Party Control Over People's Congresses - Follow Xi's Thought to Build Socialist Market Economic System - Wang Yi: Conditions for Ukraine Talks Not Yet in Place - Social Credit Action Plan
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Wednesday, June 05, 2024.
Page 1: There are two stories of congratulatory letters by Xi Jinping. First, there’s Xi’s letter to Halla Tomasdottir on her election as president of Iceland. Second, is Xi’s letter to Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, extending congratulations on her election as president of Mexico.
Next, there’s a report on Zhao Leji’s visit to Hebei province from June 2 to 4. He visited Handan, Xingtai and Shijiazhuang.
Zhao emphasised that “it is necessary to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's important thoughts on upholding and improving the people’s congress system, systematically summarise the historical inevitability and advantages of the people's congress system, strengthen institutional confidence, adhere to the principle of maintain integrity and pursuing innovation, and do a good job in the work of the people's congress in the new era with high quality.” 他强调，要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入学习贯彻习近平总书记关于坚持和完善人民代表大会制度的重要思想，系统总结人民代表大会制度的历史必然和优势功效，坚定制度自信，坚持守正创新，高质量做好新时代人大工作.
This is important:
“People’s congress deputies should ground their work in their statutory duties, under the leadership of the Party organization, communicate and consult with the masses more on the issues raised by them, boost coordination with governments and relevant parties in order to form a joint force to better serve the masses, and truly serve as a bridge between the Party and the state and the people.” 人大代表要立足法定职责，在党组织领导下，针对群众反映的问题，与群众多沟通、多协商，与政府部门和有关方面多协作、多配合，形成工作合力，更好服务群众，切实当好党和国家联系人民群众的桥梁.
He met with the standing committees of people’s congresses at the provincial, municipal, and county levels. He told them that:
“In order to do a good job in the work of the People’s Congress in the new era, we must deeply understand the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, consciously implement the ‘Two safeguards’, adhere to the organic unity of the leadership of the Party, the people being masters, and the law-based governance, and better transform the advantages of the country’s fundamental political system into governance effectiveness…Local people’s congresses’ legislative and supervisory work should closely revolve around the local party committees’ implementation of the major policies and decisions of the Party Central Committee. They should take into account local realities, adhere to a problem-oriented approach, and enhance their relevance and effectiveness.” 赵乐际分别到省、市、县三级人大常委会机关调研。他指出，做好新时代人大工作，要深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，自觉做到“两个维护”，坚持党的领导、人民当家作主、依法治国有机统一，把国家根本政治制度优势更好转化为治理效能...地方人大立法、监督等工作，要紧紧围绕地方党委贯彻落实党中央大政方针的决策部署，结合地方实际，坚持问题导向，提升针对性和实效性.
Also on the page is a report on the opening of the 7th session of the 14th CPPCC. This one focused on “building a high-level socialist market economic system”.
Addressing the session, Wang Huning said that “ building a high-level socialist market economic system is a major task proposed by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, and is an important deployment made by the 20th Party Congress. Members of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC should thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply understand the decisive significance of ‘Two Establishments’, strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’ and ‘four self-confidences’, and achieve ‘two safeguards’, thereby effectively enhancing the political responsibility and historical mission of fulfilling their duties and serving the overall situation. It is necessary to learn and understand Xi Jinping Economic Thought, closely focus on building a high-level socialist market economic system, conduct in-depth consultations and actively make suggestions, and contribute wisdom and strength to promoting the comprehensive promotion of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization.” 王沪宁在主持讲话中表示，构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制是以习近平同志为核心的中共中央提出的重大任务，是中共二十大作出的重要部署。全国政协常委会组成人员要深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，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”，切实增强履职尽责、服务大局的政治责任感和历史使命感。要学深悟透习近平经济思想，紧紧围绕构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制深入协商议政、积极建言献策，为推动以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴贡献智慧和力量.
In his remarks, Ding Xuexiang pointed out that “we must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, plan and advance reforms with a holistic view and systematic thinking, build a high-level socialist market economic system, and provide strong impetus and important guarantees for China’s modernization. It is necessary to adhere to and implement the ‘Two Unwaverings’, promote the strengthening, optimization and expansion of state-owned capital and state-owned enterprises, and create a good environment and provide more opportunities for the development of the non-public economy. Accelerate the construction of a unified national market, improve the basic market economy systems such as property rights protection, market access, fair competition, and social credit, and build a high-standard market system. Better leverage the strategic guiding role of national development planning, enhance the coordination between fiscal and monetary policies, and promote sustained and healthy economic development. More actively connect with high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily expand institutional opening-up, and cultivate new advantages in international economic cooperation and competition.” 丁薛祥在报告中指出，要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，以全局观念和系统思维谋划推进改革，构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制，为中国式现代化提供强大动力和重要保障。坚持和落实“两个毫不动摇”，推动国有资本和国有企业做强做优做大，为非公有制经济发展营造良好环境和提供更多机会。加快建设全国统一大市场，完善产权保护、市场准入、公平竞争、社会信用等市场经济基础制度，建设高标准市场体系。更好发挥国家发展规划的战略导向作用，加强财政政策和货币政策协调配合，推动经济持续健康发展。更加主动对接高标准国际经贸规则，稳步扩大制度型开放，培育国际经济合作和竞争新优势.
