Politburo Studies Border Governance - Xi Meets Heads of International Organisations - China's Economy in 'Critical Period'
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. I am doing a brief edition today owing to paucity of time. But I think it covers all the really substantive material from the paper.
Three important reports on the front page today. First, there’s a report on the Politburo’s18th collective study session. This one focussed on governance of border regions in China’s history.
The report says:
“Presiding over the meeting, Xi Jinping emphasized that advancing the modernization of the governance system and governance capacity for border regions is an essential component of Chinese-style modernization. It is necessary to earnestly implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee regarding border governance, deepen efforts in all aspects of border governance work, and promote high-quality development in border areas.” 中共中央总书记习近平在主持学习时强调，推进边疆治理体系和治理能力现代化，是中国式现代化的应有之义。要认真贯彻党的二十大和二十届二中、三中全会精神，落实党中央关于边疆治理各项决策部署，深入做好边疆治理各项工作，推动边疆地区高质量发展.
Li Guoqiang, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of History, was the guest speaker. After this, Xi Jinping spoke. He said:
“He pointed out that since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee, focusing on the overall strategic situation of governing the country, has proposed a series of important assertions and major measures such as ‘to govern the country, one must first govern the borders’ and ‘prospering the border and enriching the people, stabilizing the border and consolidating the border.’ The Central Committee has adhered to and improved the regional coordinated development strategy and major regional strategies and accelerated the high-quality development of border areas. It has supported border areas to win the battle against poverty, build a comprehensively well-off society, and embark on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects. Historical achievements and transformations have been made in border governance.” 习近平在听取讲解和讨论后发表了重要讲话。他指出，党的十八大以来，党中央着眼治国理政战略全局，提出“治国必治边”、“兴边富民、稳边固边”等一系列重要论断、重大举措，坚持和完善区域协调发展战略、区域重大战略，加快边疆地区高质量发展，推动边疆地区同全国一道打赢脱贫攻坚战、全面建成小康社会、迈上全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程，边疆治理取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革.
Xi Jinping stressed that it is necessary to implement the overall leadership of the Party in all aspects of border governance. It is necessary to strengthen strategic planning and overall coordination, and organically integrate border governance into the development of all aspects of the cause. Relevant departments must assume their responsibilities, be bold in taking action, cooperate closely, and form a joint force. Party organizations at all levels in border areas should consistently benchmark themselves against the spirit of the CPC Central Committee, and implement them in the specific planning and implementation of various plans, regulations, policies and projects. 习近平强调，要坚持把党的全面领导落实到边疆治理各方面全过程。要加强战略规划和统筹协调，把边疆治理有机融入各方面事业发展。有关部门要各负其责、勇于担当，密切配合、形成合力。边疆地区各级党组织要一以贯之同党中央精神对标对表，并落实到各项规划、法规、政策、项目的具体谋划和实施中.
Xi Jinping pointed out that in promoting Chinese-style modernization, no border region can be left behind. It is necessary to incorporate the development of border regions into the overall strategic plan of Chinese-style modernization and into the regional coordinated development strategy and major regional strategies. It is necessary to fully and accurately implement the new development concept, and support border regions to achieve high-quality development based on their own conditions and endowments while integrating into the new development pattern and the unified national market. Efforts must be made to enhance momentum and vitality through reform and opening up, capitalizing on the coastal and border advantages of border areas to create diverse and dynamic platforms for openness, and to establish a comprehensive pattern of opening up that links land and sea, connects domestic and international markets, and facilitates east-west mutual reinforcement. Adhere to the integrated development of urban and rural areas, steadily promote the construction of new urbanization centered on county towns as key carriers, promotion of comprehensive rural revitalization, consolidation and expansion of poverty alleviation achievements, and effective prevention of large-scale return to poverty. Adhere to the protection and improvement of people’s livelihood in development, continuously enhance the living and working conditions in border areas, and accelerate the resolution of gaps in infrastructure and basic public services. 习近平指出，推进中国式现代化，边疆地区一个都不能少。要把边疆地区发展纳入中国式现代化战略全局，纳入区域协调发展战略、区域重大战略，完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，支持边疆地区依托自身条件禀赋，在融入新发展格局、融入全国统一大市场中实现自身高质量发展。坚持以改革开放增动力、添活力，发挥边疆地区沿海、沿边等优势，打造形态多样的开放高地，形成陆海内外联动、东西双向互济的全面开放格局。坚持城乡融合发展，稳步推进以县城为重要载体的新型城镇化建设，推进乡村全面振兴，巩固拓展脱贫攻坚成果，有效防止规模化返贫致贫。坚持在发展中保障和改善民生，不断改善边疆地区生产生活条件，加快补齐基础设施和基本公共服务短板.
