Li on Enhancing 'Sense of Urgency' on the Economy - COVID Propaganda - Adhere to Dynamic Zero-Covid in Shanghai - CAC on Regulating Algorithms - China-Djibouti Ties
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Tuesday, April 12, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: On the top of the page, there is a commentary drawing from Xi Jinping’s remarks at the Olympics commendation ceremony on Friday. It talks about effectively leveraging the legacy of the games. This includes leveraging the increased interest in winter sports in China, the protection of the rights of people with disabilities, and effectively utilising the infrastructure that was developed for the Games. It argues that the successful hosting of the Games has “boosted development in all areas and brought about far-reaching positive impacts on economic and social development.” This includes the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
The piece further argues that “it is necessary to make full use of the cultural resources of Beijing Winter Olympics, strengthen cultural self-confidence, spread Chinese voice and tell Chinese stories well with more confidence.” 要充分挖掘利用北京冬奥文化资源，坚定文化自信，更加自信从容传播中国声音、讲好中国故事. The final paragraph argues that the Games were “important landmark events held during the crucial period when the whole party and the people of all nationalities are marching towards the goal of the second century. They have further enhanced the national self-confidence and pride of Chinese people at home and abroad, further strengthened the cohesion and centripetal force of the Chinese nation, and further inspired the passion of hundreds of millions of Chinese people to forge ahead in a new journey and make contributions in a new era. Going forward, everyone should rally more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, unify their thoughts and actions with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech, vigorously carry forward the spirit of Beijing Winter Olympics…” 北京冬奥会、冬残奥会是在全党全国各族人民向第二个百年奋斗目标迈进的关键时期举办的重大标志性活动，进一步增强了海内外中华儿女的民族自信心和自豪感，进一步增强了中华民族的凝聚力和向心力，进一步激发了亿万人民奋进新征程、建功新时代的昂扬激情。面向未来，更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，把思想和行动统一到习近平总书记重要讲话精神上来，大力弘扬北京冬奥精神，汇聚起实现中华民族伟大复兴的强大力量，踔厉奋发、笃行不怠，我们一定能够在全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程上创造新的时代辉煌、铸就新的历史伟业！
The other leading piece on the page is the full Opinions on Promoting the Work of Ancient Books in the New Era. The broad goal here is protecting cultural heritage, promoting the national spirit, and enhancing the country’s cultural soft power.
Next, Li Keqiang presided over a meeting (English report) to discuss the economic situation. Top officials from Jiangxi, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Sichuan provinces spoke at the meeting. PD informs that Jiangxi Party Secretary Yi Lianhong and Governor Ye Jianchun delivered speeches, Liaoning Governor Li Lecheng, Zhejiang Governor Wang Hao, Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong, and Sichuan Governor Huang Qiang also spoke. In his comments, Li said that:
So far this year, all localities and departments have implemented the deployment of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and done a solid job of ‘six stabilities’ and ‘six guarantees’.
He highlighted the strong resilience of the Chinese economy, but urged everyone to remain vigilant in the face of unexpected changes and mounting downward pressures both domestically and externally, and face up to new challenges. Li Keqiang pointed out that it is necessary to enhance the sense of urgency, and promptly implement the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference and the measures of the Government Work Report. 李克强指出，要增强紧迫感，抓紧落实中央经济工作会议精神和《政府工作报告》举措，退税减税降费、金融支持实体经济、专项债发行使用、重点项目开工建设、支持企业稳岗等政策的实施，都要靠前安排和加快节奏，上半年要大头落地，形成更多实物工作量，在帮扶市场主体渡难关上产生更大政策效应。
It is necessary to coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, adhere to seeking progress while maintaining stability, enhance forward-looking work, implement the new development concept, promote high-quality development, strengthen the implementation of macro policies, stabilise the economic fundamentals, guarantee basic livelihood, deepen reform and opening up, and maintain economic operation within a reasonable range by stabilising employment and prices. 要统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，坚持稳字当头、稳中求进，增强工作主动性前瞻性，贯彻新发展理念，推动高质量发展，加大宏观政策实施力度，稳住经济基本盘，保障基本民生，深化改革开放，以稳就业稳物价支撑经济运行在合理区间.
