PLA's Political Work Conference - Xi's Visits to Ningxia & Qinghai - China's Tech Focus
Hi folks,
My apologies for missing out on last week’s editions. I spent the week basically recovering from a nasty viral bug. But all better now, and thought I’d catch up on what Xi Jinping’s been upto over the past few days, before getting to today’s paper.
Cheers,
Manoj
First, Xi Jinping held a PLA political work conference in Yan’an, 10 years after a similar meeting was held in Gutian. The report says that:
Xi Jinping stressed that “we must uphold the Party’s absolute leadership over the military, implement the strategy of political building of the military in the new era, firmly grasp the political requirements for building the military in the current era, focus on achieving the centennial goal of building a strong military, carry forward the spirit of thorough self-revolution, continue to deepen political training, forge a strong party organization with firm political convictions and strong capabilities, forge a high-quality cadre team that is loyal, clean, responsible, and capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of strengthening the military, and provide a strong political guarantee for the cause of strengthening the military.” 中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平出席会议并发表重要讲话。习近平强调，要坚持党对军队绝对领导，贯彻落实新时代政治建军方略，牢牢把握政治建军时代要求，聚焦打好实现建军一百年奋斗目标攻坚战，发扬彻底的自我革命精神，持续深化政治整训，锻造政治坚定、能力过硬的坚强党组织，锻造忠诚干净担当、堪当强军重任的高素质干部队伍，为强军事业提供坚强政治保证.
The first bit of the report talks about Xi leading CMC members and heads of various departments and units to visit the revolutionary relics at Wangjiaping, where the CMC's headquarters were stationed from August 1937 to March 1947. He visited the former residences of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and Zhu De. Xi then said the visit to Yan’an was an effort to trace the military’s roots.
“In the new era and on a new journey, China and its military face bright prospects and arduous tasks. Senior cadres of the entire army should bear in mind the original mission and carrying forward the Yan’an Spirit, take the lead in strengthening the revolutionary forging, shoulder the historical responsibility entrusted by the Party and the people, unite and lead the officers and soldiers in fighting hard to achieve the military’s centennial goal, and constantly push forward the cause of building a strong army.” 习近平指出，10年前我们到古田召开全军政治工作会议，今天我们来延安召开军委政治工作会议，再一次寻根溯源。新时代新征程，强国强军前景光明，任务艰巨。全军高级干部要牢记初心使命，带头弘扬延安精神，带头加强革命性锻造，扛起党和人民赋予的历史重任，团结带领广大官兵打好实现建军一百年奋斗目标攻坚战，把强军事业不断推向前进.
In his speech at the conference, Xi said that with the efforts taken since the 18th Party Congress, “historic achievements have been made in the political development of the military in the new era”. He added: “without revolutionary political forging, there can be no great transformation of the people’s army in the new era.” 习近平在会议上发表重要讲话。他指出，党的十八大以来，党中央果断决策召开古田全军政治工作会议，以整风精神推进政治整训，坚定不移全面从严治党、全面从严治军，决心之大前所未有，力度之大前所未有，新时代政治建军取得历史性成就。如果没有政治上的革命性锻造，就不可能有新时代人民军队伟大变革.
Xi said that since the 18th Party Congress, “we have deeply advanced the theoretical exploration and practical innovation of political military development, and formed the political strategy for building the military in the new era. We clarified that:
political army-building is the foundation of the people's army
political work will always be the lifeline of our army
political training must focus on rectifying the political roots
mastering ideological leadership is the basis for mastering all leadership
the Party's strength comes from its organisation, and the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the troops come from their organisation
the gun must always be in the hands of those who are loyal and reliable to the Party
only strictness can ensure proper discipline, uphold military prestige, and produce combat effectiveness
there must be no place for corrupt elements in the military
excellent conduct is necessary to shape a heroic army
the unity between the military and the government, as well as between the military and the people, is the magic weapon for our military’s victory.
We must fully and accurately learn and understand the strategy of political army building in the new era, implement it unswervingly, and continuously enrich and develop it in practice.”
