National Financial Work Conference - Building IP Strength - Xiangshan Forum Meetings - Audit Work Must Follow Cadres as Their Shadows - China-Myanmar Law-enforcement Cooperation
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Wednesday, November 01, 2023.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a brief report (English report) on Li Keqiang’s funeral, which will be held tomorrow. The report calls him an “excellent CPC member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier and an outstanding proletarian revolutionist, statesman and leader of the Party and the state.”
The lead story on the page today is about the two-day National Financial Work Conference, which was held on Monday and Tuesday. The report references Xi Jinping’s speech at the conference, and then says:
“The conference emphasised that finance is the blood of the national economy and an important part of the country’s core competitiveness. It is necessary to accelerate the construction of a financial power, comprehensively strengthen financial regulation, improve the financial system, optimise financial services, guard against and defuse risks, unswervingly follow the path of financial development with China characteristics, promote the high-quality development of China’s finance, and provide strong support for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.” 会议强调，金融是国民经济的血脉，是国家核心竞争力的重要组成部分，要加快建设金融强国，全面加强金融监管，完善金融体制，优化金融服务，防范化解风险，坚定不移走中国特色金融发展之路，推动我国金融高质量发展，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供有力支撑.
It adds that since the 18th Party Congress, under the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, the financial system has strongly supported the overall situation of economic and social development, resolutely fought the battle to prevent and defuse major risks, and made important contributions to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects as scheduled and made important contributions for achieving the first centennial goal. The Party Central Committee combines Marxist financial theory with the concrete reality of contemporary China and China’s excellent traditional culture, striving to grasp the law of financial development in the new era, continuously promoting practical innovation, theoretical innovation and institutional innovation in China’s financial undertakings, and striving to explore the path of financial development with China characteristics. It emphasises the need to adhere to the centralised and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over financial work, adhere to the people-centred value orientation, and persist in serving the real economy as the fundamental purpose, adhere to the prevention and control of risks as the eternal theme of financial work, persist in promoting financial innovation and development on the track of marketization and rule of law, persist in deepening the supply side structural reform in finance, persist in coordinating financial opening and security, and adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability. 会议指出，党的十八大以来，在党中央集中统一领导下，金融系统有力支撑经济社会发展大局，坚决打好防范化解重大风险攻坚战，为如期全面建成小康社会、实现第一个百年奋斗目标作出了重要贡献。党中央把马克思主义金融理论同当代中国具体实际相结合、同中华优秀传统文化相结合，努力把握新时代金融发展规律，持续推进我国金融事业实践创新、理论创新、制度创新，奋力开拓中国特色金融发展之路，强调必须坚持党中央对金融工作的集中统一领导，坚持以人民为中心的价值取向，坚持把金融服务实体经济作为根本宗旨，坚持把防控风险作为金融工作的永恒主题，坚持在市场化法治化轨道上推进金融创新发展，坚持深化金融供给侧结构性改革，坚持统筹金融开放和安全，坚持稳中求进工作总基调.
“These practical and theoretical achievements are hard-won. At the same time, we should be soberly aware that various contradictions and problems in the financial field are intertwined and influence each other, and some of them are still prominent. There are still many hidden dangers in economic and financial risks, the quality and effectiveness of the financial sector in serving the real economy is not high, financial chaos and corruption issues persist, and financial regulatory and governance capabilities are weak. The financial system should effectively improve its political positioning, be mindful of 国之大者, strengthen its sense of mission, resolve to fundamentally address these issues, and help build a strong country and rejuvenate the nation through high-quality financial development.” 这些实践成果、理论成果来之不易。同时要清醒看到，金融领域各种矛盾和问题相互交织、相互影响，有的还很突出，经济金融风险隐患仍然较多，金融服务实体经济的质效不高，金融乱象和腐败问题屡禁不止，金融监管和治理能力薄弱。金融系统要切实提高政治站位，胸怀“国之大者”，强化使命担当，下决心从根本上解决这些问题，以金融高质量发展助力强国建设、民族复兴伟业.
