Merz Visits China - Deep Dive into Xi's View of Political Achievements
Instead of going page-by-page today, I am going to proceed thematically, because there are just two big things that I am covering today.
I. Merz’s China Visit
The lead report today is about Xi Jinping’s meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The Chinese readout says:
President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Germany are the world’s second and third largest economies, and the bilateral relationship not only bears on the interests of both countries, but also has significant impact on Europe and the world. The international landscape is undergoing the most profound transformations since the end of WWII. The greater changes and turbulence the world faces, the more important it is for our two countries to enhance strategic communication, strengthen strategic mutual trust and work for new progress in China-Germany all-around strategic partnership. President Xi Jinping made three propositions on further developing China-Germany relations.
First, both countries should be reliable partners that support each other. China and Germany have pursued self-reliance and realized rapid development. Both have upheld mutual respect, mutual trust and open cooperation, and together written a success story of mutual benefit. China adheres to the path of peaceful development, and has the capacity and confidence to achieve Chinese modernization. China will continue to share development opportunities with Germany and the wider world. We hope the German side can view China’s growth in an objective and rational manner, pursue a positive and pragmatic policy toward China, and work with China for steady and sustained growth of the bilateral relationship.
Second, both countries should be innovative partners that champion openness and win-win results. The German government put forward new development strategies in such areas as technology, innovation and digital development. They highly resonate with China’s objective of pursuing intelligent, green and integrated development during the 15th Five-Year Plan. The two sides should foster greater synergy between development strategies, support the two-way flow of talent, knowledge and technology, and promote dialogue and cooperation on AI and other cutting-edge technologies. Both sides need to correctly grasp the interplay of competition and cooperation, explore cooperation pathways that lead to win-win results, and jointly keep industrial and supply chains stable and unimpeded.
Third, both countries should be partners that understand each other and share close bonds through cultural and people-to-people exchanges. China and Germany, as major countries with profound cultural heritage, should strengthen mutual learning in culture and boost people-to-people exchanges, so as to cement the popular foundation for China-Germany friendship.
President Xi Jinping stressed that as changes not seen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, countries should tackle challenges together and pursue a shared future. China and Germany should uphold the central position of the U.N., reaffirm its leading role, and take the lead in safeguarding multilateralism, practicing international rule of law, defending free trade, and advocating for solidarity and coordination. China supports Europe in seeking to increase autonomy and strength, and hopes the European side can work with China toward the same direction, adhere to the positioning of strategic partners, and uphold openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, so as to deliver greater growth in China-Europe relations, and make bigger contributions to world peace and development.
On Ukraine, the readout adds: “President Xi expounded on China’s principled position, and pointed out that the key to finding a solution lies in consistent dialogue and negotiation. It is important to ensure the equal participation of all sides and strike a solid foundation for peace; accommodate the legitimate concerns of all sides and enhance the will for peace; and realize common security and build a lasting architecture of peace.”
Another report on the page covers Li Qiang’s meeting with Merz. The report says:
Li said that “thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-Germany relations and cooperation have steadily progressed and achieved many new results…China is willing to work with Germany to continue efforts, strengthen dialogue and communication, enhance political mutual trust, continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership, promote deeper and more practical cooperation between the two countries, and continuously improve the well-being of the two peoples. 李强表示，在双方共同努力下，中德关系与合作稳步推进，取得不少新的成果。习近平主席将同总理先生举行会晤，就深化两国关系作出战略指引。中方愿同德方一道继续努力，加强对话沟通，增进政治互信，不断丰富中德全方位战略伙伴关系内涵，推动两国合作走深走实，持续增进两国人民福祉.
