Politburo Meeting - Xi Meets Non-party Personages - Li Qiang Seeks Ideas on Government Work Report - Han Zheng's Washington Visit - China's Oil & Gas Production at 400 Million Tons
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
Page 1: While Donald Trump was being sworn in as President in Washington DC, the CPC Politburo met in Beijing on Monday. On the agenda was deliberation over the ‘Comprehensive Report on the Politburo Standing Committee Hearing and Studying the Work Reports of the 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 and the Work Report of the Central Secretariat’ and the ‘Opinions on Fully Promoting Ecological Protection and High-Quality Development in the Yellow River Basin’. 中共中央政治局1月20日召开会议，审议《中央政治局常委会听取和研究全国人大常委会、国务院、全国政协、最高人民法院、最高人民检察院党组工作汇报和中央书记处工作报告的综合情况报告》《关于全面推动黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展的意见》.
The meeting “fully affirmed the work” of each of these agencies and agreed with their work arrangements for 2025. The meeting held that in the past year, the five party groups adhered to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, firmly safeguarded the authority and centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, strengthened their mission, fulfilled their duties, strengthened the construction of the Party group, and conscientiously fulfilled the main responsibility of comprehensive and strict Party governance, making new contributions to comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. Under the leadership of the Politburo and the Politburo Standing Committee, the Central Secretariat has fulfilled its duties and taken positive actions, and has carried out extensive work in promoting the implementation of relevant decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, strengthening the construction of Party regulations, guiding the construction and reform of mass organizations, and rectifying formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots. 会议认为，过去一年，5家党组坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚定维护党中央权威和集中统一领导，强化使命担当，扎实履职尽责，加强党组自身建设，认真履行全面从严治党主体责任，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业作出新贡献。中央书记处在中央政治局、中央政治局常委会领导下，履职尽责、积极作为，在推动党中央有关决策部署落实、加强党内法规建设、指导群团组织建设和改革、整治形式主义为基层减负等方面做了大量工作.
The meeting emphasized that in the new year, the five Party Groups must take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as their guide, adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee as the highest political principle, and ensure unity of thought, consistency of direction, and strict compliance with orders. It is necessary to establish and practice the correct view of political achievements, prioritize action, strive for progress, work diligently and effectively, and work together to promote reform and breakthroughs, steadily advance high-quality development, and demonstrate new responsibilities and new accomplishments on the new journey of comprehensively advancing Chinese-style modernization. The Central Secretariat must focus on its responsibilities, enhance political capabilities, ensure the implementation of key tasks, rigorously strengthen self-construction, and complete the tasks entrusted by the Party Central Committee with high quality. 会议强调，新的一年，5家党组要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，坚持党中央集中统一领导这个最高政治原则，确保思想统一、方向一致、令行禁止。要树立和践行正确政绩观，坚持干字当头，奋发进取、善作善为，合力推动改革攻坚，扎实推动高质量发展，在全面推进中国式现代化的新征程上展现新担当新作为。中央书记处要立足自身职责，增强政治能力，抓好重点工作落实，从严加强自身建设，高质量完成党中央交办的各项任务。
It adds that the “ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin are long-term agenda items related to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and sustainable development.” Xinhua English summarises the rest:
The meeting called “for promoting the full enforcement of the Yellow River Protection Law. Work should be done to systematically enhance the water source conservation capacity in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, strengthen soil and water conservation in the middle reaches, and advance wetland protection and ecological governance in the lower reaches, according to the meeting. The meeting also urged efforts to ensure the safety of important dams, reservoirs and infrastructure, strengthen the synergy of the Yellow River’s high-quality development with strategies of the large-scale development of the western region and the rise of the central region, improve the holistic and systematic protection of cultural heritage, and promote the integration of culture and tourism development.”
In this context, the Central Leading Group for Coordinated Regional Development is tasked with key work.
Xi Jinping also met with people from non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), personages without party affiliation, and other members of the united front ahead of the Spring Festival.
Cai Dafeng spoke on behalf of the invitees.
“He said that in 2024, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core united and led the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups in the country to hold high the banner and forge ahead, successfully held the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, made major decisions to further comprehensively deepen reform and promote Chinese-style modernization, calmly responded to challenges, and achieved hard-won new accomplishments in reform and development. In the new year, the democratic parties, the Federation of Industry and Commerce and non-party personages must consciously maintain a high degree of alignment with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, focus on the central tasks of the Party and the state, pool wisdom and strength, offer advice and suggestions, and jointly write a new chapter in building a strong nation and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. 蔡达峰代表各民主党派中央、全国工商联和无党派人士致辞。他表示，2024年，以习近平同志为核心的中共中央团结带领全党全国各族人民，高举旗帜、砥砺奋进，胜利召开中共二十届三中全会，作出进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的重大决定，沉着应对挑战，改革发展取得来之不易的新成就。新的一年，各民主党派、工商联和无党派人士要自觉同以习近平同志为核心的中共中央保持高度一致，聚焦党和国家中心工作，集智聚力、建言资政，共同谱写强国建设、民族复兴伟业新篇章.