Supportive policies such as tax refunds and cuts, financial support for the real economy, the issuance of special government bonds, and the construction of key projects should be accelerated to help market entities tide over difficulties.
Li urged solid efforts to boost spring farming, strive for a bumper grain harvest for the whole year, and consolidate the foundation of stable prices. Efforts should be made to ensure stable supplies of electricity, coal and other energies, and maintain the orderly operations of key transport networks and ports so as to maintain the stability of industrial and supply chains, Li said.
He then said “that it is necessary to strengthen the tracking and assessment of the external environment and domestic economic operation, study and formulate response plans in time, and stabilise market expectations. According to the needs, study and adopt more vigorous policy measures.” 李克强指出，要加强对外部环境和国内经济运行的跟踪研判，及时研究制定应对预案，稳定市场预期。根据需要，研究采取更大力度的政策举措. In particular, he talked about being focused on the grassroots levels and implementing targeted supportive measures for sectors and firms facing difficulties - particularly medium, small and micro-sized enterprises, and individually owned businesses.”
The final paragraph makes the point about ensuring the supply of daily necessities to people affected by the pandemic and ensuring proper medical treatment.
Next, there’s a report about work resumption efforts in Jilin after the province was hit by a COVID-19 outbreak, which resulted in lockdowns. The piece informs that the province set up a special group including the province’s vice governor and officials from the provincial department of industry and information technology. This group engaged with enterprises when it came to pandemic control. This is followed by a comment by someone from the Jilin Zhongcai Pipeline Co. Ltd, saying that workers now are working in two shifts with rapid antigen testing being carried out regularly and nucleic acid tests being done every few days.
The report adds that Jilin Province has formulated a plan for industrial enterprises to resume work and production in an orderly manner, adhered to the problem orientation, and made efforts to solve the problems such as insufficient supply of raw materials and blocked transportation and meeting energy needs. Some of the industries for which raw materials and finished goods were prioritised as per the report are: automobiles and spare parts, petrochemicals, metallurgical building materials.
Next, a report about the meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, which was presided over by Li Zhanshu. It was decided at the meeting that the NPCSC will convene its 34th session from April 18 to 20 in Beijing. Xinhua reports that:
According to the proposed agenda of the standing committee session, lawmakers will review draft laws on futures and derivatives, and black soil protection. They will also deliberate on draft revisions to the Vocational Education Law, the Physical Culture and Sports Law, and the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests…Lawmakers will consider the ratification of the revised agreement on regional anti-terrorism structure involving the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. They will also review the ratification of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, and the Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957.”
On the last bit, do note this SCMP report by Amber Wang and Finbarr Bermingham. They write that:
“the pair of conventions were among the main stumbling blocks during marathon negotiations for the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), which took almost eight years before an agreement in principle was reached at the end of 2020…Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University in Beijing, said China’s plan to ratify the two conventions was an important step in improving China-EU relations. Beijing should try to ‘win over Europe’, Wang said, also pointing to the ‘need for high-quality participation in the designation of global rules’. He said the relationship needed to move forward from the exchange of sanctions and counter-sanctions, and both sides should show goodwill to improve ties.”
Finally, there’s a story about the progress with regard to the 20th Party Congress election process in Yunnan. The piece basically makes the point that due process is being followed in the nomination and recommendation of delegates to the Congress and efforts are being made to ensure representation. For instance, an unidentified official from the provincial organisation department informs that nomination and recommendation has followed the 三上三下 - three up and three down process, adhered to the mass line, there’s been repeated deliberation and step-by-step selection in order to select the best of the best, and 100% of grass-roots party organisations and 99.99% of party members from 22 recommended units were organised to participate in the recommendation and nomination. 云南省委组织部有关负责人介绍，云南严格落实“三上三下”程序，坚持走好群众路线，广泛进行组织发动，采取自下而上、上下结合、反复酝酿、逐级遴选的办法，好中选优、优中选强，组织22家推荐单位100%的基层党组织和99.99%的党员参加推荐提名.
