Ren Zhongping: Xi 'the backbone for a united struggle'; Xi's thought 'a compass for action' - Reviewing the Past Decade

Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Saturday, October 15, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily. It’s a limited edition today, with basically the preview to the Party Congress being of value. I’ve summarised the two key articles that have been published to offer a peek at what we can expect tomorrow.

Page 1: At the top of the page is a report about Xi Jinping sending a message to Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Xinhua reports:

“Highlighting the long history of friendly exchanges between China and the Maldives, Xi said since the establishment of diplomatic relations 50 years ago, the two countries have always been respecting and supporting each other, setting a model of equality and mutual benefit between countries of different sizes. In recent years, the two sides have supported and helped each other in times of difficulty, jointly addressed the pandemic unseen in a century, deepened Belt and Road cooperation, maintained and promoted true multilateralism, which have added new impetus to and opened up new prospects for bilateral relations, Xi said. Xi said he highly values the development of relations between China and the Maldives, and is willing to make joint efforts with Solih to push forward steady progress of the future-oriented, all-round friendly and cooperative partnership between the two countries and bring more benefits to the two countries and their people.”

Xi also sent a congratulatory letter on the establishment of the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center in Beijing on Friday. Xinhua says “promoting the sustainable development of global transportation and global connectivity is of great significance to ensuring the stability and smooth flow of global logistics supply chains and boosting the development of the world economy, Xi said. The establishment of the center is a key move to support the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the president said. China is ready to work with other countries to make full use of this platform to promote global transportation cooperation, and contribute to advancing the Global Development Initiative, implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

A couple of other reports on the page inform that the 20th Party Congress’ opening ceremony will be live-streamed on Sunday at 10 am Beijing time. And then there are two long, long articles.

The first one is a summary governance record of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core since the 18th Party Congress. It says that “in the 10 years of the new era, the Chinese nation has ushered in a great leap from standing up, becoming rich to becoming strong, and realisation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. China has made great contributions to the peaceful development of mankind.” 新时代的10年，中华民族迎来了从站起来、富起来到强起来的伟大飞跃，实现中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程，中国为推动人类和平发展事业作出重大贡献.

This is too long and we’ve heard all this before. I’ll touch upon the themes in this article and relevant data, because I believe you are likely to hear most of this tomorrow from Xi Jinping too. I wonder if he’s going to talk as long as did the last time. But anyway, here are the points made in the article:

1. Upheld and strengthened the Party's over leadership with a clear-cut stance, advanced comprehensive and strict governance of the Party with unprecedented courage and determination, and opened up a new realm of managing and  managing, building and strengthening the party. ——旗帜鲜明坚持和加强党的全面领导，以前所未有的勇气和定力推进全面从严治党，开辟了管党治党兴党强党新境界

Under this, the piece references 

• The fact that since 2015, it has become a requirement that the party committees of the NPCSC, State Council, CPPCC National Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Central Secretariat present work reports to Xi at a PSC meeting.

• The idea that “Party, government, military, civilian, and academic, east, west, south, north, and center, the party leads everything.”

• The idea that: “Today, the consensus is stronger: China can, and the key lies in the Communist Party of China’s ability! The incomparably strong leadership of the Communist Party of China is the most reliable backbone of the Chinese people!” 今天，一个共识更加强烈：中国能，关键在于中国共产党能！中国共产党所具有的无比坚强领导力，是中国人民最可靠的主心骨！--- The Winter Games and Covid containment are cited as success points.

• The anti-corruption campaign: Since the 18th Congress, more than 500 centrally-managed cadres 中管干部 (these are the tigers) have faced investigations 党的十八大以来，已有超过500名中管干部被立案审查调查; in terms of the flies, 496,000 have been investigated for corruption and work style issues in the field of people's livelihood and 456,000 have faced Party disciplinary and administrative punishments. 党的十九大以来，截至今年4月，全国共查处民生领域腐败和作风问题49.6万个，给予党纪政务处分45.6万人; in terms of fox hunting, Operation Skynet has brought back 6,900 fugitives and recovered 32.786 billion yuan of stolen funds. 61 of the 100 individuals against whom red corner notices have been issued have been brought to justice. 党的十九大以来，“天网行动”共追回外逃人员6900人，追回赃款327.86亿元，“百名红通人员”已有61人归案.

2. Adhered to people-centred development philosophy, the people’s life has been improved in all areas, and their sense of gain, happiness and security have been continuously enhanced. 坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，人民生活全方位改善，人民群众的获得感、幸福感、安全感不断增强.