Xi Jinping spoke after this.
He emphasised that 2024 was a year to overcome difficulties and forge ahead steadfastly. Over the past year, the CPC Central Committee has united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country, responding calmly and implementing comprehensive measures, successfully completing the main objectives and tasks of economic and social development, with Chinese-style modernisation taking new solid steps. We guided all sectors to correctly grasp favourable conditions and unfavourable factors, maintained strategic determination, and strengthened confidence in victory. We effectively implemented various existing policies, intensified efforts to launch a package of incremental policies, and solidly promoted high-quality development. The Chinese economy has rebounded and improved, with the gross domestic product growing by 5%. We have strengthened independent innovation, achieved a series of new breakthroughs at the frontiers of science and technology, and powerfully driven the development of new quality productive forces. We further comprehensively deepened reform, emphasised coordinated progress in various undertakings, provided solid and strong livelihood protection, and ensured that the people enjoy a greater sense of gain. We coordinated development and security, maintaining overall social stability. We deeply advanced major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, injecting more positive energy into maintaining world peace and stability and promoting human development and progress. We solidly carried out Party discipline learning and education, unswervingly improved conduct, enforced discipline and fought corruption, with continuous improvement in Party and government conduct. These achievements are the result of the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, and also the result of united struggle and tenacious efforts by people of all ethnic groups across the country, including various democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and non-party personages. 在听取蔡达峰致辞后，习近平发表重要讲话。他强调，2024年是我们攻坚克难、砥砺前行的一年。一年来，中共中央团结带领全党全国各族人民，沉着应变、综合施策，顺利完成经济社会发展主要目标任务，中国式现代化迈出新的坚实步伐。我们引导各级各方面正确把握有利条件和不利因素，保持了战略定力，增强了必胜信心。我们有效落实各项存量政策，加力推出一揽子增量政策，扎实推动高质量发展，我国经济回暖向好，国内生产总值增长5%。我们加强自主创新，在科技前沿实现一系列新突破，有力推动了新质生产力发展。我们进一步全面深化改革，注重各项事业协调并进，民生保障扎实有力，人民群众有了更多获得感。我们统筹发展和安全，社会大局保持稳定。我们深入推进中国特色大国外交，为维护世界和平稳定、促进人类发展进步注入更多正能量。我们扎实开展党纪学习教育，坚定不移正风肃纪反腐，党风政风持续好转。这些成绩的取得，是中国共产党坚强领导的结果，也是包括各民主党派、工商联和无党派人士在内的全国各族人民团结奋斗、顽强拼搏的结果.
He then talked about the goals for 2025.
“Xi Jinping emphasised that 2025 is the final year of the ‘14th Five-Year Plan.” We must adhere to the general tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability, implement more proactive and impactful macro policies, focus wholeheartedly on promoting high-quality development, promote high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, maintain sound momentum in economic and social development, successfully complete the objectives and tasks of the ‘14th Five-Year Plan’, and lay a solid foundation for a good start to the ‘15th Five-Year Plan’. Xi called on non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC, and personages without party affiliation to focus on the central tasks, serve the overall interests of the country, and leverage their respective strengths to more broadly rally support, build consensus, and pool wisdom and strength. 习近平强调，2025年是“十四五”规划收官之年。要坚持稳中求进工作总基调，实施更加积极有为的宏观政策，聚精会神抓好高质量发展，推动高水平科技自立自强，保持经济社会发展良好势头，圆满完成“十四五”规划目标任务，为“十五五”良好开局打牢基础。各民主党派、工商联和无党派人士要围绕中心、服务大局，发挥各自优势，更加广泛地凝聚人心、凝聚共识、凝聚智慧、凝聚力量. (Note: I wonder why Xi Jinping did not talk about implementing a moderately loose monetary policy; instead, he chose “more proactive and impactful” as the descriptor for policy direction. Moderately loose was the approach that emerged from the Politburo meeting ahead of the CEWC and then from the CEWC.)
