What Constitutes Xi Jinping Thought on Culture? - Anti-Corruption Message for Gov't - Sinicizing Religions & Boosting 五个认同 - Cai Qi on Organisational Work Priorities - Wang Yi Meets Norwegian FM
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Tuesday, February 06, 2024.
Page 1: There is a long Ren Zhongping commentary on studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. This has been a big part of the propaganda over the past several weeks, with specific commentaries being published. Xinhua also put out that long profile of Xi as a man of culture. I am not doing a detailed breakdown. But I’ll highlight key remarks by Xi that have been shared upfront and then the explanation of what Xi’s Thought on Culture comprises.
The first section of the commentary reminds us that “culture is related to the foundation and destiny of a nation.” It then offers three select quotes from Xi’s earlier speeches:
“At the new starting point, continuing to promote cultural prosperity, building a culturally strong nation, and constructing modern civilization of the Chinese nation is our new cultural mission in the new era.”
“Chinese-style modernization endows Chinese civilization with modern strength, and Chinese civilization endows Chinese-style modernization with profound cultural heritage.”
“Chinese-style modernization is the new fate of the old Chinese nation and will undoubtedly restore the glory of Chinese civilization.”
“在新的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，是我们在新时代新的文化使命。”“中国式现代化赋予中华文明以现代力量，中华文明赋予中国式现代化以深厚底蕴。”“中国式现代化是中华民族的旧邦新命，必将推动中华文明重焕荣光。”
It then reminds us that Xi Thought on Culture was formally established in October 2023 at the National Ideological and Cultural Work Conference. It says that formulation of this thought is a milestone, given that the central task of the Party in the new era is to build “a strong country” and achieve “the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.”
The thought is a “theoretical summary of the practical experience of Party’s leadership in culture construction in the new era and provides a powerful ideological weapon and scientific action guide for doing a good job in propaganda and ideological and cultural work in the new era and new on journey”.
Then, in Section 2, we get this explanation:
“Upholding to the Party’s cultural leadership
Promoting the coordinated development of material civilization and spiritual civilization
Adhering to the ‘two integrations’
Undertaking new cultural missions
Maintaining cultural confidence
Cultivating and practising the core socialist values
Mastering the leading role when it comes to public opinion under the conditions of informatization, and broadly consolidate social consensus
Adhering to the people-centred work orientation
Protecting historical and cultural heritage
Constructing a Chinese discourse and narrative system
Promoting the exchange and mutual learning of civilizations
These eleven significant innovative viewpoints constitute the foundational and principled content of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture. They have become the basic framework of this important ideology at the level of the ‘structure/body’.”
坚持党的文化领导权，推动物质文明和精神文明协调发展，坚持“两个结合”，担负新的文化使命，坚定文化自信，培育和践行社会主义核心价值观，掌握信息化条件下舆论主导权、广泛凝聚社会共识，坚持以人民为中心的工作导向，保护历史文化遗产，构建中国话语和中国叙事体系，促进文明交流互鉴，这十一个方面的重大创新观点，是习近平文化思想中的基础性、原则性内容，成为这一重要思想在“体”的层面的基本架构；
Improve the system of arming the whole Party, educating the people, and guiding practical work with the Party's innovative theories
Fully implement the ideological work responsibility system
Promote the normalisation and institutionalisation of education on ideals and beliefs
Integrate socialist core values into the construction of the rule of law, social development, and daily life life
Accelerate the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics
Accelerate the construction of an integrated and unified all-media communication pattern
Improve the comprehensive network management system
Launch more cultural masterpieces that are worthy of the new era
Deepen the reform of the cultural system
Strengthen the exploration and interpretation of outstanding traditional Chinese culture
Actively promote the protection and utilisation of cultural relics and the protection and inheritance of cultural heritage
Comprehensively promote the construction of a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation
Adhere to the direction of sinicization of religions
Strengthen the construction of international communication capabilities
Deepen exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations
Build the propaganda and ideological work team
These 16 aspects of strategic deployment are an integral part of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture and have become its main connotation at the ‘utilisation’ level.