Xi Jinping stressed that it is necessary to adhere to promoting the construction of the Chinese nation’s community as the main line of work in border ethnic areas. It is necessary to widely practice the core socialist values, guide the people of all ethnic groups in border areas to continuously enhance their identification with the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and build a common spiritual home for the Chinese nation. It is necessary to adhere to and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of people of all ethnic groups. It is necessary to fully promote and popularize the national common language and characters, and fully promote the use of national unified textbooks. It is necessary to continue to deepen the work of creating ethnic unity and progress, actively construct an interlocking social structure and community environment, and promote various ethnic groups to be tightly bound together like pomegranate seeds. 习近平强调，要坚持把推进中华民族共同体建设作为边疆民族地区工作的主线。广泛践行社会主义核心价值观，引导边疆地区各族群众不断增强对伟大祖国、中华民族、中华文化、中国共产党、中国特色社会主义的认同，构筑中华民族共有精神家园。坚持和完善民族区域自治制度，保障各族群众合法权益。全面推广普及国家通用语言文字，全面推行使用国家统编教材。持续深化民族团结进步创建工作，积极构建互嵌式社会结构和社区环境，促进各民族像石榴籽一样紧紧抱在一起.
Xi Jinping pointed out that maintaining national security and social stability should be the bottom-line requirement for border governance. Improve the system of collaborative governance, continuously consolidate grassroots foundations, and enhance the social governance efficiency of border regions. The system of social governance that integrates joint contribution, shared governance, and shared benefits should be improved, with a continuous strengthening of grassroots foundations to enhance the effectiveness of social governance in border areas. Infrastructure construction should be reinforced, technological empowerment strengthened, and the overall capacity to defend the nation and safeguard borders should be improved. 习近平指出，要坚持把维护国家安全和社会稳定作为边疆治理的底线要求。完善共建共治共享的社会治理制度，不断夯实基层基础，提升边疆地区社会治理效能。加强基础设施建设，强化科技赋能，提高卫国戍边整体能力.
Xi Jinping emphasized that in order to promote border governance, it is necessary to strengthen theoretical support. Strengthen multidisciplinary research related to border history and border governance, and accelerate the construction of China’s independent border knowledge system. Deepen research on major theoretical and practical issues in border governance, and bring out more influential and persuasive research outcomes. The achievements of border research should be effectively utilized to tell the story of China’s border governance in the new era. Cultivate a team of researchers with firm political positions, strong theoretical grounding, solid theoretical cultivation, and comprehensive quality for border governance studies. 习近平强调，推进边疆治理，需要强化理论支撑。要加强边疆史和边疆治理相关的多学科研究，加快建构中国自主的边疆学知识体系。深化边疆治理重大理论和现实问题研究，推出更多具有影响力、说服力的研究成果。运用好边疆研究成果，讲好新时代中国边疆治理故事。打造一支政治立场坚定、理论修养和综合素质过硬的边疆治理研究队伍.
The other lead report on the page is on Xi’s remarks when meeting with the heads of major international economic organizations, who were in Beijing to attend the ‘1+10’ dialogue. Xinhua says:
“Xi briefed the guests on the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, especially the important measures recently adopted by China. He said that after more than 40 years of sustained and rapid development, the Chinese economy has ushered in a phase of high-quality development, contributing around 30 percent to the world economic growth. China has full confidence in achieving this year's economic growth target and continuing to play the role of the largest engine of world economic growth. China's development is open and inclusive. China will further opening-up to the outside world, proactively align with high-standard international economic and trade rules, and build a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment to provide more opportunities for and share more development dividends with other countries, he said.”
“Noting the progress in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) over the past decade, Xi welcomed international economic organizations to continue actively participating in the BRI cooperation and promote the modernization of all countries that features peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.”
Regarding global economic governance, Xi stressed that promoting world economic growth is inseparable from effective and proactive global economic governance. International economic organizations should keep pace with the times, respond to the call of the times and the expectations of the people of the world; they should actively participate in and promote the reform of the global economic governance system, build a more fair and reasonable global economic governance system, reflect the development and changes in the global economic structure, and increase the representation and voice of the Global South. All parties have already reached some consensus in this regard; the key is to turn the vision into reality. Regardless of how global economic governance is reformed, it must adhere to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, uphold true multilateralism, and ensure equality of rights, opportunities, and rules for all countries. 关于全球经济治理，习近平强调，推动世界经济增长，离不开有效、有为的全球经济治理。国际经济组织应该与时俱进，回应时代呼声和世界人民期待，积极参与和推动全球经济治理体系改革，构建更加公正合理的全球经济治理体系，反映世界经济格局发展变化，增加全球南方国家代表性和话语权。各方在这方面已达成了一些共识，关键是要把愿景变为现实。全球经济治理无论如何改革，都必须坚持共商共建共享原则，坚持真正的多边主义，确保各国权利平等、机会平等、规则平等.