He then expressed three hopes for the attendees:
First, elevate political position, and further draw the concentric circles. We must firmly grasp the fundamental characteristic of the Chinese Communist Party’s leadership in China’s new type of political party system, deeply study the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era, do more work to strengthen confidence, unite people’s hearts, warm people’s hearts, and build unity of hearts, and effectively transform positive factors from all sectors into development results.一是提高政治站位，进一步画好同心圆。牢牢把握中国共产党领导这个中国新型政党制度的根本特征，深入学习新时代中国特色社会主义思想，多做强信心、聚民心、暖人心、筑同心的工作，切实把各方面积极因素转化为发展成效。
Second, closely focus on central work, and actively contribute suggestions and efforts. We must closely center around further comprehensive deepening of reform, promoting high-quality development, formulating suggestions for the 15th Five-Year Plan and other matters to conduct in-depth research and political consultation, and continue to focus on key and difficult issues in the Yangtze River ecological environmental protection to carry out democratic supervision. The ACFIC should guide private economy personnel to maintain entrepreneurial enthusiasm and boost development confidence, guide private enterprises to establish and improve modern enterprise systems with Chinese characteristics, and strive to achieve high-quality development. 二是紧扣中心工作，积极献策出力。紧紧围绕进一步全面深化改革、推动高质量发展、制定“十五五”规划建议等深入调研议政，继续聚焦长江生态环境保护重点难点问题开展民主监督。全国工商联要引导民营经济人士保持创业热情、提振发展信心，引导民营企业建立和完善中国特色现代企业制度、努力实现高质量发展。
Third, strengthen self-construction and improve the ability to perform duties. Under this, he called to consolidate and deepen the results of discipline learning and education, continue to implement the spirit of the eight-point central regulations in order to promote the transformation of work style, and consolidate and develop a good political ecology. 巩固深化纪律学习教育成果，持续落实中共中央八项规定精神推动转变作风，巩固发展良好政治生态.
Li Qiang, meanwhile, presided over a symposium with experts, entrepreneurs and representatives from the fields of education, science, culture, health and sports. He listened to their views on the draft government work report.
After listening to the attendees, Li Qiang said that:
“In the past year, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, the entire country has worked hard and overcome difficulties. The overall economic operation has been stable and steady, and the main development goals and tasks for the whole year have been successfully completed. High-quality development has been steadily promoted, and the foundation of ‘stability’ has become more solid, and the momentum of ‘progress’ has been continuously strengthened. At the same time, it should be noted that China’s development still faces many difficulties and challenges, especially the rising uncertain and unstable factors in the external environment. We must accurately grasp the situation and be good at turning crises into opportunities. China possesses comprehensive advantages in systems, markets, industries, and talents. The basic trend of long-term economic improvement has not changed and will not change. As long as we unswervingly manage our own affairs well, we will surely promote the stable and healthy development of the Chinese economy. 在认真听取大家发言后，李强指出，过去一年，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，全国上下砥砺奋进、攻坚克难，经济运行总体平稳、稳中有进，全年发展主要目标任务顺利完成，高质量发展扎实推进，“稳”的基础更加坚实，“进”的动能不断增强。同时要看到，我国发展还面临不少困难和挑战，特别是外部环境的不确定不稳定因素上升，要准确把握形势，善于化危为机。我国拥有制度、市场、产业、人才等综合优势，经济长期向好的基本趋势没有改变也不会改变，只要坚定不移办好自己的事，一定能促进我国经济平稳健康发展。
The next paragraph says:
Li Qiang stressed that it is necessary to fully implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee and promote new achievements in high-quality development. It is necessary to implement a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy. Fiscal policy should proactively exert force in advance and form actual expenditure as soon as possible, monetary policy should maintain abundant liquidity and promote funds to fully flow to the real economy, focus on policy coordination and cooperation, provide strong policy support for responding to challenges and promoting development. At the same time, it is necessary to closely follow the changes in domestic and international situations, adjust policy measures in a timely manner, and enrich and improve the policy toolbox. It is necessary to further deepen reform and expand opening up, clear bottlenecks and blockages around expanding and strengthening the domestic circulation, create a first-class business environment, stimulate the vitality of various business entities, and expand independent opening up and unilateral opening up in an orderly manner. It is necessary to promote the transformation of new and old drivers through scientific and technological innovation, concentrate on making breakthroughs in key core technologies and cutting-edge technologies, accelerate the industrialization of scientific and technological achievements, and strive to cultivate more new economic growth points. It is necessary to make greater efforts to protect and improve people’s livelihood, promote residents to increase income and reduce burdens, and improve the quality of life. 李强强调，要全面落实党中央决策部署，推动高质量发展取得新成效。要实施更加积极的财政政策和适度宽松的货币政策，财政政策要主动靠前发力、尽快形成实际支出，货币政策要保持流动性充裕、推动资金充分流向实体经济，注重政策的协调配合，为应对挑战、推动发展提供强有力的政策支持。同时，密切跟踪国内外形势变化，及时调整政策举措，充实完善政策工具箱。要进一步深化改革扩大开放，围绕做大做强国内大循环打通堵点卡点，打造一流营商环境，激发各类经营主体活力，有序扩大自主开放、单边开放。要以科技创新推动新旧动能转换，集中力量突破关键核心技术和前沿技术，加快推进科技成果产业化，努力培育更多经济新增长点。要更大力度保障和改善民生，促进居民增收减负、提高生活品质.