“The conference emphasised that now and in the future, to do a good job in financial work, we must adhere to and strengthen the Party's overall leadership, be guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, comprehensively implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, fully, accurately and comprehensively implement the new development concept, deeply grasp the political and people-oriented nature of financial work, take accelerating the building of a strong financial country as the goal, the promotion of high-quality financial development as the theme, the deepening the supply side structural reform of finance as the main line, the purity, professionalism and combat effectiveness of financial personnel as an important support, focus of comprehensively strengthening regulation and preventing and resolving risks, adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability, coordinate development and security, firmly hold the bottom line of preventing systemic financial risks, and resolutely follow the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics and expedite the construction of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics, continually meet the growing financial demands of economic and social development and the people, and continuously create a new era in financial work.” 会议强调，当前和今后一个时期，做好金融工作必须坚持和加强党的全面领导，以习近新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻党的二十大精神，完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，深刻把握金融工作的政治性、人民性，以加快建设金融强国为目标，以推进金融高质量发展为主题，以深化金融供给侧结构性改革为主线，以金融队伍的纯洁性、专业性、战斗力为重要支撑，以全面加强监管、防范化解风险为重点，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，统筹发展和安全，牢牢守住不发生系统性金融风险的底线，坚定不移走中国特色金融发展之路，加快建设中国特色现代金融体系，不断满足经济社会发展和人民群众日益增长的金融需求，不断开创新时代金融工作新局面.
The conference pointed out that high-quality development is the primary task of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, and finance must provide high-quality services for economic and social development. Efforts should be made to create a sound monetary and financial environment and effectively strengthen the provision of high-quality financial services to support major strategies, key areas and weak links. Always maintain the stability of monetary policy, pay more attention to cross-cyclical and counter-cyclical adjustments, and enrich the monetary policy toolbox. Optimise the capital supply structure, leverage greater financial resources to promote technological innovation, advanced manufacturing, green development and small, medium and micro enterprises, vigorously support the implementation of innovation-driven development strategy and regional coordinated development strategy, and ensure national food and energy security. Revitalize financial resources that are inefficiently occupied and improve the efficiency of fund utilisation. Greater efforts should be made in the five areas of technology finance, green finance, inclusive finance, pension finance, and digital finance. Efforts should be made to build a modern financial institution and market system and create new channels for capital to enter the real economy. Optimise the financing structure, give full play to the function of the capital markets as hubs, promote the deepening of the stock issuance registration system, develop diversified equity financing, vigorously improve the quality of listed companies, and cultivate first-class investment banks and institutions.
Promote the high-quality development of the bond market. Improve institutional positioning, support large state-owned financial institutions to become better and stronger, serve as the main force in serving the real economy and the ballast for maintaining financial stability, strictly enforce access standards and regulatory requirements for small and medium-sized financial institutions, conduct specialised operations based on local conditions, strengthen the functional positioning of policy-based financial institutions, and give full play to the functions of the insurance industry as an economic shock absorber and social stabiliser.