健全用党的创新理论武装全党、教育人民、指导实践工作体系，全面落实意识形态工作责任制，推动理想信念教育常态化制度化，把社会主义核心价值观融入法治建设、融入社会发展、融入日常生活，加快构建中国特色哲学社会科学，加快构建融为一体、合而为一的全媒体传播格局，健全网络综合治理体系，推出更多同新时代相匹配的文化精品，深化文化体制改革，加强对中华优秀传统文化的挖掘和阐发，积极推进文物保护利用和文化遗产保护传承，全面推进中华民族共有精神家园建设，坚持我国宗教中国化方向，加强国际传播能力建设，深化文明交流互鉴，打造宣传思想工作队伍，这十六个方面的战略部署，是习近平文化思想的有机组成部分，成为这一重要思想在“用”的层面的主要内涵.
It adds that the value of the thought is that it “answers fundamental questions such as what flag to hold, what path to take, what principles to adhere to, and what goals to achieve in China’s cultural construction in the new era”. Anyway, this section ends by saying that the formulation of Xi’s Thought on Culture shows that “the historical and cultural confidence of our party has reached new heights.” It also “proves” that “the ‘second integration’ is another ideological emancipation, allowing us to take the ideological and cultural initiative, making full use of the precious resources of China's splendid traditional culture in a broader cultural space, and exploring theoretical and institutional innovations for the future.” 作为“一个不断展开的、开放式的思想体系”，体现开放性这一马克思主义的鲜明特征，习近平文化思想打开了创新空间，表明我们党的历史自信、文化自信达到了新高度。习近平文化思想的形成充分证明：“第二个结合”是又一次的思想解放，让我们掌握了思想和文化主动，能够在更广阔的文化空间中，充分运用中华优秀传统文化的宝贵资源，探索面向未来的理论和制度创新.
The sections that follow this deal with application, blend economic prosperity and scientific development with cultural confidence, reference GDI, GSI and GCI, etc, and make the case that China has moved from “pessimism to optimism, from inferiority to self-improvement…”
Next, there’s a report on Xi Jinping’s message of condolence over the death of former Namibian President Hage Geingob. Xi said “his death is a great loss to the Namibian people, and the Chinese people also lost a good friend.”
Third, there’s a report on a new book compiling excerpts from Xi’s discourses on Chinese-style modernization being published in English and Chinese-English bilingual versions by the Central Compilation and Translation Press. This covers key discourses by Xi between November 2012 and October 2023.
Fourth, there’s a report on a State Council meeting on clean governance. Li Qiang, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi were in attendance. Liu Jinguo, who heads the National Supervisory Commission was also present.
Li stressed “the importance of adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thorough studying and implementing of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on the Party’s self-revolution, resolutely implementing the strategic policy of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party, and deeply promote the construction of a clean and honest government and the fight against corruption, thereby providing a strong guarantee for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.” 国务院召开第二次廉政工作会议，中共中央政治局常委、国务院总理李强在会上强调，要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入学习贯彻习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想，坚决落实全面从严治党战略方针，纵深推进政府党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强保障.
Li talked about Xi’s speech at the third plenary session of the 20th CCDI and Xi’s thoughts on the Party’s self-revolution. He called the thought “the fundamental guideline for deepening comprehensive and strict Party governance, improving government conduct and integrity, and fighting against corruption in the new era and on the new journey.” 是新时代新征程深入推进全面从严治党、党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争的根本遵循.
Li acknowledged the progress that governments at all levels and their departments have made over the past year; he then said that:
“We must deeply understand General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thoughts on the Party’s self-revolution, effectively enhance the sense of urgency and responsibility for advancing the construction of the government’s conduct and integrity, and anti-corruption struggle, and with a high degree of political consciousness, ideological consciousness, and action consciousness, concretely and thoroughly implement self-revolution on every front and in every aspect.” 我们要学深悟透习近平总书记关于党的自我革命的重要思想，切实增强推进政府党风廉政建设和反腐败斗争的责任感紧迫感，以高度的政治自觉、思想自觉、行动自觉，把每条战线、每个环节的自我革命抓具体、抓深入.
