New Education Campaign on Party Conduct - Li Calls for Implementing Work Report Requirements - Beijing to Host China-Russia-Iran Meeting
Here are the reports on articles that I found worth reading in the People’s Daily on Thursday, March 13, 2025.
Page 1: There’s a new book of Xi Jinping’s discourses on improving Party conduct. Xinhua informs that “the book features nine themes, bringing together 299 excerpts extracted from over 130 of Xi's important speeches and written works from November 2012 to February 2025. Some of these works have been made public for the first time.”
Next, let’s cover the report on the State Council Executive Meeting. The report (brief English report) says that the meeting approved the State Council’s 2025 Key Work Division Plan and the Decision on Amending the Interim Regulations on Express Delivery (Draft).
The report says that the Government Work Report has “clearly defined the goals and tasks of economic and social development for the whole year. Each department and unit should actively identify their roles, with a stronger sense of responsibility and more positive actions, to complete all work tasks well and fulfil the solemn promises made to the people through practical work and achievements. It is necessary to refine measures to accelerate implementation, racing against various uncertainties by working quickly and proactively. At the same time, closely track changes in the situation, prepare policy reserves, and ensure that they can be promptly introduced and take effect quickly when needed. It is necessary to focus on key areas and exert precise effort, be adept at identifying entry points with strong traction and leverage, continuously plan new means and platforms, and use point-to-surface expansion to enhance the overall effectiveness of implementation. It is necessary to strengthen guidance and support for local areas, formulate support policies, and put forward concrete plans in areas such as factor guarantees, technological innovation, and pioneering reform and opening-up. It is necessary to enhance coordination and linkage between departments. All departments should strengthen their awareness of the bigger picture and systems concept. Leading departments should courageously take responsibility and proactively solve problems. Participating departments should actively contribute and work closely together to form joint efforts to promote development.” 会议指出，刚刚闭幕的十四届全国人大三次会议审议通过的《政府工作报告》，明确了全年经济社会发展目标任务。各部门、各单位要主动对号入座，以更加强烈的担当、更加积极的作为，把各项工作任务完成好，以实干实绩兑现向人民作出的庄严承诺。要细化措施加快落实，与各种不确定因素抢时间，紧抓快干、靠前发力。同时密切跟踪形势变化，做好政策储备，确保需要时能够及时推出、尽快见效。要聚焦重点精准发力，善于找到牵引性、撬动性强的切入点，不断谋划新的抓手和载体，以点带面提升抓落实的整体效能。要强化对地方的指导支持，在要素保障、科技创新、改革开放先行先试等方面制定支持政策、拿出具体方案。要加强部门间协同联动，各部门都要增强大局意识、强化系统观念，牵头部门要勇于担当、主动破题，参与部门要积极作为、密切配合，形成合力推动发展.
The report informs that the express delivery amendment specifically addresses issues related to express delivery packaging, and helps promote environmentally friendly, economical, and recyclable packaging, to promote the establishment of eco-friendly modes of production and ways of life.
Next, there’s a report on Zhao Leji, who had been away owing to a “respiratory infection” met with journalists who covered the NPC session. Zhao told them that:
“under the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, the conference secretariat, all relevant departments, and major news units adhered to the principle of unity, stability and encouragement, and positive publicity as the main focus. They maintained fundamental principles while innovating, and devoted full efforts to the conference news and publicity work, successfully completing the major political task assigned by the Party Central Committee.” 他指出，在党中央集中统一领导下，大会秘书处、各有关部门、主要新闻单位坚持团结稳定鼓劲、正面宣传为主的方针，守正创新、全力以赴做好大会新闻宣传工作，圆满完成了党中央交付的重大政治任务.
Zhao made three specific points:
First, they highlighted reports on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important activities. Adhering to high standards and strict requirements, the coverage focused on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important activities during the meeting, deeply publicised the new viewpoints, judgments, and requirements proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, vividly showcased the wonderful stories and touching moments of General Secretary Xi Jinping discussing state affairs with representatives, and fully demonstrated General Secretary Xi Jinping’s leadership demeanour and deep concern for the people. 一是突出报道习近平总书记重要活动。坚持高标准、严要求，集中报道习近平总书记会议期间的重要活动，深入宣传习近平总书记提出的新观点、新论断、新要求，生动展现了习近平总书记与代表共商国是的精彩故事和感人瞬间，充分彰显了习近平总书记的领袖风范和为民情怀.
