Strict Self-governance a 'Magic Weapon' - Zhong Yin Article Warns on Cadres Lifestyles - New Economic Data Signals Weakness - GCI at UNSC - Zhao's Message on 'Democratic Politics' to Kiribati Speaker
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily's edition on Friday, June 16, 2023.
Page 1: The lead story on the page is on the publication of Xi’s new article in Qiushi on comprehensive and strict Party governance. The article emphasises the importance of strict self-governance of the Party as a “magic weapon for rejuvenating the party and strengthening the country.”
“In the past 10 years of the new era, our party has continuously deepened its understanding of the laws of self-revolution, continuously promoted theoretical innovation, practical innovation, and institutional innovation in party building, and has accumulated rich results in building a system of comprehensive and strict Party governance. We have taken political construction as the fundamental construction of the Party and ideological construction as the Party's basic construction, have put forward and adhered to the Party's organisational line in the new era, won the trust and support of the people with a new atmosphere of work style construction, have incorporated discipline construction into the overall layout of Party building, have integrated system construction into all aspects of Party building, have carried out an unprecedented anti-corruption struggle, and have successfully embarked of on a path of anti-corruption with Chinese characteristics. Looking around the world, no other political party has been as serious and conscientious in pursuing self-construction and promoting scientific and systematic self-revolution as the Communist Party of China. This is a remarkable advantage of our Party and the winning method to lead the times.” 文章指出，构建全面从严治党体系是一项具有全局性、开创性的工作。新时代10年，我们党不断深化对自我革命规律的认识，不断推进党的建设理论创新、实践创新、制度创新，在构建全面从严治党体系上积累了丰富成果。我们把党的政治建设作为党的根本性建设，把思想建设作为党的基础性建设，提出和坚持新时代党的组织路线，以作风建设新气象赢得人民群众信任拥护，把纪律建设纳入党的建设总体布局，把制度建设贯穿党的各项建设，开展史无前例的反腐败斗争，成功走出一条中国特色反腐败之路。放眼全世界，没有任何一个政党能像中国共产党如此严肃认真地对待自身建设，如此高度自觉地以科学的态度、体系化的方式推进自我革命，这是我们党的显著优势，也是引领时代的制胜之道.
“The article points out that establishing a comprehensive and strict governance system for the Party is a significant measure proposed at the 20th Party Congress to strengthen the Party's construction in the new era. The Party’s comprehensive and strict governance system should be dynamic with rich connotations, complete functions, scientific norms, and efficient operation. To establish this system, it is necessary to adhere to governing the Party by rules and regulations. More emphasis should be placed on organic connection, integrated coordination, and synergy among various aspects of Party building; the soundness and perfection of institutional mechanisms and the scientific effectiveness of regulatory systems; and the use of governance concepts, systematic thinking, and dialectical reasoning in Party governance and construction. It is necessary to ensure that the system covers all areas comprehensively. Wherever the Party's construction is being promoted, the system of comprehensive and strict governance should be constructed accordingly. It should cover all Party organisations at all levels and all Party members, so as to manage and govern the whole Party. Adhere to the whole chain of responsibility, with pressure transmitted layer by layer and responsibilities interlocking. The system should be fully integrated into all aspects and levels of the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, reflecting the requirements of institutional construction throughout the entire process.” 文章指出，健全全面从严治党体系，是党的二十大提出的加强新时代党的建设的重大举措。全面从严治党体系应是一个内涵丰富、功能完备、科学规范、运行高效的动态系统。健全这个体系，需要坚持制度治党、依规治党，更加突出党的各方面建设有机衔接、联动集成、协同协调，更加突出体制机制的健全完善和法规制度的科学有效，更加突出运用治理的理念、系统的观念、辩证的思维管党治党建设党。要坚持内容上全涵盖，党的建设推进到哪里，全面从严治党体系就要构建到哪里。坚持对象上全覆盖，面向党的各级组织和全体党员，做到管全党、治全党。坚持责任上全链条，压力层层传导，责任环环相扣。坚持制度上全贯通，把制度建设要求体现到全面从严治党全过程、各方面、各层级.
The final paragraph says that “it is the common responsibility of the entire Party to improve the comprehensive and strict Party governance system.”
The other top article is a Zhong Yin commentary, which calls on cadres to adhere to the eight-point central regulations and reminds them that frugality is a virtue while extravagance is an evil. “俭，德之共也；侈，恶之大也.” It adds: “no matter how far our country develops and how far our people's lives improve, the idea of hard work, diligence and frugality must never be lost.” “不论我们国家发展到什么水平，不论人民生活改善到什么地步，艰苦奋斗、勤俭节约的思想永远不能丢”.
