Regulating Cadres' Relatives' Business Dealings - HK's New Cabinet - BRICS Summit Preview - Zhang Hanhui on China-Russia Cooperation at BRICS
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Monday, June 20, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
There were two reports late last week. First, there was a Politburo meeting reviewing a report on the rectification of problems discovered during the eighth round of inspections of financial institutions. Second, there was a Politburo study session in which Xi spoke about the anti-corruption campaign. For those interested, I covered them in the weekly Eye on China newsletter on Sunday.
Page 1: Let’s begin with a report on a new regulation issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on the business activities of relatives of leading cadres.
The report says that the regulation “implements the Party’s organisational line in the new era, sums up practical experience, and clearly defines the applicable objects and circumstances, working measures and disciplinary requirements concerning cadres’ spouses, children and their spouses who run businesses or enterprises.” The regulation is of “great significance” for standardising and restricting the operation of power, preventing the risks to clean government from the source, and promoting the building of leading cadres’ family style. 加强对领导干部配偶、子女及其配偶经商办企业管理，是全面从严治党、从严管理监督干部的重要举措。《规定》贯彻落实新时代党的组织路线，总结实践经验，对领导干部配偶、子女及其配偶经商办企业管理的适用对象和情形、工作措施、纪律要求等作出明确规定，对于规范和制约权力运行，从源头上防范廉政风险，促进领导干部家风建设，具有重要意义.
The regulations are primarily aimed at leading cadres at the bureau level or above across Party and government organs, mass organisations, enterprises and institutions or those at equivalent positions. The business activities covered by the regulation include investing in and establishing start-ups, holding senior positions in private enterprises or foreign-funded enterprises, investing in or working for private equity funds, engaging in paid social intermediary and legal services, etc. The regulation sets different prohibitions on business activities of relatives of officials at different levels and sectors. The regulations are stricter for those at higher levels. (Unfortunately, the report does not inform what these prohibitions are.)《规定》明确，领导干部配偶、子女及其配偶经商办企业管理的适用对象，主要是党政机关、群团组织、企事业单位厅局级及相当职务层次以上领导干部；经商办企业情形，主要是投资开办企业、担任私营企业或外资企业等高级职务、私募股权基金投资及从业、从事有偿社会中介和法律服务等行为。《规定》对不同层级、不同类别领导干部配偶、子女及其配偶经商办企业分别提出了禁业要求，领导干部职务层次越高要求越严，综合部门严于其他部门.
The next paragraph says that cadres are required to report business activities of their relatives every year. There will be random spot checks carried out after the reporting. If discrepancies or violations are found, then cadres will be asked to explain and could be asked to withdraw from their official positions and their relatives could be asked to withdraw from the enterprises. There would also be punishments handed out, as the case may be.
The final paragraph says that those who do not truthfully report or in cases where the prohibitions are violated through entrustment shareholding or anonymous investments or in instances where cadres are found using their authority to provide benefits for their relatives or in case they do so for personal gain, then they will invite strict punishment.
On Page 2, there is a Zhong Zuwen commentary on this regulation. Zhong Zuwen is supposed to be a pseudonym that represents the Central Organisation Department. More on such pseudonyms in this compilation below by Ling Li.
The commentary says that this is a “major issue related to the nature and purpose of the party. The reason why our party has remained invincible is that it represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people, has no special interests of its own, and has never represented the interests of any interest group, any powerful group, or any privileged class. This is also about having the confidence of being brave in self-revolution. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed that if you become an official, you should not become rich. If you become rich, you should not become an official. Judging from the cases of violation of laws and regulations investigated and dealt with in recent years, many of them involve leading cadres supporting and sheltering relatives and children involved in running businesses and transferring benefits. Some of them abuse state resources for personal gain - 靠山吃山; some let their families run businesses within their own jurisdiction, without any concern about the suspicions that they might invite - 瓜田李下; Some blatantly help relatives to make illegal profits, seriously disrupting the market order and business environment, undermining social fairness and justice, corrupting the government’s and Party’s conduct, and damaging the prestige and image of the Party.” 规范领导干部配偶、子女及其配偶经商办企业行为，是党中央的一贯要求，是事关党的性质宗旨的大问题。我们党之所以能立于不败之地，根本在于党代表中国最广大人民根本利益，没有任何自己特殊的利益，从来不代表任何利益集团、任何权势团体、任何特权阶层的利益，这也是党勇于自我革命的底气所在。习近平总书记多次强调，当官就不要发财，发财就不要当官。从近年查处的违纪违法案件来看，不少涉及领导干部支持和庇护亲属子女经商办企业、进行利益输送问题，有的“靠山吃山”，让家属在自己管辖业务范围内经商办企业，毫不顾忌“瓜田李下”；有的明目张胆为亲属非法牟利提供帮助，严重扰乱市场经济秩序和营商环境，破坏社会公平正义，败坏党风政风，损害党的威信和形象.
