Politburo Meeting - China-Israel Innovation Cooperation - Energy Conservation & Emission Reduction - BRI in South Asia - GDI's Group of Friends - Li Jiheng: Two Establishments & Xi as People's Leader
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Tuesday, January 25, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
FYI, folks: I’ll be skipping tomorrow’s edition; taking a break for Republic Day in India.
Page 1: Let’s begin with a report (English report) on the Politburo meeting on Monday. This was the business that was transacted at the meeting:
The meeting reviewed a report from the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau after the Standing Committee heard and discussed the work reports of the leading Party members groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as the work report of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. The regulations on the handling of petition letters and visits were also reviewed.
Xinhua English also has a nice one-line summary of the next paragraph: “The meeting fully acknowledged the work of these authorities in 2021 and approved their work plans for 2022.” But, it’s worth noting that one of the things that was appreciated as per the PD report was that these authorities had “conscientiously studied and implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.”
The next paragraph starts by talking about the significance of the year 2022 in China’s journey towards modernisation. It then says that “Party groups of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate should adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, deeply understand the decisive significance of the ‘two establishments,’ strengthen the ‘four consciousnesses’, strengthen the ‘four self-confidences’ and achieve the ‘two safeguards’, be mindful of the overall strategic situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the profound changes unprecedented in a century and prepare to convene the 20th Party Congress, adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability, firm up historical self-confidence and take initiative and make concrete progress in all of their work. 会议强调，2022年是进入全面建设社会主义现代化国家、向第二个百年奋斗目标进军新征程的重要一年。全国人大常委会、国务院、全国政协、最高人民法院、最高人民检察院党组要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入领会“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”，胸怀中华民族伟大复兴战略全局和世界百年未有之大变局，紧扣筹备和召开党的二十大聚焦发力，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，坚定历史自信，保持历史主动，踔厉奋发、笃行不怠，扎扎实实做好各项工作。
It further adds: “The authorities were urged to strictly implement the eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct. They must also continue to address the practice of pointless formalities, bureaucracy, hedonism, and extravagance and mercilessly fight corruption, according to the meeting. The Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee was asked to take the lead in safeguarding the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership.”
Second, there’s a report (English report) about Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang exchanging congratulatory messages with their Israeli counterparts Isaac Herzog and Naftali Bennett, respectively. Linked to this is a report around Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan co-chairing the fifth meeting of China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation with Yair Lapid, Israel's alternate prime minister and foreign minister, on Monday.
Xinhua reports that Wang “expressed hopes that the two sides will promote the implementation of important consensuses and major projects, conclude the free-trade negotiations within the year, synergize innovation ideas and resources, and strengthen cooperation in such areas as vaccine and drug research and development, so that China-Israel innovation cooperation in various fields can flourish and play a greater role in promoting the economic and social development of the two countries while enhancing people's well-being.”
In terms of outcomes, the meeting saw the signing of “China-Israel Innovation Cooperation Action Plan (2022-2024), and witnessed the signing of seven cooperation agreements in the fields of science and technology, health, culture, environmental protection, clean energy and intellectual property rights.”
Fourth, there’s an announcement that Xi will chair a virtual summit commemorating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and five Central Asian countries.
Fifth, there’s a report about the new State Council’s Comprehensive Work Plan for Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Xinhua English says that:
“China will appropriately control its total energy consumption and cut the energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 13.5 percent by 2025 compared with the 2020 level, to lay a solid foundation for achieving carbon neutrality, according to a five-year plan on energy conservation and emission reduction released by the State Council. Total emissions of chemical oxygen demand and ammonia nitrogen will see an 8-percent drop, and that of oxynitride and volatile organic compounds will be reduced by more than 10 percent from the 2020 level, said the plan.”
It adds: “A total of 10 major projects, including the green upgrading in key industries, emission reduction in communication and logistics industries and the clean and efficient use of coal, will be launched with clear targets.”
