Politburo Meeting on 15th FYP - Xi's Qiushi Article on Political Achievements - Wang-Lavrov Call on Iran War
In today’s edition, I am covering three important reports over the weekend and on Monday.
Saturday’s paper carried a report on the monthly Politburo meeting to discuss the draft outline of the 15th FYP and the draft Government Work Report. The report says:
The meeting pointed out that the 14th FYP marked a momentous and extraordinary period in China’s development. Faced with a complex and volatile international situation and arduous domestic tasks of reform, development, and stability, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core united and led the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to overcome difficulties and forge ahead. It withstood the severe impact of the global pandemic, effectively responded to a series of major risks and challenges, and secured significant new achievements in the cause of the Party and the country. After five years of continuous struggle, the main goals and tasks of the 14th FYP were successfully completed. China’s economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and comprehensive national power have reached new heights, Chinese-style modernization has taken new and solid steps, and the new journey toward the second centenary goal has achieved a good start. 会议指出，“十四五”时期我国发展历程极不寻常、极不平凡。面对错综复杂的国际形势和艰巨繁重的国内改革发展稳定任务，以习近平同志为核心的党中央团结带领全党全国各族人民迎难而上、砥砺前行，经受住世纪疫情严重冲击，有效应对一系列重大风险挑战，推动党和国家事业取得新的重大成就。经过5年持续奋斗，“十四五”规划主要目标任务胜利完成，我国经济实力、科技实力、综合国力跃上新台阶，中国式现代化迈出新的坚实步伐，第二个百年奋斗目标新征程实现良好开局.
The meeting held that the 15th FYP period is a crucial period for laying a solid foundation and making comprehensive efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. Under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, scientifically formulating and implementing the outline of the 15th FYP, striving to consolidate and expand advantages, break through bottleneck constraints, and strengthen weak links and shortcomings, is of great significance for promoting China’s high-quality economic and social development and for laying an even more solid foundation for basically realizing socialist modernisation. 会议认为，“十五五”时期是基本实现社会主义现代化夯实基础、全面发力的关键时期。在党中央领导下科学编制实施“十五五”规划纲要，努力巩固拓展优势、破除瓶颈制约、补强短板弱项，对于推动我国经济社会高质量发展，为基本实现社会主义现代化奠定更加坚实的基础，具有重大意义.
The meeting emphasised that in order to promote economic and social development during the 15th FYP period, it is necessary to comprehensively implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and all plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, and conscientiously carry out the deployments of the Fourth Plenary Session. Focussing on building a modern socialist country in all respects and achieving the second centenary goal, comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernisation; coordinate the overall layout of the Five-Sphere Integrated Plan, coordinate the strategic layout of the Four Comprehensives, and coordinate the domestic and international situations; fully and accurately implement the new development concept, accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, and adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability. Adhering to economic construction as the central task, we must take high-quality development as the theme, take reform and innovation as the fundamental driving force, take meeting the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life as the fundamental purpose, and take comprehensive and strict Party governance as the fundamental guarantee. We must promote the effective improvement of economic quality and reasonable growth in quantity, take solid steps towards the all-round development of people and common prosperity for all, and ensure decisive progress in basically realizing socialist modernisation. 会议强调，推动“十五五”时期经济社会发展，必须全面贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，深入贯彻党的二十大和二十届历次全会精神，认真落实四中全会部署，围绕全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，统筹推进“五位一体”总体布局，协调推进“四个全面”战略布局，统筹国内国际两个大局，完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，加快构建新发展格局，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，坚持以经济建设为中心，以推动高质量发展为主题，以改革创新为根本动力，以满足人民日益增长的美好生活需要为根本目的，以全面从严治党为根本保障，推动经济实现质的有效提升和量的合理增长，推动人的全面发展、全体人民共同富裕迈出坚实步伐，确保基本实现社会主义现代化取得决定性进展.
The meeting emphasised the need to promote democracy, pool wisdom, and build broad consensus in the process of submitting the draft outline of the 15th FYP to the Fourth Session of the 14th NPC for deliberation and to the Fourth Session of the 14th CPPCC NC for discussion. 会议要求，在“十五五”规划纲要草案提交十四届全国人大四次会议审查和全国政协十四届四次会议讨论过程中，要发扬民主、集思广益，广泛凝聚共识.