“Extravagance and waste and indulgent pleasure not only squander the limited resources but also corrode people’s hearts, weaken people’s will, corrupt the Party’s work style and government’s work style, ultimately seriously damaging the Party's advanced nature and purity and its governing foundation and position.” 铺张浪费、奢靡享乐，不仅浪费有限资源，更会腐蚀人的心灵、消磨人的意志，败坏党风政风，最终会严重损害党的先进性和纯洁性、严重损害党的执政基础和执政地位.
Some useful advice here: “Life is the foundation of work. Without self-discipline in life, it is difficult to be honest and clean in work. To cultivate frugality, the key is to start from the little things, be regimented in daily life, maintain a serious lifestyle and cultivate a healthy sense of living, and especially enhancing self-control and being cautious and prudent in all aspects.” 生活是工作的基础，生活上做不到自觉自律，工作就难以做到清正廉明。养成俭朴之风，关键要从一点一滴做起，从日常生活严起，保持严肃的生活作风、培养健康的生活情趣，特别是要增强自制力，做到慎独慎微. “‘Hardships come first, pleasure comes later’ is the Party member's obligation stipulated by the Party constitution, and ‘be frugal and refrain from extravagance’ is a clear requirement put forward by the Chinese Communist Party Standards on Integrity and Self Discipline.”“吃苦在前，享受在后”是党章规定的党员义务，“尚俭戒奢”是《中国共产党廉洁自律准则》提出的明确要求. “In the process of theme education, we must adhere to the combination of goal orientation and problem orientation, and the integration of learning, investigation and reform, so as to cultivate a style of frugality. We should take the problem of lifestyle as an important part of inspection and rectification, conduct a major investigation, overhaul and clean-up to address the shortcomings in work style and rectify improper behaviours, and effectively solve the outstanding problems that have been strongly pointed out by the people.” 在主题教育中抓实以学正风，养成俭朴之风，必须坚持目标导向和问题导向相结合、学查改相贯通，把生活作风问题作为检视整改的重要内容，对作风之弊、行为之垢来一次大排查、大检修、大扫除，切实解决人民群众反映强烈的突出问题.
— Comment: This is really important because it’s telling us that going forward even more attention will be paid to targeting people on moral issues or on dealings of family members. In essence, there’s no distinction between the personal and the professional. This is not new. For instance, adultery is something that often features as one of the many corruption charges against officials that have been taken down. Likewise, financial or even personal dealings of spouses and children have been included in corruption probes. But I guess this signals continued pressure or even an intensification of action in this regard. The next sentence sheds more light. It says that:
Party members and cadres should keep a clear mind and consciously reflect on their own behaviours. They should proactively assess whether they themselves are engaged in issues such as extravagance, pleasure-seeking behaviours, and pursuit of low-level/vulgar/inferior tastes, and dare to correct their own shortcomings and deficiencies to ensure that they are honest and upright in their lifestyle. 广大党员干部要保持清醒头脑，以“检身若不及”的自觉要求自己、反思自己，主动查找是否存在生活奢靡、贪图享乐、追求低级趣味等问题，勇于改正自身的缺点和不足，确保在生活作风上清正廉洁、一身正气。
The piece then emphasises the importance of Party spirit by saying that “Party spirit, Party work style, and Party discipline are an organic whole, Party spirit is the foundation, Party work style is the performance, and Party discipline is the guarantee.”党性、党风、党纪是有机整体，党性是根本，党风是表现，党纪是保障。
It adds: “Cadres and Party members should be soberly aware that the eight-point central regulations are iron rule that will be effective for a long time. They should persistently implement the spirit of the eight-point central regulations, enhance the effectiveness of inspection and rectification, and form a rational consciousness of self-denial and public service, rejection of corruption and respect for honesty, abstaining from extravagance and being frugal, and promoting integrity.”广大党员干部要清醒认识到，中央八项规定是长期有效的铁规矩、硬杠杠，要持之以恒落实中央八项规定精神，增强检视整改实效，形成克己奉公、拒腐崇廉、戒奢尚俭、激浊扬清的理性自觉。
Next, there’s a report (English report) on 81 senior officials of 55 departments and units under the State Council taking a public pledge of allegiance to the Constitution at a ceremony on Thursday. Li Qiang delivered a speech after the ceremony. He called on the officials to keep their promises, and said that:
“the most fundamental thing to maintain loyalty is to temper loyalty to the Party, persist in casting souls with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era, deeply understand the decisive significance of Two Establishments and consciously achieve the two safeguards; regardless of the situation that one faces face or the storms that one experiences, one must maintain a high degree of alignment with the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core in terms of thought, politics and action, and be loyal to the Constitution, the motherland and the people.” 他强调，要永葆忠诚之心，最根本的是要淬炼对党的忠诚之心，坚持用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，自觉做到“两个维护”，无论面对什么样的形势，经历什么样的风浪，都要在思想上政治上行动上同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致，忠于宪法，忠于祖国，忠于人民.
