Li's Work Report - Xi on Securing Rice Bowl & Manufacturing - Leading Cadres Bow to Xi's Leadership & Two Establishments - Defense Budget Hike - Foreign Sanctions Law
Li's Work Report - Xi on Securing Rice Bowl & Manufacturing - Leading Cadres Bow to Xi's Leadership & Two Establishments - Defense Budget Hike - Foreign Sanctions Law
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Monday, March 6, 2023.
Page 1: The main story today is about the opening of the NPC session, and Li Keqiang presenting the government work report. If you are interested in going through the work report, the draft budget document and the National Economic and Social Development Plans, do check out NPC Observer’s website. They have everything listed, along with daily schedules. Excerpts from these documents are also published in the paper today.
Much of Li’s report actually focussed on the past rather than the future. Without going into the details of the past, it’s worth noting that Li said:
“We owe our achievements in these five years to the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the concerted efforts of the whole Party, the armed forces, and Chinese people of all ethnic groups. of all ethnic groups.” — This was reflected in the PD report too, and you’ll read a lot of this backing for Xi later in the paper too.
Here’s how it characterised current challenges:
“While recognising our achievements, we are keenly aware that China is still a large, developing country. It remains in the primary stage of socialism with prominent imbalances and inadequacies in its development. Today, many difficulties and challenges still confront us. Uncertainties in the external environment are on the rise. Global inflation remains high, global economic and trade growth is losing steam, and external attempts to suppress and contain China are escalating. At home, the foundation for stable growth needs to be consolidated, insufficient demand remains a pronounced problem, and the expectations of private investors and businesses are unstable. MSMEs and self-employed individuals face multiple difficulties in business and production operations. The task of maintaining employment stability is challenging, and the budgetary imbalances of some local governments are substantial. There are many risks and hidden dangers in the real estate market. The operating risks of some small and medium financial institutions have been exposed There are still many institutional barriers hindering development. Our capacity for scientific and technological innovation needs to be further improved. We still have a long way to go in protecting the environment. There are still major weak links in urban and rural infrastructure for disaster prevention and mitigation and other purposes. Weak links also persist in areas important to the people’s lives.”
He then made the following recommendations for targets for 2023:
GDP growth of around 5 percent;
around 12 million new urban jobs;
surveyed urban unemployment rate of around 5.5 percent;
CPI increase of around 3 percent;
growth in personal income that is generally in step with economic growth;
steady increases in both the volume and quality of imports and exports;
a basic equilibrium in the balance of payments;
grain output of over 650 million metric tons;
continued reductions in energy consumption per unit of GDP and in the discharge of major pollutants, with priority on controlling fossil fuel consumption; and
steady improvements in the quality of the eco-environment.
He added:
prioritise economic stability;
improve preferential tax and fee policies, and extend and further refine policies on tax and fee cuts, tax rebates, and tax deferrals as the situation requires;
scientific and technological policies should aim at building up our country’s strength self-reliance in science and technology
we should take concrete measures to fully implement the employment first policy and place a higher priority on promoting the employment of young people, particularly college graduates
upgrade COVID vaccines
Then he outlined 7 “key priorities”:
Expand domestic demand: In this, he talked about allocating 3.8 trillion yuan for special purpose bonds for local governments this year.
Modernising the industrial system: In this, he called for making “concerted efforts to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. We should redouble efforts to explore and develop important energy and mineral resources, discover more reserves, and boost production. We should speed up the digitalization of traditional industries and SMEs to make them higher end, smarter, and more eco friendly. R&D and application of cutting edge technologies should be accelerated. We should improve the modern logistics system. We should strive to develop the digital economy, step up regular oversight, and support the development of the platform economy.”
He backed the two unwaverings, i.e, support for the public and private sector.