The plan focuses on policy mechanisms in eight areas:
First, optimize and improve the dual control of energy consumption
Second, improve the system for controlling the total amount of pollutants discharged
Third, resolutely curb the blind development of projects that are energy intensive and have high emissions
Fourth, improve regulations and standards
Fifth, improve economic policies
Sixth, improve market mechanisms
Seventh, strengthen capacity building for statistical monitoring
Eighth, strengthen the talent engaged in in energy conservation and emissions reduction
《方案》从八个方面健全政策机制。一是优化完善能耗双控制度。二是健全污染物排放总量控制制度。三是坚决遏制高耗能高排放项目盲目发展。四是健全法规标准。五是完善经济政策。六是完善市场化机制。七是加强统计监测能力建设。八是壮大节能减排人才队伍.
Finally, there’s another piece in the series on Xi meeting grassroots cadres. This one is about his engagement with Yu Hailong, a political instructor of an air force brigade, in 2014 in Gutian. Therefore, the focus is on political work in the forces. The report says that Xi had then had lunch with 11 grassroots military officers and model representatives. Yu, the story tells us, is from the Huang Jiguang unit. The report says that seven years after that meeting, Yu and his comrades have kept in mind Xi’s instructions, “inherited the red gene and taken on the task of strengthening the army.”
Page 3: A few pieces to note. First, there’s this response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Xi’s meeting with Central Asian leaders. Zhao Lijian said that:
“The summit is of great significance for all sides to take stock of the achievements and experience of China-Central Asia relations, and seek coordination and make plans for future bilateral cooperation across the board at a new historical starting point. During the summit, President Xi and heads of state of the five Central Asian countries will deliver important remarks to jointly review the great journey traversed by China and the five Central Asian countries in growing their relations, look back on major achievements in bilateral cooperation, summarize the successful experience and draw up a blueprint for cooperation going forward. At the summit, China and the five Central Asian countries will adopt and release a leaders’ joint statement on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.”
In PD, there’s also a commentary previewing the summit.
Second, the International Liaison Department held a meeting on the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Southeast and South Asian countries. More than 100 leaders and representatives of more than 40 political parties and social organizations from Southeast Asia and South Asia attended the meeting. Song Tao said that the “CPC is ready to work with political parties of other countries in the region to play a leading role in ensuring that Belt and Road cooperation always adheres to high standards, is sustainable and delivers benefits to the people.” 中国共产党愿同地区国家政党发挥政治引领作用，确保共建“一带一路”始终致力于高标准、可持续、惠民生.
Third, a report informing that on January 20, the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China held the Launch Meeting of the Group of Friends of Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the UN headquarters in New York. Delegates from over 100 countries joined the meeting, including more than 80 ambassadors. Zhao Lijian said that “the grand launch of the Group of Friends eloquently proves that the Global Development Initiative put forward by China is widely supported by all parties…Going forward, China will continue to hold various activities under the framework of the Group of Friends to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, further build international consensus and chart the course for practical cooperation.” This is essentially being tied with the 17 sustainable development goals.
Page 9: The lead piece on the page is by Minister of Civil Affairs Li Jiheng. He writes about grasping the significance of the two establishments and achieving the two safeguards.
Li writes that the two establishments are a “major political judgment that reflect the common will of the whole Party and the common aspiration of the people and they conform to the requirements of the times. This is of great and far-reaching historical and practical significance for promoting the whole Party to unite in thought, will and actions, and continuously push forward the great cause of national rejuvenation. “两个确立”是体现全党共同意志、反映人民共同心声、顺应时代要求的重大政治判断，对推动全党进一步统一思想、统一意志、统一行动，不断把民族复兴伟业推向前进，具有重大而深远的历史意义和现实意义.
