Xi & Youth - Qin Gang Visits Myanmar - China-Comoros Ties
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Page 1: It’s another holiday edition of the paper today. So there is little news to report. But I’ll highlight some of the key pieces.
At the top of the page is another Zhong Yin commentary talking about how Xi Jinping has placed ardent expectations on the younger generation to shoulder their missions and work hard.
Some of the quotes attributed are:
“Only those who struggle passionately and tenaciously and make contributions to the people will leave rich, warm, lasting and free of regret memories of youth…” 指出“只有进行了激情奋斗的青春，只有进行了顽强拼搏的青春，只有为人民作出了奉献的青春，才会留下充实、温暖、持久、无悔的青春回忆”...
“Working hard with the people, advancing with the motherland, serving the people and contributing to the motherland is the correct direction for China’s youth today…” 强调“同人民一道拼搏、同祖国一道前进，服务人民、奉献祖国，是当代中国青年的正确方向”...
The piece praises the youth for “withstanding difficulties and setbacks” and being the “vanguard force in realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.”
“Our country, our nation, has gone from poverty and weakness to today’s development and prosperity one step at a time, relying on the tenacious struggle of generation after generation and relying on the spirit of self-improvement of the Chinese nation. No matter what kind of environment you are in, no matter what kind of starting point in life you are in, you must rely on hard work to create your own wonderful life. The new era is the era of strugglers, and it is a great era in which young people can and will do much. Always aim high, be down-to-earth, do not be afraid of difficulties and obstacles, bravely shoulder the mission of the times, thrive in serving the people, sharpen the quality of will through hard struggle, and enhance work skills through practice, so that the vast number of youth can take a good life path and make achievements through the real work.” 我们的国家，我们的民族，从积贫积弱一步一步走到今天的发展繁荣，靠的就是一代又一代人的顽强拼搏，靠的就是中华民族自强不息的奋斗精神。无论处于什么样的环境，无论处于什么样的人生起点，都要依靠辛勤努力，创造属于自己的人生精彩。新时代是奋斗者的时代，是青年大有可为，也必定大有作为的大时代。始终志存高远、脚踏实地，不畏艰难险阻，勇担时代使命，在为人民服务中茁壮成长、在艰苦奋斗中砥砺意志品质、在实践中增长工作本领，广大青年才能走好人生道路，在真刀真枪的实干中成就一番事业.
The next paragraph warns:
“The road ahead will not be smooth. Today, we are closer, more confident and capable of realising the goal of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than at any time in history. At the same time, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation cannot be achieved easily and with drums and gongs. Practice tells us that as long as the youth are brave enough to shoulder heavy burdens, overcome difficulties and take risks, socialism with Chinese characteristics will be full of vitality, stamina and hope, and the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will eventually become a reality through the relay struggle of generations of young people.” 前进的道路从不会一帆风顺。现在，我们比历史上任何时期都更接近、更有信心和能力实现中华民族伟大复兴的目标，同时，中华民族伟大复兴绝不是轻轻松松、敲锣打鼓就能实现的。实践告诉我们，只要青年都勇挑重担、勇克难关、勇斗风险，中国特色社会主义就能充满活力、充满后劲、充满希望，中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦终将在一代代青年的接力奋斗中变为现实.
Another long article on the page talks about Xi Jinping’s outlook for the youth. This reiterates the themes of struggle, hard work, ideals and beliefs, shouldering responsibilities, etc.
There are a fair few anecdotes shared in the piece, covering Xi’s engagements with students at universities over the years. The first part of the article basically talks about the importance of Marxism. For instance, there is this story from 1985, when Xi was working in Xiamen. He met students at Xiamen University, telling them that he had read Das Kapital “three times under the kerosene lamp in the cave and took many notes…” He told the students that “learning principles and reading original works are the best way to get in touch with Marxism, and it is also the most effective way to learn Marxist methodology.”
I guess this should give you a flavour of the article. There’s nothing particularly new or insightful in there, however.
Pages 3 & 4: There’s a report with the foreign ministry confirming minister Qin Gang’s visit to Myanmar and India. He will be visiting the latter for the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting in Goa. In Myanmar, Qin met with Min Aung Hlaing. Xinhua reports:
“Qin Gang said China has attached great importance to its relations with Myanmar as the two neighbors share ‘Paukphaw’ (fraternal) friendship. China is ready to join hands with Myanmar to build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future and take the lead to implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, Qin said. China sincerely hopes Myanmar will achieve stability and national development, he said, adding that China supports Myanmar in exploring a development path with Myanmar characteristics that suits its national conditions. China supports Myanmar in advancing its political transition process and backs relevant parties in the country to properly address differences and seek national reconciliation under the constitutional and legal framework, Qin said. The international community should respect Myanmar's sovereignty and play a constructive role in helping Myanmar achieve peace and reconciliation, he added. The Chinese side will continue to do what is in its power to help Myanmar in its development efforts, accelerate key cooperation projects of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, and implement projects on agriculture, education and health care, among others, for the benefit of the Myanmar people, said the Chinese foreign minister. Qin said China supports Myanmar improving its relations with Bangladesh, with related issues to be resolved through consultation, adding that China is willing to work with the two countries to expand China-Myanmar-Bangladesh pragmatic cooperation.”