Strengthen market rules, build a financial market with unified rules and coordinated supervision, and promote long-term capital formation. Improve corporate governance, improve the system of modern financial enterprises with Chinese characteristics, improve management of state-owned financial capital, expand channels for banks to replenish their capital, and do a good job in separating industrial and financial risks. Efforts should be made to promote high-level opening up of the financial sector to ensure national financial and economic security. Adhere to ‘bringing in’ and ‘going global’, steadily expand institutional opening in the financial sector, improve cross-border investment and financing facilitation, and attract more foreign financial institutions and long-term capital to develop their businesses in China. Enhance the competitiveness and influence of Shanghai as an international financial centre, and consolidate and upgrade Hong Kong's position as an international financial centre. 会议指出，高质量发展是全面建设社会主义现代化国家的首要任务，金融要为经济社会发展提供高质量服务。要着力营造良好的货币金融环境，切实加强对重大战略、重点领域和薄弱环节的优质金融服务。始终保持货币政策的稳健性，更加注重做好跨周期和逆周期调节，充实货币政策工具箱。优化资金供给结构，把更多金融资源用于促进科技创新、先进制造、绿色发展和中小微企业，大力支持实施创新驱动发展战略、区域协调发展战略，确保国家粮食和能源安全等。盘活被低效占用的金融资源，提高资金使用效率。做好科技金融、绿色金融、普惠金融、养老金融、数字金融五篇大文章。要着力打造现代金融机构和市场体系，疏通资金进入实体经济的渠道。优化融资结构，更好发挥资本市场枢纽功能，推动股票发行注册制走深走实，发展多元化股权融资，大力提高上市公司质量，培育一流投资银行和投资机构。促进债券市场高质量发展。完善机构定位，支持国有大型金融机构做优做强，当好服务实体经济的主力军和维护金融稳定的压舱石，严格中小金融机构准入标准和监管要求，立足当地开展特色化经营，强化政策性金融机构职能定位，发挥保险业的经济减震器和社会稳定器功能。强化市场规则，打造规则统一、监管协同的金融市场，促进长期资本形成。健全法人治理，完善中国特色现代金融企业制度，完善国有金融资本管理，拓宽银行资本金补充渠道，做好产融风险隔离。要着力推进金融高水平开放，确保国家金融和经济安全。坚持“引进来”和“走出去”并重，稳步扩大金融领域制度型开放，提升跨境投融资便利化，吸引更多外资金融机构和长期资本来华展业兴业。增强上海国际金融中心的竞争力和影响力，巩固提升香港国际金融中心地位.
The conference stressed the need to comprehensively strengthen financial supervision and effectively prevent and defuse financial risks. Improve the effectiveness of financial regulation, bring all financial activities under supervision in accordance with the law, comprehensively strengthen institutional regulation, behavioural regulation, functional regulation, penetrative regulation, and continuous regulation, eliminate regulatory gaps and blind spots, strictly enforce the law, dare to bradish the sword, and severely crack down on illegal financial activities. Deal with the risks of small and medium-sized financial institutions in a timely manner. Establish a long-term mechanism to prevent and resolve local debt risks, establish a government debt management mechanism that is compatible with high-quality development, and optimise the debt structure of central and local governments.
Encourage the development of a virtuous circle between finance and real estate, improve the supervision system and capital supervision related to real estate enterprises, improve the macro-prudential management of real estate finance, meet the reasonable financing needs of real estate enterprises of different ownership without discrimination, make better use of the city-specific policy toolbox, better support rigid and improved housing needs, accelerate the construction of ‘three major projects’ such as affordable housing, and build a new model of real estate development.
Maintain the sound operation of financial markets, standardise financial market issuance and trading activities, reasonably guide expectations, and prevent cross-regional, cross-market, and cross-border risk transmission. Strengthen the management of the foreign exchange market and maintain the basic stability of the RMB exchange rate at a reasonable and balanced level. 会议强调，要全面加强金融监管，有效防范化解金融风险。切实提高金融监管有效性，依法将所有金融活动全部纳入监管，全面强化机构监管、行为监管、功能监管、穿透式监管、持续监管，消除监管空白和盲区，严格执法、敢于亮剑，严厉打击非法金融活动。及时处置中小金融机构风险。建立防范化解地方债务风险长效机制，建立同高质量发展相适应的政府债务管理机制，优化中央和地方政府债务结构。促进金融与房地产良性循环，健全房地产企业主体监管制度和资金监管，完善房地产金融宏观审慎管理，一视同仁满足不同所有制房地产企业合理融资需求，因城施策用好政策工具箱，更好支持刚性和改善性住房需求，加快保障性住房等“三大工程”建设，构建房地产发展新模式。维护金融市场稳健运行，规范金融市场发行和交易行为，合理引导预期，防范风险跨区域、跨市场、跨境传递共振。加强外汇市场管理，保持人民币汇率在合理均衡水平上的基本稳定.