习近平强调，党的十八大以来，我们深入推进政治建军理论探索和实践创造，形成了新时代政治建军方略，明确政治建军是人民军队立军之本，明确政治工作永远是我军的生命线，明确政治整训要突出政治上的正本清源，明确掌握思想领导是掌握一切领导的基础，明确党的力量来自组织、部队凝聚力战斗力来自组织，明确枪杆子要始终掌握在对党忠诚可靠的人手中，明确严才能正纲纪、严才能肃军威、严才能出战斗力，明确军中绝不能有腐败分子藏身之地，明确作风优良才能塑造英雄部队，明确军政军民团结是我军胜利法宝。对新时代政治建军方略，要全面准确学习领会，毫不动摇贯彻落实，并在实践中不断丰富发展.
“Xi Jinping pointed out that currently, the international situation, the domestic situation, the Party's situation, and the military situation are all undergoing complex and profound changes, presenting our military with intricate and complex political tests. It is necessary to grasp the requirements of political army building in the new era, constantly promote political army building without ceasing, ensure that the people’s army always maintains its nature and purpose, always dare to fight and win, always remains united and strives, always produces outstanding talents, always maintains purity and honour, and always strictly enforces laws and regulations, and constantly enhances the political advantages of our army under the conditions of the new era.” 习近平指出，当前，世情、国情、党情、军情都在发生复杂深刻变化，我军在政治上面临的考验错综复杂。要牢牢把握政治建军时代要求，一刻不停推进政治建军，确保人民军队永葆性质宗旨、始终敢打必胜、始终团结奋斗、始终人才辈出、始终纯洁光荣、始终法纪严明，在新的时代条件下不断增强我军政治优势.
“Xi Jinping deeply analyzed the deep-seated contradictions and problems that need to be solved in the current phase of political army building. He emphasized that these issues manifest in politics, ideology, organization, style, discipline, and other aspects, with their roots lying in ideals and beliefs, Party spirit cultivation, and officials' ethics and character. At all levels, especially senior officials, need to put themselves into it, muster the courage to set aside saving face/their reputations (拿出抛开面子), expose shortcomings, and reveal the ugly truths. With an attitude of deeply digging into the root causes and touching souls, they should engage in soul-searching reflections, carry out earnest rectification, address fundamental ideological issues, and promote the deepening and solidification of political military development.” 习近平深刻剖析当前政治建军需要解决的深层次矛盾和问题。他强调，这些问题表现在政治、思想、组织、作风、纪律等方面，根子在理想信念、党性修养、官德人品上。各级特别是高级干部要把自己摆进来，拿出抛开面子、揭短亮丑的勇气，以深挖根源、触动灵魂的态度，深刻反思，认真整改，解决好思想根子问题，推动政治建军走深走实.
Next, Xi talked about the need to do a good job in six areas to promote political construction of the army:
First, enhance the consciousness and thoroughness of ideological transformation. This entails strengthening the Party's ideological and theoretical education, reading the original works and understanding the principles, promoting the integration of learning, thinking, and application…ensure that senior officials receive education first, promote the implementation of the ideological and political education system in the military, and firmly establish the orientation of testing learning results with actual results. 第一，增强思想改造的自觉性和彻底性。持续抓好党的创新理论武装，坚持读原著学原文悟原理，坚持学思用贯通、知信行统一，坚持高级干部先受教育，推动我军思想政治教育体系落地，立牢以实际成效检验学习成果的导向。
Second, improve the leadership, organization and execution of Party organizations. Enhance political judgement, understanding and execution, enhance the ability to prepare for and fight wars, and ensure that the Party's leadership is integrated into all aspects and throughout the entire process of preparing for war. Strictly implement democratic centralism, optimize the rules of deliberation and decision-making of the Party committee, and strengthen the consultation and evaluation of major decisions. Strengthen the responsibility of the Party committee secretary as the first person in charge of Party governance. 第二，提高党组织领导力、组织力、执行力。增强政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力，提高抓备战打仗能力，把党的领导贯穿到备战打仗各领域和全过程。严格落实民主集中制，优化党委议事决策规则，加强重大决策咨询评估工作。强化党委书记管党治党第一责任人责任.
Third, strengthen the construction of the cadre team. Implement the Party's organisation line in the new era, fully and accurately understand and grasp the standards for good military cadres, and fully implement this standard in all aspects of cadre work. Improve cadre assessment work, enhance the penetration and precision in understanding and selecting personnel. Implement the concept of full link construction, take the training of talents as a strategic task, and improve the overall efficiency of cadre team construction. 第三，加强干部队伍建设。贯彻新时代党的组织路线，完整准确理解把握军队好干部标准，把这一标准全面落实到干部工作各环节。改进干部考核工作，提高知事识人穿透力精准度。贯彻全链路抓建理念，把将才培养作为战略任务来抓，提高干部队伍建设整体效能.