In addition, there’s a comment from a Party official from the city of Zhaotong, who talks about the steps taken to ensure a proportional representative structure. This includes ensuring the presence of the desired proportion of front-line representatives in production and work and taking into account the proportional representation of minorities. Among the recommended candidates, 36% are from ethnic minorities, covering Yi, Miao and Hui minorities. Finally, the piece says that as of now, Yunnan Province has successfully completed the recommendation and nomination of candidates for the 20th Party Congress. 62 candidates were identified for investigation and the investigation work has been completed. 截至目前，云南省已顺利完成了党的二十大代表人选推荐提名工作，确定了62名考察对象，并完成了考察工作，为下一步的选举工作奠定了坚实基础.
Page 2: Once again, the page carries stories related to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
For instance, there’s a report about a mobilisation order for Party cadre in Guangzhou’s Baiyun district. This came after the city reported 23 cases, including 19 in Baiyun District. The piece makes the point that just three hours after the order was issued, more than 7,500 party members living in Baiyun District took the initiative to report to their communities to assist in knocking on doors, sweeping buildings, visiting homes, and maintaining order. The piece also quotes Chen Xiaojia, the deputy director of the Organization Department of the Guangzhou Municipal Party Committee, as saying that from the 9th to the 11th, some 150,000 party members have been supporting the epidemic prevention and control work and providing services in the city.
Likewise, there’s a report about the Party’s flag “flying high” amid the outbreak in Shanghai. This article too talks about the work that Party cadres are doing at the frontlines in the city.
Finally, there’s also a piece about people who are being discharged from the makeshift hospitals, returning home in good spirits. This is an important propaganda point to make, given the criticism around asymptomatic folks or those with mild symptoms being forced to go to these facilities. Just to underscore that this is an important propaganda point to make, the story begins with the reporter talking to an 18-year-old girl who says that she merely had a sore throat but she stayed at the facility for 10 days and she ate well during her time there. Also, as soon as she returned home, she received a “heart-warming” care package from Caoyang Xincun Street, containing rice, noodles, grain, oil and other necessities of life.” There was also a letter welcoming her back to the community, saying that “Spring Blooms, Finally Waiting for You–For your Return to the Cao Yang Family.” 在上海市普陀区曹杨新村街道南杨园居民区，记者见到前一天刚刚从连亮路方舱医院回到家中的18岁姑娘。“4月1日住进去，待了不到10天，每天都吃得挺好”，她从确诊阳性开始，除了嗓子有点疼，并没什么症状。但一直悬着的一颗心，直到连续核酸检测阴性、走出方舱医院才放下来，“总算出院啦，接下来就好好居家健康监测。”刚刚回到社区，她就收到曹杨新村街道精心准备的暖心礼包，装有米、面、粮、油等生活必备物资。还有一封名为《春暖花开，终于等到你——致归来的曹杨家人》的信.
Also on the page is a dramatic story about the delivery of a child at the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital. I am not recapping the story, but this is again a point being made that other medical treatments in the city are not being undermined by the pandemic control effort. In fact, it argues that doctors are making informed decisions, adhering to the guidelines and working tremendously hard. In this story, the woman who arrived at the hospital tested positive for COVID, but the doctors went ahead with the delivery. And this was a complicated case with the delivery happening after just 30 weeks of pregnancy.
Page 3: Two pieces to note. First, there’s this engagement from yesterday’s MoFA press briefing:
Xinhua News Agency: During the meetings of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs on April 6 and 7, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg accused China of “unwilling to condemn Russia’s aggression” against Ukraine. He said “Beijing has joined Moscow in questioning the right of nations to choose their own path. This is a serious challenge to us all.” NATO 2030, the new Strategic Concept, will for the first time take account of the systemic challenges to the security of democracies posed by China’s “growing influence and coercive policies”. What is China’s comment?