Finally, there’s a long article on the page reviewing the implementation of the 8-point central regulation and work style construction in 2024. I am not detailing this.
Page 2: There’s a report with data from the National Energy Administration, which says that China’s domestic oil and gas production exceeded 400 million tons for the first time in 2024. This is the eighth consecutive year of rapid growth at the scale of tens of millions of tons. Among this, crude oil production reached 213 million tons, an increase of 24 million tons compared to 2018; natural gas production reached 246.4 billion cubic meters, with an average annual increase of over 13 billion cubic meters in the past six years.
Page 3: Just one report to note; on January 18, a seminar titled “China's New Development: Prospects and Challenges” was held in Baghdad, Iraq. The seminar was hosted by the Iraqi Communist Party, with over 200 representatives from the Iraqi government, parliament, think tanks, media and other sectors attending. The purpose of the seminar was to “exchange and learn from China’s development experience”.
Other Stories:
Let’s look at Xinhua’s coverage of Han Zheng’s engagements in Washington. Xinhua reports:
During his stay in the United States, Han, a special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, met with then U.S. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, representatives of the U.S. business community, Chief Executive Officer of Tesla Elon Musk, Chair Emeritus of the U.S. Brookings Institution John Thornton and others.
“During his meeting with Vance on Sunday, Han first conveyed Xi’s greetings to Trump and congratulated Vance on his election. He noted that Xi recently had an important phone call with Trump, during which the two leaders have reached many important consensuses on the development of China-U.S. relations in the next stage. China is ready to work with the United States to adhere to the strategic guidance of the head-of-state diplomacy and follow through on the important consensus reached between Xi and Trump, so as to push for the steady, healthy and sustainable development of bilateral ties, Han said. Han said that the two sides are currently working hard to achieve their respective development goals and dreams. As long as the two sides uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, they will contribute to each other's progress, bring benefits to the two countries, and make important contributions to world peace and development, said Han. Economic and trade relations are important issues of common concern to both sides, he noted. Despite differences and frictions between China and the United States, they share huge common interests and space for cooperation, and the two sides can strengthen dialogue and consultation in this regard, Han added.”
The report adds:
“While meeting with representatives of the U.S. business community, Han said a good start and stable development of China-U.S. relations align with the common well-being of both peoples and meet the shared expectation of the international community. As an enduring backbone supporting China-U.S. relations, the U.S. business community has been a participant, witness, contributor and beneficiary of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation as well as China's reform and opening-up, Han said. China will unswervingly advance reform and opening-up, and continue to improve and optimize the business environment, he added. Han said it is hoped that U.S. companies will continue to invest and take root in China, play an active role as a bridge, and make greater contribution to the development of China-U.S. relations. Representatives of the U.S. business community said that as the world's two largest economies that are most dynamic and technologically advanced, the United States and China should engage in mutually beneficial cooperation and find a constructive and steady way to get along with each other. The U.S. business community is optimistic about the prospect of the Chinese economy and the opportunities to grow in China, and supports the two sides in strengthening dialogue and communication to move forward their bilateral relations as well as economic and trade cooperation.”
Next, Nigeria has become a BRICS partner country. China’s Foreign Ministry said:
Nigeria is a major developing country and a significant country of the Global South, noted Mao, while adding that the country's participation in BRICS cooperation will not only serve Nigeria's development, but also the common interests of the bloc's members and partners and those of the Global South, which will make contributions to the development of the BRICS mechanism. The inclusion of a new partner country in the BRICS family marks an expansion of the representativeness of BRICS -- widening its appeal and influence, Mao added.
Finally, let’s look at Xinhua’s report stating that the Myanmar government and Kokang's Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) have reached and signed a formal ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on Jan. 18.
Foreign Ministry’s Mao Ning said:
“Under China's mediation, the Myanmar government and MNDAA held their seventh round of peace talks in Kunming, China's Yunnan Province, in mid-January, and that both parties expressed gratitude for China's efforts to facilitate the successful outcome of the talks. She said the easing of the tensions in northern Myanmar is in the common interests of various parties in Myanmar and regional nations, and will contribute to the security, stability and development of the China-Myanmar border area. ‘China and Myanmar are friendly neighbors, and China firmly opposes any conflict or unrest in Myanmar,’ Mao said, adding that it is hoped that all parties would maintain the momentum of the ceasefire and peace talks, earnestly implement the consensus reached, de-escalate tensions proactively, and resolve related issues through further dialogues and consultations. China will firmly support Myanmar's efforts to safeguard its independence, sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity, firmly support Myanmar's efforts to secure domestic peace, stability, and economic development, and firmly support Myanmar's efforts to achieve political reconciliation and advance its domestic political agenda within the constitutional framework, the spokesperson said. ‘China will continue to actively promote peace talks and provide support and assistance for the peace process in northern Myanmar’.