Second, the reporting conveyed confidence and strength. Closely focusing on the theme of the meeting, it actively publicised the major new achievements in China’s economic and social development over the past year, deeply interpreted the Party Central Committee’s scientific assessment of the situation and its decision-making arrangements, vigorously promoted the narrative of China’s economic optimism, and fully demonstrated the strong resilience and long-term positive trend of China’s economy. The coverage of press conferences, media briefings, the ‘Delegates’ Channel, and the ‘Ministers’ Channel’ was accurate and comprehensive, achieving good results. 二是传递了信心和力量。紧扣大会主题，积极宣传过去一年我国经济社会发展取得新的重大成就，深入解读党中央对形势的科学判断和决策部署，大力唱响中国经济光明论，充分展现了中国经济的强大韧性和长期向好趋势。新闻发布会、记者会、“代表通道”、“部长通道”的报道准确、充分，取得良好效果.
Third, it demonstrated pragmatic and efficient democratic practices. In-depth reports on the new achievements and new experiences of the work of the NPC, vividly showing the deputies of the NPC, especially the grassroots representatives, in performing their duties, with depth, warmth and down-to-earthness in the reports, fully reflecting the democratic, united, pragmatic and progressive style of the conference. 三是展现了务实高效的民主实践。深入报道人大工作新成效新经验，生动展现人大代表特别是基层一线代表的履职风采，报道有厚度、有温度、接地气，充分反映会议民主、团结、求实、奋进的风貌.
Third, there’s a report on the meeting of the Central Leading Group for Party Building in Beijing. Cai Qi and Li Xi spoke at this meeting. The meeting launched a Party-wide education campaign to implement the central leadership’s eight-point decision on improving work conduct. The campaign is going to go on till July. The report says:
“General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance, personally planned and determined the theme of the education campaign, delivered important speeches, issued important instructions, and pointed out the direction for carrying out the education campaign. Recently, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee issued the ‘Notice on Carrying Out Study and Education Throughout the Party to Thoroughly Implement the Spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation.’ It is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions, implement the requirements of the ‘Notice’, deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments, resolutely achieve the Two Safeguards, and effectively align thoughts and actions with the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee.” 习近平总书记高度重视，亲自谋划确定学习教育主题，发表重要讲话，作出重要指示，为开展学习教育指明了方向。近日，中共中央办公厅印发《关于在全党开展深入贯彻中央八项规定精神学习教育的通知》。要深入学习贯彻习近平总书记的重要讲话和重要指示精神，落实《通知》要求，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚决做到“两个维护”，切实把思想和行动统一到党中央决策部署上来.
“The meeting emphasised that carrying out an in-depth education campaign on the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation is an important measure to consolidate and deepen the achievements of thematic education and Party discipline study and education, and to deepen the comprehensive and strict Party governance. It is a necessary requirement for strengthening the relationship between the Party and the people, as well as between cadres and the masses, and for consolidating the Party’s governance foundation. It is also a powerful guarantee for advancing Chinese-style modernisation. We must fully understand the importance of this education campaign, educate and guide Party members and cadres to persevere in implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulation, promote the continuous improvement of the Party’s conduct, promote the implementation of various decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, and contribute wisdom and strength to promoting Chinese-style modernisation.” 会议强调，开展深入贯彻中央八项规定精神学习教育，是巩固深化主题教育和党纪学习教育成果、纵深推进全面从严治党的重要举措，是密切党群干群关系、巩固党的执政基础的必然要求，是推进中国式现代化的有力保障。要充分认识这次学习教育的重要意义，教育引导党员、干部锲而不舍贯彻中央八项规定精神，推动党的作风持续向好，推动党中央各项决策部署落到实处，为推进中国式现代化贡献智慧和力量.