More effort to attract and utilise foreign capital
Effectively preventing and defusing major economic and financial risks: In this, he talked about guarding against “regional and systemic financial risks.” “We should ensure effective risk prevention and mitigation in high quality, leading real estate enterprises, help them improve debt to asset ratios, and prevent unregulated expansion in the real estate market to promote stable development of the real estate sector. To prevent and defuse local government debt risks, we should improve the mix of debt maturities, reduce the burden of interest payments, and prevent a build up of new debts while working to reduce existing ones.”
Stabilize grain output and advance rural revitalization
Continue transition to green development: “We should promote R&D for the clean and efficient use of coal and move faster to develop a new energy system,” he said.
Meet people’s basic needs and improve social programs
Then on the military, he emphasised combat preparedness and called for the need to “open a new chapter of unity between the military and the government and between the military and the people.” Finally, Li talked about the need “promote the peaceful development of cross Strait relations and advance the process of China’s peaceful reunification.” And on foreign policy, he said:
“We should stay committed to an independent foreign policy of peace and to peaceful development and pursue friendship and cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We should remain firm in pursuing a strategy of opening up for mutual benefit. We should continue working to safeguard world peace, contribute to global development, and uphold the international order. China stands ready to work with the international community to put into action the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative and promote the shared values of humanity. Let us join hands to promote the building of a human community with a shared future and safeguard world peace and regional stability.”
Xinhua English summarises the latter bit of the PD report well:
“Lawmakers reviewed a report from the State Council on the implementation of the 2022 plan and on the 2023 draft plan for national economic and social development, as well as the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2023. Also submitted for their review were a report from the State Council on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2022 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2023, as well as the draft central and local budgets for 2023. Wang Chen, vice chairman of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, explained the draft amendment to the Legislation Law at the opening meeting. Lawmakers voted to adopt a decision on establishing 10 special committees of the 14th NPC and a voting method for chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of the special committees. They also voted to approve chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of two special committees, namely the Constitution and Law Committee and the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee.”
The other two reports on the page are about Xi Jinping’s participation in the deliberations of the delegation from Jiangsu. These are useful to note because they tend to frame policy priorities and discourse going forward.
At the top of the page is a brief report on his engagement with individuals. It informs that Shan Zenghai, a representative from XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., provided a report before Xi. Following this, Xi said that Currently, China’s manufacturing industry boasts a complete range of sectors and categories. What now needs to be done is to develop high-end manufacturing to achieve all-around improvement, and provide full support for its development. At no point can China be lacking in manufacturing. 我国的制造业门类非常齐全，现在要努力的，就是全面提升，过去的中低端要向上走，布局高端。高质量发展就要体现在这里。任何时候中国都不能缺少制造业.”
He added: “I often say two things must be guaranteed: China must secure its rice bowl and secure the manufacturing industry. For a country with a population of over 1.4 billion, we must solve these two problems on our own. One cannot “make a living everywhere with just one skill” –不能‘一招鲜吃遍天--; without this, no international market can protect.” “我常说两个必保，一个是粮食饭碗中国必须端牢，再一个制造业必须筑牢。一个14亿多人口的大国，必须靠自己解决这两个问题，不能‘一招鲜吃遍天’，缺了哪一项国际市场都保不了我们."
He then talked about the importance of “innovation, coordination, green, openness and sharing” in terms of development, adding that “We must better balance the effective improvement of quality and the reasonable growth of quantity.” “我们谈高质量发展，不谈新发展理念不行。始终以创新、协调、绿色、开放、共享的内在统一来把握发展、衡量发展、推动发展；必须更好统筹质的有效提升和量的合理增长.”
The other report has more details on Xi’s instructions. Xinhua English actually has a good summary of the comments in its report. I am drawing on both the Chinese and English texts below.