Fourth, eradicate the soil and conditions for the breeding of corruption. Adhere to the strict tone without wavering, treat both the symptoms and the root causes, and implement systematic treatment; integrate and strengthen the Party committee's primary responsibility, the discipline inspection commission's supervisory responsibility, and the department’s integrity oversight responsibility, expanding the depth and breadth of the anti-corruption struggle; improve the mechanisms for allocation of power and operational constraints, enrich the toolbox for punishing new types of corruption and hidden corruption, and strengthen all-round supervision of senior cadres in performing their duties and using their powers. 第四，铲除腐败滋生的土壤和条件。坚持严的基调不动摇，标本兼治、系统施治，贯通压实党委主体责任、纪委监督责任、行业部门廉政主管责任，拓展反腐败斗争深度广度。完善权力配置和运行制约机制，丰富惩治新型腐败和隐性腐败工具箱，加强高级干部履职用权全方位监管.
Fifth, boost the spirit and state of entrepreneurship. This covers building a “scientific performance evaluation system” and addressing formalism and bureaucratism and grassroots burdens, along with ensuring effective implementation of policies and systems related to military personnel benefits and guarantees.第五，提振干事创业精神状态。构建科学的政绩考核评价体系，动态更新形式主义、官僚主义问题清单，深入纠治“五多”为基层减负。打通军人待遇保障等政策制度落实“最后一公里”，实实在在为基层解难帮困，增强官兵获得感和归属感.
Sixth, restore and promote the fine traditions of political work. Adhere to seeking truth from facts, emphasize leading by personal example rather than mere verbal instruction. At all levels, especially among senior officials, lead by example, set a precedent, and lead the troops with exemplary conduct and image. 第六，恢复和弘扬政治工作优良传统。坚持实事求是，坚持身教胜于言教，各级特别是高级干部要以身作则、率先垂范，以过硬作风和形象感召带动部队.
Second, on Friday, the paper had a detailed report on Xi Jinping’s visit to Qinghai. Xinhua English has a detailed report too. It says:
“Xi said that Qinghai should have a clear understanding of its strategic positioning in the overall development of the country, fully leverage its own advantages, firmly deepen reform, expand opening up, prioritize ecological conservation and pursue green development. He urged the province to uphold ethnic unity and seek common prosperity, and make greater progress in promoting eco-environmental protection and high-quality development on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, so as to write its own chapter in advancing Chinese modernization.”
In the provincial capital Xining, Xi visited Golog Xining Ethnic Middle School. It is a boarding school that was funded and built with assistance from Shanghai and is attached to Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Among the many things that Xi is said to have learned about, one was the “putonghua proficiency” of students. He “was very happy to learn that the school has integrated ideological and political lessons into its daily teaching”. The report adds:
“Xi said that the collaboration between the country's eastern and western regions as well as paired assistance, particularly in education, has yielded remarkable results. This fully showcases the strengths of the CPC's leadership and the socialist system with Chinese characteristics, as well as the support for each other among members of the big family of the Chinese nation”.
“Xi stressed the need to make it a key task of school ideological and political lessons to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, tell well the story of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, the story of comprehensively promoting the building of a strong country and the realization of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization in the new era, and the story of the community for the Chinese nation as well as ethnic unity and progress, so that the sense of community for the Chinese nation can be implanted in the hearts of children since childhood.”
And this is what he reportedly told the students:
“He emphasized the achievements and importance of the school, which was built with fund and assistance from Shanghai and accommodates ethnic minority students from the pastoral areas of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He expressed the hope that the students will cherish the favorable conditions of the school, be grateful, study hard, and develop sound moral grounding, intellectual ability, physical vigor, aesthetic sensibility, and work skills. They should aspire to become successors to and builders of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, striving to create opportunities for developing a distinguished career.”
After this, Xi visited Hongjue Temple in downtown Xining.
