South-South Human Rights Forum - Economy Under Xi - Common Prosperity Goal - China-CELAC Declaration - Zhong Sheng on Nathan Law at Democracy Summit - Qu Qingshan on Deng's Historic Decision
Here are the stories and pieces from the December 09, 2021, edition of the People’s Daily that I found noteworthy.
Page 1: A lot of letters by Xi being reported today. First, Xi sent (English report) a congratulatory letter to the 2021 South-South Human Rights Forum, which opened in Beijing on Wednesday. Xinhua reports:
“Noting that human rights are a symbol of human civilization progress, Xi said putting people first and taking people’s longing for a better life as the goal is the responsibility of all countries. The Communist Party of China has always been a political party that respects and protects human rights, he stressed, adding that China stays committed to a people-centered approach, puts people’s interests front and center, advances human rights through development and promotes whole-process people’s democracy, he said. China’s human rights cause has made remarkable achievements, and the Chinese people now have a greater sense of gains, happiness and security in terms of human rights protection, Xi said. Practices of human rights are varied, and countries around the world should and can choose the development path of human rights that suits their own national conditions, he added.”
This Global Times report offers good coverage of the comments made at the forum; alternatively, you can also watch the comments below. Zhang Weiwei is the final speaker in the video, starting at about 2:14:30.
Second, Xi sent (English report) a congratulatory message to Olaf Scholz on his election as German chancellor. Xinhua reports:
“China and Germany are all-round strategic partners, Xi noted, adding that over the years, they have been adhering to mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences and pursuing win-win cooperation, which has yielded results benefiting the two countries, their people and the world...Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Germany relations and is willing to work with Scholz to promote the bilateral ties to a new level. On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory message to Scholz on his election as German chancellor, saying China-Germany ties have become one of the most important bilateral relations in the world…”
Third, Xi’s message (English report) to President of Iceland Gudni Johannesson on the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties.
Next, there’s a long piece talking about the Chinese economy moving towards “high-quality” development under Xi since 2012. This is basically a curtain-raiser of sorts to the upcoming Central Economic Work Conference. It highlights key points from previous conferences to shape the agenda for the one coming up.
The piece says that since the 18th Party Congress, “the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has accurately grasped the new stage of development, fully implemented the new development philosophy, and accelerated the building of a new development pattern. As a result, the Chinese economy has strode forward along the new track of high-quality development, laying a more solid material foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
It’s interesting that the piece quotes Xi from the first economic work conference after he became General Secretary in 2012. Xi had then said that “development is the top priority of the Party in governing and rejuvenating the country. As the ruling party, we must earnestly strengthen the Party’s leadership over economic work...” Although the subsequent text talks about work done to strengthen the Party’s oversight and control when it comes to economic work, I thought the message about development being the top priority was worth noting, given all the talk about redistribution nowadays.
Later we get to the 2020 economic work conference, which had stressed that “We must strengthen the overall leadership of the Party, be good at observing and analysing economic and social problems from a political perspective, and make solid efforts to implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee in all aspects of economic work.” The examples of this, or rather examples of the significance of this, that are given are the response to trade and technology frictions with the US and the handling of the pandemic.
On the US, the piece says that it “unilaterally provoked and constantly escalated” friction. The Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core took stock of the “overall situation” and worked out strategies accordingly. With regard to COVID, Xi “responded calmly and made scientific decisions, coordinated epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, and led China to be the first in the world to contain the epidemic, resume work and production, and turn negative economic growth into positive growth…”
The next bit talks about the 2017 conference, which praised the leadership for “successfully managing the overall situation of China’s economic development and establishing Xi Jinping economic thought of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, with the new development concept as its main content, in practice.” This
a new normal in economic development
supply-side structural reform
the shift from a stage of high-speed growth to a stage of high-quality development
adhere to people-centered development philosophy
adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, bottom-line thinking and the awareness of potential dangers
maintain strategic focus in the face of various risks and challenges
coordinate development and security
achieve the dialectical unity of ‘stability’ and ‘progress’
Proceeding from the change in society’s principal contradiction, clearly focusing on development as the top priority, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of new ideas and thoughts and strategies have scientifically and systematically answered the major questions of about how China’s economy should be viewed, managed, and acted upon, and for whom, and achieved new breakthroughs and new developments in socialist political economy with Chinese characteristics. 从社会主要矛盾变化出发，紧紧围绕发展这个第一要务，习近平总书记的一系列新理念新思想新战略，科学系统地回答了中国经济如何看、怎么办、如何干、为谁干的重大问题，实现了中国特色社会主义政治经济学的新突破、新发展.
