Studying Xi's Thought on Self-Revolution -Wang-Lavrov Call - Maldives President's China Visit - Xi on Need for Stability in US Ties - Boosting Connectivity in Frontier Areas
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Thursday, January 11, 2024.
Page 1: The top three stories today are around Xi Jinping’s diplomatic engagements. First, let’s look at the report on Xi’s meeting with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Xinhua reports:
“The two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.” “‘Under the new circumstances, China-Maldives relations face a historic opportunity to build on past achievements and forge ahead,’ Xi said, noting that the elevation of ties is necessary alongside the growth of bilateral relations and meets the expectations of the two peoples.”
Xi “stressed that China respects and supports the Maldives in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions, and supports the Maldives firmly in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national dignity. China stands ready to exchange governance experience with the Maldives, strengthen the synergy of development strategies, advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and set a new benchmark for the China-Maldives friendship, Xi said. He called on the two sides to strengthen cooperation in such areas as the economy, trade and investment, agricultural parks, and the blue, green and digital economies. He also called for expanded cooperation on marine ecological and environmental protection, as well as strengthened people-to-people exchanges. He said China will support more Maldivian students to study in China and promote more direct flights between the two countries.”
He also talked about the need to “strengthen multilateral communication and coordination to safeguard genuine multilateralism and the common interests of developing countries, and build a community with a shared future for humanity to make the world more peaceful, secure and prosperous.”
“Muizzu said the Maldives pursues the one-China policy firmly. Firm mutual support in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity is a solid foundation for the sustained and sound development of Maldives-China relations.” He said that the “Maldivian people have benefited greatly from the Belt and Road Initiative.”
This quote is worth noting “During my visit to Fujian this time, I personally witnessed the tremendous achievements made by China in development and experienced President Xi Jinping’s outstanding leadership firsthand.” 我此次参访福建期间，亲眼目睹中国发展取得的巨大成就，亲身感受到习近平主席的卓越领导力.
He also talked about doing more under BRI and welcoming more Chinese tourists. He added: “The Maldives supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, all of which were put forward by President Xi, and is willing to communicate and cooperate closely with China on international and regional affairs.”
In terms of outcomes, an action plan to establish the China-Maldives comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership was signed, as well as cooperation documents on the construction of the Belt and Road, disaster management, the economy and technology, infrastructure, people’s livelihoods, green development, and the blue and digital economies.
The entire list of agreements is available here. The two media-specific ones are:
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on News Cooperation between Public Service Media (PSM) of Republic of Maldives and Xinhua News Agency of People’s Republic of China
Memorandum of Cooperation between China Media Group and Public Service Media of the Republic of Maldives
Moving on, there’s a report on Xi’s conversation with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto. Xinhua reports:
“Xi said that in recent years, China-Finland relations have maintained steady development, and their cooperation in forest industry, agricultural and food products, information and communication, energy, environmental protection, science and technology, education, winter sports and other fields has deepened, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples. China-Finland relations have always maintained a good momentum of development. The fundamental reason is that both sides uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutually beneficial cooperation, Xi noted. China is willing to share development opportunities with Finland, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership between the two countries, strengthen coordination in international affairs, jointly advocate multilateralism, safeguard free trade, and make positive contributions to safeguarding world peace and stability and promoting the modernization of all countries in the world, Xi said. Noting that the strategic significance and global influence of China-EU relations have become more prominent amid the current turbulent international situation, Xi said China is ready to work with Finland and other European countries to view each other from a strategic and long-term perspective, safeguard and develop China-EU relations, and achieve common development.”
Third, there is a brief report (English report) on Xi sharing a congratulatory message with his Tunisian counterpart, Kais Saied, on the 60th anniversary of China-Tunisia diplomatic relations.
Fourth, there is a report on Xi’s letter to Sarah Lande, a friend of his from Iowa. Xinhua reports: Xi said that “the achievements in China-U.S. relations are primarily attributable to the collective efforts of the people of the two countries.”
“Noting that China is the largest developing country and the United States the largest developed country in the world, Xi said the future of this planet needs stability and improvement of China-U.S. relations. China is willing to work with the United States to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, seek more benefits for the two peoples, provide more public goods to the international community, and jointly build a clean and beautiful world featuring lasting peace, security for all, common prosperity, openness and inclusiveness together.”
He also said that “China will invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years.”
Finally, the page carries the CCDI plenary communique and a commentary basically outlining key aspects from the communique. I covered this in a separate post yesterday. You can check it out here.
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Page 2: There is a report on a new notice issued by 13 departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, which talks about extending broadband facilities to frontier areas. The document says that the 5G mobile network and optical fibre network with a speed of 1,000 Mbps will be extended to all county and township seats in the border areas by the end of 2025.
The report adds:
“The notice deploys seven key tasks:
expediting the upgrade of broadband networks in county towns
strengthening the construction of broadband networks in rural areas
advancing the coverage of mobile networks on roads
enhancing the network support capabilities of border management agencies and border trade regions
improving broadband coverage in islands and maritime areas
enhancing the level of network maintenance services
empowering the digital development of border areas.
It is expected that by the end of 2027, the proportion of administrative villages, border management, and trade institutions in border areas covered by 5G networks will exceed 95%; areas with a population of more than 20 households in rural agglomerations, along national and provincial highways, will achieve basic 5G network coverage; and inhabited islands will achieve 100% 5G network coverage, while inland seas, territorial seas, and other maritime areas will basically achieve 5G network coverage.”
