Understanding Xi's Thought on Culture - State Council's Plans on Social Assistance & Patent Enforcement - Second Round of Inspections Targets 31 State Organs
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.
Page 1: The lead article on the page today is a commentary discussing the outcomes of the two-day National Ideological and Cultural Work Conference. It says that:
“Propaganda, ideological and cultural work concerns the future and destiny of the Party, the long-term peace and stability of the country, and national cohesion and centripetal force. It is necessary to be guided by scientific theories, strengthen theoretical thinking, summarise and apply the theoretical achievements of the Party in the construction of culture in the new era, and better guide the work of propagating ideological and cultural ideas in the new era and on the new journey.” 宣传思想文化工作事关党的前途命运，事关国家长治久安，事关民族凝聚力和向心力，必须以科学理论为指导，加强理论思维，总结好、运用好党关于新时代文化建设的思想理论成果，更好指引新时代新征程宣传思想文化工作. It says that Xi’s comments at the conference have put forward clear requirements for the “new cultural mission and the promotion of ideological and cultural work in the new era.” 习近平总书记从全局和战略高度，充分肯定党的十八大以来宣传思想文化事业取得的历史性成就，深刻阐述宣传思想文化工作的重要地位作用，对全面贯彻党的二十大精神、担负起新的文化使命、做好新时代新征程宣传思想文化工作提出了明确要求. His comments “point out the direction for further promoting ideological and cultural work.” 习近平总书记的重要指示高屋建瓴、精辟深邃，具有很强的政治性、思想性、指导性，为进一步做好宣传思想文化工作指明了方向.
It adds that the “most significant outcome” of the conference was the formal introduction and comprehensive elaboration of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. This thought “holds a milestone significance in the history of the Party's development in the fields of propaganda, ideology, and culture.” 这次会议最重要的成果，就是正式提出和系统阐述习近平文化思想，在党的宣传思想文化事业发展史上具有里程碑意义.
“Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core has placed propaganda, ideological and cultural work in an important position in governing the country, made a series of major decisions and arrangements for the propaganda, ideological and cultural work, leading to a fundamental and comprehensive transformation of the ideological landscape. In the new era, the Party's innovative theory has been deeply rooted in people's hearts, the core socialist values are widely disseminated, the creative transformation and innovative development of China's excellent traditional culture continue to advance, cultural undertakings and cultural industries are increasingly prosperous, and the network ecology continues to improve. The cultural confidence of the entire Party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country has been significantly enhanced, and their spiritual outlook has become more high-spirited. With a stronger sense of historical consciousness and initiative, we are writing the great history of China's development in the new era with full confidence. Since the 18th Party Congress, the most fundamental reason why the propaganda, ideological and cultural work has made historic achievements is because of the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping at the helm and scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era. 文化兴国运兴，文化强民族强。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央把宣传思想文化工作摆在治国理政的重要位置，对宣传思想文化工作作出一系列重大决策部署，推动意识形态领域形势发生全局性、根本性转变。新时代党的创新理论深入人心，社会主义核心价值观广泛传播，中华优秀传统文化创造性转化、创新性发展不断推进，文化事业和文化产业日益繁荣，网络生态持续向好，全党全国各族人民文化自信明显增强、精神面貌更加奋发昂扬，焕发出更为强烈的历史自觉和主动精神，正在信心百倍书写着新时代中国发展的伟大历史。党的十八大以来，宣传思想文化工作之所以取得历史性成就，最根本就在于有习近平总书记领航掌舵，有习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引.
The next paragraph says that “General Secretary Xi Jinping accurately grasped the trend of ideological and cultural interaction around the world and the profound changes in the ideological concepts of our society, and put forward a series of new ideas, new perspectives and new conclusions.” 举旗定向、谋篇布局，正本清源、守正创新，习近平总书记准确把握世界范围内思想文化相互激荡、我国社会思想观念深刻变化的趋势，提出了一系列新思想新观点新论断.
