Reducing Grassroots Burdens - China-Thailand Go Visa-Free - Sun Haiyan's Visit Causes Stir in Nepal - Supporting Listed Companies - Commentary on US Airstrikes: Mideast on Brink of 'Extreme Danger'
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.
Page 1: Just two noteworthy stories on the front page today.
First, there is a report (English report) on the CPPCC NC holding its 13th Chairperson’s Council meeting.
In his remarks at the session, Wang Huning emphasised the need to “conscientiously study and understand the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions, persist in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to concentrate efforts and forge souls, bear in mind political responsibilities, and closely focus on consulting and deliberating on the central work of the Party and the country. It is necessary to contribute ideas and efforts to promote high-quality development and serve the central work of the Party and the country with high-quality suggestions. It is necessary to give full play to the advantageous role of the CPPCC in foreign exchanges, promote the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and tell the story of China well. We must persist in implementing the arrangements for comprehensively and strictly governing the party and promote the performance of the CPPCC's duties.” 王沪宁表示，要认真学习领会习近平总书记重要讲话和指示精神，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，牢记政治责任，紧扣党和国家中心工作协商议政。要围绕推动高质量发展献计出力，以高质量建言服务党和国家中心工作。要发挥人民政协在对外交往中的优势作用，宣介构建人类命运共同体理念，讲好中国故事。要坚持不懈抓好全面从严治党部署落实，推动政协履职工作。
Other key points:
The meeting adopted a draft work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC NC among other documents
It deliberated several reports by the general office of the national committee regarding the work of the CPPCC in 2023
A decision to expel Wang Xiaojun from the 14th CPPCC National Committee was also adopted
Second, there’s a report (English report) on Cai Qi’s remarks at a meeting on a central working mechanism to advance work related to reducing grassroots burdens. The report says:
The meeting emphasised the need to further adhere to a problem-oriented approach, focus on rectifying issues such as ‘performance projects’ 政绩工程, ‘image-building projects’ 形象工程, and ‘superficial/vanity projects’ 面子工程, continuously strengthen ideological and political guidance, advance targeted governance, and educate and guide leading cadres to firmly establish and practise the correct view of political achievements, thereby consolidating and expanding the results of thematic education. 会议强调，要进一步坚持问题导向，着力纠治“政绩工程”、“形象工程”、“面子工程”等问题，持续加强思想政治引领，推进专项治理，教育引导领导干部牢固树立和践行正确政绩观，巩固拓展主题教育成果.
He also talked about the importance of document reduction; improving the effectiveness of learning and research, adhering to the theoretical study system, avoiding superficial remarks, addressing the issue of concentrated clustering of research and conducting inspections without thorough research; focusing on correcting ‘fingertip formalism’, continuing to promote the rectification of typical problems, and breaking down data barriers; and called for efforts to break through the simplistic ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach in rural revitalization, adopt tailored and pragmatic measures, and resolutely prevent futile activities and superficial projects. 着力解决精文减会、督查检查中的问题，保持量的刚性约束，推动质的优化提升。着力提升学习调研实效，坚持理论学习制度，不做表面文章，进一步解决调研集中扎堆、只调不研等问题。着力纠治“指尖上的形式主义”，持续推动典型问题整改，打破数据壁垒。着力破解乡村振兴中存在的简单“一刀切”做法，因地制宜、实事求是，坚决防止“穷折腾”、搞“花架子”.
He also called for efforts to improve the evaluation method for primary-level Party cadres, to relieve them of onerous evaluation burdens.
Page 3: First, there’s a report on the reopening ceremony of the Chinese embassy in Nauru, which was held on Monday evening. Former Chinese ambassador to India and current head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency Luo Zhaohui attended the ceremony. Xinhua reports:
“Wang Xuguang, head of the team responsible for re-establishing the Chinese embassy in Nauru, said in his speech that the recognition of the one-China principle is the political foundation for the restoration and development of the two countries' bilateral relations. ‘From this new beginning, the two countries will continue to enhance political mutual trust, support each other in independently pursuing a development path suited to their national conditions, accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, support and cooperate closely with each other in international and regional affairs, and push bilateral relations to a new height,’ Wang said.”
Second, there’s a report on Wang Yi’s visit to Thailand. The big agreement was a mutual visa-free travel agreement. In addition, a protocol regarding the export of Thai agricultural products to China was signed.
I’ll cover the readouts below.
The readout from the meeting between Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara.