To prevent and resolve financial risks, we must grasp the relationship between rights and responsibilities, and improve the risk disposal responsibility mechanism that is consistent with rights and responsibilities and compatible incentives and constraints;
Grasp the relationship between speed and stability, take timely and effective measures on the premise of stabilising the overall situation, resolve risks in a solid and prudent manner, resolutely punish illegal crimes and corruption, and strictly guard against moral risks;
For early identification, early warning, early exposure and early disposal, we must improve the early correction mechanism of financial risks with hard constraints.
防范化解金融风险，要把握好权和责的关系，健全权责一致、激励约束相容的风险处置责任机制；把握好快和稳的关系，在稳定大局的前提下把握时度效，扎实稳妥化解风险，坚决惩治违法犯罪和腐败行为，严防道德风险；对风险早识别、早预警、早暴露、早处置，健全具有硬约束的金融风险早期纠正机制.
The conference pointed out that strengthening the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over financial work is the fundamental guarantee for doing a good job in financial work. It is necessary to improve the system and mechanism of the Party's leadership in financial work, give full play to the role of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission, and do a good job in overall coordination and control. Give full play to the role of the Central Financial Work Commission and effectively strengthen Party building in the financial system. Give full play to the role of the financial committees and financial working committees across local party committees and implement local responsibilities. It is necessary to adhere to the standards of political firmness, strong ability and excellent style, and forge a team of high-quality professional financial cadres who are loyal, clean and responsible. It is necessary to vigorously promote China's excellent traditional culture in the financial system and adhere to honesty and trustworthiness, adhere to honesty and trustworthiness, seeking profit through righteousness, maintaining prudence, upholding integrity while pursuing innovation, and ensuring compliance with the law. It is necessary to strengthen the construction of financial rule of law, promptly promote legislation in key financial areas and emerging areas, and safeguard the development of the financial industry. 会议指出，加强党中央对金融工作的集中统一领导，是做好金融工作的根本保证。要完善党领导金融工作的体制机制，发挥好中央金融委员会的作用，做好统筹协调把关。发挥好中央金融工作委员会的作用，切实加强金融系统党的建设。发挥好地方党委金融委员会和金融工委的作用，落实属地责任。要坚持政治过硬、能力过硬、作风过硬标准，锻造忠诚干净担当的高素质专业化金融干部人才队伍。要在金融系统大力弘扬中华优秀传统文化，坚持诚实守信、以义取利、稳健审慎、守正创新、依法合规。要加强金融法治建设，及时推进金融重点领域和新兴领域立法，为金融业发展保驾护航。
The final few paragraphs say that Xi’s speech at the conference has “scientifically answered a series of major theoretical and practical issues in the development of the financial industry.” “It is an important part of Xi Jinping Economic Thought and an important innovative achievement of Marxist political economics on financial issues. It provides fundamental guidance and action guidance for promoting high-quality development of finance in the new era and new journey.” 会议强调，习近平总书记的重要讲话，科学回答了金融事业发展的一系列重大理论和实践问题，是习近平经济思想的重要组成部分，是马克思主义政治经济学关于金融问题的重要创新成果，为新时代新征程推动金融高质量发展提供了根本遵循和行动指南.
All localities and departments must study and understand it (Xi’s speech) in depth and implement it consciously. It is necessary to improve financial macro-control, accurately grasp the laws and new characteristics of money and credit supply and demand, and strengthen dual adjustment of the total amount and structure of money supply. Strengthen the development of high-quality financial services, expand high-level financial opening up, serve the ‘going global’ and ‘One Belt and One Road’ construction, and steadily and prudently promote the internationalisation of the RMB. Improve the financial supervision mechanism, establish and improve the implementation and accountability system of supervisory responsibilities, and effectively prevent and resolve financial risks in key areas. Focus on carrying out key tasks in the current financial sector, increase policy implementation and work promotion, maintain reasonable and sufficient liquidity, continuously reduce financing costs, activate the capital markets, better support the expansion of domestic demand, promote the stability of foreign trade and foreign investment, strengthen financial support for new technologies, new tracks and new markets, and accelerate the cultivation of new kinetic energy and new advantages. 各地区各部门要深入学习领会、自觉贯彻落实。要完善金融宏观调控，准确把握货币信贷供需规律和新特点，加强货币供应总量和结构双重调节。加强优质金融服务，扩大金融高水平开放，服务好“走出去”和“一带一路”建设，稳慎扎实推进人民币国际化。健全金融监管机制，建立健全监管责任落实和问责制度，有效防范化解重点领域金融风险。着力做好当前金融领域重点工作，加大政策实施和工作推进力度，保持流动性合理充裕、融资成本持续下降，活跃资本市场，更好支持扩大内需，促进稳外贸稳外资，加强对新科技、新赛道、新市场的金融支持，加快培育新动能新优势.