Zhao Lijian: For some time, the NATO head has disregarded facts and confounded black with white when making groundless accusations, smears and attacks against China. He has made irresponsible comments on China’s foreign policies, touted the “China threat” and even used coercion on China recently. China deplores and firmly rejects this, and has made solemn representations with NATO for many times. As the largest military alliance born out of the Cold War, NATO has long adhered to the obsolete security concept, engaged in bloc confrontation according to the playbook of the old Cold War and reduced itself to some country’s tool for hegemony. While claiming to be a defensive organization, NATO has been constantly making trouble and confrontation in reality. While asking other countries to abide by the basic norms governing international relations, NATO has grossly waged wars against sovereign countries and firing shells indiscriminately that led to civilian deaths and displacement. NATO, a military organization in the North Atlantic, has journeyed to the Asia-Pacific to flex its muscles and provoke tensions in recent years. NATO has been transgressing regions and fields and clamoring for a new Cold War of bloc confrontation. This gives ample reason for high vigilance and firm opposition from the international community. China has always been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and a guardian of international order. We will steadfastly pursue the path for peaceful development. China’s development means opportunities for the world, instead of a threat to anyone. NATO should immediately stop spreading disinformation and provocative remarks targeting China, and abandon the confrontational approach of drawing ideological lines. NATO has disrupted Europe. It should stop trying to destabilize Asia and the whole world.
Next, there’s an article by Hu Bin, China’s ambassador to Djibouti. He writes that BRI infrastructure will help Djibouti “fully leverage its unique geographical advantages and unleash its development potential.” 中方共建“一带一路”倡议同吉布提“2035年远景规划”对接，双方合作推进诸多具有品牌效应的基础设施建设，有助于充分发挥吉布提独特地缘优势，释放其发展潜力. He argues that the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway has “significantly reduced freight time and transportation costs.” He writes that the Doraleh Multipurpose Port is the best-of-its-kind in East Africa. Djibouti’s FTZ was among the Top Ten Free Trade Zones in the World in 2019. Djibouti is striving for the goal of becoming the ‘beacon in the Red Sea’ and the ‘business and logistics hub of Africa’.
He adds: The China-Djibouti cooperation has greatly benefited the people of Djibouti. The Ethiopia-Djibouti cross-border water supply project, which is built by a Chinese company, draws water from Ethiopia and delivers it to Djibouti along a pipeline of about 380 kilometers, with a designed daily water supply capacity of 100,000 tons, benefiting 750,000 people in arid areas along the route. 中吉合作极大惠及吉布提民众。中企承建的吉埃跨境供水项目自埃塞俄比亚境内打井取水，沿约380公里的管道输送至吉布提，设计日供水能力达10万吨，惠及沿线干旱地区75万人口. The next bit talks about medical and healthcare cooperation. This is followed by a paragraph on education and human resource training. He writes that in the past three years, around 2,000 people have been trained in Djibouti, resulting in their improved employability and skills.
Page 4: Two reports to note. First, a meeting of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Committee on Monday, with Guo Shengkun presiding over it. Guo talked about the 4-4-2 formulation and called for improvements in work style, efficiency and implementation of policies. “It is necessary to have a deep understanding of the risks and challenges posed by the changing situation, give top priority to safeguarding national political security, adopt systematic and bottom-line thinking, and prevent risks and hidden dangers as early as possible and strive to minimise potential risks.” 要深刻认识形势变化带来的风险挑战，坚持把维护国家政治安全放在首位，坚持系统思维、底线思维，努力把风险隐患防范在早、化解在小.