Li Qiang pointed out that this year marks the beginning of China’s 15th FYP; the next five years will bring more opportunities for China-Germany economic and trade cooperation. China is willing to work with Germany to make good use of dialogue mechanisms such as consultations between the two governments, strengthen the alignment of development strategies and policy communication and coordination, expand and optimize bilateral trade, revitalize traditional cooperation in sectors such as automobiles and chemicals, expand cooperation in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and biomedicine, and cultivate more new economic growth points. China is willing to import more high-quality German products, encourage and support Chinese enterprises to invest in Germany, and hopes that Germany will provide a fair, stable, and predictable business environment for enterprises. Both sides should support universities, research institutions, and enterprises of the two countries in strengthening cooperation in joint research and development, talent cultivation, transformation of research achievements, and other such areas, so that innovative factors such as knowledge and talent can flow more effectively, and jointly shape future innovation capacity. As two major world economies and influential major countries, China and Germany should jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, commit themselves to building a more just and reasonable global governance system, and inject more positive energy into the cause of world peace and development. Germany is an important member of the European Union, and it is hoped that the German side will play an active role in promoting the development of China–EU relations. 李强指出，今年是中国“十五五”开局之年，未来5年，中德经贸合作将迎来更多机遇。中方愿同德方用好两国政府磋商等对话机制，加强发展战略对接和政策沟通协调，做大做优两国贸易蛋糕，推动汽车、化工等传统合作焕新增效，拓展人工智能、生物医药等新兴领域合作，培育更多新的经济增长点。中方愿进口德方更多优质产品，鼓励支持中国企业赴德投资，希望德方为企业提供公平、稳定、可预期的营商环境。双方要支持两国高校、科研机构和企业加强联合研发、人才培养、成果转化等合作，让知识、人才等创新要素更好流动，共同塑造未来创新能力。中德作为世界两大经济体和具有重要影响力的大国，应当共同维护多边主义、自由贸易，致力于构建更加公正合理的全球治理体系，为世界和平发展事业注入更多正能量。德国是欧盟重要成员，希望德方为推动中欧关系发展发挥积极作用.
They inked deals in areas of green transition, customs, sports, and media.
Li and Merz also attended a symposium of the China-Germany economic advisory committee. The report on that is on Page 2. It says:
Li said that “currently, the global economy still faces significant challenges. Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise and even prevalent in some countries and regions, severely damaging the international economic and trade order. The more severe the situation, the more China and Germany should strengthen cooperation. Only cooperation is our optimal solution for responding to risks; only development is the necessary choice for safeguarding security.” 当前，世界经济仍然面临着较大挑战，单边主义、保护主义在一些国家和地区抬头甚至盛行，使国际经贸秩序遭到严重破坏。越是形势严峻，中德越应当加强合作。唯有合作，才是我们应对风险的最优解；唯有发展，才是我们保障安全的必选项.
It adds:
“The basic China-Germany cooperation pattern featuring industry complementarity has not changed, and the areas in which the two countries can collaborate far exceed those in which the two sides are locked in competition, Li said, adding that promoting development hand-in-hand by shaping a sound relationship defined by both competition and cooperation is entirely possible.” Li then made three points:
“First, Li called for the basic foundations of traditional cooperation to be strengthened, with enterprises from the two countries continuing to deepen cooperation in fields such as machinery, equipment and chemicals, and accelerating the localization of their business.
Second, on new opportunities for future development, Li said the two countries should support enterprises and scientific research institutions to promote the two-way flow of innovative resources, come together to explore third-party markets, and carry out joint, in-depth research on technology and platform construction to share cooperation outcomes.
Third, Li urged the creation of a favorable environment for investment and business. China will steadfastly expand its high-level opening-up and actively address the reasonable demands of enterprises funded by Germany and other countries, Li said, expressing China’s hope that the German government will provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in the country.”
In his briefing to the press after the visit, Merz talked about what was gained. He highlighted the Chinese orders for “up to 120 additional aircraft” from Airbus, adding that “there were also a number of other concrete topics discussed with several other companies, but these have not yet been finalized. Further contracts are therefore anticipated.”
Merz said that the visit was not just about cooperation but also about “how we shape our competition.” Competition must be “must be fair. We require transparency, we require reliability, and we also require compliance with jointly established rules.”