Next, there’s a report on Qiushi publishing Xi’s speech at the first meeting of the central auditing commission earlier this year. The article has Xi saying that “the purpose of reforming the audit management system and establishing the Central Auditing Commission is to strengthen the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee on audit work.” 改革审计管理体制，组建中央审计委员会，目的就是加强党中央对审计工作的集中统一领导.
Xi summarised four achievements in the audit field since the 19th Party Congress:
First, the reform of the audit management system has been further promoted, and the centralised and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee over audit work has been continuously refined and institutionalised.
Second, the understanding of the standards of the audit work under the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been deepened.
Third, the audit work now serves the overall situation of the Party and the country with stronger initiative and higher level of compatibility, and its unique supervisory role is more prominent.
Fourth, the overall pattern of audit rectification has taken shape, and the application of audit results has become more smooth, authoritative and efficient.
一是深入推进审计管理体制改革，党中央对审计工作的集中统一领导不断细化实化制度化。二是对中国特色社会主义审计事业的规律性认识不断深化。三是审计服务党和国家大局的主动性更强、契合性更高，独特监督作用更加彰显。四是审计整改总体格局初步成型，审计成果运用贯通协同更加顺畅、权威、高效.
Later Xi talks about audit work needing to focus on economic supervision and the Party’s self-revolution, and of course adhere to Xi’s thought and the goals of the 20th Party Congress. He then identifies three priorities for audit work:
First, function as the arm moves the finger (如臂使指): This means that audit work should adhere to and strengthen the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee over auditing work; and one must understand the political nature and political functions of audit work, and the work must accurately understand and effectively implement the intentions and deployments of the Party Central Committee. 审计监督要集中统一，坚持和加强党中央对审计工作的集中统一领导，在审计系统内部形成上下贯通、步调一致的全国一盘棋，增强审计的政治属性和政治功能，把党中央意图和部署把握准、领会透、落实好.
Second, function as the shadow follows the body (如影随形): Audit supervision should be comprehensive in nature, so that the audited object feels that the audit is always around like a shadow. In formal terms, there should be no omissions, no exceptions, and an ongoing, dynamic deterrent in the audit supervision over all localities, departments, and units that manage and use public funds, state-owned assets, and state-owned resources. In terms of content, both quality and efficiency should be taken into consideration to form a practical and substantive deterrent. 二是如影随形。审计监督要全面覆盖，让审计对象感到审计像影子一样时时在身边。在形式上，对所有管理使用公共资金、国有资产、国有资源的地方、部门和单位的审计监督权无一遗漏、无一例外，形成常态化、动态化震慑；在内容上，兼顾质量和效率，形成实际的、实质的震慑。t
Third, function to establish a strong reputation/authoritativeness (如雷贯耳): Audit supervision should be authoritative and efficient, so that the audit supervision can be smoothly implemented, the audit results can be effectively used, and the audit role can be effectively played. 审计监督要权威高效，让审计监督能够顺畅实施、审计成果能够高效运用、审计作用能够有效发挥.
In terms of priority areas, the article says that it is necessary to focus on stabilizing growth, employment and prices, developing the real economy, safeguarding people's livelihoods, and other primary tasks of high-quality development.
Next, there’s a report on the fourth State Council study session. Peking University professor Yi Jiming spoke at the session. Vice Premiers of the State Council Ding Xuexiang and Zhang Guoqing, and State Councilor Shen Yiqin also delivered speeches. The focus of this session was to discuss the strategy of building China into a leading country in intellectual property to bolster innovation-driven development.