The piece says that since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee has considered this issue to be an important aspect of enacting comprehensively deepening reform and for strictly governing the Party. It has made gradual progress in order to arrive at centralised and standardised solutions, effectively solving the problems that it had wanted to resolve for long, and winning the support of the broad masses of cadres and the masses. Curing the disease is not as good as preventing it/or prevention is better than cure “治已病”不如“防未病”, and the regulations allow for that by constantly purifying the Party and government conduct and consolidating the Party’s governance foundation and the mass base.
The piece talks about linking reporting and checks in the context of these regulations and adherence to these regulations with selection and appointment of cadres. It also warns that violations will be dealt with severely in accordance with the law. But it’s not just the individual cadres or their relatives who will be held accountable, also “persons and units responsible for lax management that resulted in these serious consequences and adverse effects shall be held accountable.” 对管理不严造成严重后果和不良影响的责任单位和责任人予以问责.
Leaders should be particularly clear-headed and firm in their views on the fundamental questions of who is governing, who is exercising power, and who is benefiting, and they should play an exemplary role. They should take the lead in being honest and self-disciplined, opposing privileged thoughts and behaviours, take the lead in strictly implementing the regulations, accepting the supervision of the Party and the people, be clean and honest, and demonstrate loyalty and integrity with practical actions. 领导干部在为谁执政、为谁用权、为谁谋利这个根本问题上，头脑要特别清醒、立场要特别坚定，发挥示范表率作用，带头廉洁自律、反对特权思想和特权行为，带头严格执行制度规定、接受党和人民监督，带头抓好家庭家教家风建设、管好家属子女，清清白白做人、干干净净做事、堂堂正正做官，用实际行动诠释忠诚干净担当.
Back to Page 1, today we have the Guizhou chapter of the series about following Xi’s footprints. Also, there’s a really long piece marking the first anniversary of the establishment of the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing. The piece basically credits Xi with the foresight of identifying the need for this museum and then being engaged in the process of its development. It talks about the displays in the museum and argues that it serves the purpose of learning from history, enhancing faith and stimulating the revolutionary spirit.
Page 2: Bulk of the page is dedicated to the announcement of the new cabinet for Hong Kong. The officials will be sworn in on July 1 along with new Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu. SCMP reports that the 26-member team (full list) includes seven incumbent political appointees, two undersecretaries, six serving or retired civil servants and four lawmakers. Chief Executive’s Office director Eric Chan Kwok-ki will take up the role of No 2 official as the chief secretary.
The page also carries statements from HKMAO and the Liaison Office, congratulating the new team. Both offices said that the new team meets the central government’s political requirements in terms of the principle of patriots governing Hong Kong; this is a professional, diverse, responsible team with international vision, they added. In addition, the statements expressed hope that the new team can fully and accurately implement ‘one country, two systems’, help the city further integrate into the country’s development, tackle the issues that the people are most concerned about, and enhance the city’s international competitiveness.
Also on the page is a report about the third Qingdao Multinationals Summit. Representatives from 476 Fortune 500 and industry leading companies attended the event, which opened on Sunday. State Councillor Wang Yong spoke at the opening ceremony, discussing China’s commitment to opening up. He argued that despite the complex current domestic and international situation, the fundamentals of China’s long-term economic growth have not changed.
“China will effectively coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, further relax market access, promote fair competition, continuously improve the level of trade and investment liberalisation and facilitation, and strive to create a market-oriented, law-based and international business environment.” 中国将高效统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，进一步放宽市场准入，促进公平竞争，不断提升贸易和投资自由化便利化水平，着力打造市场化、法治化、国际化营商环境.
Page 3: A report with positive responses to Xi’s speech at the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Then there’s a commentary that’s looking ahead at the BRICS summit later this week. It says that:
“Faced with the current risks and challenges, it is more important than ever to strengthen the unity and cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries. BRICS countries are important representatives of emerging markets and developing countries. At this critical moment, they should demonstrate their responsibility, encourage the international community to focus on the cause of global development with practical actions, create a favourable development environment, boost development partnerships, and make development achievements benefit emerging markets and developing countries. In 2017, the BRICS leaders' meeting in Xiamen initiated the ‘BRICS+’ cooperation model…Since the beginning of this year, China has promoted ‘BRICS+’ cooperation at a higher level, in a wider array of domains and on a larger scale, promoted the normalisation and institutionalisation of ‘BRICS+’ activities, and established broader partnerships. The upcoming high-level dialogue on global development is another major step by China to promote solidarity and cooperation between emerging markets and developing countries. It is conducive to pushing the international community to give priority to development issues, and will contribute wisdom and cohesion to accelerating the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and promoting the building of a global development community.”