“I pointed out that for about two years we have had quite a considerable imbalance in the trade balance. We want to reduce these imbalances, which above all have arisen from overcapacities in China. We also want to continue talking about access restrictions and export restrictions. Over the course of the year there will also be further visits from Germany—the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs will travel to China, the Digital Minister will travel to China. Around the turn of the year—the date has not yet been finally agreed—we will also hold the German-Chinese government consultations, which were suspended last year because of the change of government and which in the years before had been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. We now want to resume this and return to these regular meetings. I will return once again to the trade balance deficit. Between Germany and China it currently stands at over 80 billion euros. Since 2020, i.e., within five years, it has quadrupled. This dynamic is not healthy. We therefore address it and want to open up ways in which we can reduce this trade balance deficit to our disadvantage.”
Merz also highlighted the need to talk about risks related to supply chains, raw materials, and certain key industries. The next bit is interesting:
Merz said:
“China has risen to the ranks of the great powers. China has worked hard and systematically for this rise, which has been achieved with strategic patience and great foresight, and this is also changing our relationship with China. hina’s voice is heard in the world. Its decisions carry weight. From this, however, also arises responsibility. I therefore asked my interlocutors today to assert their influence in order to end the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Beijing can exert influence in this regard. We also know that signals from China are taken very seriously in Moscow. That applies to words as well as to deeds. I want expressly to welcome the Chinese commitment to peace in the region that I heard today. I hope that on this basis we can continue to work together. We seek this cooperation in our diplomatic efforts for peace. We also seek it in the practical work of, for example, not supplying Russia with dual-use goods that it can deploy against the people in Ukraine. We then discussed the situation in the Indo-Pacific. I emphasised that Germany and the European Union have an interest in security and stability, particularly in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the Indo-Pacific region. An escalation there would be dangerous for us as well. It would have far-reaching consequences, far beyond the region, and would also affect Europe. I therefore made clear to my interlocutors: Germany’s One-China policy continues unchanged, but any effort toward reunification or unification between China and Taiwan can only take place by peaceful means and not by military means.”
The joint statement issued at the end of the visit is available on Page 3. This is a brief document, but some points are worth noting. It says:
Germany reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy.
“The Chinese side noted that the German side attaches importance to issues such as ‘de-risking’, trade imbalances, and export controls; the German side noted the Chinese side’s concerns regarding the over-securitisation of economic and trade issues and export controls on high-technology products. Both sides are willing to properly resolve each other’s concerns through candid and open dialogue, so as to ensure a long-term, balanced, reliable, and sustainable economic and trade relationship.” 中方注意到德方重视“降依赖”、贸易不平衡、出口管理等问题，德方注意到中方对经贸问题泛安全化、高技术产品出口管理等关切。双方愿通过坦诚开放对话妥善解决彼此关切，以确保长期、平衡、可信赖、可持续的经贸关系.
Both sides agreed to continue the China-Germany dialogue on climate change and green transition.
Both sides believe that the principles of the UN Charter and international law are the foundation for international cooperation. China and Germany will continue their efforts in this regard, maintaining dialogue on international issues, firmly upholding the status of the United Nations, and adhering to multilateralism and free trade. 双方认为，联合国宪章原则和国际法是开展国际合作的基础。中德双方将继续为此作出努力，并在此基础上就国际问题保持对话，坚定维护联合国地位，坚持多边主义和自由贸易.
II. Correct View of Political Achievements
There’s a very, very long article on Page 1 discussing what’s the correct perspective on political achievements that cadres and officials must cultivate. I’ll offer detailed excerpts below.
The article begins by sharing Xi’s thoughts from his remarks at the recently held special seminar for provincial and ministerial-level leading cadres at the Central Party School.
“General Secretary Xi Jinping penetratingly and incisively made a profound analysis of the intrinsic essence of two different views on political achievement. ‘The correct view on political achievement requires us to persist in proceeding from actual conditions and handling matters according to objective laws, and through scientific decision-making and hard, earnest work, to create accomplishments that can withstand the test of practice and history, that genuinely benefit the people, and that receive recognition from the masses.’ ‘The erroneous view on political achievement, by contrast, proceeds from individual or small-group interests, with a restless and impetuous mind, seeking quick success and instant benefits, engaging in fraud and deception, acting blindly and recklessly, constructing ‘vanity projects’ and ‘political achievement projects’, leaving behind burdens and hidden dangers, and arousing the intense dissatisfaction of the people and the masses’.” 习近平总书记鞭辟入里，深刻分析两种不同政绩观的内在本质——“正确政绩观要求我们坚持从实际出发、按规律办事，通过科学决策和实干苦干，创造经得起实践和历史检验、真正造福人民、得到群众公认的业绩。”“错误政绩观则是从个人或小团体利益出发，心浮气躁、急功近利、弄虚作假、盲目蛮干，搞‘形象工程’‘政绩工程’，留下包袱和隐患，引起人民群众强烈不满.”