This above point is excluded in Xinhua English’s reporting of the ceremony. The report, however, summarises most of the remaining key points well.
“Li also urged them to uphold the people-centered philosophy of development, work hard to promote high-quality development, develop a correct understanding of power, performance and careers, abide by the rule of law, safeguard the authority of the Constitution, and exercise their duties in accordance with the law.”
The only other thing, and it’s kinda important, that Li said, is this: “Under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we must resolutely act as implementers, doers, and people of action who faithfully carry out the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee.” 在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，坚决做贯彻党中央决策部署的执行者、行动派、实干家...
Next, there’s a report on Zhao Leji’s meeting with the Speaker of Kiribati's House of Assembly Tangariki Reete. Xinhua says:
“Noting the fundamental prerequisite for the smooth development of bilateral relations is to properly handle the Taiwan question, Zhao said China highly appreciates that Kiribati adheres to the one-China principle and hopes both sides will continue to support each other on the issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. Zhao said China is ready to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative with the development plan of Kiribati and make more fruitful cooperation in such areas as trade and investment, infrastructure, energy and transportation, agriculture, fishery, and tourism. It is hoped that the two sides will expand exchanges and sub-national cooperation in education, culture, youth, health, sports and other fields, and promote mutual learning among civilizations and mutual understanding and amity between peoples, Zhao added. Noting China's NPC stands ready to carry out more friendly exchanges with Kiribati's House of Assembly, Zhao called on the two sides to strengthen exchanges in various forms and through different channels, enhance their mutual experience in fields like legislation and supervision, and promote the communication and cooperation in international and regional parliamentary organizations. Zhao introduced China's developing whole-process people's democracy, saying that China is willing to work with developing countries, including Kiribati, to jointly promote the construction of democratic politics suited to their own national conditions.”
— Comment: This is very interesting language. I could be wrong (and please correct me if I am) but I don’t think that I’ve seen such a statement before. This but about supporting the “construction of democratic politics” sounds much more interventionist than just saying that one is supportive of the development path that a country chooses based on their national conditions or being open to understanding each other’s systems or sharing governance experience. Also, the use of “democratic politics” seems to suggest a willingness to go on the front-foot in terms of the narrative battle around democracy.
Next, there’s a report on the meeting of the special working mechanism at the central level to rectify formalism and reduce the burdens on people working at the grassroots level.
The meeting emphasized that it is necessary to take the rectification of formalism to reduce the burden on the grassroots as an important content of learning and implementing the Xi thought education campaign, and constantly enhance the sense of urgency and political awareness. In theoretical study, investigation and study, promotion of development, and inspection and rectification, we will put rectification and discipline and guarding against formalism and bureaucracy in a more prominent position. Continue to improve the party's work style, political style and social atmosphere, and highlight the effectiveness of theme education with rectification results. 会议强调，要将整治形式主义为基层减负作为学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想主题教育的重要内容，不断增强紧迫感和政治自觉，在理论学习、调查研究、推动发展、检视整改中，将纠治和力戒形式主义、官僚主义摆在更加突出的位置，持续推动党风政风社会风气向上向好，以整治成果彰显主题教育成效.
It adds that:
It is necessary to establish a correct view of political achievements, ensuring that Party officials and members consider the people's welfare to be their greatest achievement
It is necessary that work should focus on key points and difficult issues to solve practical problems.
It is necessary to encourage cadres to take responsibility, focus on rectifying behaviours such as ‘lying flat’ and ‘bureaucratic habits’, and clearly establish an assessment orientation that emphasises hard work, performance and responsibility.
It is necessary to improve governance efficiency.
Next, a brief report (English report) on Li Xi meeting with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, in Kunming on Thursday. — Comment: This is odd that a visiting president is being hosted in a regional capital rather than Beijing. Is he there on a personal trip? Anyone know why?