Xi “was briefed on the temple's efforts to strengthen daily management and promote ethnic unity and progress. Xi pointed out that the centuries-old Hongjue Temple had played an important role as a bridge in strengthening the bond between the central government and Tibetan Buddhism over generations. It is essential to protect this precious historical and cultural heritage and make further contributions to forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promoting ethnic unity and progress. He noted the need to learn from veteran revolutionaries and do a better job in the Party's united front, ethnic and religious work in the new era. Xi stressed that to build a strong country and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups around the country including religious believers should strive in unity. He expressed the hope that the Tibetan Buddhist circle in the province should carry forward the fine traditions of patriotism and religious piety, help promote religious, social and ethnic harmony, and play a positive role in advancing Chinese modernization.”
The next day Xi was briefed on the work of the province by the CPC Qinghai Provincial Committee and the provincial government. He then made the following points:
The region should “build a modern industrial system that reflects Qinghai's characteristics and advantages.” It should “effectively pool resources to speed up building itself into a world-class salt lake industrial base, a national highland for clean energy industry, a destination for international ecological tourism, and a supplier of green and organic agricultural and livestock products. The province should attach equal importance to scientific and technological research and development and the application of sci-tech achievements. New technologies should be applied extensively, traditional industries transformed and upgraded according to local conditions, and emerging strategic industries developed to foster new quality productive forces. Further efforts are required to deepen reform on all fronts and expand opening up and optimize the business environment. The province should also align its development with that of major strategies such as the Yangtze River Economic Belt and promote the development of the green Silk Road. Qinghai should coordinate regional development within the province, give full play to the supportive role of Xining, Haidong and Haixi, and develop county economies and industries with local features according to local conditions.”
“It is imperative for the province to prioritize eco-environmental protection, advance green development, conscientiously execute the law concerning ecological conservation on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and implement on all fronts the plans and requirements entailed by its principal zone function so as to build the plateau into a hub for ecological conservation. It is imperative for the province to persist with a holistic and systematic approach to conserving and improving mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland, and desert ecosystems. Efforts should be made to accelerate the implementation of major projects for the conserving and restoring of key ecosystems, and consolidate and enhance what has been achieved in ecological conservation and environmental protection. The utmost priority is to conserve the source region of three major rivers, also known as ‘the water tower of China,’ protect biodiversity, and boost water conservation capacity. Efforts should also be made to strengthen the establishment of a nature reserve system with national parks as the mainstay and build exemplary nature reserves with national characteristics and global influence. It is necessary to promote energy conservation and carbon reduction in key sectors in an orderly manner, develop eco-friendly industries, and accelerate the development of a new energy system.”
Xi called on the province to “do everything within its capacities” to meet people's needs, “deliver real benefits to the people, and win their approval…” He also called to “coordinate and plan the layout of basic public service facilities and put more efforts into making public services more balanced and accessible. Rural revitalization should focus on increasing the income of farmers and herdsmen, and efforts should be accelerated to invigorate characteristic seed industries of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, develop green and organic agricultural and animal husbandry, and promote native product brands of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. It is also necessary to advance the construction of beautiful rural areas on the Plateau and promote the transformation of outdated rural customs. Monitoring and assistance mechanisms should be implemented to prevent those lifted out of poverty from falling back to poverty, and see that no large number of people become poverty-stricken again.”
“The province should fully implement the Party's major principles and policies for ethnic affairs in the new era, make it a main task to consolidate the sense of community for the Chinese nation, make efforts to promote ethnic unity and progress, and facilitate all-round integration and extensive exchanges and interactions among all ethnic groups. It is necessary for the province to fully implement the theories, principles and policies of the Party's religious work in the new era, uphold the principle of developing religions in the Chinese context, and strengthen the administration of religious affairs, especially the administration of religious venues, in accordance with the law.”
He added that “it is a must for the Party discipline to be enforced and abided by to the letter when the campaign has brought home its importance.” He called to “vigorously carry forward the zeitgeist with reform and innovation at its core”. “Concerted work must be done to enhance Party consciousness, improve Party conduct, and tighten Party discipline, and endeavors in this regard should facilitate fight against corruption. Work on improving Party conduct must continue permanently and further fight against pointless formalities so as to reduce burden on primary-level officials. Coordinated steps should be taken to see that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to be corrupt so that a wholesome political atmosphere will help create a positive and upright social environment.”