The next bit is important:
“Li Qiang emphasised that government and departments at all levels, as national administrative bodies, are political organs first and foremost. They must, therefore, strictly abide by political disciplines and rules, firmly support the ‘Two Establishments’ and resolutely achieve the ‘Two Safeguards’. It is necessary to deepen the treatment of both symptoms and root causes, focus on key areas and key links to deepen the rectification of corruption problems, strictly implement the spirit of the eight-point central regulations, continue to implement the requirements of tight living standards, eradicate the breeding ground of corruption through deepening reforms, and promote the normalisation and long-term effectiveness of corruption prevention and control.” 李强强调，各级政府和各部门作为国家行政机关，首先是政治机关，要严守政治纪律和政治规矩，坚定拥护“两个确立”，坚决做到“两个维护”。要深化标本兼治，紧盯重点领域和关键环节深化腐败问题整治，严格执行中央八项规定精神，持续落实过紧日子要求，通过深化改革铲除腐败滋生土壤，推动防范和治理腐败问题常态化、长效化。各级政府党组和各部门党组（党委）要认真履行全面从严治党主体责任，坚持党风廉政建设与经济社会发展同谋划、同部署、同推进、同考核.
He ended by stressing the “need to focus on the people’s benefit” when evaluating performance.
Fifth, there’s a report (English report) on Wang Huning meeting with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Chinese New Year. Wang called on them to “conscientiously study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on religious work, consciously serve the overall work of the Party and the country, accurately determine the positioning and clarify the direction in the process of Chinese-style modernization, and better unite and rally religious figures and believers around the Party and government, thereby contributing to the advancement of the development of Chinese-style modernization.” 他表示，各全国性宗教团体要认真学习贯彻习近平总书记关于宗教工作的重要论述，自觉服务党和国家工作大局，在中国式现代化进程中找准定位、明确方向，更好把宗教界人士和信教群众团结凝聚在党和政府周围，为推进中国式现代化建设贡献力量.
He added that “it is necessary to adhere to the direction of the sinicization of religions in China, accurately grasp the profound connotation and task requirements of the direction of the sinicization of religions in China, adhere to the guidance of the core socialist values, aim to enhance the ‘five identifications’ (i.e., “identification with the motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics”) of religious figures and religious believers, and continuously promote the deepening and solidification of the Sinicization of religions in China.” 要坚持我国宗教中国化方向，准确把握我国宗教中国化方向的深刻内涵和任务要求，坚持以社会主义核心价值观为引领，以增进宗教界人士和信教群众“五个认同”为目标，不断推进我国宗教中国化走深走实。要坚持全面从严治教，巩固深化崇俭戒奢教育活动成果，建设良好教风.
He further said: “There is a need to enhance the competence and quality of religious talents, insisting on political reliability, proficiency in religious knowledge, morality that commands respect among the people, and the ability to play a crucial role in critical situations. Efforts should be made to cultivate more qualified patriotic religious talents.” 要提高宗教人才能力素质，坚持政治上靠得住、宗教上有造诣、品德上能服众、关键时起作用，努力培养更多合格爱国宗教人才.
Sixth, there’s a report on Cai Qi’s comments at the National Organization Ministerial Conference. The report says:
“Cai Qi pointed out that the achievements in organisational work in the past year were fundamentally due to the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping at the helm and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. To do a good job in Party building and organisational work of the new era and on the new journey, it is necessary to deeply understand the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, strengthen the four consciousness and four self-confidences, and resolutely achieve the two safeguards; adhere to the highest principles, keep in mind the fundamental mission, focus on major tasks, and demonstrate new responsibilities and new actions in serving the overall work of the Party and the country.” 蔡奇指出，过去一年组织工作成绩的取得，根本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。'做好新时代新征程党的建设和组织工作，必须深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、坚决做到“两个维护”，坚持最高原则，牢记根本使命，聚焦重大任务，在服务党和国家工作大局中展现新担当新作为.
He added:
We must persist in deepening the Party’s theoretical arming, consolidate and expand the achievements of the thematic education campaign, improve the long-term mechanism of theoretical education and training, focus on the study and training related to the theory of Chinese-style modernization, and continuously consolidate the ideological and political foundation for promoting Chinese-style modernization.
We must take the Party’s political construction as the guide, give prominence to political standards in building the leadership team, strengthen political loyalty education, constantly optimise the team structure and overall functions, promote the establishment and implementation of a correct view of political performance, and strive to forge a strong collective that leads the modernization drive.