Finally, NBS’ data on China’s economic performance in May. I am compiling from various sources to put everything in one place.
In May, the national service industry production index increased by 11.7% year-on-year. From January to May, the national service industry production index increased by 9.1% year-on-year, 0.7 percentage points faster than that from January to April.
In May, the added value of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 3.5% year-on-year and 0.63% month-on-month. In terms of products, the output of solar cells, new energy vehicles, and service robots increased by 53.1%, 43.6%, and 34.3% year-on-year respectively. In the first five months of 2023, value-added industrial output grew 3.6 percent year-on-year. By ownership, state-controlled enterprises saw an increase of 4.4 percent in output, while the private sector's output grew by 0.7 percent.
The total retail sales of consumer goods was 3.78 trillion yuan ($526.91 billion), a year-on-year increase of 12.7% and a month-on-month increase of 0.42%. However, the year-on-year growth rate of total retail sales of consumer goods fell from 18.4% in April to 12.7% in May. The retail sales of communication equipment above designated size, gold, silver and jewellery, and sports and entertainment products increased by 27.4%, 24.4%, and 14.3% respectively. From January to May, the total retail sales of social consumer goods was 18.76 trillion yuan ($2.63 trillion), a year-on-year increase of 9.3%. However, one must remember that this rate is also a product of a low base, given that many Chinese cities were in lockdowns from March to May last year.
Fixed-asset investment totaled 18.88 trillion yuan (about $2.64 trillion) from January to May. In May, fixed-asset investment rose 0.11 percent from the previous month. But this was down from the rise of 4.7% in the first four months. Also during the first five months of the year, fixed-asset investment from the private sector stood at 10.19 trillion yuan, edging down 0.1 percent from the same period last year. “Industrial investment surged 8.8 percent year on year. Specifically, investment in the manufacturing sector climbed 6 percent, and that in the mining industry went up 1.5 percent. Investment in the sector of electricity, heating, gas, and water production and supply surged 27.6 percent. Investment in infrastructure construction rose 7.5 percent year on year in the same period. Of the total, investment jumped 16.4 percent in railway transportation and 11.5 percent in water conservancy management. “
In May, the total import and export volume of goods was 3.45 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.5%. From January to May, the total import and export volume of goods was 16.78 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 4.7%.
In May, the national urban survey unemployment rate was 5.2%, the same as last month. The unemployment rate for young people ages 16 to 24 rose to 20.8% in May, a record and above the high set in April. The national consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.2% year-on-year; The national producer price index (PPI) decreased by 4.6% year on year.
Property sector situation: “New-home prices in Beijing, Shanghai and other tier-one cities rose 0.1 per cent month on month in May, slowing from a 0.4 per cent month-on-month gain in April, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Thursday. Prices for new homes in tier-two cities rose 0.2 per cent, also slower than April’s 0.4 per cent increase. Tier-three cities’ property prices were flat in May after growing 0.2 per cent in the previous month. As for lived-in home prices, tier-one cities saw a 0.4 per cent decline in May, reversing from a 0.2 per cent gain posted a month earlier. Tier-two and tier-three cities registered 0.3 per cent and 0.2 per cent declines, respectively. Among 70 medium and large cities in mainland China tracked by the NBS, only 46 cities recorded an increase in new home prices, down from 62 in April. The lived-in home market performed worse, with only 15 cities seeing rising prices, down from 36 in the previous month. Builders remained cautious about expanding. Investment in the property sector is on a downward trajectory this year, with the year-on-year decline in the first five months of the year at 7.2 per cent year, extending the 6.2 per cent fall recorded in the January to April period. Residential investment dropped 6.4 per cent year on year in the first five months, which was worse than the 4.9 per cent decline in the first four months.”
Three useful pieces to read on this:
CNBC reports: “China’s central bank lowered its key medium-term lending rates on Thursday, in a much anticipated move as the economy’s post-Covid recovery continues to lose momentum. The People’s Bank of China lowered the rate on 237 billion Chinese yuan ($33 billion) of one-year medium-term lending facility (MLF) loans to some financial institutions by 10 basis points — from 2.75% to 2.65%. The central bank last lowered the rate on 400 billion yuan of one-year MLF loans in August, making Thursday’s move the first such cut in 10 months…Earlier this week, the central bank cut its seven-day reverse repurchase rate by 10 basis points from 2% to 1.9%, injecting 2 billion Chinese yuan through its seven-day repos. China’s largest state-owned commercial banks cut deposit rates last week, according to CNBC checks…The central bank’s MLF cut is a sign of Chinese policymakers’ “willingness” to step in to help prop up the economy, KraneShares’ Chief Investment Officer Brendan Ahern said.”