On Saturday, there was a report on Xi’s visit to Ningxia. Once again Xinhua English has a detailed report. It says:
Xi “urged Ningxia to take it as the guiding principle to forge a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, and make it a major task to build an ecological conservation and high-quality development pilot zone in the Yellow River Basin. Under the guiding principle and major task, Ningxia should coordinate the promotion of high-quality development and high-level protection, comprehensively deepen reform and expand opening up, advance a new type of urbanization and rural revitalization, and strengthen its work on ethnic unity and common prosperity.”
In Ningxia’s capital Yinchuan, Xi visited the Changcheng Garden community. The report says that “he learned in detail how Party organizations in the community play their role in organizing neighborhood activities and providing services to residents…Xi pointed out that community Party organizations are the ‘nerve ends’ of the CPC to establish contact with people at the grassroots, and they should play a leading role in a community. When community Party organizations are well established and strong, community work has its anchor, Xi said. Party building should function as a linchpin for community work, which should focus on addressing the pressing difficulties and problems that concern people most, and do everything possible in earnest to serve the needs of residents.”
This is what Xi told the people of the community later: “‘After four years, I (have) come to Ningxia again to visit the officials and people of all ethnic groups. I am very happy to see you all!’ The Chinese nation is a big family and people of all ethnic groups should be closely united like the seeds of a pomegranate, he said. He stressed the need to consolidate the sense of community for the Chinese nation, bringing people's hearts of all ethnic groups closer, and rallying forces from all sectors to jointly advance Chinese modernization and participate in the grand endeavor of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
The next day, Xi was briefed on the work of the autonomous region by the CPC Ningxia Hui Autonomous Regional Committee and the regional government. His remarks then covered the following:
“Ningxia should take a special and different path for its industrial development, so as to build a modern industrial system with special advantages and competitiveness. He urged the autonomous region to constantly refine and intensively develop its modern coal chemical industry, new materials industry as well as clean energy such as wind power, photovoltaics, and hydrogen energy, along with other characteristic industries like wine and goji berries. Efforts should be made to make the development of these industries sustainable. He also noted the need for the autonomous region to integrate culture and tourism, and vigorously develop characteristic and ‘all-for-one’ tourism. It is imperative for the region to advance the integration between scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation, intensify the application of scientific and technological achievements, boost the transformation and upgrading of its traditional industries, develop strategic emerging industries, and forge new quality productive forces according to local conditions…”
“He called on Ningxia to improve the systems underpinning the market economy, actively integrate itself into the building of a unified national market, continue to advance reform of state-owned capital and state-owned enterprises, conscientiously implement the policies boosting the development of the private sector, optimize the business environment, and give impetus to social investment. Ningxia should also remain committed to coordinating opening up both domestically and abroad, take an active part in the Belt and Road Initiative and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, deepen economic and trade cooperation with Arab countries, and improve the level of opening up in inland regions, said Xi. He added that the baseline for Ningxia to plan reform and development is to protect well the ecosystems of the Yellow River, the Helan Mountain, the Liupan Mountain and the Luoshan Mountain. It is imperative for the autonomous region to advance reform on market-based allocation of resources and environmental factors, refine the mechanisms to realize the market value of ecosystem goods and services and the compensation system for ecological conservation, and implement the strictest management system for water resources. It is imperative for the autonomous region to win the tough battle against desertification in the riverbend region of the Yellow River, and promote in a coordinated manner the conservation and restoration of forest, grassland, wetland, and desert ecosystems as well as the comprehensive treatment of saline and alkaline land, so as to make the ‘oasis land north of the Great Wall’ increasingly beautiful.”
Xi then mentioned the tasks related to meeting people’s livelihood needs and the need to “take solid steps to promote common prosperity among all ethnic groups. Efforts should be made to prioritize employment and effectively assist key groups including college graduates, migrant workers, and ex-service people in finding jobs … It is also imperative for the region to promote the integrated development of urban and rural areas in accordance with the movement of population, and advance the integration of urban and rural industry development, infrastructure, and public services. It is a must for the autonomous region to advance rural revitalization across the board, implement the action plan well to help millions of migrants become prosperous, advance the construction of beautiful rural areas, and promote the transformation of outdated rural customs. Efforts should also be made to consolidate and expand what has been achieved in poverty alleviation, and deepen paired assistance and social support to see that no large number of people become poverty-stricken again. Good work must be done to ensure workplace safety, and strengthen the work to identify and address risks and potential dangers, so as to effectively safeguard the safety of people's lives and property.”