“He spoke approvingly of the government work report, and recognised the achievements Jiangsu Province made in various areas including economic and social development and Party building in the past five years. Speeding up efforts to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology is the path China must take to advance high-quality development, said Xi. To open up new areas and new arenas in development and foster new growth drivers and new strengths in face of fierce international competition, China should ultimately rely on scientific and technological innovation. Building self-reliance and strength in science and technology is key to building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects within the set time frame, Xi added. He called for accelerating the implementation of the innovation-driven development strategy, furthering cooperation between industries, universities and research institutes, supporting top scientists to lead original and pioneering research to achieve scientific and technological breakthroughs, and ensuring self-reliance in major areas and key links (i.e., 四个面向). Efforts must be made to build industrial science and technology innovation centers with global influence and deepen scientific and technological system reform, he told the NPC deputies.”
“Accelerating the establishment of a new development pattern is the strategic priority in pursuing high-quality development, said Xi. He called for efforts to integrate the implementation of the strategy of expanding domestic demand with deepening supply-side structural reform, and modernise the industrial system in a speedier manner. We must persist in putting the focus of economic development on the real economy, further promote new industrialisation, strengthen industrial base reconstruction and tackle key problems of major technologies and equipment, promote the development of high-end, intelligent and green manufacturing, accelerate the construction of a strong manufacturing province, vigorously develop strategic emerging industries, and accelerate the development of the digital economy. In accordance with the requirements of building a high-level socialist market economic system and promoting high-level opening to the outside world, we should further promote reforms in key areas, make overall plans to promote the construction of a modern infrastructure system and a high-standard market system, and steadily expand institutional opening.” 习近平指出，加快构建新发展格局，是推动高质量发展的战略基点。要把实施扩大内需战略同深化供给侧结构性改革有机结合起来，加快建设现代化产业体系。要坚持把发展经济的着力点放在实体经济上，深入推进新型工业化，强化产业基础再造和重大技术装备攻关，推动制造业高端化、智能化、绿色化发展，加快建设制造强省，大力发展战略性新兴产业，加快发展数字经济。要按照构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制、推进高水平对外开放的要求，深入推进重点领域改革，统筹推进现代化基础设施体系和高标准市场体系建设，稳步扩大制度型开放.
Xi stressed that building up strength in agriculture is the foundation of a great modern socialist country, and promoting agricultural modernisation is an essential requirement for achieving high-quality development. It is necessary to strictly abide by the red line to maintain cultivable land, stabilise the area for grain sowing, strengthen the construction of high-standard farmland, and effectively ensure the stable and safe supply of grain and important agricultural products. It is necessary to take industrial revitalisation as the top priority of rural revitalisation, actively extend and expand the agricultural industrial chain, cultivate and develop new industries and formats in rural areas, and constantly broaden the channels for farmers to increase their income and become rich. 习近平强调，农业强国是社会主义现代化强国的根基，推进农业现代化是实现高质量发展的必然要求。要严守耕地红线，稳定粮食播种面积，加强高标准农田建设，切实保障粮食和重要农产品稳定安全供给。要把产业振兴作为乡村振兴的重中之重，积极延伸和拓展农业产业链，培育发展农村新产业新业态，不断拓宽农民增收致富渠道.
Another key point: “Xi emphasised the need to enhance the system of basic public services, noting that efforts ought to be exerted in facilitating the employment of key groups, regulating the distribution of incomes, and improving social security system and the services for elderly and underage groups.”
On Page 2: There’s another report on Xi’s engagements with Jiangsu deputies. In this one, Wei Qiao, a representative of an agricultural machinery cooperative in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, talks to Xi. Apparently, Wei told Xi about his cooperative planting “more than 20,000 mu of rice.” Xi, with a smile, asked "in the south, this scale is not small, reflecting high efficiency, right? Machinery can be put to use when there is scale, and modern agricultural measures can also be put to use.”