Wang Yi said that China and Thailand are one family as well as good neighbors, good friends and good partners…Wang Yi said, the world today is in turmoil and hotspot issues keep arising. President Xi Jinping stressed at the just-concluded Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs that the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation. Yet the overall direction of human development and progress will not change, and the overall trend toward a shared future for the international community will not change. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era. Following the Belt and Road Initiative and the three global initiatives, President Xi Jinping proposed to call for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, responding to the common aspiration of most countries in the world and demonstrating China's role as a responsible major country. China is willing to join hands with Thailand and other emerging countries to strengthen unity and cooperation to serve their respective development and inject more stability and certainty into a turbulent and intertwined world. China and Thailand should further strengthen high-level exchanges and jointly plan the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Both sides should actively promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up the construction of the China-Thailand Railway, and promote the implementation of the vision of interconnected development of China, Laos and Thailand at an early date. The two sides should focus on mutually beneficial cooperation and advance economic, trade and investment cooperation in a coordinated manner. The two sides should make good use of the important measure of mutual visa exemption to facilitate closer personnel exchanges, strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation and take concrete measures to ensure the safety of tourists from both countries. The two countries should also jointly combat transnational crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud to safeguard the national security and stability in the region.”
Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara reportedly said that “Thailand firmly adheres to the one-China principle and does not engage in any official exchanges with the Taiwan authorities…Thailand is willing to work with China to plan the celebrations, strengthen personnel exchanges, strengthen cooperation in emerging areas such as green development and digital economy, and push for greater development of bilateral relations. Thailand highly appreciates China's positive contributions to maintaining world stability and promoting global economic recovery as a responsible major country and congratulates China on the success of the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs. Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy keeps pace with the times and is in conformity with the development trend of the world. The Thai side agrees with President Xi Jinping to further call for an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. Thailand is willing to strengthen coordination with China on international and regional issues, engage in substantive cooperation in implementing the three global initiatives, engage in Belt and Road cooperation, uphold multilateralism, oppose decoupling and severing of industrial and supply chains, and keep industrial and supply chain stable and unimpeded.”
At the press conference after the meeting, Wang pointed out that:
“China will import more competitive agricultural products from Thailand, support more Chinese companies in investing and doing business in Thailand, and foster new drivers of cooperation in new energy vehicles, digital economy and green development. The two sides should also strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation, strictly prevent cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud, online gambling and drug trafficking, and provide a safe and comfortable environment for exchanges and cooperation between the two peoples…Both sides look forward to closer multilateral coordination. Facing a turbulent and intertwined international environment, both sides should stay committed to the five principles of peaceful coexistence, jointly uphold the hard-won peace and stability of the region, and firmly oppose a zero-sum game and I-win-you-lose approach. The two sides are committed to true multilateralism and open regionalism and will build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home for China and ASEAN at a faster pace, speed up the consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly uphold ASEAN centrality. China supports Thailand in serving as the co-chair of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation and building a Lancang-Mekong community with a shared future of peace and prosperity.”
The readout from the meeting with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin says:
“Wang Yi said, China always sees Thailand as a priority in its diplomacy with neighboring countries and his current visit to Thailand is to implement the common understandings reached between the leaders of the two countries, promote bilateral cooperation in various fields, and strengthen the tradition that China and Thailand as close as one family. Wang Yi said, he held an in-depth consultation with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara on Sunday, and the two sides agreed to further strengthen mutual support. The Taiwan question is a matter of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. China appreciates Thailand's upholding of the one-China principle and believes that Thailand will continue to understand and support China's cause of reunification. China will also continue to support Thailand in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security and achieving development and revitalization. China is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Thailand, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, take the opportunity of mutual visa exemption to promote two-way tourism, and deepen pragmatic cooperation in areas such as economy, trade and investment. The two sides should jointly advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, speed up the construction of the China-Thailand Railway, open the central line of the Trans-Asian Railway, realize regional connectivity, and promote the early implementation of the vision of interconnected development of China, Laos and Thailand, so as to provide new impetus and open up new space for the long-term development of the two countries.”
Interesting to note that the readout says: “Thavisin said that Thailand attaches great importance to its relationship with China and firmly adheres to the one-China policy.
Moving on, there’s a brief report on ILD chief Liu Jianchao meeting with Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Development, Singapore, and his meeting with a delegation led by Wellars Gasamagera, secretary general of the Rwandan Patriotic Front.
Also, there’s a brief report on Vice Minister Sun Haiyan from the ILD visiting Nepal. PD says that the “delegation met with Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the CPN (Maoist Center) and prime minister of Nepal, as well as leaders of other main political parities in the country. In addition, the delegation had exchanges with representatives from think tanks, media outlets and social organizations, and attended a joint consultation conference between the CPC and Nepali political parties.”