“At the National Conference on Propaganda and Ideological Work in August 2018, General Secretary Xi Jinping succinctly summarised our Party’s understanding of the laws governing propaganda and ideological work with the ‘Nine Persistences’ 九个坚持. At the Cultural Inheritance and Development Symposium in June of this year, he clarified the ‘Fourteen Emphases’ 十四个强调 for cultural construction, clearly put forward major innovative ideas such as upholding the Party's cultural leadership, deeply understanding the ‘two integrations’ 两个结合, and shouldering new cultural missions, and put forward the major task of building a modern civilization for the Chinese nation; in his recent important instructions, General Secretary Xi Jinping put forward the ‘Seven Exertions’ 七个着力 with regard to propaganda, ideology, and cultural work.” 在2018年8月全国宣传思想工作会议上，习近平总书记用“九个坚持”高度概括了我们党对宣传思想工作的规律性认识；在今年6月文化传承发展座谈会上，明确了文化建设方面的“十四个强调”，鲜明提出坚持党的文化领导权、深刻理解“两个结合”、担负新的文化使命等重大创新观点，提出建设中华民族现代文明的重大任务；这次习近平总书记重要指示，又对宣传思想文化工作提出“七个着力”的要求. — Comment: This is the core content of Xi’s Cultural Thought.
General Secretary Xi Jinping’s new thoughts, new perspectives and new judgments on cultural construction in the new era are very rich in connotation and extremely profound in exposition. They are a theoretical summary of the practical experience in building the Party's leadership in cultural development in the new era; they enrich and develop Marxist cultural theory, and form the cultural component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, giving rise to Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. 习近平总书记在新时代文化建设方面的新思想新观点新论断，内涵十分丰富、论述极为深刻，是新时代党领导文化建设实践经验的理论总结，丰富和发展了马克思主义文化理论，构成了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的文化篇，形成了习近平文化思想.
“Xi Jinping Cultural Thought not only possesses innovations and breakthroughs in cultural theoretical perspectives, but also possess deployment requirements in the layout of cultural work. They are clear and practical, and provide a clear road map and mission statement for cultural construction in the new era. It underscores that our Party's understanding of the laws of socialist cultural construction with Chinese characteristics has reached a new height, indicates that our Party's historical self-confidence and cultural self-confidence have reached new heights, and demonstrates itself as a powerful force in the construction of socialist culture in China. It provides a powerful ideological weapon and scientific action guide to do a good job in the propaganda of ideological and cultural work in the new era and for shouldering new cultural missions. Xi Jinping Cultural Thought is an ever-expanding and open ideological system that will surely be continuously enriched and developed with the deepening of practice.” 习近平文化思想既有文化理论观点上的创新和突破，又有文化工作布局上的部署要求，明体达用、体用贯通，明确了新时代文化建设的路线图和任务书，标志着我们党对中国特色社会主义文化建设规律的认识达到了新高度，表明我们党的历史自信、文化自信达到了新高度，并在我国社会主义文化建设中展现出了强大伟力，为做好新时代新征程宣传思想文化工作、担负起新的文化使命提供了强大思想武器和科学行动指南。习近平文化思想是一个不断展开的、开放式的思想体系，必将随着实践深入不断丰富发展.