The meeting pointed out that in order to do good work in this year’s government work, it is necessary, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and its subsequent plenary sessions, earnestly implement the arrangements of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the CEWC; fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy; accelerate the construction of a new development pattern; focus on promoting high-quality development; adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability; coordinate domestic and international situations; better coordinate development and security; implement more proactive and effective macroeconomic policies; enhance the forward-looking, targeted, and coordinated nature of policies; continuously expand domestic demand and optimize supply; optimize incremental growth while revitalizing existing assets; develop new quality productive forces according to local conditions; deepen the construction of a unified national market; continuously prevent and resolve risks in key areas; focus on stabilising employment, enterprises, markets, and expectations; promote effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth of the economy; maintain social harmony and stability; and achieve a good start to the 15th FYP. 会议指出，做好今年政府工作，要在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入贯彻党的二十大和二十届历次全会精神，认真落实党的二十届四中全会和中央经济工作会议部署，完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，加快构建新发展格局，着力推动高质量发展，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，统筹国内国际两个大局，更好统筹发展和安全，实施更加积极有为的宏观政策，增强政策前瞻性针对性协同性，持续扩大内需、优化供给，做优增量、盘活存量，因地制宜发展新质生产力，纵深推进全国统一大市场建设，持续防范化解重点领域风险，着力稳就业、稳企业、稳市场、稳预期，推动经济实现质的有效提升和量的合理增长，保持社会和谐稳定，实现“十五五”良好开局.
The meeting emphasised the need to continue implementing a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy, along with strengthening the coordination between reform measures and macroeconomic policies. It stressed the importance of building a strong domestic market, accelerating the cultivation and expansion of new growth drivers, and speeding up high-level technological self-reliance and self-strengthening. The meeting called for continued deepening of reforms in key areas, further expanding high-level opening-up, solidly advancing the comprehensive revitalisation of rural areas, and promoting new urbanization and coordinated regional development. It also emphasised the need to further guarantee and improve people’s livelihood, accelerate the comprehensive green transformation, and strengthen risk prevention and mitigation and security capacity building in key areas. Finally, the meeting stressed the importance of strengthening government self-construction and firmly establishing and practicing the correct view of political achievements. 会议强调，要继续实施更加积极的财政政策和适度宽松的货币政策，强化改革举措与宏观政策协同。要着力建设强大国内市场，加紧培育壮大新动能，加快高水平科技自立自强。持续深化重点领域改革，进一步扩大高水平对外开放，扎实推进乡村全面振兴，推动新型城镇化和区域协调发展。更大力度保障和改善民生，加快推动全面绿色转型，加强重点领域风险防范化解和安全能力建设。要加强政府自身建设，牢固树立和践行正确政绩观.
Another report to cover from the weekend is Qiushi’s piece of Xi Jinping’s comments over the years on the correct view of political achievements. Some of these are useful to note if you want to understand what this current campaign means for governance in China.
“For the proper use of personnel, one must persist in viewing cadres comprehensively, historically, and dialectically, paying attention to their consistent performance and their work in its entirety. For those cadres who bravely shoulder responsibility, have real ability, uphold principles, are not afraid of offending people, and have a distinct personality, there will often arise situations where views and understandings about them]are not entirely consistent; the Party organisation must absolutely speak fair and just words for them. How to accurately assess the achievements/performance of cadres is also a challenge. It is necessary to improve assessment methods and means, look at both development and foundation, look at both visible achievements and latent achievements, and take indicators and actual results such as improvement of people’s livelihoods, social progress, and ecological benefits as important assessment content. We can no longer simply judge heroes by the GDP growth rate. Some cadres are accustomed to ‘slapping their heads’ to make decisions, ‘thumping their chests’ to act recklessly, and then ‘patting their backs’ and walking away, leaving behind a mess of bad accounts, only to continue holding their positions and being promoted without taking any responsibility. This will not do. I have said before that for such problems a system of accountability must be implemented, and responsibility must be pursued for life.”