He then said: "I think that in the future, our younger generation, intellectuals and experts will have to make efforts in both directions. On the one hand, the potential of urbanisation is still great, and the policy orientation for ‘new citizens' should also be improved; on the other hand, rural revitalisation requires a large number of talents and labour. This field is faced with the problem of how to optimise resource elements of agricultural modernisation, how to get knowledge and high-quality labour to the countryside. The country as a whole and governments at all levels must also have some policy and guidance support.” 习近平总书记由此感慨：“我就想啊，今后我们的青年一代，我们的知识分子、专家们，双向发力。一方面城镇化的潜力还很大，对‘新市民’也要完善政策导向；另一方面乡村振兴，需要大量的人才、劳动力。这个领域，面临农业现代化的资源要素如何优化的问题，知识、优质劳动力怎么到农村去，国家和各级政府也要有一些政策和导向支持.”
The report adds that going forward, when it comes to Chinese-style modernisation, the “arduous tasks are still in the countryside.” 在中国式现代化的新征程上，最艰巨最繁重的任务仍在农村. The report later adds that “Within the rice bowl lies public opinion, and people’s hearts are connected to it.” When Xi was the leader of Fuzhou, he “made grasping the ‘vegetable basket’ his top priority and checked vegetable prices every day.” 饭碗里，盛着民意，连着民心。在福州当市领导时，习近平同志就把抓“菜篮子”作为第一要务，每天看菜价. The report also emphasises adherence to the redline of cultivable land, and rural revitalisation.
Also on the page is a report with reactions from deputies who spoke at the meeting with Xi. Shan Zenghai’s comment is interesting because he says: “We should keep in mind the general secretary's entrustment, continue to intensify scientific research and innovation, and strive to achieve complete localisation of main mainframe products by 2025.” 我们要牢记总书记嘱托，继续加大科研创新力度，力争到2025年实现主要主机产品完全国产化.” Xu Kunlin Governor of Jiangsu Province, said that among other things, the province would focus on “cutting-edge technologies and future industries to fight the battle of key core technologies; focus the development of the economy on the real economy, promote the intelligent transformation and digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, and promote the development of clusters of strategic emerging industries…” 坚持科技自立自强，建设好苏州实验室，聚焦前沿技术和未来产业打好关键核心技术攻坚战；把发展经济的着力点放在实体经济上，推动制造业智能化改造数字化转型，促进战略性新兴产业融合集群发展；持续打好蓝天碧水净土保卫战，坚定不移走生态优先、绿色发展新路子.
Also on the page is a report on the enthusiastic response of cadres and masses to Xi’s speech to the Jiangsu delegation.
Finally, there’s a commentary on the outcomes of the second plenum of the 20th Central Committee. The commentary talks about the policy of reform and opening up.
“At present, the major changes unseen in a century are accelerating, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is deepening. China's development is facing new strategic opportunities, new strategic tasks, new strategic stages, new strategic requirements, and new strategic environments. Accelerating the construction of a new development pattern with the domestic circulation as the main body and the domestic and international circulation promoting each other is a strategic decision based on the realisation of the second centennial goal and the need to coordinate development and security; it is a strategic deployment to grasp the initiative of future development.”
“In particular, it is necessary to adhere to being problem-oriented and the systems concept, strive to break the main contradictions and problems that restrict the construction of a new development pattern, further deepen reform and opening up, and enhance the motivation and vitality of domestic and international macro-cycles. In the face of many deep-seated contradictions that cannot be avoided or circumvented in reform, development and stability, and in the face of high winds and even turbulent waves on the road ahead, only by deepening reform and innovation, unswervingly opening wider to the outside world, and focusing on cracking down on deep-seated institutional obstacles can Socialism with Chinese characteristics's institutional advantages be continuously demonstrated, the motivation and vitality of socialist modernisation be continuously enhanced, and China’s institutional advantages be better transformed into national governance efficiency.” 实践发展永无止境，改革开放也永无止境。当前，世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，新一轮科技革命和产业变革深入发展，我国发展面临新的战略机遇、新的战略任务、新的战略阶段、新的战略要求、新的战略环境。加快构建以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局，是立足实现第二个百年奋斗目标、统筹发展和安全作出的战略决策，是把握未来发展主动权的战略部署，尤需坚持问题导向和系统观念，着力破除制约加快构建新发展格局的主要矛盾和问题，进一步深化改革开放，增强国内外大循环的动力和活力。面对改革发展稳定中不少躲不开、绕不过的深层次矛盾，面对前进道路上的风高浪急甚至惊涛骇浪，只有深入推进改革创新，坚定不移扩大开放，着力破解深层次体制机制障碍，才能不断彰显中国特色社会主义制度优势，不断增强社会主义现代化建设的动力和活力，把我国制度优势更好转化为国家治理效能.