“Time turns back to February 2004, when Comrade Xi Jinping, then in charge of one locality, participated in a special study seminar for principal leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial level at the Central Party School. In his speech, Comrade Xi Jinping stated that ‘the correct view of political achievement guides us in correctly transforming the subjective world’, and systematically and analytically elaborated on the problems that must be given focused attention in establishing a correct view on political achievement. That year, he successively published articles in the ‘Zhijiang Xinyu’ column of Zhejiang Daily, clarifying the standards of right and wrong and the practical path regarding the view of political achievement. ‘Every one of us leading cadres must constantly think and reflect on: why did I join the Party, what am I doing as an “official”, and what will I leave behind after I am gone’. From local to central levels, all along the way, the questioning and reflection on establishing and practicing the correct view on political achievement has never ceased.” 时间回到2004年2月，主政一方的习近平同志参加中央党校省部级主要领导干部专题研究班。在发言中，习近平同志表示“正确的政绩观指导我们正确地改造主观世界”，并条分缕析阐释树立正确政绩观必须着重解决的问题。那一年，他在《浙江日报》“之江新语”专栏陆续发表文章，阐明政绩观的是非标准与实践路径。“我们每一个领导干部都要常思常想‘入党为什么，当“官”干什么，身后留什么’”。从地方到中央，一路走来，树立和践行正确政绩观的叩问与思索，从未停息.
In the early 1990s, the Fujian Provincial Leadership Science Research Association once invited Xi Jinping, then Secretary of the Ningde Prefectural Party Committee, to speak to young leading cadres about how to do one’s work well; in an article titled ‘Musings on Political Service/Being an Official’ (从政杂谈), which drew on classical sources and references, Xi gave people much to ponder. ‘In China’s several-thousand-year history of civilisation, how many emperors, kings, generals, and ministers there have been; yet in the minds of the common people, no more than about a hundred are remembered.’ ‘To have one’s name recorded in history has no essential connection with official rank, but rather with the things one has accomplished.’ ‘Some people serve in office for decades, and in the end are trapped by fame and personal gain, either accomplishing nothing whatsoever, or suffering complete ruin of reputation and career. Getting to the root of the cause, it is because they did not establish the correct purpose for being an official’. ‘Being an official, being a Communist Party “official”, there is only one purpose, and that is to benefit the people’.” 上世纪90年代初，福建省领导科学研究会曾邀时任宁德地委书记习近平对青年领导干部谈谈如何干好工作的问题，一篇《从政杂谈》引经据典、发人深省——“在中国几千年的文明史上，帝王将相何其多，但在百姓头脑中留下记忆的也不过百来号人。”“青史留名与官阶并无本质联系，而是与做事相联系。”“有些人入仕数十年，终为名利所困，或一事无成，或身败名裂。究其原因，是没有树立正确的当官宗旨。”“当官，当共产党的‘官’，只有一个宗旨，就是造福于民.”
Towards the end of the first section, we get this:
“What constitutes genuine political achievement? ‘If in the things we do and the work we carry out, we manage to benefit the country above, and the people below; if it meets both the requirements of the immediate interests of the country and the people and the requirements of their long-term interests; if it can promote economic and social development, and also be capable of promoting national prosperity and the happiness of the people, then we will have achieved the genuine political achievement that the Party and the people need’.” 什么是真正的政绩？“我们做事情、干工作，如果做到了上有利于国家、下有利于人民；既符合国家和人民眼前利益的要求，又符合国家和人民长远利益的要求；既能促进经济社会发展，又能促进国家富强和人民幸福，那就做出了党和人民所需要的真正的政绩.”