“Every time the Party’s theoretical innovation takes a step forward, theoretical arming must follow suit. We must conscientiously study and understand Xi Jinping Cultural Thought, deeply grasp the great significance, rich connotation and practical requirements of Xi Jinping Cultural Thought, persist in applying what we have learned, and achieve the unity of learning, thinking and application, and knowing, believing and doing. It is necessary to continue to strengthen the study, research, and interpretation of Xi Jinping Cultural Thought, and consciously implement it in all aspects and the entire process of propaganda, ideological and cultural work. We must deeply implement Xi Jinping Cultural Thought, comprehensively implement the strategic deployment regarding cultural development outlined in the 20th Party Congress, focus on the primary political task of arming the whole Party and educating the people with the Party’s innovative theory, focus on the new cultural mission of continuing to promote cultural prosperity, building a cultural power and building a modern civilization of the Chinese nation at a new historical starting point, earnestly enhance the sense of responsibility and mission of doing a good job in propaganda, ideological and cultural work in the new era and on the new journey, promote the effectiveness of all work, and provide a strong ideological guarantee for building a socialist modern country and promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in an all-round way.” 党的理论创新每前进一步，理论武装就要跟进一步。我们要认真学习领会习近平文化思想，深刻把握习近平文化思想的重大意义、丰富内涵和实践要求，坚持学以致用，做到学思用贯通、知信行统一。要持续加强对习近平文化思想的学习、研究、阐释，并自觉贯彻落实到宣传思想文化工作各方面和全过程。要深入贯彻习近平文化思想，全面贯彻落实党的二十大关于文化建设的战略部署，聚焦用党的创新理论武装全党、教育人民这个首要政治任务，围绕在新的历史起点上继续推动文化繁荣、建设文化强国、建设中华民族现代文明这一新的文化使命，切实增强做好新时代新征程宣传思想文化工作的责任感使命感，推动各项工作落地见效，为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴提供坚强思想保证、强大精神力量、有利文化条件.
The final paragraph says that in the present era, the propaganda, ideological and cultural work is facing new situations and new tasks and calls for uniting more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core.
Also on the page is a reaction story to Xi’s cultural thought from cadres at different levels.
Third, there’s a report (English report) on the State Council executive meeting. Xinhua says that the meeting adopted:
a guideline on promoting dynamic monitoring of the low-income population and multi-tiered and categorized social assistance
action plans on meal assistance for the elderly and on patent enforcement.
“The meeting emphasised that social assistance is a fundamental and basic institutional arrangement in the social security system. It is necessary to thoroughly implement the decision-making and deployment of the CPC Central Committee, strengthen the dynamic monitoring of low-income population, do a good job in social assistance more accurately, in a timely manner and more effectively, accelerate the establishment of a comprehensive, layered, and efficient social assistance system that covers everyone, making the safety net of people's livelihood more closely and firmly. It is necessary to further compact the main responsibilities of governments at all levels, earnestly do a good job in protecting people in need such as those who are disaster-stricken, and issue all kinds of relief funds and security funds in full and on time to ensure the basic livelihood of people in need and ensure a safe and warm winter.” 会议强调，社会救助是社会保障体系中兜底性、基础性的制度安排。要深入贯彻落实党中央决策部署，加强低收入人口动态监测，更加精准、及时、有效做好社会救助工作，加快形成覆盖全面、分层分类、综合高效的社会救助格局，把民生兜底保障安全网织得更密、扎得更牢。要进一步压实各级政府主体责任，切实做好受灾等困难群众兜底保障，按时足额发放各类救助金、保障金，保障好困难群众的基本生活，确保安全温暖过冬. — Comment: Is this perhaps an indication of the perception of the authorities when it comes to the challenges related to China’s slowing?
“The development of meal-assisted services for the elderly should be regarded as an important part of practical work for the people, closely combined with the actual situation of various places, actively and steadily develop catering services for the elderly tailored as per local conditions, and take inclined measures to support the expansion of service supply in rural areas. 要把发展老年助餐服务作为为民办实事重要内容，紧密结合各地实际，积极稳妥、因地制宜发展老年助餐服务，采取倾斜性措施支持农村地区扩大服务供给.
“The meeting emphasised that promoting the transformation and application of patents, fully exploring the value of patents, and vigorously developing patent-intensive industries are strategic tasks for driving high-quality development. The report adds that “China should also increase policy incentives, focus on the practical demand regarding sci-tech research, and improve market services to ensure that innovation transformation results in productive forces at a faster pace.”