Finally, there’s a report on Vice President Han Zheng meeting with Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Xinhua says:
“Friendly exchanges and practical cooperation in various fields between China and Türkiye have continued to deepen, Han said, noting that as major developing countries and important emerging markets, the two countries share extensive common interests and huge potential for cooperation. China is willing to work with Türkiye to fully implement the important consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, promote the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and provide staunch support to each other in safeguarding their respective core interests to propel the strategic cooperation between the two sides to a new height, Han said. Fidan said Türkiye adheres to the one-China principle and brooks no activities sabotaging China's territorial integrity, adding that Türkiye is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with China and enhance practical cooperation in various fields.”
Page 2: There’s an article talking about “three major projects” 三大工程. This is, of course, “affordable housing, renovating urban villages and constructing public facilities”.
“The ‘Three Major Projects’ focus on the long-term healthy operation and stable growth of the real estate market, aiming to address long-term issues such as structural problems and supply-demand mismatches. They offer an important starting point for building a new model of real estate development,’ believes Li Yujia, the chief researcher at the Guangdong Housing Policy Research Center.” “‘三大工程’着眼于房地产长期健康运行与稳定增长，力图解决结构性问题、供需错配等长期问题，是构建房地产发展新模式的重要抓手。”广东省住房政策研究中心首席研究员李宇嘉认为。
“Promoting the construction of the ‘three major projects’ will boost demand for industries and products such as design, construction, building materials, home decoration, home appliances, and property services. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, in the first quarter of this year, the ‘three major projects’ boosted real estate development investment by 0.6 percentage points. For example, in Shenzhen, the first batch of 13 allocation-type affordable housing projects began construction at the end of 2023, providing a total of more than 10,000 units with a total investment of approximately 12.5 billion yuan.” 推进“三大工程”建设，将拉动设计、施工、建材、家装、家电、物业服务等产业和产品需求。国家统计局数据显示，今年一季度，“三大工程”拉动了房地产开发投资0.6个百分点。以深圳为例，2023年底首批13个配售型保障性住房项目集中开工，房源合计1万余套，总投资约125亿元.
This final bit is really useful to note:
“At present, all localities and departments are stepping up the construction of the ‘three major projects’, improving supporting policies related to land, finance, taxation, and other areas, and promoting the implementation of several projects to achieve tangible progress:
In terms of affordable housing construction, relevant officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development informed that in cities with a large inventory of commercial housing, the government can order according to demand and organize local state-owned enterprises to purchase a part of the existing commercial housing at a reasonable price for use as affordable housing. The People's Bank of China has proposed establishing a 300 billion yuan re-lending facility to support affordable housing.
In terms of the construction of public facilities, the National Development and Reform Commission, together with relevant departments and units, will promote local dynamic updates of the official project list, build a platform for docking between banks, enterprises, and governments, regularly advance projects to banking institutions, share project financing information, and speed up project credit investment and lending. In response to the problems of lack of land use indicators and difficulty in land approval in the construction of public infrastructure in some places, the relevant departments of the Ministry of Natural Resources will focus on refining and improving support policies in areas such as land use plan guarantees, land supply support, planning permission management, and land use during emergencies.
Regarding the transformation of urban villages, according to the ‘Guiding Opinions on Actively and Steadily Promoting Urban Village Renovation in Megacities’ for eligible urban village renovation projects, the central government will provide appropriate subsidies through existing channels. Eligible urban village renovation projects will be included in the scope of local government special bonds support. At present, the China Development Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank of China have issued more than 180 billion yuan in special loans for urban village renovation.” 当前，各地各部门抓紧推进“三大工程”建设，完善土地、财税、金融等各项配套支持政策，推动一批项目落地实施，形成实物工作量。保障性住房建设方面，住房城乡建设部有关负责人介绍，商品房库存较多城市，政府可以以需定购，组织地方国有企业以合理价格收购一部分存量商品住房用作保障性住房。中国人民银行提出设立3000亿元保障性住房再贷款给予支持。“平急两用”公共基础设施建设方面，国家发展改革委会同相关部门和单位将推动地方动态更新正式项目清单，搭建银、企、政对接平台，定期向银行机构推介项目，共享项目融资信息，加快项目授信投贷。针对一些地方在“平急两用”公共基础设施建设中存在用地指标缺乏、用地报批难等问题，自然资源部相关司局重点从用地计划保障、供地支持、规划许可管理、应急状态下土地使用等方面细化完善支持政策。城中村改造方面，根据《关于在超大特大城市积极稳步推进城中村改造的指导意见》，对符合条件的城中村改造项目，中央通过现有渠道适当给予补助。将符合条件的城中村改造项目纳入地方政府专项债券支持范围。目前，国家开发银行和中国农业发展银行已发放城中村改造专项借款1800多亿元.
