挤乡空”现象仍然存在；人口老龄化日趋严峻，常住人口市民化仍面临不少制约因素。保障和改善民生没有终点。新时代新征程，要在推动高质量发展过程中办好各项民生事业、补齐民生领域短板，奋力推进民生福祉达到更高水平。
In the final section, She elaborates 8 points, as the agenda going forward.
First, promoting high-quality and full employment. Under this, she says that “it is necessary to strengthen the employment-first orientation, promote coordinated efforts among fiscal, monetary, industrial, price, employment and other policies, and continuously promote the effective improvement of employment quality and the reasonable growth of employment quantity. Improve the matching mechanism between human resources supply and demand, improve the lifelong vocational skills training system, carry out large-scale vocational skills upgrading training, strengthen skill-oriented wage incentives, strengthen guidance on concepts of job selection and employment practices, and focus on resolving structural employment contradictions. Improve the employment support and public service system, stabilise and expand employment for key groups such as university graduates, migrant workers, and demobilized veterans, and promote stable employment for people lifted out of poverty and persons with disabilities.” In addition, she calls for policies such as guaranteed loans, entrepreneurship subsidies, and tax and fee reductions to enhance the employment-driving effect of entrepreneurship. “Improve the system for protecting the rights and interests of those in flexible employment and new employment forms, severely crack down on illegal acts that infringe upon workers’ rights and interests, resolutely correct unreasonable restrictions and employment discrimination, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of workers.” 要强化就业优先导向，促进财政、货币、产业、价格、就业等政策协同发力，持续促进就业质的有效提升和量的合理增长。完善人力资源供需匹配机制，健全终身职业技能培训制度，开展大规模职业技能提升培训，强化技能导向的薪酬激励，强化择业和用人观念引导，着力解决结构性就业矛盾。完善就业支持和公共服务体系，稳定和扩大高校毕业生、农民工、退役军人等重点群体就业，促进脱贫人口、残疾人等稳岗就业。加大创业支持力度，打好担保贷款、创业补贴、场地支持、税费减免等政策“组合拳”，增强创业带动就业效应。完善适应灵活就业和新就业形态人员的权益保障制度，严厉打击侵害劳动者权益的违法行为，坚决纠正不合理限制和就业歧视，切实维护劳动者合法权益.
Second, improve the income distribution system. The income distribution system is a fundamental system for promoting common prosperity. The Proposal calls to ‘improve the initial distribution mechanism whereby the market evaluates the contribution of various factors and determines remuneration according to contribution, promoting the principle of “more pay for more work, more pay for higher skills, and more pay for innovation”. It is necessary to improve the mechanism for determining, reasonably increasing, and guaranteeing the payment of workers’ wages, implement a collective wage bargaining system, improve the minimum wage adjustment mechanism, and increase the remuneration of workers, especially frontline workers. Improve the redistribution system, strengthen redistribution regulation through taxation, social security, and transfer payments, reasonably adjust and narrow the income gap between industries, regions, urban and rural areas, and individuals, strengthen and improve the salary management of state-owned enterprises, and increase efforts to regulate unreasonably high incomes. Better leverage the role of the tertiary distribution, promote and regulate the development of public welfare and charitable undertakings, facilitate channels for social forces to participate in charity, and guide and support willing and capable enterprises, social organizations, and individuals to actively participate in public welfare and charitable undertakings.” 完善收入分配制度。收入分配制度是促进共同富裕的基础性制度。《建议》提出，“健全各类要素由市场评价贡献、按贡献决定报酬的初次分配机制，促进多劳者多得、技高者多得、创新者多得。”要完善劳动者工资决定、合理增长、支付保障机制，推行工资集体协商制度，健全最低工资标准调整机制，增加劳动者特别是一线劳动者报酬。健全再分配制度，加强税收、社会保障、转移支付等再分配调节，合理调节和缩小行业、地区、城乡、人员收入差距，加强和改进国有企业薪酬管理，加大对不合理过高收入调控力度。更好发挥第三次分配作用，促进和规范公益慈善事业发展，畅通社会力量参与慈善的渠道，引导、支持有意愿有能力的企业、社会组织和个人积极参与公益慈善事业.