Under this, the article says that:

• The principal contradiction of Chinese society has changed and the goal of building a moderately prosperous society has been achieved.

• 100 million people have been lifted out of poverty since the 18th Party Congress; this is more than the population of Germany, France or the UK. “不平衡不充分的发展”背后，有近1亿人生活在贫困线以下。这一群体若参与各国人口排名，能排进世界前20位，超过英法德等国家.

• It says that Xi “has a deep understanding of the national conditions and the hearts of the people.” 习近平总书记深谙国情，深深懂得人民的心. There’s praise for Xi for personally leading the poverty alleviation work

• Then there’s this bit about the framing of the people-centred development agenda under Xi: “Better education, more stable jobs, more satisfactory income, more reliable social security, higher level of medical and health services, more comfortable living conditions, and a more beautiful environment…’ General Secretary Xi Jinping understands the people's expectations.” “有更好的教育、更稳定的工作、更满意的收入、更可靠的社会保障、更高水平的医疗卫生服务、更舒适的居住条件、更优美的环境……”习近平总书记深知人民的期盼. 

• Then we are told that 国之大者 is the happiness of the people.

3. Focussed on the modernisation of the national governance system and governance capacity, promoted comprehensive deepening reform and in-depth development, and worked to make the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics more mature and standardised. 着眼国家治理体系和治理能力现代化，推动全面深化改革纵深发展，中国特色社会主义制度更加成熟定型.

4. Based on the new development stage, implemented new development concept, built a new development pattern, unswervingly promoted high-quality development, and laid a more solid material foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation 立足新发展阶段、贯彻新发展理念、构建新发展格局，坚定不移推动高质量发展，为中华民族伟大复兴奠定更为坚实的物质基础

Under this, it talks about the changed approach to economic development. The question before Xi as he assumed power, we are told, was “what kind of development to achieve and how to achieve development.” The section then goes on to argue that Xi has pioneered the new development concept of “innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing,” which was put forward at the 5th plenary of the 18th Central Committee. 

We get Xi’s quote on dual circulation: “make better use of both international and domestic markets and resources, actively serve and integrate into the new development pattern.” 更好利用国际国内两个市场、两种资源，积极服务和融入新发展格局. And then this: “the construction of a new development pattern with the domestic cycle as the main body and the domestic and international cycles promoting each other is a strategic layout and first step planned by General Secretary Xi Jinping, grasping the initiative of future development.” 　构建以国内大循环为主体、国内国际双循环相互促进的新发展格局，是习近平总书记亲自谋划、把握未来发展主动权的战略性布局和先手棋.

5. The situation in the ideological field has undergone an overall and fundamental change; the cultural self-confidence of the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups has been significantly enhanced; a more active spiritual force has emerged. 意识形态领域形势发生全局性、根本性转变，全党全国各族人民文化自信明显增强，焕发出更为主动的精神力量.

Under this section, the article talks about strengthening roots, celebrating heroes and awarding role models, honouring martyrs, boosting historical confidence, promoting cultural self-confidence as part of the four self-confidences, etc.

6. Adhered to bottom-line thinking, maintained a sense of urgency, strengthened confidence, faced difficulties, and ensured that the cause of the Party and the country moves forward unhindered. 坚持底线思维和忧患意识，坚定信心、迎难而上，确保党和国家事业风雨无阻向前进

Under this, the article says that “10 years ago, when presiding over the drafting of the report to the 18th Party Congress, Comrade Xi Jinping clearly advocated writing a major assertion: ‘We must prepare for a great struggle with many new historical characteristics’.” 10年前，在主持起草党的十八大报告时，习近平同志就明确主张写入一个重大论断：“必须准备进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争.” 

It adds: “The Party Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core has carried forward the spirit of the great historical initiative, and with tenacious will and superb political wisdom, it has led the whole party and the people of all ethnic groups to strengthen their confidence, face difficulties, fight one battle after another, overcome all kinds of foreseeable and unpredictable risks and challenges, and ensure that the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will not be delayed or interrupted.” 以习近平同志为核心的党中央发扬伟大历史主动精神，以顽强的意志品质和高超的政治智慧，带领全党全国各族人民坚定信心、迎难而上，一仗接着一仗打，战胜各种可以预见和难以预见的风险挑战，确保中华民族伟大复兴历史进程不被迟滞甚至打断.