面对当前各种风险挑战，加强新兴市场和发展中国家团结合作，比以往任何时候都更为重要。金砖国家是新兴市场和发展中国家的重要代表，关键时刻理应展现责任担当，以实际行动推动国际社会聚焦全球发展事业，塑造有利发展环境，提振发展伙伴关系，让发展成果惠及更多新兴市场和发展中国家。2017年，金砖国家领导人厦门会晤首创“金砖+”合作模式，举办新兴市场国家与发展中国家对话会，为新兴市场和发展中国家加强团结合作搭建重要平台。今年以来，中国推动在更高层级、更广领域、更大范围开展“金砖+”合作，推动“金砖+”活动常态化、机制化，建立更广泛的伙伴关系。即将举行的全球发展高层对话会是中国推动新兴市场和发展中国家团结合作的又一重大行动，有利于推动国际社会将发展问题置于优先议程，将为加快落实联合国2030年可持续发展议程、推动构建全球发展共同体贡献智慧、凝聚合力.
Quick thought: Reading through the piece, it’s clear that one of the things that Beijing will push for is that the final communique approves of the Global Development Initiative. That’s actually a given since the theme of the summit is “forming a high-quality partnership to jointly create a new era of global development.” The piece doesn’t discuss security but I would assume that Beijing would also want some sort of a mention for the Global Security Initiative.
Also on the page is an article by Zhang Hanhui, the Chinese Ambassador to Russia. Zhang discusses the upcoming BRICS summit.
He writes that since China took charge of the BRICS chair, “it has worked hand in hand with all parties to steadily promote cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, finance, political security, people-to-people exchanges, sustainable development and public health. More than 70 conferences and activities have been successfully held. There have been early gains in terms of BRICS vaccine research and development centres, the construction of vocational education alliances and other areas, thereby contributing important wisdom and solutions to strengthening BRICS cooperation and improving global governance. Facing the new situation and new challenges, the BRICS countries will seek common ground while resolving differences, keep watch and defend one another, jointly promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, and strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other emerging markets and developing countries.” — So, Zhang has answered my question about GSI above.
中国接任金砖国家主席国以来，与各方携手前行，稳步推进经贸财金、政治安全、人文交流、可持续发展和公共卫生等领域合作，已成功举办70多场会议和活动，在金砖国家疫苗研发中心、职业教育联盟建设等多个领域实现早期收获，为加强金砖合作、完善全球治理贡献重要智慧和方案。面对新形势新挑战，金砖国家将聚同化异、守望相助，共同推动落实全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议，加强同其他新兴市场和发展中国家团结合作.
Zhang then praises China-Russia cooperation within the BRICS framework. He argues that the two sides should strengthen strategic collaboration and lead global governance reform. “China and Russia maintain high-level political mutual trust and security cooperation, fully accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, and respect each other’s sovereignty, security and development interests. Adhere to independence, uphold fairness and justice, oppose hegemonism and power politics, promote the practice of genuine multilateralism, and maintain close communication on major international and regional issues.” 中俄保持高水平政治互信和安全合作，充分照顾彼此核心利益和重大关切，相互尊重主权、安全、发展利益。坚持独立自主，坚守公平正义，反对霸权主义和强权政治，推动践行真正的多边主义，就重大国际和地区问题密切沟通.
Some of the development issues for China-Russia cooperation that Zhang highlights are:
Cooperation on epidemic prevention and control and public health. This includes accelerating the establishment of an early warning mechanism for large-scale infectious diseases among BRICS countries, and working to bridge the ‘immunisation gap’.
Developing an open economy, building a digital economy partnership among BRICS countries
Safeguarding food and energy security
Enhancing the financial resilience of BRICS countries, which includes expanding local currency settlement, promoting an independent settlement system, supporting the expansion of the New Development Bank, and opposing the abuse of unilateral sanctions
聚焦发展战略对接，打造共同发展楷模。中俄坚持疫情防控和公共卫生合作不动摇，加快建立金砖国家预防大规模传染病早期预警机制，努力消除“免疫鸿沟”。坚持发展开放型经济，构建金砖国家数字经济伙伴关系，维护世界粮食、能源安全。坚持提升金砖国家金融韧性，扩大本币结算，推广独立结算系统，支持新开发银行扩员进程，反对滥用单边制裁.
Zhang then argues for pushing the BRICS expansion project further.
Page 11: A report informing that the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission and Zhongguancun Management Committee issued the "1+5" series of financial support policies for Zhongguancun Demonstration Zone. It is estimated that about 1.7 billion yuan will be invested this year, which will further stimulate the vitality of innovative entrepreneurs, help enterprises deal with the challenges related to the pandemic, promote R&D and strengthen them.