Third, provide education that satisfies people. Under this, she calls to “steadily expand the scope of free education, explore extending the years of compulsory education. Adapt to local conditions to open up the use of educational resources across all school segments, explore new models of provincial-level modern vocational education systems. Strengthen the support and guarantee for high-quality education development, carry out the educator-spirit forging and teacher-strengthening action, deeply implement the education digitalisation strategy, expand high-level opening up of education to the outside world, and build important education centers with global influence.” 稳步扩大免费教育范围，探索延长义务教育年限。因地制宜打通使用各学段教育资源，探索省域现代职业教育体系新模式。强化教育高质量发展的支撑保障，开展教育家精神铸魂强师行动，深入实施教育数字化战略，扩大高水平教育对外开放，建设具有全球影响力的重要教育中心。
Fourth, improve the social security system. “It is necessary to improve the multi-tiered medical security system, promote provincial-level pooling of basic medical insurance; improve the stable and sustainable financing and benefit adjustment mechanism; improve the triple guarantee system of basic medical insurance, critical illness insurance, and medical assistance; implement a medical security benefit list system; and promote the coordinated development and governance of medical care, medical insurance, and pharmaceuticals. Expand the coverage of unemployment and work-related injury insurance, and establish and improve the occupational injury protection system. Optimise the nationally unified social security public service platform and management services; improve the policy for transferring and continuing social security relationships; and increase the participation rate of flexible employment personnel, migrant workers, and personnel in new employment forms. Improve the social insurance actuarial system; continue to transfer state-owned capital to replenish the social security fund; improve the long-term collection, overall adjustment, value preservation and appreciation, and safety supervision mechanism of the social security fund; and give full play to the supplementary protection role of various commercial insurances. Improve the social assistance system. Enhance the service and support system for vulnerable groups such as elderly people living alone, children in difficult circumstances, and people with disabilities, strengthen dynamic monitoring and regular assistance for low-income populations, and strengthen multi-departmental collaborative and categorised assistance to ensure a solid safety net for basic livelihoods. Establish and improve the basic funeral service system and strengthen comprehensive supervision of funeral services. Uphold the basic national policy of gender equality and protect the legitimate rights and interests of women and children. Strengthen service and support for veterans.” 要健全多层次医疗保障体系，推进基本医疗保险省级统筹，健全稳定可持续筹资和待遇调整机制，完善基本医保、大病保险、医疗救助三重制度保障，实行医疗保障待遇清单制度，推动医疗、医保、医药协同发展和治理。扩大失业、工伤保险覆盖面，建立健全职业伤害保障制度。优化全国统一的社保公共服务平台和经办管理服务，完善社保关系转移接续政策，提高灵活就业人员、农民工、新就业形态人员参保率。健全社会保险精算制度，继续划转国有资本充实社保基金，健全社保基金长效筹集、统筹调剂、保值增值和安全监管机制，发挥各类商业保险补充保障作用。健全社会救助体系，完善空巢老人、困境儿童、残疾人等群体服务保障体系，加强低收入人口动态监测和常态化帮扶，强化多部门协同分类救助，兜住兜准兜牢基本民生底线。建立健全基本殡葬服务制度，加强殡葬综合监管。坚持男女平等基本国策，保障妇女儿童合法权益。加强退役军人服务保障。
Fifth, promote the high-quality development of real estate. “The housing issue is both a livelihood issue and a development issue, and concerns the vital interests of thousands upon thousands of households. The Proposal said ‘accelerate the building of a new model of real estate development, and improve the basic systems for commercial housing development, financing, sales, and other areas’. It is necessary to fully empower city governments with autonomy in real estate market regulation, adjust and optimise real estate policies according to local conditions, and increase the supply of improved housing. Optimise the supply of affordable housing by increasing its supply through new housing construction and the acquisition of existing commercial housing to meet the basic housing needs of urban wage earners and various disadvantaged families. Build safe, comfortable, green, and smart ‘good houses’, implement housing quality improvement projects and property service quality improvement actions, steadily advance urban-village renovation and the renovation of dilapidated and old housing, and put great effort into resolving difficulties such as installing elevators, parking, and charging facilities, thereby creating high-quality living spaces for the masses of the people. Accelerate the establishment of a housing safety inspection system, a housing safety management fund system, and a housing quality and safety insurance system to strengthen housing safety guarantees.” 推动房地产高质量发展。住房问题既是民生问题也是发展问题，关系千家万户切身利益。《建议》提出，“加快构建房地产发展新模式，完善商品房开发、融资、销售等基础制度。”要充分赋予城市政府房地产市场调控自主权，因地制宜调整优化房地产政策，增加改善性住房供给。优化保障性住房供给，通过新建住房、收购存量商品房等方式增加保障性住房供应，满足城镇工薪群体和各类困难家庭基本住房需求。建设安全舒适绿色智慧的“好房子”，实施房屋品质提升工程和物业服务质量提升行动，稳步推进城中村和危旧房改造，下大气力解决好加装电梯、停车、充电等难题，为人民群众打造高品质居住生活空间。加快建立房屋安全体检制度、房屋安全管理资金制度和房屋质量安全保险制度，强化房屋安全保障. (Note: This is important. The signals seem to indicate no real desire to substantively intervene and support the housing market.)