The commentary adds that at the CEWC, Xi had said that “It is necessary to plan a new round of comprehensive deepening reform around building a high-level socialist market economic system and promoting high-level opening up.” In this context, it is necessary to “uphold and improve the basic socialist economic system, deepen the reform of mixed ownership of state-owned enterprises, optimise the development environment of the private economy; improve the modern enterprise system with Chinese characteristics, build a high-standard market system, and improve the macroeconomic governance system; strengthen and improve modern financial supervision and strengthen the financial stability guarantee system; promote high-level opening up, steadily expand rules, regulations, management, standards and other institutional opening, and make overall plans for reform in various sectors. It is necessary to focus on improving the reform implementation mechanism and promote the implementation of reform measures to be effective.” 习近平总书记在中央经济工作会议上强调：“要围绕构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制、推进高水平对外开放，谋划新一轮全面深化改革。”我们要把思想和行动统一到习近平总书记重要讲话精神和党中央决策部署上来，坚持和完善社会主义基本经济制度，深化国有企业混合所有制改革，优化民营经济发展环境；完善中国特色现代企业制度，建设高标准市场体系，健全宏观经济治理体系；加强和完善现代金融监管，强化金融稳定保障体系；推动高水平对外开放，稳步扩大规则、规制、管理、标准等制度型开放，统筹谋划好各领域的改革。要注重完善改革落实机制，推动改革举措落地见效.
Page 4: There are reports of other leaders’ engagements at the two sessions. First, Li Qiang participated in the deliberation of the Yunnan delegation. Li said that the work report made by Premier Li Keqiang is guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, embodies the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the deployment of the Central Economic Work Conference, and that he agrees with the report. 李强在听取代表发言后表示，李克强总理所作的政府工作报告，以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，体现了党的二十大精神和中央经济工作会议部署，赞成这个报告.
He said that the fundamental reason behind the achievements over the past five years is that General Secretary Xi Jinping as the core of the Central Committee and the core of the entire Party has been at the helm leading the way, and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. We must deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the Two Establishments from the extraordinary course and extraordinary achievements of our country’s development, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences, and achieve the two safeguards; consciously maintain a high degree of alignment in thought, politics, and action with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core. 李强指出，过去五年，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全党全国各族人民，有效应对严峻复杂的国际形势和接踵而至的巨大风险挑战，党和国家事业取得举世瞩目的重大成就。这些成就来之不易，根本在于习近平总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心掌舵领航，在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引。我们要从我国发展走过的极不寻常历程、取得的极不平凡成就中，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，自觉在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致.
For this year, Li’s priorities were:
Focus on stabilising growth, employment, and prices, so as to promote the overall improvement of economic operation.