I am going to rely on Nepalese media coverage of this visit, because PD shares very little. The Kathmandu Post reported:
“The delegation arrived via Bangladesh after visiting some South Asian nations. Pampha Bhusal, vice-chair of the Maoist Centre, party secretary Ganesh Shah, and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song received the five-member delegation at the Kathmandu airport.” The report also said that “leaders of major political parties have been invited for a joint consultation conference on January 28 at Hotel Soaltee, Kathmandu. Mostly second-rung leaders represented in Parliament, and journalists have been invited to the event on Sunday.”
During that meeting, Sun said that “some criticise our relations. Some are trying to sabotage our bilateral relations and some have increased activity against China.” The report adds:
“Some Nepali leaders, after the conference, labelled Sun’s statement ‘belligerent’ and stated that the Chinese leaders typically would not use such direct language in public discussions. Yes they would use such ‘direct and aggressive’ language during private conversations, but never in public forums like this, two leaders who took part in the conference told the Post. ‘It seems the Chinese are not happy with the current state of relations with Nepal or the way they are being publicly projected, both in and outside Nepal,’ one of the participants said. ‘They may feel a threat from Nepal, or they could have sensed that some external forces are trying to create a rift between Kathmandu and Beijing.’ She also quietly communicated to Nepali leaders not to take sides while pursuing foreign policy. Sun skillfully asked Nepali leaders to avoid being too close to Americans and Indians, a CPN (Maoist Centre) leader said. ‘Earlier they used to convey such concerns behind closed doors, but now they are saying it in public.’ ‘We have good relations with political parties of Nepal, but some elements do not want to see them flourish,’ Sun said.”
“In her speech, Sun told party leaders to focus on three things: Nepal-China ties, and fostering and enhancing these ties in the changing context; the type of relations needed in the future; and the role Nepali political parties can play to strengthen bilateral ties…Sun also expressed concerns over Nepal’s investment climate, saying it is not favourable for investors, and urged party leaders to diversify infrastructure and facilitate Chinese investment. Both before coming to Kathmandu and after she landed here, Sun held two separate rounds of talks with Chinese investors as well as Nepali traders doing business with China. While complaining about growing geopolitical competition in Nepal, she tried to give a message that some powers do not want good relations between Nepal and China, but both sides have to maintain unity, trust and mutual relations so that they can collaborate in the face of challenges. Without naming the US, Sun said that some are building alliances and fueling regional tensions.”
The Chinese ambassador to Nepal “expressed concerns over ‘negative reporting on the BRI’ by a section of the Nepali media. Chen said there is negative information about China and the BRI, ‘but we don’t want to disclose where they are coming from.’ Also, he did not mention which media outlets have been spreading wrong messages about the BRI or Nepal-China ties. ‘An ambassador should not speak so frivolously without clear evidence to back up his words,’ a UML leader told the Post. ‘Making such unfounded statements is unbecoming of an ambassador. They should understand that Nepali media is free and reports by keeping in mind the fundamental interests of the country. The same is true of Nepali political parties’. ‘Many wrong and negative messages are spreading in Nepali media. Several misleading and baseless news are there about Nepal-China relations. Very wrong messages are spreading outside about Nepal-China relations. BRI is a grant also, it is not entirely debt. Nepal’s external debt is only three percent of its GDP, but there is misinformation circulating that Nepal is falling into a debt trap,’ he said. Particularly in relation to the Pokhara International Airport built with a Chinese loan, some national and international media outlets have reported that the project could turn into a ‘white elephant’ due to Nepal’s inability to pay back Chinese loan and interest. While expressing his concerns over timely completion of China-funded projects or those undertaken by Chinese contractors, the Chinese envoy suggested major parties of Nepal to come together and collectively find a way out. At the same time, the ambassador announced that China has approved 150 new scholarships for Nepali students at various Chinese institutions.”
Another report on China-Nepal ties informs that the two countries are likely to ink a BRI implementation plan. Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha said on Saturday that this would happen “very soon”. For context, “the signing of the BRI implementation plan between Nepal and China has been one of the prime agenda since early 2020 but an agreement has been elusive due to differences between the two sides over investment modality, The Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.”
Page 4: There’s a report on He Lifeng’s comments (English report) during a video conference on listed companies in Beijing. He called on everyone to step up efforts to solve the specific challenges and difficulties faced by listed companies and step up support for quality listed firms in order to boost confidence, stabilise the capital market, and further high-quality economic development. … 通过调研认真解决上市公司发展中面临的具体困难和问题，加大对优质上市公司支持力度，以推动上市公司高质量发展助力信心提振、资本市场稳定和经济高质量发展.