Then the piece talks about the coining of the comprehensive national security concept. It says that “with a profound sense of urgency and a far-reaching strategic vision, General Secretary Xi Jinping creatively put forward the comprehensive national security concept, and integrated security into all aspects and the entire process of the work of the Party and the country.” 习近平总书记以深刻的忧患意识和深远的战略眼光，创造性提出总体国家安全观，将安全贯穿到党和国家工作各方面、全过程. - In this regard, the key challenges that the piece highlights are food and energy security, maintaining the stability of the industrial and supply chains and preventing and defusing major financial risks, along with COVID under the framing of the risk from infectious diseases, of course.

Then, we get this:

“From carrying out economic and trade consultations with a constructive attitude, to carrying out direct dialogue between China and the United States with a sense of responsibility; from decisively taking necessary countermeasures to maintaining strategic determination and doing our own thing well… General Secretary Xi Jinping has led the whole Party and the people of all ethnic groups to carry forward the spirit of not believing in evil spirits and not being afraid of ghosts, resolutely withstood extreme external pressure and containment and carried out the struggle with reason and restraint, not only defending the fundamental interests of the country and the people but also winning the respect and admiration of the international community.” 从以建设性的态度开展经贸磋商，到以负责任的胸怀开展中美元首直接对话，从果断采取必要反制措施，到保持战略定力办好自己的事……习近平总书记带领全党全国各族人民发扬不信邪、不怕鬼的精神，坚决顶住外部极限施压遏制，有理有据有节开展斗争，既捍卫了国家和人民的根本利益，也赢得了国际社会的尊重和敬佩.

Then the article praises Xi for controlling the situation in Hong Kong, which it says has achieved a major turning point from chaos to governance; it also briefly talks about the military reforms carried out under Xi. 

7. Coordinated the domestic and international situations, created a new situation of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and made new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind and building a better world. Under this, the article mentions BRI, GDI and GSI.

8. Firmly grasped the central task of the Party in the new era and on the new journey, planned new ideas, new strategies, and new measures, and promoted the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernisation. 牢牢把握新时代新征程党的中心任务，谋划新的思路、新的战略、新的举措，以中国式现代化推进中华民族伟大复兴. This section emphasises the goal of common prosperity going forward.

The other really long piece is a Ren Zhongping article. The article talks about the progress made in the past decade.

“In 2021, China’s GDP exceeded 114 trillion yuan, accounting for more than 18% of the world economy; its per capita GDP exceeded $12,000, close to the threshold of high-income countries; from 2013 to 2021, China’s GDP has increased by 6.6% annually on average, and its average contribution rate to world economic growth has reached 38.6%, exceeding the sum of the contribution rates of G7 countries, becoming the driving force to promote world economic growth; China has won the fight against poverty, lifting nearly 100 million people out of absolute poverty; it has built a comprehensively well-off society, making the millennium-long dream a reality; the new journey of building a socialist modernised country in an all-round way has started smoothly, and the country's economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and comprehensive national strength have leaped to a new level … The earth-shaking epic of struggle and the great achievements of the past decade are written on the great journey of national rejuvenation and are engraved in the common memory of Chinese sons and daughters. 2012年至2022年，十年跨越，交出彪炳史册的时代答卷。2021年，我国经济总量突破114万亿元，占世界经济比重超过18%，人均国内生产总值超过1.2万美元，接近高收入国家门槛；2013年至2021年，国内生产总值年均增长6.6%，对世界经济增长的平均贡献率达到38.6%，超过G7国家贡献率的总和，是推动世界经济增长的第一动力；打赢脱贫攻坚战让近1亿人口摘掉绝对贫困的帽子，全面建成小康社会让千年梦想照进现实；全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程顺利开启，国家经济实力、科技实力、综合国力跃上新台阶……感天动地的奋斗史诗、震古烁今的伟大成就，书写在民族复兴的伟大征程上，刻印在中华儿女的共同记忆中.

The article then summarises the decade’s big achievements:

• From the perspective of Party history, this has been a decade of unswervingly fulfilling the original mission… In the past ten years, the foundation has been laid, and the Party’s political leadership, ideological leadership, mass organisation, and social appeal have been significantly enhanced, and the party has become stronger in its revolutionary forging. 十年夯基垒台，党的政治领导力、思想引领力、群众组织力、社会号召力显著增强，党在革命性锻造中更加坚强.