Sixth, she talks about the development of a Healthy China, which largely focuses on equalisation of health services, strengthening public health capabilities, continuously promoting the standardisation and empowerment of provincial, municipal, and county-level disease control institutions, etc.
Seventh, Shen discusses high-quality population development. She argues that “population is a fundamental, overarching, and strategic issue affecting economic and social development.” She writes: “It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a fertility-friendly society, advocate positive views on marriage and childbearing, optimise fertility support policies and incentive measures, effectively reduce the costs of childbirth, raising, and education for families, improve the maternity insurance system, implement the maternity leave system, further boost the willingness to have children, and maintain an appropriate fertility rate and population size. A medical and health service system should be built to guarantee the health needs of the entire life cycle, strengthen the health management of major chronic diseases, and improve healthy life expectancy. Actively address population aging, improve the policy mechanism for the coordinated development of elderly care undertakings and industries, optimise the supply of basic elderly care services, improve the urban and rural elderly care service network, and strengthen the age-friendly and barrier-free renovation of public facilities. Develop integrated medical and educational services, promote long-term care insurance, improve the care system for disabled and cognitively impaired elderly people, and expand the supply of rehabilitation nursing and palliative care services. Steadily implement a gradual delay in the statutory retirement age, optimise age restriction policies in employment and social security, actively develop elderly human resources, and develop the silver economy.” 要加快建设生育友好型社会，倡导积极婚育观，优化生育支持政策和激励措施，有效降低家庭生育养育教育成本，完善生育保险制度，落实生育休假制度，更加充分提振生育意愿，保持适度生育率和人口规模。构建保障全生命周期健康需求的医疗卫生服务体系，加强重大慢性病健康管理，提高健康预期寿命。积极应对人口老龄化，健全养老事业和产业协同发展政策机制，优化基本养老服务供给，完善城乡养老服务网络，加强公共设施适老化和无障碍改造。发展医育、医养结合服务，推行长期护理保险，健全失能失智老年人照护体系，扩大康复护理、安宁疗护服务供给。稳妥实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄，优化就业、社保等方面年龄限制政策，积极开发老年人力资源，发展银发经济。
Eighth, promote the equalisation of basic public services. “Improve the system for equalising basic public services, further strengthen the national basic public service system, dynamically adjust national basic public service standards, and promote the alignment of service standards across regions. Implement a system wherein basic public services are provided based on registered residence, strengthen the overall planning of basic public service supply at the county level, and improve the long-term mechanism for ensuring investment. Innovate the ways of providing public services, optimise the structure and layout of public service institutions, comprehensively deepen the reform of public institutions, leverage the role of social forces to expand the supply of inclusive public services, and meet the diverse needs of society at multiple levels.” 要完善基本公共服务均等化制度，进一步健全国家基本公共服务体系，动态调整国家基本公共服务标准，促进区域间服务标准衔接。推行由常住地登记户口提供基本公共服务制度，加强县域基本公共服务供给统筹，完善投入保障长效机制。创新公共服务提供方式，优化公共服务领域事业单位结构布局，全面深化事业单位改革，发挥社会力量作用扩大普惠性公共服务供给，满足多层次多样化的社会需求。
Page 7: There’s an article informing that COMAC showcased China’s C919 and C909 aircraft during the Dubai airshow. The appearance of the C919 marks its first showing in the Middle East. COMAC performed a flight demonstration of the China-made passenger plane at the venue.