“He Lifeng pointed out that listed companies are an important micro-foundation for high-quality economic development. Promoting the high-quality development of these firms can help enhance self-reliance and strength in science and technology, accelerate the building of a modern industrial system and shore up market confidence. It is necessary to clarify the goal orientation and consider promoting the performance improvement of listed companies and the restoration of investment confidence as an important measure to promote economic progress while maintaining stability and promote stability by making progress, and establishing foundations before breaking new ground. It is necessary to clarify the problem orientation, pay close attention to organising door-to-door visits to listed companies, promote the optimization of corporate structure, standardise corporate governance, cultivate high-quality top-notch listed enterprises, and continuously enhance the investment value of listed companies.” 何立峰指出，上市公司是经济高质量发展的重要微观基础，推动上市公司高质量发展有助于高水平科技自立自强、加快建设现代化产业体系，有助于增强市场信心。要明确目标导向，把推动上市公司业绩改善和投资意愿修复作为推动经济稳中求进、以进促稳、先立后破的重要举措。要明确问题导向，抓紧组织到上市公司上门走访，推动优化公司结构、规范公司治理，培育优质头部上市企业，不断提升上市公司投资价值.
Finally, on the real estate sector, He said that “all localities should quickly establish and efficiently operate urban real estate financing coordination mechanisms, promote the implementation of specific real estate financing projects as soon as possible, and resolutely prevent illegal misappropriations of pre-sale funds.” 何立峰还对房地产融资工作提出要求，强调各地要抓紧建立并高效运转城市房地产融资协调机制，尽快推动房地产融资具体项目落实，坚决防止出现新的违规挪用预售资金情况.
Next, there’s a report on the 7 typical cases of the violations of the 8-point regulation, if you are interested. In addition, the CCDI has said that a total of 107,547 cases of violating the eight-point decision on improving Party conduct were investigated in 2023. A total of 10 cases of violating the eight-point decision involving officials at the provincial or ministerial level were investigated in 2023, as well as 649 cases involving officials at the prefecture or departmental level.
Page 10: There is a report (English report) informing that bond issuances in China totaled 71 trillion yuan ($10 trillion) in 2023, up 14.8 percent year on year.
Treasury bond issuances stood at 11 trillion yuan, while local government bond issuances amounted to 9.3 trillion yuan
Last year, issuances of financial bonds came in at 10.2 trillion yuan
Corporate credit bond issuances totaled 14 trillion yuan
Issuances of credit-asset-backed securities stood at 348.52 billion yuan
The issuance of interbank deposit certificates amounted to 25.8 trillion yuan
By the end of last year, outstanding bonds held in custody stood at 157.9 trillion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 9.1 percent
The outstanding bonds held by overseas institutional investors reached 3.72 trillion yuan as of the end of last month, accounting for 2.4 percent of the total outstanding bonds under custody
Page 17: There’s a Huanyu Ping commentary on the page, discussing the situation in the Middle East. The article discusses American and British airstrikes targeting the Houthis. It says that “the use of force will not help solve the problem, but will only add fuel to the fire.” 使用武力无益于解决问题，只会给紧张形势火上浇油.
“The Red Sea is a crucial passage for the transportation of goods and energy, and ensuring the smooth passage and safety of vessels in this area is in the common interest of the international community. All parties should work together to safeguard the safety of navigation in the Red Sea. Major powers should play a constructive and responsible role in maintaining the security of the Red Sea, but any action must adhere to international norms and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Red Sea coastal countries, including Yemen. The military actions taken by the United States and the United Kingdom in Yemen not only caused infrastructure damage and civilian casualties but also failed to enhance the safety of commercial shipping, escalating the overall security risks in the region. This is not what the international community wants to see.” 红海水域是重要的货物和能源运输通道，确保该水域畅通和过往船只安全符合国际社会的共同利益，各方应共同维护红海水域航道安全。大国应为维护红海水域航道安全发挥建设性、负责任的作用，但任何行动都必须遵守国际关系准则，也必须尊重包括也门在内红海沿岸国家的主权和领土完整。美英对也门采取的军事行动，不仅造成基础设施破坏和平民伤亡，无助于保护商船航行安全，还推高了地区整体安全风险。这是国际社会不愿意看到的.
The next paragraph lists what the article says are “concerns and opposition from the international community”. This includes statements by the UN Secretary General, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Egypt. It says that: “The international community has a clear understanding of the negative impact of military actions on the regional situation and hopes to address both the symptoms and root causes and resolve the crisis through political means.” 国际社会对军事行动给地区局势带来的负面影响有着清晰认识，更希望标本兼治、以政治手段解决危机.