The second section of the article talks about the importance of ensuring that all work is based in reality. Here, Xi is basically criticising what he sees as impetuous and reckless behaviour.
“To proceed from reality, the prerequisite is to have a deep understanding of the actual situation. Two stories from when Comrade Xi Jinping worked in local government still provide profound inspiration today. Upon taking office as the Party Secretary of Ningde, Fujian, faced with the eager mentality of some local cadres who wanted to lead everyone to quickly shake off poverty and become prosperous, Comrade Xi Jinping ‘did not adopt a posture of wanting to light the ‘three fires’; instead, he plunged into the grassroots, visiting all nine counties of eastern Fujian within one month to observe the real situation. When he had just arrived to work in Zhejiang, someone invited Comrade Xi Jinping to talk about his ‘governance platform’; he smiled and said: ‘I have just arrived, and do not yet have the standing to speak. When the time comes, I will have things to say’. Why did the ‘new official’ not rush to ‘light fires’? Comrade Xi Jinping pointed out profoundly: ‘Whether the ‘three fires’ should be lit, and when it is appropriate to light them, all of this must proceed from actual conditions.’ ‘One must go deep among the masses more, do more investigation and research, get to the bottom of how things came about and how they developed, and then assess the situation and act accordingly, light the fire when it should be lit, and when it should not be lit, absolutely do not follow the trend and force oneself to ‘light fires’.” 习近平同志在地方工作时的两个故事，至今仍给人以深刻启迪——赴任福建宁德地委书记，面对当地一些干部想带大家快速脱贫致富的急切心态，习近平同志“没有摆出要烧‘三把火’的架势”，而是一头扎进基层，1个月走遍闽东9县察实情。刚到浙江工作，有人请习近平同志谈谈“施政纲领”，他笑着说：“我刚刚来，还没有发言权。到时候，我是要说的。”“新官”为何不急于“点火”？习近平同志深刻指出：“‘三把火’该不该烧，什么时候烧适宜，都要从实际出发。”“要多深入群众，多做调查研究，弄清事情的来龙去脉，而后审时度势，该烧则烧，不该烧决不要赶时髦，勉强‘烧火’.”
Later in this section, the article informs that “competence comes from understanding and mastering objective laws”. It adds:
“At the initial stage of launching an undertaking, and at critical periods, whether one can persist in acting in accordance with objective laws and achieve swift yet steady progress especially requires examining one’s view of political achievement. In accelerating the construction of a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development, some cadres think that development means launching projects, undertaking investment, and expanding scale; some excessively incur debt to carry out construction and blindly expand their scope; some adopt simple and crude methods, applying a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach; and still others engage in departmentalism, pursue grandiose achievements, resort to falsification, or shirk responsibility…General Secretary Xi Jinping has on many occasions criticized manifestations of an incorrect view of political achievement at important meetings, and clearly emphasized: ‘Do not have the impulse to engage in large-scale and rapid expansion; that is, one must not act contrary to objective laws, seeking quick success and being eager to produce results. This kind of impetuous and impatient mentality must all be suppressed, and modernization construction must be carried out in a solid and earnest manner.’ Governance is fundamentally about correctness and uprightness (政者，正也). Only when the view on political achievement is established correctly can one’s handling of affairs be truly sturdy and reliable. Whether or not one has established and is practicing a correct view on political achievement—what is the yardstick by which this is gauged? ‘Whether one has deviated from the lofty ideal of communism and the common ideal of socialism with Chinese characteristics, whether one has departed from the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, whether one has strayed from the Party’s line, principles, policies and the major decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and whether one has become detached from national conditions and the actual conditions of one’s own locality and department’.” 在开局阶段、关键时期，能否坚持按规律办事，做到蹄疾而步稳，尤其需要检视政绩观。加快构建新发展格局，推动高质量发展，有的干部以为发展就是上项目、搞投资、扩规模；有的过度举债搞建设，盲目扩张铺摊子；有的方式方法简单粗暴，“一刀切”；还有的搞本位主义、好大喜功、弄虚作假、推脱责任……习近平总书记多次在重要会议上批评错误政绩观的表现，明确强调：“不要有大干快上的冲动，也就是不能不按规律办事，急功近利、急于出成绩。要把这种浮躁心理、急躁心态都压下来，扎扎实实、踏踏实实地搞现代化建设。”政者，正也。政绩观树得正，办事情才能过得硬。是否树立和践行正确政绩观，这其中衡量的标尺是什么？“有没有偏离共产主义远大理想和中国特色社会主义共同理想，有没有背离全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨，有没有游离党的路线方针政策和党中央重大决策部署，有没有脱离国情和本地区本部门实际”.