Chinese economic data fuels gloom over recovery from FT. I am sharing two of their very useful charts below.
Page 2: Just one report to note, i.e., of the launch of 41 satellites via the Long March-2D rocket.
Page 3: There’s a consolidated report on Li Qiang and Zhao Leji’s meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Xinhua’s report on the Li-Abbas meeting says:
“Noting cooperation in various fields between China and Palestine has witnessed steady progress, Li urged efforts by the two sides to continue firmly supporting each other, continuously promote pragmatic cooperation, speed up the negotiation of a free trade agreement, work for closer people-to-people exchanges, and constantly carry forward their traditional friendship. China will continue to champion justice and make sustained efforts for a comprehensive, just and durable solution for the Palestinian question, Li added.” In the PD report, Li also mentions GDI, GSI, GCI and BRI.
Abbas, meanwhile, adds: “Palestine thanks China for its strong support for the just cause of the Palestinian people, and firmly supports the great cause of China's reunification, firmly supports China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, and firmly supports China playing a greater role in international and regional affairs. The Palestinian people will never believe the remarks that smear and discredit China, nor will the people of the world. Palestine is willing to strengthen friendly cooperation with China and jointly promote the early settlement of the Palestinian issue.” 巴方感谢中方对巴勒斯坦人民正义事业的大力支持，坚定支持中国统一大业，坚定支持中方维护自身正当权益，坚定支持中方在国际和地区事务中发挥更大作用。巴人民不会相信诋毁、抹黑中国的言论，世界人民也不会相信。巴方愿同中方加强友好合作，共同推动巴勒斯坦问题早日得到解决。
Xinhua’s report on the Zhao-Abbas meeting says:
“The two sides jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership on Wednesday, lifting bilateral relations to a new high, Zhao said, noting that the NPC of China is willing to continue close and friendly exchanges with the Palestinian legislature and contribute to deepening the traditional friendship and advancing practical cooperation between the two countries. No matter how the international situation changes, China will always firmly support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, he noted.”
Also on the page is a brief report on Li Qiang’s first international travel after becoming premier. Li will be visiting Germany and France. In Germany, he will be part of the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation. In France, he will attend the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact from June 18 to 23.
Next, there’s a report on Foreign Minister Qin Gang meeting with Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister Chet Greene in Beijing. Xinhua says:
“‘Antigua and Barbuda is China's reliable friend and partner in the Caribbean,’ Qin said. He noted that the two sides have always shared understanding and supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, setting a good example of countries of different sizes treating each other with mutual respect, and pursuing equity, mutual benefits and common development. The Chinese side welcomes Antigua and Barbuda to participate in the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, which were proposed by China, Qin added. Greene, who came to Beijing to attend the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance and to pay a visit to China, said Antigua and Barbuda attaches great importance to developing relations with China and firmly upholds the one-China principle. He also expressed willingness to strengthen practical cooperation with China in the fields of infrastructure, economy and trade, agriculture, environmental protection and water resources. The two sides expressed concern over Japan's pushing through of the disposal of its nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.”
Next, there’s a report with quotes from Chinese officials and analysts and foreigners who attended the recent human rights forum, praising China’s propositions. In the piece, officials from Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda, Central African Republic, and folks from Indonesia, Malaysia and Argentina.
Next, there’s a short piece on remarks by Ambassador Zhang Jun at the UN Security Council High-level Briefing on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security. Key points he made are:
There needs to be “respect for civilizational diversity…There is no such thing as a superior civilization or an inferior one. To believe that one's own civilization is a cut above the rest, and to be bent on transforming or even replacing other civilizations is sheer folly epistemologically, and disastrous when applied to practice. In history, colonial conquests and plundering driven by civilizational superiority and white supremacy wreaked such devastation in Asia, Africa, and Latin America that has never before seen. Today, interference, intervention, provocation, and incitement under the banner of ‘universal values’ are creating new conflicts and new confrontations. China believes and advocates that in this world of interdependence, while we should have the pride, confidence, and ambition to promote our respective civilizations so they can shine with vibrant brilliance, we must also have the large-heartedness and breadth of mind to embrace the development of other civilizations and the vision to promote exchanges and mutual appreciation and learning among civilizations…In March this year, Chinese President His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping unveiled the Global Civilization Initiative, which advocates respecting civilizational diversity, promoting the common values of humankind, valuing civilizational heritage and innovation, and strengthening international cultural exchanges and cooperation. China is ready to work with the rest of the international community to open up a new chapter in cultural exchanges, convergence of different cultures, and people-to-people engagement among all nations in the world, so that our collective garden of diverse civilizations will teem with vitality and colors.”