The on ties with the US, Xi said:
“China is willing to maintain dialogue, expand cooperation and manage differences with the U.S. government, and push bilateral relations forward in the direction of steady, healthy and sustainable development, Xi said, expressing the hope that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction. ‘Tariff wars, trade wars and sci-tech wars go against the trend of history and the laws of economics, and there will be no winners,’ he said. China will always focus on doing its own things well and resolutely safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests. At the same time, China’s determination to promote high-level opening up will not change. 习近平还阐述了中方对发展中美关系的一贯原则立场，强调中方愿同美国政府保持对话、拓展合作、管控分歧，推动中美关系朝着稳定、健康、可持续的方向发展，希望美方同中方相向而行。关税战、贸易战、科技战违背历史潮流和经济规律，不会有赢家。中国将始终坚持集中精力办好自己的事情，坚决维护好自己的主权、安全、发展利益。同时中方推进高水平对外开放的决心不会改变.
Next, there’s a very long feature article that says that as 2024 draws to a close “China’s economy is entering a new and critical phase”, which will require critical decisions.
It says that:
“The road ahead is by no means smooth. Looking at the outside world, the international environment is more severe and complex, the global economic growth momentum is insufficient, and some countries continue to increase their containment and suppression of China. Looking inside, domestic effective demand is insufficient, economic performance shows divergences, there are still several risks and hidden dangers in key areas, and there are pains associated with the transition between old and new drivers of growth … At present, China is at a critical stage of accelerating the pace of transformation and upgrading, striving to advance high-quality development. It is at a critical period of comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization. Critical periods require critical decisions. Facing various risks, challenges, and uncertainties, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has taken a comprehensive view and courageously taken on responsibilities, uniting and leading the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups across the country to tackle difficulties and forge ahead, steering the giant ship of China’s economy fearlessly and bravely.” 前进之路绝非坦途。环顾外部，国际环境更加严峻复杂，全球经济增长动能不足，个别国家对我国遏制打压持续加码。着眼内部，国内有效需求不足，经济运行出现分化，重点领域风险隐患仍然较多，新旧动能转换存在阵痛。“正视困难、坚定信心，切实增强做好经济工作的责任感和紧迫感。”中共中央政治局会议指出。当前，中国正处在加快转型升级步伐、奋力推进高质量发展的关键阶段，正处在以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的关键时期。关键时期需要关键抉择。直面各种风险挑战和不确定性，以习近平同志为核心的党中央总揽全局、勇毅担当，团结带领全党全国各族人民攻坚克难、砥砺奋斗，驾驭中国经济巨轮无惧风雨、破浪前行.
The first section of the article talks about the significance of the September 26 Politburo meeting.
It says that the meeting sent “a strong signal to stabilize the overall economic development and continue the long-term positive trend.” It adds that “before and after this meeting, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the People’s Bank of China, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the State Financial Regulatory Administration, the China Securities Regulatory Commission and other departments released a package of incremental policies.”
There’s a detailing of some of the steps that have been announced since September. But the focus of this section is essentially Xi’s leadership.
The second section talks about the development of new quality productive forces. It says:
“At present, the world is at a new stage where informatization fully drives innovation and serves as the foundation for reshaping a nation’s core competitiveness. Whoever can better understand and grasp this trend, better adapt to and lead the direction of productivity development, will be able to comprehensively enhance their overall national strength.” 当前，世界正处于以信息化全面引领创新、以信息化为基础重构国家核心竞争力的新阶段。谁能更好认识和把握这一大势，更好适应和引领生产力发展方向，谁就能全方位提升综合国力.
This section essentially reiterates the importance of transforming traditional industries, focussing on emerging industries, and building a modern industrial layout with a focus on technology, along with the agenda of green transformation. For instance, it says: “Green development is the underlying color of high-quality development, and the new quality of productivity itself is green productivity.” 绿色发展是高质量发展的底色，新质生产力本身就是绿色生产力.
The third section discusses the need to focus on livelihood issues. It acknowledges that:
“At present, some local governments are facing financial difficulties, incidents of companies laying off workers and delaying wages are increasing, employment pressure is rising, and the task of improving people’s well-being has become even more arduous and challenging.” 当前，一些地方财政比较困难，企业裁员欠薪现象增多，就业压力上升，增进民生福祉的任务更加繁重艰巨.
The section also touches on the issues of demographics, food security, urbanisation, etc.
The fourth and final section discusses opening up. The basic idea here is that reform and opening up is a “firm choice” that comes from the Party’s and Xi’s “scientific assessment”. At one point, the article also says:
At present, the profound changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and transformations of the world, the times, and history are unfolding in unprecedented ways. A few countries are engaging in ‘decoupling and breaking chains’ and building ‘small yards with high walls’, while protectionism, unilateralism, and hegemonism continue to rise. The more we encounter countercurrents, the more we must actively embrace and promote economic globalization. At the crossroads of choices in this era, China consistently stands on the right side of history and on the side of human progress.” 当前，世界百年变局加速演进，世界之变、时代之变、历史之变正以前所未有的方式展开，少数国家搞“脱钩断链”“小院高墙”，保护主义、单边主义、霸权主义持续抬头。越是遭遇逆流，越要积极拥抱和推动经济全球化。时代的抉择路口，中国始终站在历史正确的一边，站在人类进步的一边.