The third section of the article makes the point that:
“The view of political achievement is precisely a choice between the long term and the immediate, between the overall situation/whole and the partial/part. The two ends of the scale reveal one’s breadth of vision, reveal one’s steadfast will, reveal one’s sense of responsibility and courage to shoulder burdens. Is one confined to the gains and losses of a single moment or a single matter, or does one focus on laying foundations and achieving solid accomplishments that benefit the long term?” 政绩观，正是长远与眼下、全局与局部的抉择。天平两端，见眼界，见定力，见担当。是囿于一时一事的得失，还是着眼打基础、利长远的实绩?
Essentially, this section makes the case for long-term thinking and not engaging in local protectionism or departmentalism. It also talks about taking several other factors as yardsticks for development than just GDP growth. The one interesting nugget in the section is this:
“When going to localities for investigation and research, General Secretary Xi Jinping often keeps a map at hand, and enjoins various localities to ‘consciously break through the fixed mindset of one’s own ‘one mu and three fen of land’ (little turf of land/一亩三分地), band together as one and work toward the goals of the top-level design’.” 到地方调研，习近平总书记常将地图放在手边，叮嘱各地“自觉打破自家‘一亩三分地’的思维定式，抱成团朝着顶层设计的目标一起做”.
The fourth section of the article talks about serving the people and improving livelihoods as yardsticks, and the fifth section calls on everyone to be pragmatic and seek truth from facts, rather than engage in “empty talk”.
“‘The less formalism there is and the more earnest real action there is, the fewer contradictions there will be, and the more solid achievements there will be.’ With regard to problems of distorted and misplaced views of political achievement, such as falsification, pursuit of grandiose achievements, all talk and no action, and flashy but impractical moves, General Secretary Xi Jinping has on many occasions made clear criticisms, educating and guiding the broad ranks of Party members and cadres to calm their minds and work in a down-to-earth manner, ‘advancing step by step, making steady and solid progress forward’.
To produce political achievement through earnest action, only by advancing in the face of difficulty does one’s true character and sense of responsibility shine through. ‘The Party judges cadres primarily by looking at whether their shoulders can bear heavy burdens, and whether they can bear loads beyond their capacity.’ ‘We live one lifetime, and serve as officials for one term; we must have courage and integrity, we must have a spirit of shouldering responsibility.’ ‘One should do things while holding one’s official hat loosely, not cling to one’s official hat while serving as an official.’ ‘”To avoid matters while in office is the shame of one’s life.’ ‘The magnitude of one’s willingness to shoulder responsibility reflects a cadre’s breadth of mind, courage, and moral caliber’...Standing up at critical moments and holding the line at moments of danger and urgency reflects one’s view on political achievement and manifests one’s Party spirit and conduct’.” “形式主义少一些、真抓实干多一些，矛盾也会少一些，实绩也会多一些。”对于弄虚作假、好大喜功、光说不练、花拳绣腿等政绩观扭曲错位问题，习近平总书记多次提出明确批评，教育引导广大党员干部沉下心来踏实干，“一步一个脚印、稳扎稳打向前走”。以实干出政绩，迎难而上方显本色担当。“党看干部主要就是看肩膀能不能负重，能不能超负荷”“我们做人一世，为官一任，要有肝胆，要有担当精神”“要拎着乌纱帽干事，不要捂着乌纱帽做官”“‘为官避事平生耻。’担当大小，体现着干部的胸怀、勇气、格调”……关键时刻站得出来，危急关头顶得上去，折射的是政绩观，彰显的是党性和作风.