通知部署了加快县城宽带网络升级、加强乡村宽带网络建设、推进道路移动网络覆盖、增强边境管理机构和边贸区域网络保障能力、加强海岛海域宽带网络覆盖、提升网络维护服务水平、赋能边疆地区数字化发展等7方面重点任务。预计到2027年底，边疆地区行政村、边境管理及贸易机构通5G网络比例达到95%以上；20户以上农村人口聚居区、沿边国道和省道沿线基本实现5G网络覆盖；有人居住海岛通5G网络比例达到100%；内海、领海等海域基本实现5G网络覆盖.
Page 3: There’s a report informing that the Party Group of the NPCSC held a session to study and discuss Xi’s speech at the CCDI plenary. Zhao Leji was present for this.
Likewise, the Party Group of the State Council held a study session too. Li Qiang and Ding Xuexiang were present for this. It says:
“The Party Committees of the State Council and the Party Committees of various departments must effectively unify their thoughts and actions with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech and the deployment of the third plenary session of the CCDI, deeply understand the decisive significance of the Two Establishments’, strengthen the four consciousnesses and four self-confidences and ‘two safeguards’; efforts should be made to enhance the political awareness of comprehensive and strict Party governance, and in-depth advancement of work style and clean governance and anti-corruption efforts to provide a strong guarantee for promoting high-quality development.” 国务院党组和各部门党组（党委）要切实把思想和行动统一到习近平总书记重要讲话精神和中央纪委三次全会部署上来，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”，着力增强全面从严治党的政治自觉，纵深推进政府党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争，为推动高质量发展提供坚强保障.
Also, the CPPCC’s theory study group held a meeting to study Xi’s speech at the CCDI plenary session. Wang Huning was present for this.
Page 4: There’s a report on Wang Yi’s call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Xinhua reports:
Wang said that “China and Russia should strengthen strategic communication, build more strategic consensuses and carry out more strategic cooperation on the future of mankind and the world…In the past year, under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has been running on high gear…Through high-quality strategic coordination, the two sides have not only well managed the affairs of their respective countries, but also played mainstay roles in the international arena and maintained global strategic stability…Wang said the two sides should, in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state, hold celebration activities, intensify high-level exchanges, promote the in-depth development of bilateral practical cooperation, advance people-to-people exchanges in various fields, and further consolidate the public support and social foundation for bilateral relations…China firmly believes that Russia will be able to successfully complete its important domestic political agenda, and maintain national stability and development…At the recent Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs, President Xi comprehensively reviewed China’s major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era, made strategic plans for the next steps, particularly elucidating the profound connotations of the scientific system of building a community with a shared future for mankind, and advocated an equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as an inclusive economic globalization that benefits all, which conforms to the trend of development and progress of the times and resonates with the common aspirations of most countries.”
Lavrov said that “Russia stands ready to work with China to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen bilateral cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, and investment, deepen people-to-people exchanges in the fields of sports and culture, hold successful China-Russia Year of Culture, advance communication and coordination in international affairs, and join hands to push for new achievements in bilateral relations. Russia firmly adheres to the one-China principle, he added. The two sides also exchanged views on BRICS cooperation and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict…Both China and Russia should continue to beef up communication and coordination, and urge for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, ensure smooth delivery of humanitarian relief, and make joint efforts for restarting the two-state solution.”
The Russian readout says that:
The ministers “focused on the implementation of agreements reached at the top political level and highlighted the importance of Russian-Chinese strategic interaction to create a just multipolar international order and, in particular, to ensure that the foundations of Eurasian security are solid. They noted that bilateral trade and economic cooperation has successfully overcome external challenges, with Russia-China trade passing the $200 billion mark as of the end of the year, and discussed the importance of expanding cooperation between the EAEU and the Belt and Road project. The interest of both countries in further building up humanitarian ties in sports, education, science, cultural exchanges, and international performing arts competitions was reaffirmed.”
It adds, they discussed “the Ukraine crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific region in general. They underscored their rejection of the Western bloc’s confrontational policy towards Russia and China, and the attempts to hold back their development using sanctions, deliberate provocations and other illegitimate means. They also noted the purely constructive nature of interaction between Moscow and Beijing within the UN, the SCO, BRICS and other multilateral formats, which is not directed against third countries. The Chinese side expressed support for Russia’s BRICS chairmanship. The ministers exchanged views on ways to facilitate China’s contacts with the CIS.”
Next, there’s a report on Li Shulei meeting with Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Laos on Wednesday. Xinhua says:
“Li said the new five-year action plan on building a China-Laos community with a shared future signed by the two country's leaders in October 2023 has provided strategic guidance for the development of the two country's relations…For his part, Thongloun said that the Lao side has attached great importance to the building of the Laos-China community with a shared future and is willing to strengthen exchanges with the Chinese side in theoretical experience on enhancing party competence and state governance. He stressed that both sides should also work together to give full play to the leading role of the Laos-China Railway and promote practical cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade, culture and tourism.”
During the visit, Li has also met Deputy PM Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune and Khamphanh Pheuyavong, the head of the Propaganda and Training Board of the LPRP Central Committee. Li spoke at a seminar on sharing experience and practices in strengthening ecological environment protection in modernization construction and also exchanged views with the Lao side on propaganda, ideological, and cultural work. 在老挝期间，李书磊会见了老挝人革党中央政治局委员、政府副总理吉乔，同老挝人革党中央书记处书记、中宣部部长坎潘举行会谈，共同出席以“现代化建设中加强生态环境保护的经验和做法”为主题的第十一次中老两党理论研讨会并作主旨报告。李书磊还同老方就宣传思想文化工作进行交流.
Third, there’s a report (English report) on He Lifeng meeting with members of the China Securities Regulatory Commission International Advisory Council. He said that “China will continue to deepen the reform and two-way opening-up of its capital market, facilitate cross-border investment and financing, and attract more foreign financial institutions and long-term capital to China.”