PRC Plans 75th Anniversary Honours - Li Qiang Stresses AI & Tech Development - One-China Principle is 'Anchor of Peace & Stability Across Taiwan Strait'
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
Page 1: The lead story today is about the General Office of the Central Committee issuing a notice on the nomination and selection process for awarding national medals and national honorary titles on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC this year. It says:
“The ‘Notice’ clarifies the overall requirements for the nomination and selection work. It is necessary to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences and achieve the ‘two safeguards’. Through the highest standards of commendation, rewarding meritorious model figures who have made outstanding contributions to the construction and development of the PRC, carry forward the national spirit and the spirit of the times, stimulate the enthusiasm of people of all ethnic groups in the country to build a prosperous, democratic, civilised, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist country, encourage the whole society to respect virtuous individuals, uphold heroes, and strive to be pioneers, making new and greater contributions to the great cause of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation through Chinese-style modernization.”《通知》明确了提名评选工作总体要求。要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深刻领悟“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”，通过最高规格褒奖为中华人民共和国建设和发展作出杰出贡献的功勋模范人物，弘扬民族精神和时代精神，激发全国各族人民建设富强民主文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化国家的积极性，推动全社会见贤思齐、崇尚英雄、争做先锋，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的更大贡献.
Next, there’s a report (English report) on Li Qiang’s research visit in Beijing. Li talked about the need to “strengthen new productive forces and accelerate the creation of new drivers of high-quality development.”
The report says that Li:
first visited the city’s high-level autopilot demonstration zone. Li “fully affirmed the innovative achievements of the demonstration zone and called for increased support in standard formulation and factor guarantee, along with support for the development of the automobile industry and the construction of smart cities with iterative upgrades of autonomous driving technology.”
Then, he visited the Yizhuang office area of Baidu. The focus of this visit was AI. Li said that “it is necessary to give full play to the advantages of rich application scenarios in China, enhance institutional support, and create a more relaxed environment for the development of the artificial intelligence industry.”
Third on the list was Naura Technology Group Co., Ltd. The focus here was “integrated circuit equipment research and development and industrialization situation.” Li encouraged the company to further increase sci-tech investment, accelerate R&D on advanced process equipment, and better promote collaborative innovation across the whole industrial chain.
The next stop was the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence. He “emphasized that it is necessary to strengthen confidence and maintain determination, aim at the world's advanced level, concentrate advantageous resources, strengthen collaborative research efforts, and continuously achieve new breakthroughs.”
李强首先来到北京市高级别自动驾驶示范区创新运营中心，察看云控基础平台系统、车路协同沙盘演示。李强充分肯定示范区探索创新成效，要求在标准制定、要素保障等方面加大支持力度，以自动驾驶技术迭代升级助力汽车产业发展和智慧城市建设。李强随后来到百度公司亦庄办公区，了解大模型产品研发应用和国产化人工智能创新联合体建设情况。李强强调，要发挥我国应用场景丰富的优势，开放更多应用场景，加大制度供给，为人工智能产业发展营造更加宽松的环境。在北方华创科技集团股份有限公司，李强听取公司集成电路装备研发及产业化情况介绍，走进车间、实验室察看先进工艺展示。李强对企业取得的创新成果表示赞许，勉励他们进一步加大科技投入，加快先进制程装备研发，更好牵引全产业链协同创新。在北京智源人工智能研究院，李强详细了解大模型前沿技术研发情况，察看人工智能产品展示。李强强调，要坚定信心、保持定力，瞄准世界先进水平，集中优势资源，加强攻关协作，不断取得新突破.
Li also presided over a symposium and noted that developing new quality productive forces is an intrinsic requirement and an important focus to promote high-quality development, urging efforts to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, and promote industrial innovation through sci-tech innovation to accelerate the development of a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone.