The meeting pointed out that it is necessary to focus on the theme, pay attention to effectiveness, and advance learning, inspection, and rectification in an integrated manner. It is necessary to deeply study General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important statements on strengthening the Party’s conduct, as well as the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulations and their implementation rules, systematically summarise the achievements and experience of thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulations since the 18th Party Congress, comprehensively and thoroughly identify problems in implementing the spirit of the Central Eight-point Regulations and their implementation rules, strengthen warning education in light of actual conditions, steadily advance centralised rectification, and improve relevant systems and regulations in a targeted manner. Adhere to open education, consciously accept public supervision and evaluation, and ensure quality in study, thoroughness in investigation, and effectiveness in reform. 会议指出，要聚焦主题，注重实效，一体推进学查改，深入学习习近平总书记关于加强党的作风建设的重要论述和中央八项规定及其实施细则精神，系统总结党的十八大以来深入贯彻中央八项规定精神的成效和经验，全面深入查找贯彻中央八项规定及其实施细则精神方面存在的问题，结合实际加强警示教育，扎实推进集中整治，有针对性完善相关制度规定。坚持开门教育，自觉接受群众监督评判，确保学有质量、查有力度、改有成效.
Finally, the full Government Work Report is published in the paper today, starting from the front page.
Page 4: There’s a report on The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and the State Administration for Market Regulation issuing “Several Opinions on Promoting the High-Quality Development of the Environmental Protection Equipment Manufacturing Industry.” The report says that the guidelines propose that:
By 2027: the market share of advanced technological equipment will be significantly increased, key shortcomings in the industrial chain of technological equipment in critical areas will be basically addressed, and the advantageous technical equipment will form a pattern of domestic dominance and international expansion.
By 2030: the shortcomings in the industrial chain of environmental protection technical equipment will be independently controllable, the advantages of superior technical equipment will be further expanded, and the environmental protection equipment manufacturing industry will comprehensively upgrade from traditional pollution control to green, low-carbon, and circular development.
The guidelines put forward 12 measures across four key aspects:
strengthening breakthroughs in key technologies
accelerating the promotion of advanced technology
cultivating new industry growth drivers
optimising the industrial development environment
意见提出，到2027年，先进技术装备市场占有率显著提升，重点领域技术装备产业链短板基本补齐，长板技术装备形成国内主导、国外走出去的优势格局。到2030年，环保技术装备产业链短板自主可控，长板技术装备优势进一步扩大，环保装备制造业从传统的污染治理向绿色、低碳、循环发展全面升级。围绕强化关键技术攻关、加快先进技术推广、培育行业发展新动能、优化产业发展环境4个方面，意见提出12项政策措施.
Page 6: There’s a report on an event held by the People’s Daily, themed “Inheriting the Red Gene, Cultivating New People of the Era” 传承红色基因 培养时代新人. The three star attendees at the event were:
Liu Bin, granddaughter-in-law of Mao Zedong
Zhou Bingde, niece of Zhou Enlai
Zhang Haipeng, from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Other Reports:
Pokhara airport in Nepal has been a rather economically viable project. To show something for it, Sichuan Airlines is planning to launch regular commercial charter flights to Pokhara. This will be a once-in–a-week affair.
China’s foreign ministry confirmed yesterday that “China will hold the Beijing meeting between China, Russia and Iran on the Iranian nuclear issue on March 14. Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will chair the meeting and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi will attend the meeting in Beijing. The three parties will exchange views on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of mutual interest.”
Meanwhile, the three countries have begun joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman. This is the fifth year the three countries have conducted military drills together. CGTN news said that the Marine Security Belt 2025 exercises began near the Iranian port of Chabahar on Tuesday and were aimed at strengthening ‘cooperation among the naval forces of the participating countries’. The naval drills will involve ‘striking maritime targets, damage control, and joint search and rescue operations’, according to CGTN. ‘Over the course of two days, the ships’ crews conducted daytime and nighttime fire from large-calibre machine guns and small arms at targets simulating unmanned boats and unmanned aerial vehicles of a mock enemy,’ Russia’s Interfax news agency reported, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence.”
China’s foreign ministry has also finally issued a statement on Wednesday about the train hijacking in Pakistan. Mao Ning said: “We noted the reports and strongly condemn this terrorist attack. China firmly opposes terrorism in any form. We will continue to firmly support Pakistan in combating terrorism, maintaining solidarity and social stability, and protecting the safety of the people. China stands ready to strengthen counterterrorism and security cooperation with Pakistan and jointly keep the region peaceful, secure and stable.”