He further adds that “the two establishments provide a fundamental guarantee for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. A strong core of leadership and scientific theoretical guidance are fundamental issues related to the future and destiny of the party and the country and the success or failure of the cause of the party and the people…The ‘two establishments’ have profoundly clarified the fundamental issue that we should be loyal to the core, support the core, follow the core and defend the core on the new journey, and adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era; they provide a fundamental guarantee for our Party to unite and lead the people of all ethnic groups in the country to adhere to and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, propelling the ship of socialism with Chinese characteristics to brave waves and forge ahead. “两个确立”为新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义提供根本保证。坚强的领导核心和科学的理论指导，是关乎党和国家前途命运、党和人民事业成败的根本性问题...“两个确立”深刻阐明了我们在新征程上要忠诚核心、拥护核心、跟随核心、捍卫核心，坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导这一根本性问题，为我们党团结带领全国各族人民在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义提供了根本保证，必将推动中国特色社会主义事业航船劈波斩浪、一往无前.
In the next paragraph, Li says that the two establishments also provide a fundamental guarantee for building a socialist modern power, particularly keeping in mind the overall situation of the strategy of national rejuvenation and the profound changes taking place in the world.
He then writes that not only are the two establishments the “inevitable choice of history, people and times,” they are also premised on a historical, theoretical and practical logic.
On the historical logic, he argues that the two establishments are “the most important political achievement of the Party’s profound summary of its historical experience…The Party’s century-long struggle has eloquently proved that a strong leadership core and scientific theoretical guidance are vital to the future and destiny of the Party and the country, and played a decisive role in ensuring the smooth development of revolution, construction, and reform.” 党的百年奋斗史雄辩地证明，坚强的领导核心和科学的理论指导关乎党和国家前途命运，对于确保革命、建设、改革事业顺利发展具有决定性作用.
From a theoretical perspective, he argues that reviewing the history of the development of Marxism and socialism, it is clear that “safeguarding the authority of the Party Central Committee and centralizing and unifying leadership is a major principle that a mature Marxist political party must always adhere to; in this, it cannot be vague and waver at any time or under any circumstances. 纵观马克思主义发展史和世界社会主义发展史，维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，是一个成熟的马克思主义政党必须始终坚持、任何时候任何情况下都不能含糊和动摇的重大原则，这是马克思主义建党学说的一个基本观点.
In summing up the lessons of the Paris Commune, Marx and Engels had pointed out that ‘the collapse of the Paris Commune was due to the lack of centralization and authority.’ Lenin believed that ‘it is a long-term and difficult task to bring up a group of experienced and highly respected Party leaders.’ Comrade Mao Zedong pointed out that ‘the core of leadership should be established’. Deng Xiaoping pointed out, ‘leadership without a core is unreliable’. The ‘two establishments’ are our Party’s conscious practice of Marxist scientific theory and the deepening and development of Marxist theory of party building. 马克思、恩格斯在总结巴黎公社教训时深刻指出：“巴黎公社遭到灭亡，就是由于缺乏集中和权威。”列宁认为：“造就一批有经验、有极高威望的党的领袖是一件长期的艰难的事情。”毛泽东同志指出：“要建立领导核心”。邓小平同志指出：“没有核心的领导是靠不住的。”“两个确立”是我们党对马克思主义科学理论的自觉实践，是对马克思主义建党学说的深化和发展.
In terms of the practical logic, he argues that the two establishments are “a major political judgment made by the Party in the new era based on the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics and in the historical process of promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
He later adds:
General Secretary Xi Jinping is the well-deserved core of the Party. He has been tested by history, practice and struggle. He is the people’s leader who has won the heartfelt support and love of the whole Party and the whole nation, and is the leader of the process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era is contemporary Chinese Marxism and 21st century Marxism. It is an action guide to lead the Party’s great self-revolution and promote the great social revolution. The ‘two establishments’ conform to the historical trend, grasp the general trend of the times and reflect the people’s aspirations. They are the inevitable requirements for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. 习近平总书记是经过历史检验、实践考验、斗争历练的当之无愧的党的核心，是赢得全党全国人民衷心拥护爱戴的人民领袖，是实现中华民族伟大复兴的领路人；习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是当代中国马克思主义、二十一世纪马克思主义，是引领党的伟大自我革命、推动伟大社会革命的行动指南。“两个确立”顺应历史趋势、把握时代大势、反映人民心声，是在新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义的必然要求。
In the final section, he talks about transforming the two establishments into ideological, political and action consciousness to achieve the two safeguards. This bit from the next few paragraphs is really useful to note.