Next, there’s a story on Li Xi’s comments during the meeting on the initiation of the 20th CPC Central Committee's second round of inspections. The report says:
“The meeting conveyed and studied the important speech by General Secretary Xi Jinping when he received a briefing on the first round of central inspections. It outlined arrangements for inspections on centrally-managed enterprises and relevant functional departments; emphasised the need to deeply learn and implement the important instructions and requirements of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Party Central Committee regarding inspection work; called to summarise and use the experience of the first round of inspections and promote the in-depth development of political inspections, with a more energetic and enterprising spirit and more scientific and pragmatic measures; and called to supervise the inspected Party organisations to conscientiously perform their functions and responsibilities and firmly support the Two Establishments and resolutely achieve the Two Safeguards with practical actions.” 会议传达学习了习近平总书记听取中央第一轮巡视情况汇报时的重要讲话精神，对巡视中管企业和相关职能部门作出安排，强调要深入学习贯彻习近平总书记和党中央关于巡视工作重要部署要求，总结运用第一轮巡视经验，以更加奋发有为的精神状态、更加科学务实的举措推动政治巡视深化发展，督促被巡视党组织认真履行职能责任，以实际行动坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”.
Li added:
“It is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches, further focus on key points, have the courage to brandish the sword, conduct precise supervision, and continuously improve the deterrence and pertinence of inspections. Accurately grasping the ‘two safeguards’ should be reflected in the important requirements of performing one’s duty, conduct an in-depth research for deviations in the performance of the functions and responsibilities of the inspected party organizations, and urge the inspected party organizations to shoulder the main responsibility and implement them in actions. To accurately grasp the important requirements of high-quality development, we must firmly hold the bottom line of security, conduct in-depth research for major risks and hidden dangers, urge the inspected party organizations to effectively prevent and resolve risks, and build a solid defense line at all levels. Accurately grasp the important requirement of maintaining a strict tone in managing and governing the Party, thoroughly identify outstanding issues in implementing the strategic deployment of comprehensive and strict Party governance, and promote the in-depth development of comprehensive and strict Party governance in the field of state-owned enterprises. Accurately grasp the key requirement of strengthening leadership team building by focusing on the ‘top leader’. Efforts should be made to strengthen the supervision of the ‘top leaders’ and drive the ‘majority’ by grasping the ‘key few’. Accurately understand the essential requirement of utilising inspections as a sharp sword, especially when it comes to the tough demands of rectification, promote the implementation of the main responsibilities and supervisory responsibilities of rectification, and ensure that inspections and rectifications achieve tangible results. 要深入学习贯彻习近平总书记重要讲话精神，进一步聚焦重点，勇于亮剑，精准监督，不断提高巡视震慑力和针对性。准确把握“两个维护”要体现在履职担当上的重要要求，深入查找被巡视党组织履行职能责任中存在的偏差，督促被巡视党组织把主责主业扛在肩上、落实在行动上。准确把握高质量发展要牢牢守住安全底线的重要要求，深入查找重大风险隐患，督促被巡视党组织有效防范化解风险，层层筑牢安全防线。准确把握管党治党要将严的基调一贯到底的重要要求，深入查找落实全面从严治党战略部署方面的突出问题，推动国企领域全面从严治党向纵深发展. 准确把握加强班子建设要抓住“一把手”这个关键的重要要求，着力加强对“一把手”的监督，通过抓好“关键少数”带动“绝大多数”。准确把握发挥巡视利剑作用要在整改上较真碰硬的重要要求，推动落实整改主体责任、监督责任，确保巡视整改取得实实在在的成效.