It is necessary to adhere to the high degree of unity between enforcing strict management and supervision and encouraging responsibility, adhere to the correct employment orientation to guide the entrepreneurial orientation of officers, further improve the responsibility as an incentive and protection mechanism, strengthen the strict management and supervision of cadres, especially the ‘top leaders’, make great efforts to build the capacity of cadres, and encourage the broad masses of cadres to make progress and make contributions in promoting Chinese-style modernization.
It is necessary to strengthen the construction of the civil service team in the new era.
It is necessary to promote the construction of national high-level talent hubs and platforms for attracting and gathering talents.
蔡奇强调，要坚持不懈深化党的创新理论武装，巩固拓展主题教育成果，健全理论教育培训长效机制，突出抓好中国式现代化理论的学习培训，不断夯实推进中国式现代化的思想政治基础。要以党的政治建设为统领，突出政治标准抓好领导班子建设，加强政治忠诚教育，不断优化班子结构和整体功能，推动树立和践行正确政绩观，着力锻造领导现代化建设的坚强集体。要坚持把从严管理监督和鼓励担当作为高度统一起来，坚持以正确用人导向引领干事创业导向，进一步健全担当作为激励和保护机制，加强对干部特别是“一把手”的从严管理监督，下大力气抓好干部队伍能力建设，激励广大干部在推进中国式现代化中奋发进取、建功立业。要加强新时代公务员队伍建设。要扎实有序推进国家高水平人才高地和吸引集聚人才平台建设，更好激发人才创新创造活力。要突出增强党组织政治功能和组织功能，提升以党建引领基层治理水平.
Finally, a report with data on retail sales in 2023, which was available in mid-January. It says that total retail sales of consumer goods in December 2023 was 4.36 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.4%; the total retail sales of consumer goods in 2023 was 47.15 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.2%. The final contribution rate of consumer spending to economic growth reached 82.5%.
Page 3: A couple of reports to note. First, a report on Wang Yi’s meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide. Xinhua says:
“China appreciates the Norwegian government’s adherence to the one-China principle and its friendship with China, Wang said, adding that to promote greater development of China-Norway relations in the next stage, both sides need to uphold the right approach to getting along with each other, deepen practical cooperation and strengthen multilateral coordination. Eide said that Norway firmly adheres to the one-China policy, advocates greater development of bilateral relations through constructive dialogue and jointly building a world that is inclusive, peaceful, prosperous and benefits all. The Norwegian side appreciates China's transformation of its growth model and is willing to work with China to tackle climate change and other global challenges. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East.”
Eide also met with ILD chief Liu Jianchao during this visit. Liu told him that “the Chinese side is willing to work together with Norway to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, green development, maritime affairs, and winter sports, strengthen communication and coordination on international and regional affairs and jointly promote the healthy and stable development of China-Norway and China-EU relations.” Liu added that the CCP “is willing to strengthen exchanges with the Labor Party and other major political parties in Norway, conduct exchanges on governance concepts and development strategies, deepen mutual understanding and trust, and facilitate local exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries through inter-party channels, promoting the development of bilateral relations.” 中方愿同挪方一道，落实好两国元首重要共识，深化经贸、绿色、海洋、冰雪运动等领域合作，加强国际和地区事务沟通协调，共同推动中挪和中欧关系健康稳定发展 … 中国共产党愿同工党等挪主要政党加强往来，就执政理念、发展战略等开展交流，深化相互了解和信任，通过党际渠道为两国开展地方交流和务实合作牵线搭桥，促进两国关系发展.
Next, there’s a report on the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Japan-China Economic Association hosting the China-Japan Economic Dialogue in Tokyo. More than 100 people from the business community on both sides attended the dialogue. Global Times informs that “the dialogue came less than two weeks after a huge Japanese business delegation of about 200 corporate representatives visited China last month, the first of its kind in four years.”
Finally, there’s a report (English report) on Li Hongzhong meeting with a delegation from Germany’s Friedrich Ebert Foundation led by its president Martin Schulz. Among other things, the report quotes Schulz as saying that “Germany adheres to the one-China principle.”
Page 4: There’s a commentary drawing on the conclusion of the Xi thought thematic education campaign. This repeats a lot of points from Xi’s speech at Sunday’s meeting that summarised the campaign’s achievements. The article calls to consolidate and expand on the achievements of the campaign as a “major political task” for Party committees at all levels, which implies that they must “unify their thoughts and actions with the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee.”