Deeply understand the decisive significance of the two establishments; maintain political orientation and firm political stand; always maintain alignment with General Secretary Xi Jinping, the CPC Central Committee, the Party’s theories, line, principles and policies, and the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee; resolutely uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee as the ultimate arbiter of decisions; and always maintain a high degree of ideological, political and action alignment with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. Cultivate the political character of absolute loyalty, internalize the ‘two establishments’ in mind and externalize them in practice, always trust the core ideologically, sincerely love the core emotionally, resolutely safeguard the core politically, consciously obey the core organizationally, always follow the core in action, and constantly polish the political character of the civil affairs system, in order to ensure that it can stand firm and is reliable and trustworthy at any time and under any circumstances… 进一步增强政治自觉。深刻领会“两个确立”的决定性意义，把准政治方向、坚定政治立场，始终做到向习近平总书记看齐、向党中央看齐、向党的理论和路线方针政策看齐、向党中央决策部署看齐，坚决维护党中央定于一尊、一锤定音的权威，时刻在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致。涵养绝对忠诚的政治品格，将“两个确立”内化于心、外化于行，始终在思想上高度信赖核心、感情上衷心爱戴核心、政治上坚决维护核心、组织上自觉服从核心、行动上始终紧跟核心，不断擦亮民政系统鲜明的政治底色，确保任何时候任何情况下都站得稳、靠得住、信得过。持续营造风清气正的政治生态，严守政治纪律和政治规矩，始终做政治上的明白人，不断提高政治判断力、政治领悟力、政治执行力.
Page 13: A few reports about discipline violations:
First, Cai Esheng, a former senior official of China’s banking regulator, has been expelled for corruption. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection found Cai had seriously violated the party's discipline, conducted illegal activities on his post and was suspected of taking bribes.
Second, Xu Ming, former deputy head of the State Administration of Grain, has been expelled from the Party over severe violations of Party discipline and laws.
Xinhua reports that:
“An investigation found that Xu took advantage of his position to seek benefits for his family member in business operation, and for others in business operation, project contracting and personal promotion, said a statement issued by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission, adding that he illegally accepted huge amounts of money and gifts in return. He was also found to have taken private business owners' money and gifts, visited private clubs, and attended banquets in disregard of rules, according to the statement. The investigation found Xu issued groundless criticisms of the Party's policies and indulged in superstitious activities. The statement said Xu, who was disloyal to the Party and morally corrupt, had lost his ideals and convictions and betrayed his original aspirations and mission. A decision has been made to deprive Xu of the remuneration and benefits that go along with his former position, confiscate his illicit gains, and hand over his case to the designated procuratorate for further investigation and prosecution.”
Do read SCMP’s report on Xu too: China’s Communist Party expels Bo Xilai protégé in corruption probe aftermath
Third, Meng Xiang, former chief of the enforcement bureau of the Supreme People’s Court, has been expelled from the Party.
“An investigation into Meng found that he accepted gifts against the rules, attended banquets that might influence his decisions in carrying out duties, and engaged in profit-seeking activities against the rules. Other offenses include intervening in the selection and appointment of officials as well as judicial activities against the regulations, and living a corrupt life, according to a statement from the CCDI and the National Supervisory Commission. Meng also took advantage of his positions to help others in the trial and enforcement of cases and in securing construction project contracts, and accepted a huge amount of money and valuables in return. Meng has severely violated the Party discipline and is suspected of taking bribes and serious violations of duty-related laws, the statement said, adding that his case is serious in nature and has a bad influence.”