Do a good job in the prevention and control of the epidemic
Efforts should be made to expand domestic demand, increase residents' income through multiple channels, improve consumption ability and willingness, give full play to the guiding role of government investment and policy finance, and drive private investment
Vigorously promote scientific and technological innovation and accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system
Effectively prevent and defuse major economic and financial risks
Strengthen the work of ensuring and improving people's livelihood, focus on the employment of key groups such as young people, especially college graduates, and consolidate and expand the achievements of poverty alleviation
Further promote the reform of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises, and support the development and growth of the private economy
Promote high-level opening up to the outside world and create a market-oriented and internationalised business environment ruled by law
李强强调，今年是全面贯彻党的二十大精神的开局之年，做好经济工作意义重大。当前我国经济呈现稳步回升态势，但面临的困难挑战和不确定因素仍然不少，实现全年发展目标需要倍加努力。要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻落实党的二十大精神，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，加快构建新发展格局，着力推动高质量发展。要突出做好稳增长、稳就业、稳物价工作，推动经济运行整体好转。要继续做好新阶段疫情防控工作，落实“乙类乙管”各项措施。要努力扩大内需，多渠道促进居民增收、提高消费能力和意愿，发挥好政府投资和政策性金融的引导作用、带动民间投资。要大力推进科技创新，加快建设现代化产业体系。要有效防范化解重大经济金融风险。要加强保障和改善民生各项工作，着力抓好青年特别是高校毕业生等重点群体就业，巩固拓展脱贫攻坚成果。要坚定不移深化改革，进一步推进国资国企改革，支持民营经济发展壮大。要推动高水平对外开放，营造市场化法治化国际化营商环境.
Zhao Leji met with the Sichuan delegation. He also backed Li Keqiang’s work report and then laid all the credit for the past 10 years’ development at Xi Jinping’s feet.
“The historical achievements and historical changes in the cause of the Party and the country in the new era in the past 10 years are fundamentally based on the establishment of Comrade Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core position of the entire party, and the establishment of the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It is necessary to deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences, and achieve the two safeguards…” 新时代十年党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，根本在于党确立习近平同志党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，确立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的指导地位。要深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，全面学习贯彻党的二十大和二十届一中、二中全会精神，扎实推进中国式现代化建设，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家开好局起好步贡献力量。
He also called on the deputies from Sichuan to be serious about “political responsibility”. They should “uphold the overall leadership of the Party, especially the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as a guide to action, faithfully represent the interests and will of the people and participate in the exercise of state power in accordance with the law.” 赵乐际指出，人大代表是国家权力机关组成人员，当代表是严肃的政治责任。要自觉坚持党的全面领导特别是党中央集中统一领导，坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为行动指南，忠实代表人民的利益和意志依法参加行使国家权力. He added that deputies must demand “higher standards” from themselves. They should “consciously strengthen the construction of ideological style, words and deeds must conform to the status of NPC deputies, and demonstrate the demeanour of NPC deputies in the new era.” 要以更高标准严格要求自己，自觉加强思想作风建设，言行举止都要符合人大代表身份，展现新时代人大代表的风采.
Wang Huning met with the Guizhou delegation. And no surprises for guessing that he too argued that the achievements of the country in the new era have been fundamentally due to the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and the guidance of Xi’s thought. In terms of policy messages, Wang spoke about rural revitalisation, consolidating and building on the achievements of poverty alleviation, common prosperity, and building an ecological civilisation.
Li Xi met with the Fujian delegation. He also offered a nod to the boss like the others so far, and then said that efforts need to be made to improve conduct, enforce discipline and combat corruption. “It is necessary to faithfully perform the duties entrusted by the Party Constitution and the Constitution, strengthen specific, precise and normalised supervision and inspection, and use strong political supervision to ensure the effective implementation of the decisions and deployments of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.” 要忠实履行党章和宪法赋予的职责，加强具体化精准化常态化监督检查，以强有力政治监督保障党的二十大决策部署有效落实. He also talked about dealing with the four winds and ensuring adherence to the eight-point central regulation.
Finally, Han Zheng met with the Shandong delegation. He too said that the “hard-won achievements” of the country “are rooted” in Xi’s leadership and his thought’s guidance. He added: “It is necessary to adhere to the principle of stability, strive for progress while maintaining the continuity and stability of policies, and enhance pertinence and effectiveness. It is necessary to fully, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept, better coordinate development and security, promote the effective improvement of the economy and the reasonable growth of the quantity, and achieve high-quality development. We must adhere to the people-centred development philosophy, always keep in mind the well-being of the people, ensure and improve people's livelihood in the course of development, and solidly promote common prosperity.” 要坚持稳字当头、稳中求进，在保持政策连续性、稳定性的基础上，增强针对性和有效性。要完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，更好统筹发展和安全，推动经济实现质的有效提升和量的合理增长，实现高质量发展。要坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，始终牢记民生福祉，在发展中保障和改善民生，扎实推进共同富裕.