The next bit says that under the guidance of Xi Jinping Economic Thought, China’s economy shall continue to thrive. Some elements of the thought that one can gather are:
Work hard to promote high-quality development and create a high-quality life, and make China more beautiful.
Take the real economy and scientific and technological innovation as the backbone of a stronger economy, create value with real work, and lay a more solid material foundation for China's transformation…
Deepen reform across the board with a focus on reshaping the relationship between the government and the market, so that the market plays a decisive role in allocating resources and market entities of all types will have more vitality and space to develop the economy and create wealth. We should give better play to the indispensable role of the government in guiding and regulating society, give consideration to both efficiency and equity, resolutely prevent polarisation, promote common prosperity, and achieve social harmony and stability. 以政府和市场关系的重塑为关键全面深化改革，使市场在资源配置中起决定性作用，让各类市场主体有更多活力和更大空间去发展经济、创造财富；更好发挥政府不可或缺的引导和调节作用，兼顾效率与公平，坚决防止两极分化，促进共同富裕，实现社会和谐安定.
Pursue coordinated growth. “Coordination is not only a development tool but also a development goal, and also a standard and yardstick for evaluating development. Instead of simply talking about heroes by GDP growth rate, improving the quality and efficiency of economic growth has become a common practice. Regional coordinated development, urban-rural coordinated development, coordinated development of material civilisation and spiritual civilisation; practice ‘lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets’...” “协调既是发展手段又是发展目标，同时还是评价发展的标准和尺度”。不再简单以生产总值增长率论英雄，提高经济增长质量和效益成为普遍遵循；区域协调发展、城乡协调发展、物质文明和精神文明协调发展步履坚实；践行“绿水青山就是金山银山”，发展和保护协同共生的路径更加明晰……
The next bit talks about social issues, such as employment, sanitation, reducing students’ burden, access to healthcare, etc… so “from winning the battle against poverty to building a moderately prosperous society, from making new substantive progress in promoting common prosperity for all people to taking new steps in building a community of human destiny, common prosperity, an essential requirement of socialism and an important feature of Chinese modernisation, has become more prominent. 从打赢脱贫攻坚战到全面建成小康社会，从推动全体人民共同富裕取得新的实质性进展，到建设人类命运共同体持续迈出新步伐，共同富裕这一社会主义本质要求、中国式现代化重要特征更加彰显.
After this, we get a long recap of comments and developments that are trying to show how the above has been implemented through policies or commitments.
After this, let’s look at the next piece in the series on Xi Jinping Economic Thought. This one draws from the character 共, so prizes for guessing that this talks about common prosperity. After a couple of comments from Xi about the commitment to common prosperity, we get this example of Luci Village along Fuchun River in Zhejiang, which was a poor village that used to sell charcoal for the living 卖炭为生 has today become an internet celebrity village 网红村. If I am correct, this village is seen as a leading demonstration candidate for both ecological and economic development as part of Zhejiang’s common prosperity approach.
The next part of the story talks about the concept of common prosperity having roots in ancient Chinese culture, Marxist thought and Mao’s intentions. Later it says that:
“After reform and opening up, on the basis of both positive and negative experiences, the CPC has come to a deep understanding that poverty is not socialism. It has broken the shackles of traditional institutions, allowed some people and regions to get rich first, and promoted the release and development of productive forces. As socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed greater importance on promoting common prosperity for all people. ‘Common prosperity is the essential requirement of socialism and an important feature of Chinese-style modernisation. ‘Realising common prosperity is not only an economic issue, but also a major political issue related to the party's ruling foundation’.” 改革开放后，在总结正反两方面经验基础上，我们党深刻认识到贫穷不是社会主义，打破传统体制束缚，允许一部分人、一部分地区先富起来，推动解放和发展社会生产力. 当中国特色社会主义进入新时代，习近平总书记把促进全体人民共同富裕摆在更加重要的位置—— “共同富裕是社会主义的本质要求，是中国式现代化的重要特征”“实现共同富裕不仅是经济问题，而且是关系党的执政基础的重大政治问题”…
And then it adds that the Party seeks “prosperity for all the people, not just a few, and prosperity in terms of both the material and spiritual lives of the people.”
It adds: “encourage people to get rich through hard work and innovation; encourage people that a happy life is achieved through hard work/struggle; adhere to the public ownership as the main body and the common development of various ownership economies. Do what you can, and take gradual steps...General Secretary Xi Jinping’s plan for achieving common prosperity is along the lines of a Marxist political economy, upholding integrity and innovation.” 鼓励勤劳创新致富，提倡幸福生活都是奋斗出来的；坚持公有制为主体、多种所有制经济共同发展；强调尽力而为量力而行，坚持循序渐进……习近平总书记对共同富裕的谋划，与马克思主义政治经济学一脉相承，守正创新.