Next, there’s a report on the NDRC releasing an Action Plan for the Construction of a Social Credit System 2024-2025. The document proposes five measures to further promote the high-quality development of the social credit system construction.
In terms of improving the legalisation and standardisation of credit construction, the action plan proposes to accelerate the promulgation of the Social Credit Construction Law; promote full coverage of provincial credit legislation; standardize the authority and procedures for credit information query and use, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of credit subjects in accordance with the law. 提升信用建设法治化规范化水平方面，行动计划提出，加快推动出台社会信用建设法；推动省级信用立法全覆盖；规范信用信息查询使用的权限和程序，依法保护信用主体合法权益.
In terms of coordinating the construction of credit infrastructure, the action plan clearly states that the functions of the credit information platform should be optimised; the integration of local financing credit service platforms should be accelerated; the monitoring of illegal and irregular collection, tampering and disclosure of public credit information should be strengthened, and the protection of personal privacy and business secrets should be strengthened. 统筹推进信用基础设施建设方面，行动计划明确，优化信用信息平台功能；加快地方融资信用服务平台整合；加强对违法违规收集、篡改及泄露公共信用信息行为的监控，加强个人隐私、商业秘密的保护.
In terms of strengthening the sharing and application of credit information, the action plan proposes to improve the data-sharing mechanisms around important areas such as enterprise registration, justice, taxation, customs, finance, and intellectual property rights, and establish unified, authoritative and accurate credit records. Local governments are encouraged to explore the expansion of credit incentive scenarios based on ‘credit points’ and promote the implementation of the ‘credit+’ project in key areas such as medical care, childcare, elderly care, housekeeping, tourism, shopping, and travel. Comprehensively promote credit reports instead of proof of no illegal or irregular activities. 强化信用信息共享应用方面，行动计划提出，围绕企业登记、司法、税务、海关、金融、知识产权等重要领域，健全落地数据共享机制，建立标准统一、权威准确的信用记录。鼓励地方探索依托“信用分”拓展守信激励场景应用，推动在医疗、托育、养老、家政、旅游、购物、出行等重点领域实施“信用+”工程。全面推广信用报告代替无违法违规证明.
In terms of improving the effectiveness of credit supervision, the action plan clearly states that a unified, standardized, collaborative, shared, scientific and efficient credit repair mechanism should be established. 提升信用监管效能方面，行动计划明确，建立健全统一规范、协同共享、科学高效的信用修复机制.
In terms of accelerating the construction of credit in key areas, the action plan proposes to improve the government’s credit performance mechanism, unblock the channels for complaints of government breach of contract and dishonesty, comprehensively improve government credit records, and explore the establishment of a government credit monitoring and evaluation mechanism. Focusing on key professional groups such as civil servants, lawyers, domestic workers, and financial practitioners, explore the establishment and improvement of a personal credit record formation mechanism, and timely collect the credit information formed by relevant personnel in related activities. 加快推进重点领域信用建设方面，行动计划提出，完善政府诚信履约机制，畅通政府违约失信投诉渠道，全面健全政务信用记录，探索建立政务诚信监测评估机制。围绕公务员、律师、家政从业人员、金融从业人员等重点职业人群，探索建立和完善个人信用记录形成机制，及时归集有关人员在相关活动中形成的信用信息.
Page 3: There’s a report on Wang Yi’s meeting with Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. This is a very short report. MoFA’s website has the full readout.