Page 6: A consolidated report on leading cadres participating in deliberations at the Two Sessions.
Ma Xingrui participated in the deliberation of the Xinjiang delegation: The report says that Ma spoke about the developments over the past five years, saying that: “A new chapter of ‘two miracles’ (development and social stability) has been written. Practice has proved that Two Establishments is the greatest certainty, confidence and guarantee to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and deal with all uncertainties. We should fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, firmly support the Two Establishments, resolutely achieve the two safeguards, completely and accurately implement the Party's strategy for governing Xinjiang in the new era, promote the fundamental, foundational and long-term work related to ensuring long-term stability; understand the strategic position of Xinjiang in China’s modernisation, and strive to write a chapter on building a socialist modern country in Xinjiang in an all-round way.” 过去五年，习近平总书记、党中央团结带领全党全国各族人民，攻克了许多长期没有解决的难题，办成了许多事关长远的大事要事，推动党和国家事业取得举世瞩目成就，谱写了“两大奇迹”新篇章。实践证明，“两个确立”是战胜一切艰难险阻、应对一切不确定性的最大确定性、最大底气、最大保证。我们要全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，坚定拥护“两个确立”，坚决做到“两个维护”，完整准确贯彻新时代党的治疆方略，推进事关长治久安的根本性、基础性、长远性工作，找准新疆在中国式现代化中的战略定位，奋力谱写全面建设社会主义现代化国家新疆篇章.
Wang Yi met with the Guangxi Delegation. He said that the achievements over the past 10 years were fundamentally because General Secretary Xi Jinping has been at the helm to lead the way. He added that “the diplomatic and foreign affairs front will firmly support the Two Establishments and resolutely achieve the two safeguards to create a stable and favourable external environment for the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist country. In accordance with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on Guangxi's work, we will increase our services and support for Guangxi's foreign affairs work.” 回顾过去一年、五年乃至新时代十年取得的伟大成就，是因为有习近平总书记掌舵领航，有9600万党员团结奋进，有14亿中国人民万众一心，有中国特色社会主义这条正确道路。外交外事战线将坚定拥护“两个确立”，坚决做到“两个维护”，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家营造稳定有利的外部环境。我们将按照习近平总书记对广西工作重要指示精神，加大对广西外事工作的服务和支持.
Other leaders mentioned in the report are Yin Li, Shi Taifeng, Liu Guozhong, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, Li Hongzhong, Zhang Guoqing (who called for “thoroughly implementing the party's strategy for governing Tibet in the new era”), Chen Wenqing, Chen Jining, Chen Miner, Yuan Jiajun, Huang Kunming, Liu Jinguo, Wang Xiaohong, Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, and Zhang Jun. Guess what they had in common in their remarks? Yup: The Two Establishments and Two Safeguards.
Next, a report on Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, the vice chairs of the CMC, participating in delegations of the PLA and the PAP, respectively. They both praised Xi like the others and called for adherence to the Two Establishments. Zhang called for “achieving practical results in forging political loyalty and guiding and promoting practice.”
He added: “It is necessary to pay close attention to the construction of combat effectiveness, coordinate the promotion of military struggle preparations, accelerate the establishment of a new military training system, and accelerate the construction and application of network information systems.” 要把战斗力建设抓得紧而又紧，统筹推进军事斗争准备，加快构建新型军事训练体系，加快网络信息体系建设运用. He also added that it was necessary to “pay close attention to promoting integrity, strengthening discipline and fighting corruption, and providing a strong guarantee for strengthening the military and revitalising it.” 要纵深推进全面从严治党，加强党委能力建设，狠抓正风肃纪反腐，为奋斗强军向复兴提供坚强保证.