“Ningxia should fully implement the Party's major principles and policies for work on ethnic affairs in the new era, and strive to make the autonomous region a demonstration area for consolidating the sense of community for the Chinese nation. The autonomous region should govern ethnic affairs in accordance with the law, focus on building a social structure and community environment where residents from different ethnic groups live as neighbors, and continuously broaden the practical path for all ethnic groups to be fully integrated. It is essential for Ningxia to fully implement the theories, principles and policies of the Party's religious work in the new era, and strengthen ideological and political guidance for the religious circle.”
He added that “the on-going campaign to study the Party discipline across the entire Party must be carried out in earnest so that real outcome can be achieved…Abiding by the Party discipline and regulations, Party members and officials should focus on their work, stay open-minded, forge ahead, and try to achieve as much as they can. Concerted work must be done to enhance Party consciousness, improve Party conduct, and tighten Party discipline. Work on improving Party conduct must continue permanently. It is essential to further fight against pointless formalities so as to reduce the burden on primary-level officials. Coordinated steps should be taken to see that officials do not have the audacity, opportunity, or desire to be corrupt so that sound Party conduct will help rally people's support and guide social morals.”
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Monday, June 24, 2024.
Page 1: The big story on the page is a feature article highlighting the record of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core leading the development of scientific and technological innovation.
“From importing even a single screw to showcasing the innovative confidence of a major power, science and technology have never before driven national progress and benefited people's lives as they do today. It took China decades to complete the industrialization process that took Western developed countries hundreds of years. It has established the world's most comprehensive and largest research and industrial systems, entered the ranks of innovative countries, and significantly enhanced productivity levels and technological innovation capabilities. Amid the profound changes unseen in a century accelerating, a surge in global technological innovation is bringing profound transformations and significant impacts to human society. A new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is reshaping the global innovation landscape and restructuring the global economic structure.
Standing at a new historical starting point, General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly revealed the ‘historical logic’ of the rise and fall of nations, proposing that ‘the rise of science and technology will lead to the rise of the nation, and strength of science and technology will lead to the strength of the country’ and ‘grasping innovation is grasping development, and seeking innovation is seeking the future’. It is clear that ‘innovation is the first driving force for development and the strategic support for building a modern economic system’. He has emphasized the core position of innovation in the overall situation of China’s modernization construction, and proposed to achieve high-level scientific and technological self-reliance by 2035, with China entering the forefront of innovative countries, and building a strong country in science and technology…
The Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has taken overall control of the development of science and technology, constantly expanded new horizons, put forth new propositions, made new judgments, and launched a series of foundation-laying measures and long-term strategies, which have pointed out the direction for building a strong country in science and technology and provided a fundamental guideline. Scientific research institutes, universities, high-tech enterprises, high-tech industrial development zones... General Secretary Xi Jinping's footsteps have repeatedly reached the most active places for innovation elements.” 从一颗螺丝钉也要进口到大国重器彰显创新底气，科学技术从来没有像今天这样推动国家进步、造福人民生活。我国用几十年的时间走完了西方发达国家几百年走过的工业化历程，建成全球最完整、规模最大的研发体系和工业体系，进入创新型国家行列，生产力水平和科技创新能力大幅提升。百年未有之大变局加速演进，全球科技创新风起云涌，为人类社会带来深刻变革和重大影响，新一轮科技革命和产业变革正在重构全球创新版图、重塑全球经济结构。站在新的历史起点，习近平总书记深刻揭示国家兴衰的“历史逻辑”，提出“科技兴则民族兴，科技强则国家强”“抓创新就是抓发展，谋创新就是谋未来”。明确“创新是引领发展的第一动力，是建设现代化经济体系的战略支撑”，强调创新在我国现代化建设全局中的核心地位，提出到2035年实现高水平科技自立自强，进入创新型国家前列，建成科技强国……以习近平同志为核心的党中央统揽科技事业发展全局，不断拓展新视野、提出新命题、作出新论断，推出一系列奠基之举、长远之策，为建设科技强国指明了前进方向、提供了根本遵循。科研院所、高校、高新技术企业、高新技术产业开发区……习近平总书记的脚步，一次次踏入创新要素最活跃的地方.