(Remarks at the National Organisation Work Conference, June 28, 2013)
用人得当，就要坚持全面、历史、辩证看干部，注重一贯表现和全部工作。对那些勇担当、有本事、坚持原则、不怕得罪人、个性鲜明的干部，往往会出现认识不尽一致的情况，组织上一定要为他们说公道话。如何考准考实干部政绩，也是一个难点。要改进考核方法手段，既看发展又看基础，既看显绩又看潜绩，把民生改善、社会进步、生态效益等指标和实绩作为重要考核内容，再也不能简单以国内生产总值增长率来论英雄了。一些干部惯于拍脑袋决策、拍胸脯蛮干，然后拍屁股走人，留下一屁股烂账，最后官照当照升，不负任何责任。这是不行的。我说过了，对这种问题要实行责任制，而且要终身追究。（2013年6月28日在全国组织工作会议上的讲话）
“To avoid matters while serving as an official is a lifelong shame.’ The greater the responsibility one shoulders, the greater the undertakings one can accomplish; the more responsibility one fulfils, the greater the achievements one will have. One cannot only desire to be an official without wanting to do the work, only want power without taking responsibility, only want to shine without contributing through effort. County-level leaders are responsible for the reform, development, and stability of hundreds of thousands, even millions of people, managing countless affairs. This stage is vast, and as you just mentioned, even a ‘sesame seed official’ carries the weight of a thousand jun. The Party placing cadres in such a position is an expression of trust and a heavy responsibility. They must work with high spirits and full enthusiasm, serve one term as an official and bring benefits to one locality. One cannot work for one year, two years, three years and still have the sound of waves remain as before, with no change in the development outlook of the entire county, repeating yesterday’s story year after year. (Remarks at the symposium with participants of the county Party secretary training class at the Central Party School, January 12, 2015) “为官避事平生耻。”干部就要有担当，有多大担当才能干多大事业，尽多大责任才会有多大成就。不能只想当官不想干事，只想揽权不想担责，只想出彩不想出力。县一级领导要谋几十万、上百万人的改革发展稳定大计，管千头万绪的事务，这个舞台足够大，刚才你们也说到了，是“芝麻官”千钧担。党把干部放在这样一个岗位上是信任，是重托，要意气风发、满腔热情干好，为官一任、造福一方。不能干一年、两年、三年还是涛声依旧，全县发展面貌没有变化，每年都是重复昨天的故事.（2015年1月12日在中央党校县委书记研修班学员座谈会上的讲话）
“When cadres dare to take responsibility and act, this is both a political character trait and the proper duty of those in office. Party cadres must demonstrate political responsibility by being loyal to the Party, sharing its burdens, fulfilling their duties, and working for the benefit of the people; they must demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility by being accountable for their assigned areas; they must dare to take a stand on major issues of principle; they must dare to face difficulties head-on; they must dare to step forward in times of crisis; they must dare to take responsibility for mistakes; and they must dare to wage resolute struggle when facing unhealthy tendencies and evil influences. The selection and appointment of personnel should reflect a clear orientation towards emphasising and prioritising responsibility. Taking whether or not one dares to shoulder matters, whether or not one is willing to do work, and whether or not one is capable of getting things done as important criteria for identifying cadres, judging superior from inferior, and determining rewards, punishments, promotions, and demotions. What things a cadre has done, how much they have done, and whether what they have done is recognised by the organisation and the masses must be taken as the fundamental basis for selecting and appointing cadres. Cadres who dare to take responsibility, are courageous in undertaking duties, are good at getting things done, and have outstanding actual achievements must be selected and appointed. (Remarks at the 10th collective study session of the 19th Politburo, November 26, 2018) 干部敢于担当作为，这既是政治品格，也是从政本分。党的干部要以对党忠诚、为党分忧、为党尽职、为民造福的政治担当，以守土有责、守土负责、守土尽责的责任担当，面对大是大非敢于亮剑，面对矛盾敢于迎难而上，面对危机敢于挺身而出，面对失误敢于承担责任，面对歪风邪气敢于坚决斗争。要在选人用人上体现讲担当、重担当的鲜明导向，把敢不敢扛事、愿不愿做事、能不能干事作为识别干部、评判优劣、奖惩升降的重要标准，把干部干了什么事、干了多少事、干的事组织和群众认不认可作为选拔干部的根本依据，选拔任用敢于负责、勇于担当、善于作为、实绩突出的干部。（2018年11月26日在十九届中央政治局第十次集体学习时的讲话）