Page 7: The full explanation regarding the amendment to the Legislative Law is published on the page. I am not summarising this.
And that’s about it for the paper. But let me highlight some other reports on the developments over the past few days:
China’s military budget outpaces other spending in shift to security - “China’s proposed rise in 2023 defence expenditure is 2.2 percentage points above the government’s 5 per cent economic growth target, a larger gap than in the draft budget a year ago, when Beijing first proposed a military spending increase higher than its growth target. The growth target is understood to be given in real terms. Proposed defence spending also significantly outpaces development-related budget items such as education, social security and scientific research. Budgeted defence expenditure for 2023 accounts for 5.7 per cent of total government expenditure, the third annual increase in that share after more than 20 years of continuous reductions. Analysts said the commissioning of China’s third aircraft carrier, expected this summer, the rapid production of new destroyers and fighter aircraft, as well as investments in space technology and artificial intelligence for missile targeting systems were likely to be the main areas of spending this year.”
Wang Chao, a spokesman for the National People’s Congress, said on Saturday that the parliament has already started working on foreign policy legislation. Beijing is focusing more on international legal studies to advance its interests internationally as it comes under increasing sanctions pressure from the United States and Europe… ‘Some countries have kept abusing the extraterritorial application of their domestic laws in violation of international law, with the aim of taking down foreign entities and individuals and serving their own interests. Such bullying acts are widely criticised in the international community as long-arm jurisdiction. China stands firmly against such practices,’ Wang said. ‘It is necessary for the law to make the principle stipulation to counter and repeal such measures. China’s core interests allow no infringement,’ he said. ‘For acts that undermine China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and harm the lawful rights and interest of the Chinese nation, the law contains relevant provisions to firmly counter such acts. This is both justifiable and necessary’. China released a draft foreign relations law in December, which stipulated that countermeasures would be taken if the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests are undermined by acts that have violated international laws and international relations norms…Over the past years, China has already taken a series of moves to counter foreign sanctions. In 2021, the NPC passed an anti-sanctions law, providing legal backing for sweeping retaliation against any individuals, their families and organisations responsible for imposing sanctions against the country. Those steps include denying visas and freezing an individual’s assets.”
China must maintain a “whole nation” approach to its semiconductor industry by leveraging both state and market power for growth, Vice-Premier Liu He told industry executives on Thursday, in a sign that Beijing is digging in for a protracted chip war with the US. Liu, known as the top economic aide to President Xi Jinping, said at a symposium that the semiconductor industry was “the core nexus of modern industrial systems” and mattered to “national security and the progress of Chinese style modernisation”, according to a report by the official Xinhua news agency. “General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached high importance to the development of the integrated circuit industry, and he has repeatedly made written and verbal instructions on the matter,” Liu told delegates at the gathering in Beijing. Liu added that the Chinese government would set “practical development goals” for the industry and help businesses solve their difficulties. In areas where there are market failures, the state would play a role by guiding long-term investment. In particular, Liu stressed that China would provide “equal national treatment” to foreign experts under a policy designed to ease China’s chip talent shortage. By 2024, China’s semiconductor industry will need nearly 800,000 workers, exceeding the local talent supply by one third.
Indian media reports state that a delegation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) met with an Indian team comprising both serving and retired officials, including those from the military, on Thursday. The report adds: “The sources said that the meeting explored a roadmap and avenues for India-NATO cooperation with the Indo-Pacific being the main area of focus. ‘One could sense a deep concern of the NATO delegation at the growing relationship between China and Russia. Other topics that were discussed included the Russia-Ukraine conflict.’ There is a sense that the US wants NATO to chart out its presence in the Indo-Pacific in order to counter China's growing military might and strategic depth.”
After China’s Winter of Discontent, Xi Jinping Sets Sights on Growth and Power - NYT’s coverage