“The escalation of tension in the Red Sea illustrates that the abuse of force only creates greater crises. The spillover effects of the recent Israel-Palestine conflict are becoming apparent, and the factors contributing to regional instability have significantly increased, and the risk of more forces being dragged into the conflict is rising. Faced with a grave situation, rhetorically expressing a commitment to prevent the spillover of conflict while simultaneously abusing military force in actions is evidently a contradiction. The United Nations Security Council has never authorised any country to use force against Yemen. Military actions against Yemen not only exacerbate the security risks in the Red Sea, but could also have an adverse impact on the political process in Yemen. 红海紧张局势的升级说明，滥用武力只会制造更大危机。新一轮巴以冲突的外溢效应正不断显现，地区不稳定因素明显上升，更多力量被拖入冲突的风险在上升。面对严峻形势，口头上说要防止冲突外溢，行动上却滥用武力，明显自相矛盾。联合国安理会从未授权任何国家对也门使用武力，对也门采取的军事行动不仅加剧了红海水域的安全风险，还可能对也门政治进程造成冲击.
“The escalation of tension in the Red Sea illustrates that ignoring justice and fairness offers no fundamental solution. The conflicts in the Middle East are complex, and the involvement of foreign countries in Middle East affairs should be closely tied to the region’s realities and consider the interests of all parties. It should adhere to justice and righteousness as its basis. However, out of geopolitical self-interest, some countries have long been engaged in ‘playing one side against the other’ and ‘divide and rule’ in the Middle East, making it difficult to establish a stable security order in the region. The current security crisis in the Red Sea is a prominent manifestation of the spillover effects of the Gaza conflict, and the protracted conflict in Gaza is connected to some countries' reckless ‘bias’ and repeated obstruction of the UN Security Council’s draft ceasefire resolution. In the face of a tense situation in the Red Sea, ignoring the issue of the conflict in Gaza and trying to use a ‘quick sword to cut through tangled knots’ through military operations obviously will not solve the root cause of the problem. As a commentary published on the Al Jazeera website pointed out, military action against the Houthis conflicts with the goal declared by the US to ease the situation, fails to address the fundamental reasons for the escalating tension in the region, and ‘more war is never the answer; the only way out of this chaos is diplomacy’.” 红海紧张局势的升级说明，无视公道正义拿不出治本之策。中东地区矛盾错综复杂，域外国家参与中东事务本应贴近地区实际、兼顾各方利益，坚持以公道为念、以正义为基。然而，个别国家出于地缘私利考虑，长期在中东搞“拉一派、打一派”“分而治之”，导致中东地区长期难以建立起稳定的安全秩序。当前的红海安全危机是加沙冲突外溢的突出表现，加沙冲突迟迟得不到解决又与个别国家毫无顾忌地“拉偏架”、一再阻挠联合国安理会停火决议草案有关。面对红海形势紧张，无视加沙冲突病灶，企图靠军事行动“快刀斩乱麻”，显然无法从根子上解决问题。正如半岛电视台网站刊发的评论文章所指出，针对胡塞组织开展的军事行动与美方宣布的缓和局势的目标相冲突，未能解决该地区紧张局势飙升的根本原因，“更多的战争从来都不是答案，摆脱这种混乱的唯一出路是外交”.
“The Middle East is already on the brink of extreme danger, and the top priority is to quickly quell the Gaza conflict and play a constructive role in promoting a ceasefire. As Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed pointed out, ‘The central problem we need to solve is Gaza. Only by solving the Gaza problem can all other problems be solved.’ Achieving a ceasefire in Gaza is the most urgent task at hand, and ensuring humanitarian relief is an urgent moral responsibility. The future arrangements for Gaza must fully respect the will of the Palestinian people, and implementing the ‘two-state solution’ is the only way to achieve a just resolution of the Palestinian issue. Justice may be delayed, but it should not be absent forever.” 中东地区已经处在极度危险的边缘，当务之急是尽快平息加沙战火，为停火止暴发挥建设性作用。正如卡塔尔首相兼外交大臣穆罕默德所指出的，“我们需要解决的中心问题在加沙，只有解决加沙问题才能使其他一切问题都得到解决”。在加沙停火止战是当前压倒一切的首要任务，确保人道救援是刻不容缓的道义责任。加沙未来安排必须充分尊重巴勒斯坦人民的意愿，落实“两国方案”是实现巴勒斯坦问题公正解决的必由之路。正义已经迟到，但不应永远缺席.