It is essential to correctly handle the relationship between being clean and taking responsibility, and absolutely not to treat anti-corruption efforts as an excuse for failing to take responsibility or for inaction.Only by being upright, clean, and strong ourselves can we ensure that we are willing and able to do things, and that we accomplish things effectively without problems arising. It is essential to unify integrity and responsibility and diligence in governance and incorruptibility; be brave enough to carry heavy loads, gnaw on hard bones, and catch hot potatoes. It is necessary to practice the standards of a good cadre in the new era: not to be a muddle-headed official who is politically numb and confused in handling affairs, not to be a lazy official who eats his fill all day and applies no thought, not to be a mediocre official who shirks responsibility, passes the buck, and lacks initiative, and not to be a corrupt official who uses power for private gain and degenerates morally. (Speech at the Central and State Organs Party Building Work Conference, July 9, 2019) 必须正确处理干净和担当的关系，决不能把反腐败当成不担当、不作为的借口。只有做到自身正、自身净、自身硬，才能确保既想干事、能干事，又干成事、不出事。要把干净和担当、勤政和廉政统一起来，勇于挑重担子、啃硬骨头、接烫手山芋。要践行新时期好干部标准，不做政治麻木、办事糊涂的昏官，不做饱食终日、无所用心的懒官，不做推诿扯皮、不思进取的庸官，不做以权谋私、蜕化变质的贪官。（2019年7月9日在中央和国家机关党的建设工作会议上的讲话)
“Currently, among some Party members and cadres, the problems of being unwilling to take responsibility, afraid to take responsibility, and unable to take responsibility exist to varying degrees. Some act as ‘good old persons’, ‘peaceful officials’, or ‘fence-sitters’, worrying that ‘the more dishes you wash, the more dishes you break’, believing in ‘plant more flowers and fewer thorns, and don’t lend a hand when difficulties arise’, thinking that ‘in order not to get into trouble, it is better not to do anything’, or ‘only wanting to claim merit but not take blame, only wanting to stand out but not exert effort’. Some are like ‘clay Bodhisattvas in a temple, unable to withstand wind and rain’: when encountering contradictions they panic and lose composure, when facing struggle they tremble all over. What kind of Communist does that resemble?! If one does not take responsibility and does not act, not only will nothing be accomplished, but it is bound to spoil things and delay major undertakings. A towering tree cannot grow in a greenhouse, and a slacker cannot accomplish a grand blueprint. The broad masses of Party members and cadres must grow their talents and strengthen their sinews and bones by weathering storms and seeing the world, tempering a hard backbone, iron shoulders, and real abilities for taking responsibility and getting things done. With ‘dare’ as the priority and ‘doing’ at the forefront, they must be courageous in shouldering responsibility and adept at accomplishing things, charging to the front and establishing achievements in effectively responding to major challenges, resisting major risks, overcoming major obstacles, and resolving major contradictions.”
(Remarks at the summary conference of the ‘Remain True to the Original Aspiration and Keep the Mission Firmly in Mind’ thematic education campaign, January 8, 2020) 现在，在一些党员、干部中，不愿担当、不敢担当、不会担当的问题不同程度存在。有的做“老好人”、“太平官”、“墙头草”，顾虑“洗碗越多，摔碗越多”，信奉“多栽花少种刺，遇到困难不伸手”，“为了不出事，宁可不干事”，“只想争功不想揽过，只想出彩不想出力”；有的是“庙里的泥菩萨，经不起风雨”，遇到矛盾惊慌失措，遇见斗争直打摆子。这哪还有共产党人的样子？！不担当不作为，不仅成不了事，而且注定坏事、贻误大事。温室里长不出参天大树，懈怠者干不成宏图伟业。广大党员、干部要在经风雨、见世面中长才干、壮筋骨，练就担当作为的硬脊梁、铁肩膀、真本事，敢字为先、干字当头，勇于担当、善于作为，在有效应对重大挑战、抵御重大风险、克服重大阻力、解决重大矛盾中冲锋在前、建功立业。（2020年1月8日在“不忘初心、牢记使命”主题教育总结大会上的讲话）
The final few quotes are about assuming political responsibility to get things done based on the current plan, ensuring discipline and dealing with work style issues and pursuing self-revolution.