After them, Li Qiang spoke. As per the report, Li said that “building a world-class intellectual property power with Chinese characteristics is a major strategic deployment made by the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core…and the strategy of strengthening the country through intellectual property rights is of great significance for enhancing China’s core competitiveness and expanding high-level opening up.” 李强在听取讲座和交流发言后指出，建设中国特色、世界水平的知识产权强国，是以习近平同志为核心的党中央作出的重大战略部署。深入实施知识产权强国战略，对于提升国家核心竞争力、扩大高水平开放具有重要意义.
Xinhua English summarises the next bit well
“To support comprehensive innovation, efforts must go toward accelerating the establishment of legal, management, and policy systems and creating rules compatible with new technologies to lay a solid foundation for opening up new tracks in industrial development, Li said. Efforts should also be made to accelerate the application of intellectual property rights (IPR) by sticking to market-oriented methods, Li said, stressing implementing specific actions on the utilization of patents, and promoting the development of IPR-intensive industries. He also called for optimizing the business environment and making efforts to improve work mechanisms in review and authorization, law enforcement, judicial protection, arbitration and mediation, and industry self-discipline to enhance IPR's whole-chain protection, and fully implementing punitive damages for intellectual property infringement. Cross-departmental and cross-regional law enforcement collaboration and response mechanisms should be strengthened to improve professionalism levels in IPR protection, Li said. Li added that new technologies and new methods, such as big data and artificial intelligence, should be used to establish a nationally integrated digital public service platform for intellectual property. Meanwhile, efforts should go toward actively promoting international exchanges and cooperation in intellectual property and properly handling international IPR-related disputes, Li said.”
Finally, there’s a report (English report) on the fourth meeting of the CPPCC standing committee. Wang Huning spoke at the meeting calling for sustained efforts to fight against pollution, speed up green and low-carbon transition, boost ecological restoration, promote the realization of the country's dual carbon goals, reinforce the security foundation for building a Beautiful China, and modernize the environmental governance system…The political advisors listened to reports on a number of topics, including building up China's strength in agriculture, recycling renewable resources in the new energy industry, and protecting the rights and interests of private enterprises and entrepreneurs.”
Page 2: There’s just one report (English report) to note, i.e., the new plan for the Xinjiang Pilot FTZ. Xinhua says that this is “a significant strategic move for promoting reform and opening-up in the new era. The country will make efforts to build the FTZ into a model for promoting high-quality development in its central and western regions and a pivotal hub for Xinjiang to integrate into the ‘dual circulation’ of domestic and international markets, according to the plan.”
“The FTZ will serve the construction of the core area of the Belt and Road Initiative, help the building of a ‘golden channel’ between Asia and Europe and a bridgehead for China's westward opening up, and actively contribute to the China-Central Asia community with a shared future. The plan will grant the FTZ greater autonomy in reform, allowing it to explore ways different from other FTZs, and cultivate and expand industries unique to Xinjiang or in which Xinjiang has advantages. The plan identifies specific measures to be taken in 25 aspects, such as creating a first-class business environment, improving trade facilitation levels, expanding and strengthening traditional industries with advantages, and increasing economic and trade cooperation with neighboring countries. These measures would build the zone into a high-standard and high-quality FTZ with an excellent business environment, convenient investment and trade, advantageous industry agglomeration, shared factor resources, coordinated and efficient management, and outstanding radiating and leading effects, said the plan.”
Page 3: A couple reports of meetings on the sidelines of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. First, a report on He Weidong meeting with the defense ministers of Nigeria, Singapore, Azerbaijan and Cambodia.
When meeting with Nigerian Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, He said that “the Chinese military is willing to maintain the good momentum of development of relations between the two militaries, continue to intensify communication at all levels, and push the cooperation between the two militaries to a new level.” 中国军队愿与尼方保持两军关系良好发展势头，继续密切各层级沟通，推动两军合作不断迈上新台阶. Abubakar said that Nigeria firmly supports China's principled stand in international and regional affairs. 阿布巴卡尔说，尼中友好交往密切而真诚，尼方坚定支持中国在国际和地区事务中的原则立场.