• “After 10 years of trials and hardships, we have made a great leap from lagging behind to keeping up with the times to leading the times, and and increasing number of people believe that ‘the new hope for the global future comes from China’ and ‘the face of world development in the 21st century depends on China’.” 十年风雨兼程，我们迎来了从落后时代、跟上时代再到引领时代的伟大跨越，越来越多人相信“全球未来的新希望来自中国”“21世纪世界发展的面貌取决于中国”.--Under this, the piece says that China has enhanced “manufacturing power, science and technology power, quality power, space power, cyber power, transportation power, maritime power, trade power, cultural power, sports power, education power, talent power”

• From the perspective of the history of reform and opening up, this is a decade in which the comprehensive deepening of reform has continued to advance in breadth and depth. 从改革开放史看，这是全面深化改革不断向广度和深度进军的十年. After 10 years of development, reform and opening-up has entered a new situation, making the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics more mature and standardised, the modernisation level of the state governance system and governance capacity has been continuously improved, and the cause of the Party and the state has shown new vitality. 十年日生不滞，改革开放开创新局面，让中国特色社会主义制度更加成熟更加定型，国家治理体系和治理能力现代化水平不断提高，党和国家事业焕发出新的生机活力.

• From the perspective of the history of socialist development, this is a decade that has demonstrated the power of Marxist truth. 从社会主义发展史看，这是展现马克思主义真理力量的十年. The vigorous development of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era has fully demonstrated the superiority and strong vitality of the socialist system; Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, with scientific answers to the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times, has made historic contributions to the exploration of the laws governing the Communist Party, the laws of socialist construction, and the laws of human society development. 新时代中国特色社会主义的蓬勃发展，更加充分地展现出社会主义制度的优越性和强大生命力；习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，以对中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问的科学回答，为探索共产党执政规律、社会主义建设规律、人类社会发展规律作出了历史性贡献。

• From the perspective of the history of the development of the Chinese nation, this has been a decade of unstoppable progress towards great rejuvenation. 从中华民族发展史看，这是以不可阻挡的步伐迈向伟大复兴的十年.

In the next section, the article makes the point that rejuvenation will not be achieved by beating gongs and drums, i.e., it is going to be tough. And “it is in overcoming unprecedented difficulties and challenges, making unprecedentedly great achievements, and welcoming an unprecedentedly bright prospects that we have realised more deeply that the historic achievements and changes in the cause of the Party and the country since the 18th Party Congress have fundamentally been possible due to the fact that General Secretary Xi Jinping has been at the helm as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the core of the whole Party, and due to the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.” 也正是在战胜前所未有的困难挑战、取得前所未有的巨大成就、迎来前所未有的光明前景中，我们更加深切地认识到：党的十八大以来党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，根本在于有习近平总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心掌舵领航，在于有习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引.

The next paragraph is even more glowing. It talks about Xi personally commanding the fight against poverty; his personal leadership in tackling the “big test” of epidemic prevention and control in which China has achieved “the best results in the world”; his personal role in the “revolutionary reshaping” of the armed forces; his framing of the comprehensive national security concept; him coordinating development and security and work to maintain overall stability of China's national security; and his leadership in terms of controlling the situation in Hong Kong; his safeguarding of “national dignity and core interests” amid the struggle given the changes in the international environment… 

“How many original ideas, how many key choices, how many strategic initiatives, how many transformative practices, how many breakthroughs, how many landmark outcomes are the result of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s personal planning, leadership, and command. With General Secretary Xi Jinping at the helm, we have the ‘backbone’ for a united struggle and a ‘leader’ of great achievements.” 多少原创性思想，多少关键性抉择，多少战略性举措，多少变革性实践，多少突破性进展，多少标志性成果，都是习近平总书记亲自谋划、亲自领导、亲自指挥的结果。有习近平总书记掌舵定向，我们就有了团结奋斗的“主心骨”、成就伟业的“领路人”.

The next paragraph heaps more praise on Xi for his “extraordinary theoretical courage, outstanding political wisdom, and strong sense of mission of a Marxist statesman, thinker, and strategist.” It ends by saying that “with the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will have a ‘fixed star’ in thought and a ‘compass’ for action.” 有习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引，我们就有了思想上的“定盘星”、行动上的“指南针”.

The next paragraph talks about the Two Establishments as a “major political judgement” and the “most important political achievement since the 18th Party Congress.”

There’s a lot more in the article, but it ends with this:

“Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core, let us 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’, strengthen the ‘four self-confidences’ and achieve the ‘two safeguards’, work hard, forge ahead courageously, and strive to create new achievements worthy of the Party, the people and the times, and unswervingly advance the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” 让我们在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，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”，踔厉奋发、勇毅前行、团结奋斗，努力创造无愧于党、无愧于人民、无愧于时代的新业绩，在中国特色社会主义道路上坚定不移推进中华民族伟大复兴历史进程.