He added: “It is necessary to follow the laws of industrial development, take into account the actual conditions of various places, adapt measures to local conditions, and scientifically plan to promote the development of new productive forces. Li Qiang pointed out that AI is an important engine for the development of new productivity. It is necessary to seize key breakthroughs in computing power, data, algorithms, and other areas, deploy multiple paths for cutting-edge technologies, and strive to achieve overtaking on curves and lane changes. It is necessary to vigorously carry out the ‘AI+’ initiative, coordinate the promotion of general large-scale models and vertical large-scale model applications, guide the opening of more open application scenarios in various industries, strengthen classified guidance and typical demonstrations, and empower various industries more effectively with AI. While maintaining the bottom line of safety, we should actively promote inclusive and prudent regulation, providing new technologies with sufficient space for innovation and necessary room for trial and error…” 要遵循产业发展规律、结合各地实际情况，因地制宜、科学谋划推进新质生产力发展。李强指出，人工智能是发展新质生产力的重要引擎。要抓住算力、数据、算法等关键攻坚突破，多路径布局前沿技术，努力实现弯道超车、换道超车。要大力开展“人工智能+”行动，统筹推进通用大模型和垂直大模型应用，引导更多行业领域开放应用场景，加强分类指导和典型示范，让人工智能更好赋能千行百业。要在守住安全底线的前提下，积极推行包容审慎监管，给予新技术足够的创新空间和必要的试错空间。李强希望北京市充分发挥优势，在发展新质生产力上走在前列，起到示范带动作用.
Third, there’s a report (English report) on the State Council’s new action plan to promote large-scale equipment renewals and trade-ins of consumer goods. Some key points from the report:
The Action Plan proposes that by 2027, the scale of equipment investment in industry, agriculture, construction, transportation, education, cultural tourism, medical and other fields will increase by more than 25% compared with 2023
In key industries, the energy efficiency of major energy-consuming equipment should basically reach energy-saving levels, and the proportion of production capacity with environmental performance reaching Grade A level should be significantly increased
In industrial enterprises above the designated size, the penetration rate of digital research and development and design tools should exceed 90 percent, while the numerical control rate of key processes should surpass 70 percent by 2027
The volume of scrapped cars recycled should approximately double compared to 2023, while the volume of second-hand car transactions should increase by 45% compared to 2023.
The volume of recycled old household appliances should increase by 30% compared to 2023, and the proportion of recycled materials in the resource supply should significantly increase.
Continuous effort should be made to replace urban buses with electric ones, and widen the use of new energy ships powered by electricity, liquefied natural gas, biodiesel and green methanol
More support should be given to eligible universities and vocational colleges to upgrade equipment for teaching and scientific research, while medical institutions also should be supported to upgrade their equipment and digital facilities
Page 2: The full text of the report on central and local budgets and national economic and social development plan are published on the page. English versions are available on Xinhua’s website.
Page 3: A brief report informing that the static display and demonstration flight of the China-manufactured commercial aircraft ARJ21 and C919 were held on Wednesday at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Malaysia’s Selangor state.
Page 4: Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission and the Central Financial Work Commission convened a meeting to study and implement the spirit of the NPC and CPPCC. He Lifeng, Director of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission and Secretary of the Central Financial Work Commission, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.
The report said that the financial system must deeply study, understand and fully implement the spirit of the series of important speeches delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the National Two Sessions. It is necessary to conscientiously implement the deployment of the government work report, and effectively transform the results of learning into effective actions to ensure financial stability, strengthen supervision, and promote high-quality development. 中央金融委员会办公室、中央金融工作委员会召开会议，学习贯彻全国两会精神，中央金融委员会办公室主任、中央金融工作委员会书记何立峰出席会议并讲话， 强调金融系统要深刻学习领会、全面贯彻落实习近平总书记在全国两会上发表的系列重要讲话精神，认真落实政府工作报告部署，把学习成果有效转化为做好金融防风险强监管促高质量发展的工作成效。中央金融管理部门和中管金融企业有关负责同志等参加会议.
Page 17: There’s an article bylined Shi Renxuan, discussing the importance of the one-China Principle. The author basically takes off from Wang Yi’s press conference at the Two Sessions, where he had called the recent election in Taiwan as “just local elections in one part of China”. Wang had also said that “since the elections ended, more than 180 countries and international organizations have reaffirmed their commitment to the one-China principle and their support for China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This sufficiently proves that the one-China principle is already a prevailing international consensus.”