He also said that “efforts should be made to identify and rectify public security risks, safeguard the safety of people’s lives and property, and further consolidate overall social stability across the country. It is necessary to adopt more scientific, precise and effective law enforcement and judicial policies and measures to serve high-quality economic and social development through high-quality rule of law. It is necessary to tighten the chain of responsibility and persist in grasping the epidemic prevention and control work of the political and legal system. We should take the Party's political construction as the guide, consolidate and deepen the achievements of the education and rectification of the political and legal personnel, and forge a political and legal iron army that is loyal, clean and responsible. 郭声琨要求，要进一步强作风、重落实、提效能，及时对重点工作深化部署、督促检查落实，确保取得实实在在成效。要深刻认识形势变化带来的风险挑战，坚持把维护国家政治安全放在首位，坚持系统思维、底线思维，努力把风险隐患防范在早、化解在小。要强化公共安全风险排查整治，维护群众生命财产安全，进一步巩固全国社会大局稳定的良好局面。要采取更加科学精准有效的执法司法政策措施，以高质量法治服务经济社会高质量发展。要拧紧责任链条，坚持不懈抓细抓实政法系统疫情防控工作。要以党的政治建设为统领，巩固深化政法队伍教育整顿成果，锻造忠诚干净担当的政法铁军.
Second, a report (Details in English) about the new CAC beginning an operation to regulate algorithm recommendations services by IT enterprises. This initiative will run till December. The focus is on five specific objectives:
self-examination and self-correction
on-site inspections
supervision over filing of algorithms
urging firms to take responsibility for actions; among other things, this includes monitoring algorithm abuse and preventing algorithm security risks
addressing issues within a fixed timeframe
Third, there’s an article bylined 仲音, which underscores that it is coming from the central authorities. This talks about the zero-COVID policy in Shanghai. The article defends the policy of easing the lockdown in certain districts of the city. For those who might not know of the change, Reuters reports that:
“city officials announced on Monday morning that they were grouping residential units into three risk categories as a step towards allowing ‘appropriate activity’ by those in neighbourhoods with no positive cases during a two-week stretch, adding that district authorities would publish further details. Among the first districts to release lists were the industrial area of Jinshan on Shanghai’s southwestern edge and the central area of Jing'an, which posted the names of residential sites still in high- and medium-risk categories.”
The PD article says that “implementing differentiated prevention and control by district classification and carrying out step-by-step management is a concrete manifestation of adhering to ‘dynamic zero-Covid policy’...” 实施分区分类差异化防控，进行阶梯式管理，是坚持“动态清零”的具体体现，是落实精准防控的有效举措，将为尽快实现社会面清零的目标提供有力支撑。
It adds that at present, the daily reported case numbers in Shanghai are still high; the situation regarding epidemic control and management is still severe and complicated, and the prevention and control of the epidemic is at the most critical stage. At this moment, it is more important to fully realise that ‘dynamic zero-Covid’ is the best anti-epidemic policy option for Shanghai…If we waver in adhering to the general policy of ‘dynamic zero-Covid’, once the time window is missed and large-scale infections occur, we will pay a higher price and suffer greater losses. On the other hand, in the short term, the epidemic prevention and control work will indeed affect Shanghai’s economy and society; but in the long run, preventing the spread of the epidemic will result in widespread return to normal work and life and a more relaxed and stable environment for economic and social development. Therefore, we must adhere to the general policy of ‘dynamic zero-Covid’, neither hesitate nor waver and maintain firm confidence to bite the bullet and continue to fight in order to achieve the goal of social zero-Covid as soon as possible. 当前，上海每日报告的感染者数量仍在高位，疫情形势仍然严峻复杂，疫情防控正处在最紧要的关键阶段。越是在这个时候，越要充分认识到，“动态清零”是上海抗疫最佳方案...如果在坚持“动态清零”总方针上有动摇，一旦错失抗疫的时间窗口，出现大规模感染，付出的代价会更高，损失会更大。另一方面，短期来看，因为疫情防控，上海经济社会、群众生活确实会受到影响，但从长远来看，防止疫情扩散，换来的是更大范围、更广泛的百姓正常生产生活，是更加宽松、稳定的经济社会发展环境。正因此，我们必须坚持“动态清零”总方针不犹豫不动摇，坚定信心迎难而上，咬紧牙关持续奋战，尽快实现社会面清零的目标。
The author further adds: “Keeping the people’s normal work and life stable and orderly, doing a good job in the production and supply of daily necessities, and ensuring that the people’s medical needs are met are not only must-answer questions in the fight against COVID-19, but also an inevitable requirement of the dynamic zero-Covid policy.” Furthermore, in order to ensure zero-Covid target, it is essential to ensure the supply of daily necessities. 保持群众正常生产生活平稳有序，做好生活必需品生产供应，保障好群众就医需求，这既是抗疫中的一道必答题，也是“动态清零”的必然要求。要尽快实现社会面清零的目标，就必须千方百计加强生活物资保障，持续充实基层防控力量，细心做好群众工作，积极帮助排忧解难.