When meeting with Azerbaijan’s Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, He said that “China highly appreciates Azerbaijan’s active response to the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and its participation in BRI. The Chinese military is willing to work with the Azerbaijan side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, maintain the positive momentum of development of relations between the two militaries, intensify high-level exchanges, enhance strategic mutual trust, expand personnel cooperation, and strive to achieve more new results. 在会见加桑诺夫时，何卫东说，中阿有着绵延千年的深厚情谊。中方高度赞赏阿方积极响应构建人类命运共同体理念和参与共建“一带一路”。中国军队愿与阿方落实好两国元首重要共识，保持两军关系发展向上向好势头，密切高层交往，增进战略互信，拓展人员合作，努力取得更多新成果. Hasanov said that Azerbaijan “firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields and develop mutually beneficial relations between the two countries and their militaries.” 加桑诺夫说，阿方坚定奉行一个中国原则，愿与中方加强各领域合作，发展互利互惠的两国两军关系.
When meeting Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, He said that the two sides should “resolutely oppose bullying, and jointly resist ‘decoupling and breaking of chains’ to better benefit the people of the two countries and regions. It is hoped that the two militaries will further enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation, and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.” 在会见黄永宏时，何卫东说，中方愿同新方深化落实两国领导人达成的重要共识，保持良好合作势头，坚决反对霸道霸凌，共同抵制“脱钩断链”，更好造福两国和地区人民。希望中新两军进一步增进互信、深化合作，加强多边协调配合，为维护南海地区和平稳定贡献力量.
CNA’s report on the Singaporean defense minister’s comments at the forum is really interesting. Here’s a quote that is rather revealing given all the Chinese propaganda effort around its peaceful development and genetic incompatibility with hegemony.
“There isn't a situation in global affairs where nobody wanted that space on top. Everybody wants to be a hegemon if they can be, and I think that’s the reality.”
Finally, when meeting with Cambodia’s defense minister, He said that China and Cambodia should “continue to strengthen strategic communication, improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation, resolutely safeguard each other's core interests, resolutely safeguard international fairness and justice, and promote the deepening and solidification of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.”
Second, there’s a report on Zhang Youxia’s meetings with the defense ministers of PNG and Zimbabwe. There’s nothing particularly interesting in the report. Zhang talked about deepening “practical cooperation” with PNG, and about deepening cooperation with their respective militaries.
Next, there’s a report on Myanmar's Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Min Aung Hlaing meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong. Xinhua says:
“During the visit, Wang co-chaired the seventh China-Myanmar ministerial meeting on law enforcement and security cooperation with Myanmar Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and signed the meeting minutes, and met with Myanmar Union Minister for Immigration and Population U Myint Kyaing.”
It adds: “To secure a solid security barrier for building the China-Myanmar community with a shared future, China is willing to work with Myanmar to carry forward their traditional friendship, accelerate the advancement of key Belt and Road projects and deepen law enforcement and security cooperation, he said. The law enforcement and security departments of the two countries will safeguard the security and development interests of both countries by strengthening cooperation in combating telecom scams and online gambling, counter-terrorism, drug control, law enforcement in the Mekong River basin, and security of major projects, Wang said.”
Next, there’s a brief report on a CPC delegation led by Guo Yezhou, deputy chief of the ILD visiting PNG, where it met with PM James Marape. Xinhua informs: “During the meeting, both sides agreed that China and PNG, as good friends, partners and brothers, should further consolidate political mutual trust and expand bilateral cooperation to benefit the two peoples. The delegation also met with the leader of the People's National Congress party and former prime minister Peter O'Neill, the leader of the opposition wing in the PNG parliament Joseph Dennis Lelang, and General Secretary of the Pangu party Morris Tovebae.”
Page 9: I am not summarising this, but for anyone interested, there’s a long article by Zhuang Rongwen – deputy minister of the Central Propaganda Department, director of the Office of the Central Cyber Security and Informatization Commission, and Director of the State Internet Information Office – on Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and its implications for propaganda and online governance.