Anyway, while on this topic, do check out this SCMP article. Here’s an interesting excerpt:
“Many provinces have already responded to the new directives. At a meeting last Tuesday, several provinces, including Zhejiang and Hubei, proposed training on appraisals to improve the quality of cadres and performance evaluation methods. Zhejiang’s provincial party committee claimed success in improving evaluation methods last year, according to Zhejiang Daily, the official mouthpiece of the eastern province. The report said the province was looking into whether officials had tried to meet assessment targets by building white elephant projects or staging ‘sprints’ – wasteful activities that use up resources and labour. Zhejiang has also cut the number of assessment criteria by just under a third compared to 2024. When evaluating the development of cities and counties, factors such as technological innovation, investment, public services and income levels would carry more weight, the newspaper reported. The province has also incorporated environmental indicators into its performance evaluations and shifted from a single year-end review to daily assessments.”
Next, let me cover China’s official reaction to the joint US-Israeli attack on Iran, the killing of the country’s Supreme Leader and Iranian strikes across the Gulf States. Wang Yi spoke to Russia’s Sergei Lavrov upon the latter’s request, as per the Chinese readout. It says:
“Wang Yi noted that at the request of China and Russia, the U.N. Security Council met in emergency session yesterday on the current situation in Iran. China always upholds the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, and opposes the use of force in international relations. It is unacceptable for the U.S. and Israel to launch attacks against Iran in the midst of their ongoing negotiations, still less to blatantly assassinate a leader of a sovereign country and instigate regime change. These actions have violated international law and fundamental norms of international relations. China is highly concerned that the conflict has now spilled over to the entire Persian Gulf region, and that the situation in the Middle East is being pushed to the brink of a dangerous abyss.”
“Wang Yi stated that China’s position is as follows:
First, military actions should be immediately ceased. The conflict should be prevented from spreading and spilling over to avoid a situation that is beyond control. China takes seriously the security of Gulf states and supports their efforts to exercise restraint.
Second, there should be an earliest possible return to dialogue and negotiation. All sides should spare no efforts to promote peace, discourage war, and urge the parties concerned to return to the track of dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible.
Third, we should jointly oppose unilateral acts. Launching military strikes against a sovereign state without authorization of the U.N. Security Council undermines the peace foundation established after World War II. The international community should make clear and unequivocal voice in opposing the regression of the world to the law of the jungle.
Lavrov said that the military strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel against Iran severely undermine the stability in the Middle East region. Russia shares China’s position, and stands ready to step up coordination and communication with China to send out clear-cut messages through such platforms as the U.N. and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and call for immediate ceasefire and return to the process of diplomatic negotiations.”
The Russian readout says:
“The ministers condemned the large-scale military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iranian territory, an operation carried out despite Tehran’s stated openness to dialogue. They stressed that such acts of aggression represent a grave violation of international law and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, destabilising the situation across the entire region. Particular emphasis was placed on the fact that it is unacceptable to pursue policies aimed at overthrowing the legitimately elected authorities of sovereign states. Sergey Lavrov and Wang Yi called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and underscored the urgent need for a political and diplomatic resolution to all issues related to the Iranian case, including ensuring the legitimate security interests of all the Gulf states. The ministers highlighted the unity of Moscow’s and Beijing’s positions during the emergency UN Security Council meeting convened the previous day at the initiative of Russia and China. They expressed their readiness to continue working together to help stabilise the situation, by coordinating their efforts within the UN Security Council, the IAEA, the SCO, and the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations. The parties agreed to maintain close contact on all pressing international issues.”