Finally, the piece says that while cases are high in Shanghai, there is no exponential growth in the caseload, as one would have expected with the pathogenicity of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. This implies that the current zero-COVID approach has been effective in containing an exponential increase in caseload. “We firmly believe that with the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the remarkable advantages of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, strong mobilisation ability and comprehensive strength, strong support from all parts of the country, the active actions of the cadres and the broad masses, the selfless dedication of the medical staff and volunteers, rich experience in fighting the pandemic and various scientific tools, Shanghai is fully capable of realising ‘dynamic zero-Covid’.” 还要看到，虽然上海市报告的感染者数量处于高位，但按照奥密克戎变异毒株流行的指数型增长的参数来看，没有出现指数型上升态势，表明已经采取的防控措施遏制住了指数型上升的势头。我们坚信，有党中央的坚强领导，有中国特色社会主义制度的显著优势，有强大的动员能力和雄厚的综合实力，有全国各地各方面的有力支援，有广大干部群众的积极行动，有广大医护人员和志愿者的无私奉献，有丰富的抗疫经验和各种科学工具，上海完全有能力实现“动态清零”.
Page 9: The entire theory page has three articles discussing the fourth of the 10 clears. The fourth clear is:
“The integrated plan for building socialism with Chinese characteristics covers five spheres, namely economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological advancement, and that the comprehensive strategy in this regard includes four prongs, namely building a modern socialist country, deepening reform, advancing law-based governance, and strengthening Party self-governance.”
Other Stories:
On the international page, the lead report is about inflation in the US. It says:
“A poll released by the American polling agency Gallup recently showed that the American people’s worries about inflation have reached the highest level since 1985. 59% of people said they were very worried about inflation, and 17% said that currency inflation was the most important problem facing the United States. Another latest poll released by CNBC showed that 81% of Americans are worried that the US economy will decline in 2022. In February, the US consumer price index soared 7.9 percent from a year earlier, the biggest gain since January 1982. The USDA said that food prices will continue to rise about 5% in March, with poultry prices rising about 7% and fruit prices rising between 5% and 6%. The pandemic and supply chain crises have pushed up the price of almost everything, CNN reported. Food and cars have become more expensive, transportation and labour are more expensive, and ‘inflation’ has become the buzzword in The United States.” 美国民调机构盖洛普公司日前发布的一项民调显示，美国民众对通货膨胀的忧虑达到了1985年以来的最高水平，59%的人表示对通货膨胀非常担心，17%的人认为通货膨胀是美国面临的最重要问题。美国消费者新闻与商业频道公布的另一项最新民调结果显示，81%的美国人担心美国经济将在2022年衰退。今年2月份，美国消费者价格指数同比飙升7.9%，为1982年1月以来的最大涨幅。美国农业部称，3月份食品价格将继续增长5%左右，其中禽肉价格涨幅达到7%左右，水果价格涨幅将在5%到6%之间。美国有线电视新闻网报道说，疫情和供应链危机推高了几乎所有商品的价格。食品、汽车都变得更贵，交通、劳动力成本也更高了，“通货膨胀”成为美国当下的流行语.
There’s also a report with comments from Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh saying that it is uncertain whether the parties involved in the JCPOA will reach an agreement on resuming the implementation of the agreement because the United States has not yet shown the resolve needed to reach a deal. Responding to the possibility that the United States might not remove Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from its list of terrorist organizations, Khatibzadeh said that there are more than one outstanding issue between Iran and the United States, and Iran demands that the United States completely remove its policy of maximum pressure on Iran.