After talking about China’s economic development level and poverty alleviation, the piece says that China is now at a new starting point and must have new thinking about the community and the concept of common development, basing ourselves on the people’s happiness, constantly strengthening the Party’s long-term ruling foundation.
It adds that:
“We must persist in ensuring and improving people’s livelihood in development and give priority to promoting high-quality development.” “We must establish a scientific public policy system, distribute the pie well and form a rational distribution pattern for all.” “要坚持在发展中保障和改善民生，把推动高质量发展放在首位”“要建立科学的公共政策体系，把蛋糕分好，形成人人享有的合理分配格局”...
“properly handle the relationship between efficiency and equity, establish coordinated institutional arrangements for primary distribution, redistribution, and tertiary distribution, and increase the intensity and precision of taxation, social security, transfer payments and other adjustments. In the process of ‘dividing the cake’, we will increase the proportion of the middle-income group and promote the formation of an olive-shaped distribution structure, thereby laying a solid foundation for high-quality economic and social development. 正确处理效率和公平的关系，构建初次分配、再分配、三次分配协调配套的制度安排，加大税收、社保、转移支付等调节力度并提高精准性。“分好蛋糕”的过程中，扩大中等收入群体比重，推动形成橄榄型分配结构，为我国经济社会高质量发展奠定坚实基础.
The next bit talks about common prosperity in the spiritual sense; so it mentions a “cleaner cyberspace,” “national self-confidence,” attitudes of “helping the weak and needy to become a social trend,” the guidance of core socialist values, etc. After this, common prosperity is pitched as a foreign policy objective: “no country and no nation can be left behind,” the piece says. China’s pandemic and vaccine diplomacy are pitched in this context.
Finally, a story about the State Council issuing a circular for further implementing the administrative penalty law.
Page 3: A bunch of stories to note. First, Defense Minister Wei Fenghe’s comments at the UN peacekeeping ministerial conference. Second, the full Declaration (English version) of the third ministers’ meeting of the China-CELAC Forum. Some excerpts:
“We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic reveals once again that we live in an interconnected world. In this regard, we must jointly uphold peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are common values of humanity. We highlight China’s vision to promote the building of an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.”
“We emphasize the need for mutual respect of the sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, dignity and territorial integrity of States, their right to development and to have social security systems, seeking to address each of the States concerns and persisting in the resolution of disputes by peaceful means. We reject the threat or use of force as a means of conflict resolution, as well as unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law and the UN Charter, which threaten the sovereignty and stability.”
We believe that the overall trend toward a multi-polar world, economic globalisation and greater democracy in international relations has not changed. We need to call on the international community to foster a new type of international relations based on international law and multilateralism, mutual respect, equity, justice, and win-win cooperation and to shape a resilient world that is more fair and equitable to tackle common urgent challenges.”
“We welcome the Global Development Initiative presented by China, considering that it may have the potential to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to pursue more robust, greener and balanced global development, in order to leave no one behind.”
“We agree to the strengthening of a dialogue for cooperation, implement and eventually develop norms and rules for cyberspace: to tackle the misuse of information and communication technologies (ICT) to incite and commit acts of terrorism; improve legal assistance mechanisms for cyber crime; participate actively at negotiations to elaborate a UN convention on countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, and safeguard peace and security in cyberspace. We highlight the Global Initiative on Data Security proposed by China.”
Third, Wang Yi’s comments (English report) at the International Conference on Nepal’s Reconstruction 2021. He pitched BRI in this. Fourth, a Zhong Sheng commentary talking about the invitation to Nathan Law to speak at the Democracy Summit by the Biden administration. This decision has clearly hit hard, it seems.
“The US government has provided a stage for this ‘Hong Kong independence’ activist to perform, which further exposes that the essence of the so-called ‘Democracy Summit’ is to instrumentalise and weaponise democracy.” The commentary says that Law is “a criminal suspect wanted by the Hong Kong police for inciting secession and colluding with foreign countries or foreign forces to endanger national security.” 美国政府为这名“港独”分子提供表演舞台，进一步暴露出所谓“民主峰会”实质就是要把民主工具化、武器化. 罗冠聪涉嫌煽动分裂国家、勾结外国或境外势力危害国家安全，是被香港警方通缉的犯罪嫌疑人.