Min Aung Hlaing said that “Myanmar appreciates China's objective and impartial position on Myanmar-related issues, where China is welcome to play a greater role. The Myanmar leader noted that Myanmar attaches great importance to protecting the safety of Chinese nationals and institutions in the country, and is always ready to cooperate with the Chinese side to maintain tranquility in the border areas of the two countries.”
Qin also visited the border areas in Yunnan province. Xinhua’s report on that says: “He urged efforts to maintain the clarity of the boundary line and stability of the border area, as well as taking strict action against cross-border crimes. Calling for coordination between frontier management, cross-border trade and bilateral relations, Qin stressed the need to promote regular cross-border trade and people-to-people exchanges, keep as many ports of entry open as possible, and advance the building of the cross-border economic cooperation zone and the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor.”
Also on the page is an article by Guo Zhijun, the Chinese ambassador to Comoros. He writes that:
“China supports Comoros in maintaining national stability and exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. Comoros has always pursued the one-China policy and has always given firm support on issues concerning China’s core interests. This year, Comoros holds the rotating presidency of the African Union. China and Comoros will continue to unite and cooperate in regional and international affairs, and make joint efforts to safeguard the common interests of developing countries, international fairness and justice, and world peace and development.” 中国支持科摩罗维护国家稳定、探索适合本国国情的发展道路。科摩罗始终奉行一个中国政策，在涉及中国核心利益问题上始终予以坚定支持。今年，科摩罗担任非盟轮值主席国，中科两国在地区和国际事务中将继续团结协作，为维护好发展中国家共同利益和国际公平正义、为世界的和平与发展共同努力.
The results of practical cooperation between China and the Comoros in the fields of economy, culture, education, and health are tangible and obvious to all. The people of Comoros often say that the friendship between Comoros and China is ‘visible’.” In this context, he mentions Chinese companies building a stadium, the country’s parliament Building, the national radio and television centre and the China-Comoros Friendship Hospital. He adds that China has dispatched 15 batches of medical teams to treat tens of thousands of patients. The cooperation between China and Comoros in the field of malaria has achieved remarkable results…In the face of the COVID-19 epidemic, China and Comoros have helped each other and supported each other. China immediately provided anti-epidemic supplies and vaccines to Comoros, and sent an anti-epidemic medical team to Comoros… 中国和科摩罗在经济、文化、教育、卫生等领域务实合作成果实实在在、有目共睹。科摩罗民众常说，科中友好“看得见”。中企参与承建的马鲁基尼体育场、科摩罗议会大厦、国家广播电视中心、中科友谊医院等成为科摩罗地标性建筑。中国已派遣15批援科医疗队，救治了数以万计的病患。中科在抗疟领域的合作取得显著成效。通过实施“复方青蒿素快速清除疟疾项目”，中国防治方案发挥决定性作用。2017年，科摩罗疟疾零死亡，发病人数下降98%，实现了从高疟疾流行区向低疟疾流行区的快速转变。面对新冠疫情，中科同舟共济、相互支持。中方第一时间向科方提供抗疫物资和疫苗，并派抗疫医疗队赴科。科摩罗的中国疫苗接种率位居非洲国家前列，是中非疫苗合作和构建人类卫生健康共同体的生动例证.
He also mentions education and cultural exchanges, such as the establishment of a Confucius Classroom at the University of Comoros in 2014, which was then upgraded to a Confucius Institute in 2018; the teaching of Chinese language courses in universities, middle schools and primary schools; and the broadcast of Chinese TV channels locally. Towards the end, the ambassador talks about future cooperation in the context of BRI and GDI. Essentially, he focuses on development diplomacy. In addition, he phrases the relationship as neighbourly, and therefore, “guided by the concept of sincerity, amity, good faith and the correct concept of justice and shared gains.”
Finally, there’s a comment from MoFA welcoming the adoption of a new constitution inUzbekistan. This is an interesting change in the country. I am sharing below an excerpt from Catherine Putz’s piece on this in The Diplomat.
“The final draft altered 65 percent of the existing Uzbek Constitution, including the introduction of 27 new articles and 159 new provisions. Although some aspects of the new constitution represent a progressive upgrade — such as protections for people from wanton home demolition, provisions barring discrimination against women in the workplace due to pregnancy, and enshrining the right to remain silent for those accused of crimes — the tinkering with the presidential term (expanding it from five to seven years) harkens back to an old Karimov trick to dodge the pesky two-term limit for the presidency, which remains in the constitution. The OSCE referendum monitoring mission noted in their preliminary findings that while there was a government-run “Yes” campaign — for which the government reportedly marshaled public servants and celebrities — “there was no organized opposition to the amendments.”