The author specifically references the statements of some countries and then adds:
“The one-China principle is the anchor of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. No matter how the situation within Taiwan evolves, there is only one China in the world. The fact that Taiwan is an integral part of China will not change. The Chinese government's adherence to the One China principle, and its position of opposition to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism, and opposition to the ‘two Chinas’ and ‘one China, one Taiwan’ will not change. The international community's universal consensus and stable pattern of adhering to the one-China principle will not change. Some countries, driven by geopolitical considerations and ideological confrontation, choose to stand in opposition to the vast majority of the international community. They employ a set of tactics aimed at undermining and hollowing out the one-China principle. While vocally claiming not to support ‘Taiwan independence’, they turn around and announce arms sales to Taiwan, cozying up to separatist forces advocating for ‘Taiwan independence.’ The Democratic Progressive Party authorities in Taiwan continue to stubbornly adhere to the separatist stance of ‘Taiwan independence’, refuse to recognize the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and collude with external forces to continuously pursue ‘independence’ provocations. Such actions that undermine the one-China principle are despicable and lie at the root of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Regarding these schemes and tricks, the stance of the Chinese government and its people is crystal clear: anyone in Taiwan who attempts to promote ‘Taiwan independence’ will face historical reckoning. Internationally, those who connive at and support ‘Taiwan independence’ will get burned for playing with fire and taste the bitter fruit of their own doing.” 一个中国原则是维护台海和平稳定的定海神针。无论台湾岛内局势怎样变化，世界上只有一个中国，台湾是中国一部分的基本事实不会改变，中国政府坚持一个中国原则、反对“台独”分裂、反对“两个中国”和“一中一台”的立场不会改变，国际社会坚持一个中国原则的普遍共识和稳固格局不会改变。个别国家出于地缘政治考虑和意识形态对抗，选择站在国际社会绝大多数国家的对立面，搞虚化、掏空一中原则的那一套，一边口口声声说着不支持“台独”，转头就宣布对台军售，与“台独”分裂势力勾肩搭背。台湾民进党当局顽固坚持“台独”分裂立场，拒不承认一个中国原则和“九二共识”，勾连外部势力不断进行谋“独”挑衅。种种破坏一中原则的行径令人不齿，这才是台海局势紧张的根源所在。对于这些阴谋伎俩，中国政府和人民的态度很鲜明：台湾岛内谁想搞“台独”，必将遭到历史的清算。国际上谁要纵容支持“台独”，必将引火烧身、自食苦果.
The author then argues that “adhering to the one-China principle is the common consensus of the international community, the will of the people, and the general trend of the times. Currently, 183 countries worldwide have established diplomatic relations with China based on the one-China principle. The so-called ‘diplomatic allies’ of the Taiwan authorities have dwindled to 12. If calculated by population size, they account for less than 0.3% of the world's total population. It is clear who represents the mainstream and the prevailing trend.” 坚持一个中国原则是国际大义、人心所向、大势所趋。目前全世界已有183个国家在一个中国原则的基础上与中国建立了外交关系。台湾当局所谓的“邦交国”已降至12个，如果按人口规模计算，仅占世界总人口的不足0.3%。谁代表了主流和大势，一目了然. - The author then offers the example of Nauru.
In the final paragraph, the author reiterates: “Resolving the Taiwan issue and realizing the complete reunification of the motherland is the unswerving historical task of the Communist Party of China, the common aspiration of all Chinese people, and the inevitable requirement for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We firmly believe that in the future, more members of the international community will recognize the historical trend and choose to establish or restore diplomatic relations with China. The pattern of the international community adhering to the one-China principle will surely become stronger, and the Chinese people's just cause of opposing ‘Taiwan independence’ separatism and interference from external forces and striving for national reunification will surely gain greater understanding and support. It is only a matter of time before the ‘family photo’ of the international community abiding by the one-China principle is realized.” 历史大势浩浩汤汤，引领而望沛莫能御。解决台湾问题、实现祖国完全统一，是中国共产党矢志不渝的历史任务，是全体中华儿女的共同愿望，是实现中华民族伟大复兴的必然要求。我们坚信，未来会有更多国际社会成员认清历史大势，选择同中国建立或恢复外交关系，国际社会坚持一个中国原则的格局必将更加牢固，中国人民反对“台独”分裂和外部势力干预、争取国家统一的正义事业必将得到更多理解和支持，实现国际社会遵守一中原则的“全家福”只是时间问题.