“Wang Yi pointed out that building all-round, in-depth and high-level China-Türkiye relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples. China firmly supports Türkiye in continuing to explore an independent development path, supports Türkiye's efforts to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, and appreciates Türkiye's understanding and support for China's legitimate position on the core interests of China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. China is willing to maintain multi-level exchanges with Turkey, give full play to the role of mechanisms such as the China-Türkiye Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, promote the effective docking of BRI and Turkey's Middle Corridor plan, expand cooperation areas and tap cooperation potential. China is willing to expand imports of high-quality agricultural products from Türkiye, support enterprises of the two countries to continuously improve the level of cooperation and technological content, and strengthen cooperation in culture, education, tourism, aviation and other fields. The two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation at multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, support the United Nations to play a core role in the global governance system, oppose hegemony and power politics, oppose a few countries monopolizing international affairs, oppose ‘building small yards and high walls’ and ‘decoupling and breaking chains’, maintain the stable operation of the global supply chain and industrial chain, and promote the establishment of a fair and reasonable global governance system.” 王毅指出，建设全方位、深层次、高水平的中土关系符合两国和两国人民的根本利益。中方坚定支持土耳其继续探索独立自主发展道路，支持土方为维护主权、安全和发展利益所作努力，赞赏土方在事关中国主权、安全和领土完整的核心利益上理解支持中方正当立场。中方愿同土方保持多层次交往，发挥好中土政府间合作委员会等机制作用，推进共建“一带一路”倡议和土耳其“中间走廊”计划有效对接，拓展合作领域，挖掘合作潜力。中方愿扩大进口土优质农产品，支持两国企业不断提升合作层次与科技含量，密切文化、教育、旅游、航空等领域合作。双方要加强在联合国等多边框架下协调合作，支持联合国在全球治理体系中发挥核心作用，反对霸权主义和强权政治，反对少数国家垄断国际事务，反对“筑墙设垒”、“脱钩断链”，维护全球供应链产业链稳定运行，推动建立公平合理的全球治理体系.
“Fidan said that Türkiye and China have important influence in their regions and globally. The Turkish government attaches great importance to its relations with China, adheres to the one-China principle, and supports China in safeguarding its core interests and major concerns. China's development is crucial to world peace and prosperity. Türkiye opposes bloc confrontation, does not agree with or support erroneous actions that suppress China's development, and does not allow any force to engage in activities on Turkish territory that harm China's sovereignty and security, said Fidan. The Middle Corridor Initiative is highly compatible with the Belt and Road Initiative, and Türkiye is willing to cooperate closely with China to achieve more substantive results in trade, investment, finance, agriculture, tourism, education, and other fields through mechanisms such as the China-Türkiye Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee. Türkiye and China are both emerging market powers and members of the G20, with broad common interests in upholding international fairness and justice. Türkiye highly appreciates China’s fair and just position on issues concerning Ukraine and the Middle East, and looks forward to working constructively with China to make greater contributions to the prosperity and stability of the region and the world.”
Also see SCMP’s report on the Wang-Fidan talks
The two sides also discussed the Ukraine and Gaza wars. After the meeting, the two ministers addressed the press. Wang’s comments on Ukraine are worth noting:”
“Although the conditions for peace talks are not yet in place, China remains committed to its efforts for peace without stopping. We value Switzerland's efforts in preparing for the talks and have repeatedly provided constructive suggestions to the Swiss side. Switzerland has consistently appreciated and thanked us for this. In today's world, there are many conferences, and whether to participate and how to participate will be decided independently by China based on its own position. Wang Yi emphasized that China believes that the world now needs to make more objective, balanced, positive and constructive voices on the Ukraine crisis. To this end, China and Brazil recently jointly issued the ‘Common Understandings Between China and Brazil on Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis.’ In just one week, 45 countries from five continents have responded positively to the ‘six common understandings’ in different ways, of which 26 countries have confirmed their accession or are seriously studying the way of accession. Russia and Ukraine also affirmed most of the contents of these six common understandings. This once again illustrates that these six common understandings meet the common expectations of the majority of countries. China believes that the more countries that support these six common understandings, the closer the day of a truly peaceful summit will be, and the brighter the prospects for peace will become.” 王毅表示，在乌克兰问题上，中国的立场就是劝和促谈，坚定不移，一以贯之。这一立场基于习近平主席在危机初期就提出的“四个应该”，第一条就是各国主权、领土完整应该得到尊重，同时也强调一切有利于和平解决危机的努力都应该得到支持。尽管现在和谈的条件仍不具备，但中方致力于和平的努力一刻也不会停歇。我们重视瑞士为筹备和会所做工作，多次向瑞方提出建设性意见，瑞士方面对此一直予以积极评价和感谢。当今世界各种会议很多，能否参加，怎么参加，中方将根据自身立场自主决定。王毅强调，在乌克兰危机上，世界现在需要发出更多客观、平衡、富有积极意义和建设性的声音。为此，中国和巴西最近联名发表了关于推动政治解决乌克兰危机的“六点共识”。王毅指出，短短一周时间内，已有来自五大洲的45个国家，通过不同方式对“六点共识”作出积极回应，其中26个国家已确认加入或正在认真研究加入方式。俄罗斯、乌克兰也对共识的大部分内容予以肯定。这再次说明“六点共识”符合大多数国家的共同期望。中方相信，支持“六点共识”的国家越多，召开真正和会的日子就越近，实现和平的前景就越光明.