The piece then emphasises self-reliance. It says:
“In the face of increasingly fierce international competition, General Secretary Xi Jinping revealed the ‘reverse pressure logic’ of scientific and technological innovation from the perspective of responding to risks and challenges, and proposed that ‘major scientific and technological innovation achievements are the country's heavy weapons and sharp weapons, and must be firmly grasped in our own hands’; from the perspective of advancing with the times, he revealed the ‘realistic logic’ of economic and social development, proposing that ‘for China to be strong and for the Chinese people to live well, strong science and technology are indispensable’. This is a sober assessment in the face of complex and changing internal and external environments:
‘Key core technologies cannot be obtained, bought, or begged for’;
‘We cannot always use others' yesterday to dress up our own tomorrow’;
‘Even if an Internet company is large in scale and high in market value, if it heavily relies on foreign core components, with the “lifeline” of the supply chain controlled by others, it is like building a house on someone else's foundation—no matter how big or beautiful, it may not withstand the wind and rain, and may even collapse with a single blow..."
The situation compels action, challenges compel action, and mission compels action.’ To solve these ‘bottleneck’ issues, ultimately, we must rely on ourselves. Based on the urgent and long-term needs of the country, all-out efforts have been made in seeds, oil and gas, basic raw materials, industrial software, scientific experimental instruments and equipment, chemical preparations, etc., and breakthroughs of a number of key core technologies in the fields of drugs, medical devices, medical equipment, vaccines, etc, have been accelerated.”
面对日趋激烈的国际博弈，习近平总书记从应对风险挑战的维度揭示科技创新的“倒逼逻辑”，提出“重大科技创新成果是国之重器、国之利器，必须牢牢掌握在自己手上”；从时代进步的维度揭示经济社会发展的“现实逻辑”，提出“中国要强，中国人民生活要好，必须有强大科技”。这是直面复杂多变内外部环境的清醒研判：“关键核心技术是要不来、买不来、讨不来的”；“不能总是用别人的昨天来装扮自己的明天”；“一个互联网企业即便规模再大、市值再高，如果核心元器件严重依赖外国，供应链的‘命门’掌握在别人手里，那就好比在别人的墙基上砌房子，再大再漂亮也可能经不起风雨，甚至会不堪一击”……“形势逼人，挑战逼人，使命逼人”，解决这些“卡脖子”问题，最终要靠自己. 从国家急迫需要和长远需求出发，我国在农作物种子、石油天然气、基础原材料、工业软件、科学试验用仪器设备、化学制剂等方面全力攻坚，加快突破一批药品、医疗器械、医用设备、疫苗等领域关键核心技术.
The next section talks about specific steps, such as the establishment of the Central Science and Technology Commission, the focus on supporting talents, the reduction of forms required to fill in the National Key R&D Program being reduced from 57 to 11, reduction in burdens on scientists, etc. It also references the adoption of the Implementation Plan for Deepening the Reform of the Science and Technology System, the Action Plan for Promoting the Transfer and Transformation of Scientific and Technological Achievements and the Plan for Deepening the Reform of the Science and Technology Award System. The section ends by saying that as per WIPO, China’s global innovation index ranking was 12th in 2023.
Moving on, there’s a report (English report) on the successful testing of China’s reusable carrier rocket, which completed a 10-km vertical take-off and landing.
Page 3: First, there’s a report (English report) on the beginning of construction of Kinshasa’s ring roads project. This is one of the priority infrastructure projects within the cooperation package of ‘resource for projects’ between the DRC and China.
Second, there’s a report on Peng Qinghua, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, leading a delegation to Russia from Wednesday to Sunday. Xinhua says:
“Peng met with Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin and Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev, and co-chaired the second meeting of the joint working group of the China-Russia committee for parliamentary cooperation with Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma Alexander Babakov. Peng noted that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia. Under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, China-Russia relations continued to develop at a high level. Cooperation between legislative bodies of the two countries constitutes an important part of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, said Peng, stressing that China is ready to work with Russia to fully utilize the joint working group and other mechanisms and platforms to give full play to the unique advantages and significant roles of the legislative bodies of both countries, constantly consolidate political mutual trust, tap the potential for cooperation, and promote the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations…Members of the joint working group from both sides exchanged views on law-making in key areas of mutual concern.”
Page 7: There’s a report (English report) informing that Zhong Ziran, the head of China Geological Survey affiliated with the Ministry of Natural Resources, has been expelled from the Party for serious violations of duty and suspected crimes of bribery and intentional disclosure of state secrets.