The basic argument that the piece then makes is that Law is a “puppet” that the US has been using to “undermine democracy in Hong Kong.” This is part of a broader pattern of US intervention aimed at “destabilising Hong Kong in the name of ‘democracy’,” and “containing China.” After this the piece says:
“It is widely believed by Hong Kong citizens that the blind pursuit of American-style democracy has not brought real democracy to Hong Kong, but social division and vicious fighting, resulting in social disorder, economic imbalance and ineffective governance. The new electoral system is returning elections to healthy competition, and Hong Kong’s democracy is bringing benefits and benefits to the people. Such positive changes in Hong Kong society fully demonstrate the complete failure of American politicians to interfere in Hong Kong affairs under the pretext of ‘democracy’. The US attempt to build a platform to support a few wanted anti-China elements in Hong Kong is doomed to be in vain and will make no waves.” 美方企图搭台为个别被通缉的反中乱港分子撑腰打气注定徒劳，掀不起任何波澜.
The US’ decision to host a “fugitive criminal suspect at the so-called ‘democracy Summit’ will only make the international community see more clearly the absurd nature of its anti-democracy activities in the name of ‘democracy’.” 美方滑天下之大稽，将一个在逃犯罪嫌疑人搬上所谓“民主峰会”，只会让国际社会进一步看清其假“民主”之名、行反民主之实的荒唐本质.
Page 9: Qu Qingshan has the lead piece on the theory page. This is basically an ode to Deng Xiaoping. Qu writes about how the decision to pursue reform and opening up was a “great awakening” of the Party. He goes back to the decision at the third plenary session of the 11th Central Committee. He says that the Cultural Revolution was a “serious setback in the course of our Party’s exploration of China’s own path of socialism. The Party, relying on its own strength, united and led the people, and corrected this serious mistake.” He says that the Cultural Revolution had “exposed the serious defects in the system, policies and work of the Party and the state.”
He argues that at that moment, there were three potential paths before the Party and the people: take the old closed and rigid road; take the evil path of changing the banner; open up a new path of development. At this important historical juncture, Comrade Deng Xiaoping led the whole Party and people of all ethnic groups to face the reality bravely, sum up experience and correct mistakes, resolutely take the historic decision of reform and opening up, unite and lead the whole party and people of all ethnic groups to rise again from the predicament that we faced, and on the basis of national construction and development, open up the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. 面对当时存在的大量问题，邓小平同志尖锐地指出：“如果现在再不实行改革，我们的现代化事业和社会主义事业就会被葬送。”当时摆在党和人民面前有三条路：一条是走封闭僵化的老路；一条是走改旗易帜的邪路；一条是开辟新的发展道路。在这个重大历史关头，邓小平同志领导全党全国各族人民勇敢地面对现实，从实际出发，总结经验，纠正错误，毅然决然地作出改革开放的历史性决策，团结带领全党全国各族人民，从困境中重新奋起，在新中国成立以来国家建设和发展的基础上，开创了中国特色社会主义道路.
Both Jiang and Hu then get a paragraph each, and then we get back to Deng, who Qu credits with having summed up the international situation and the trend of the times in the 1970s and 80s. He writes that Deng identified the key issues of the times being peace and economic development. He had highlighted that “there will be no large war. Don’t be frightened. There is no risk.” Qu argues that “this judgment accurately grasped the trend and characteristics of the easing of East-West relations, the diminishing danger of world war, the rising tide of scientific and technological revolution, and the scramble for the commanding heights of strategic development of all countries. It provided an important basis for making major decisions on opening up to the outside world and formulating China’s foreign policy in the new era.” 20世纪70年代末80年代初，世界形势发生了重大变化。邓小平同志深刻洞察世界形势，指出：“现在世界上真正大的问题，带全球性的战略问题，一个是和平问题，一个是经济问题或者说发展问题。”同时，他还强调，“大战打不起来，不要怕，不存在什么冒险的问题”，我们要抓住这个机遇，一心一意搞建设，加快发展自己。经过长期观察和综合分析，我们党明确提出了和平与发展是当今时代的主题。这个判断准确把握了东西方关系有所缓和、世界战争危险逐渐减弱、科技革命浪潮不断兴起、各国争先抢占战略发展制高点的趋势和特征，为作出对外开放的重大决策，制定新时期我国的外交方针政策提供了重要依据.
Qu then says that reform and opening was also based on a “deep understanding of the aspirations and needs of the people.” Here he quotes Deng as having said that “poverty is not socialism.” Qu then says that this “great awakening” was:
a product of the Party’s nature, ideals and beliefs
carried out under the scientific guidance of Marxism
is a vivid practice of the people in creating history
and it has profoundly changed China.