The report adds that Li Xi called for “prioritising strengthening theoretical education, consolidating and expanding the results of the thematic education campaign, and maintaining the correct political orientation in the work of inspections.” He also said that “it is necessary to adhere to the positioning of political inspection functions, strictly abide by the boundaries of responsibilities, insist on seeking truth from facts, and conduct inspections in accordance with regulations, disciplines and laws. Adhere to the political role and positioning of inspections, maintain strict boundaries of responsibilities, insist on seeking truth from facts, and conduct inspections in accordance with regulations, disciplines and laws. Adopt a systems approach and strengthen cooperation and coordination among the disciplinary and supervisory authorities, as well as other departments such as organisation, audit, finance, statistics, and letters and petitions, enhancing the collective oversight efforts. It is necessary to conduct an in-depth analysis of the common problems and deep-seated problems that restrict the high-quality development of enterprises, and further promote the treatment of both symptoms and root causes. It is necessary to implement the requirements for education rectification, strictly enforce discipline and style, effectively strengthen the construction of the inspection team, and forge the inspection iron army with a thorough self-revolutionary spirit. 李希强调，要加强统筹谋划和组织实施，高质量完成第二轮巡视任务。要把加强理论武装摆在首要位置，巩固拓展主题教育成果，始终保持巡视工作正确政治方向。要坚守政治巡视职能定位，严守职责边界，坚持实事求是，依规依纪依法开展巡视。要坚持系统观念，加强与纪检监察机关和组织、审计、财政、统计、信访等部门的协作配合，增强监督合力。要深入分析影响制约企业高质量发展的共性问题、深层次问题，进一步推动标本兼治。要落实教育整顿要求，严明纪律作风，切实加强巡视队伍建设，以彻底的自我革命精神锻造巡视铁军.
On Page 4, we have the entire list of 31 entities that will be targeted during the second round of inspections. These are:
Ministry of Science and Technology
Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council
State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense
State Tobacco Monopoly Administration
China FAW Group Corp
Dongfeng Motor Corporation Ltd
China First Heavy Industries Co Ltd
China National Machinery Industry Corporation
Harbin Electric Company Limited
China Dongfang Electric Corporation
Anshan Iron and Steel Group Corporation
China Baowu Steel Group Corp., Ltd
China Mineral Resources Group Co., Ltd.
Aluminum Corporation of China Limited
China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited
China National Aviation Holding Corporation Limited (Air China)
China Eastern Airlines Group Co., Ltd.
China Southern Airlines Group Co., Ltd.
China Minmetals Corporation
China General Technology Group
China State Construction Engineering Corporation
China South-to-North Water Transfer Group Corporation
State Development and Investment Corporation
China Merchants Group Co., Ltd.
China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd.
China Tourism Group Corporation Limited
Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC)
China Post
China Publishing Group Corporation
Bauhinia Culture Group Corp Ltd
Look back inspections will also be carried out covering party committees of the China State Railway Group Company, Ltd. and National Railway Administration.
新华社北京10月10日电 经党中央批准，二十届中央第二轮巡视将对科学技术部、工业和信息化部、国务院国有资产监督管理委员会、国家国防科技工业局、国家烟草专卖局和中国第一汽车集团有限公司、东风汽车集团有限公司、中国一重集团有限公司、中国机械工业集团有限公司、哈尔滨电气集团有限公司、中国东方电气集团有限公司、鞍钢集团有限公司、中国宝武钢铁集团有限公司、中国矿产资源集团有限公司、中国铝业集团有限公司、中国远洋海运集团有限公司、中国航空集团有限公司、中国东方航空集团有限公司、中国南方航空集团有限公司、中国五矿集团有限公司、中国通用技术（集团）控股有限责任公司、中国建筑集团有限公司、中国南水北调集团有限公司、国家开发投资集团有限公司、招商局集团有限公司、华润（集团）有限公司、中国旅游集团有限公司、中国商用飞机有限责任公司、中国邮政集团有限公司、中国出版集团有限公司、紫荆文化集团有限公司等31家单位党委（党组）开展常规巡视；对国家铁路局党组、中国国家铁路集团有限公司党组开展巡视“回头看”。
Finally on the front page is a report on the BRI white paper, which I covered yesterday. In addition, the full white paper and associated reports are published on pages 2 and 3.
Page 6: Today’s article from the Face to Face with Chinese-style modernisation book discusses the concept of a community of shared future for mankind. I am going to cover this one as a separate post for paid subscribers later in the week, owing to other commitments today.