“Mutual trust among nations must be enhanced…Recently, we have seen some encouraging developments in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and Iran announced the resumption of diplomatic ties between them as an outcome of the Beijing dialogue, thus setting off a rising tide of reconciliation in the region. Syria has returned to the League of Arab States, marking a reunion of the Arab family after 12 years. These developments have set a good example of mutual respect among countries by rising above their differences, and have injected positive energy into the unity and cooperation among regional countries. The international community should also seize this opportunity and work with a greater sense of urgency to resolve the Palestinian issue in a comprehensive and just manner on the basis of the two-State solution and to promote the peaceful coexistence of the two states, Palestine and Israel, so that the two peoples, the Arabs and the Jews, can seek development together hand in hand. Under the new circumstances, members of the Security Council should be more united, give substance to their commitments, and better discharge their mandate of maintaining international peace and security…We must take an unequivocal stand against any interference in the internal affairs of other countries, against any attempt to stir up tensions to serve one's own interests, against drawing ideological boundary lines for the purpose of bloc politics, and against hegemonic bullying international relations.”
“We must promote social inclusion…Some countries are seriously troubled by severed social fabric and political polarization. It not only holds back their own stability and development, but also puts their foreign policies on the slippery road of conservatism and populism with palpable negative spillover effects. Those countries need to do some soul-searching and genuinely address the chronic problems in their own national governance, instead of blaming their own problems on external factors and looking for scapegoats. In particular, political leaders should shoulder the responsibilities that history places on them, forge social consensus, and actively promote reforms. They must not ride on and drift with the wave of populism. Hate speech exacerbates social rifts. Extremism is rampant. Mis- and disinformation continues to spread unbridled. Religious intolerance and racial discrimination against peoples of African and Asian descent are on the rise. Islamophobia has reached epidemic proportions. This should be a cause for concern and vigilance. Freedom of expression should as a matter of course be protected. But freedom of expression should not be a license for hate speech, nor should it be an excuse for government inaction. Terrorism is a malignant tumor, that ails human civilization. It must not be linked to any ethnicity, religion, country, or civilization. We call for the operationalization of UN General Assembly Resolution 75/309 and for a strong global narrative to counter hate speech.”
“Focus on common development…At present, the global economic recovery is fraught with mounting difficulties and developing countries are facing grim challenges in achieving the SDGs by 2030. Many of the hard-won development gains have even slipped away. The special vulnerabilities and fragility of developing countries are ultimately rooted in the unfair, unjust, and unreasonable international economic order. What’s more, in order to maintain their dominant position, some countries have imposed technology blockades and economic sanctions indiscriminately, advocating decoupling and cutting off chains and building small yards enclosed with high walls. These acts that hold back development and attempt to turn the clock back are as immoral as they are unsustainable. The international community must firmly reject them…The international financial institutions should take steps to reform as soon as possible and make up the moral deficit and must not be reduced to private funds and private banks manipulated by some individual country. It is also important to effectively respect the right to development of developing countries, resolutely oppose the creation of various excuses for technological stranglehold and economic coercion, and safeguard fairness and justice.”
It’s worth noting that at the UNGA this week, Dai Bing, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, also brought up the Global Civilisation Initiative, along with GDI and GSI. In doing so, Dai lashed out that “a few countries” for “provoking confrontation in the name of democracy, dividing the world in the name of ‘de-risking’, pursuing exceptionalism and double standards, and engaging in hegemonism and bullying…”
Page 11: A brief report on a collaboration agreement between the judicial departments of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. The agreement covers 20 specific collaborative measures across six domains:
service guarantee for the construction of Xiong'an New Area
strengthening administrative and legislative coordination
promoting coordinated administration according to law
implementing coordinated criminal law enforcement and judicial administration for drug rehabilitation
deepening coordination in public legal services
enhancing Party building coordination
《服务保障京津冀协同发展战略合作协议》主要包括服务保障雄安新区建设、加强行政立法协同、推动依法行政协同、落实刑事执行与司法行政戒毒协同、深化公共法律服务协同、强化党建协同6个方面20条具体协同举措.