Xi in Guangdong - China-Brazil Ties - Pushing back on US Democracy Summit - Why China is Always Going to be a 'Developing Country' - CPI & PPI Data
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Wednesday, April 12, 2023.
Page 1: Once again a very poor news day on the front page of the People’s Daily, although a lot has been happening. Xi Jinping is in Guangdong on an inspection tour. This is not reflected in the paper today. But this is normal. Usually, these tours have received consolidated reports after they are completed.
So far, Xinhua’s reporting on the visit has covered Xi’s visit to Zhanjiang, where he visited a mariculture base, an area of mangrove forests, a port, and a water resource allocation project. Then he went to a village in Genzi Township in the city of Maoming. There he visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. These reports, however, do not contain a lot of details.
Anyway, let’s look at PD. At the top of the page is an article talking about the importance of invention, IPR and patents.
The first section discusses the recent success of Beijing OriginWater Technology Co., Ltd, which has developed technology for lithium extraction from salt lakes. Some useful data from the section:
“By the end of 2022, China had 4.212 million effective invention patents, ranking first in the world; the number of high-value invention patents per 10,000 population was 9.4, an increase of 1.9 over the previous year, and an increase of 3.1 over the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan.” 截至2022年底，我国发明专利有效量为421.2万件，位居世界第一；每万人口高价值发明专利拥有量达到9.4件，较上年提高1.9件，较“十三五”末提高3.1件.
“In 2021, the added value of China's patent-intensive industries exceeded 14 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.9%, and the industrial added value accounted for 12.44% of GDP in that year. By the end of 2022, among the high-value invention patents in China, there were 952,000 effective invention patents belonging to strategic emerging industries, up 18.7% year-on-year, accounting for 71.9% of the total.” 2021年，我国专利密集型产业增加值突破14万亿元，同比增长17.9%，产业增加值占当年GDP的比重达到12.44%。截至2022年底，我国国内高价值发明专利拥有量中，属于战略性新兴产业的有效发明专利达到95.2万件，同比增长18.7%，占比71.9%.
The next section talks about IPR. It discusses Innovent Biologics’ successes. It says that at present the company has applied for more than 700 patents, including 106 PCT international patent applications and 144 authorised patents…” 目前，信达生物申请专利700多件，其中PCT国际专利申请106件，授权专利144件，在全球多个国家和地区开展专利布局.
More data in the second section:
“By the end of 2022, there were 355,000 enterprises with effective invention patents in China, an increase of 57,000 over the previous year; the number of high-value invention patents owned by domestic enterprises reached 968,000, a year-on-year increase of 28.7%.” 截至2022年底，我国国内拥有有效发明专利的企业达35.5万家，较上年增加5.7万家；国内企业高价值发明专利拥有量达到96.8万件，同比增长28.7%.
“From 2012 to 2022, the average annual growth rate of invention patents granted in patent-intensive industries in China reached 17.2%. Among this, the average annual growth rate of invention patents granted in new equipment manufacturing, ICT service industry exceeded 20%, and the average annual growth rate of invention patents granted in strategic emerging industries reached 18%.” 2012年至2022年，我国专利密集型产业发明专利授权量年均增速达到17.2%，其中新装备制造业、信息通信技术服务业等发明专利授权量年均增速超过20%，战略性新兴产业发明专利授权量年均增速达18%.
The section also talks about OPPO being a patent leader. The final section then says that “it is estimated that by 2025, the added value of China’s patent-intensive industries will account for 13% of GDP.” 预计到2025年，我国专利密集型产业增加值占GDP比重将达到13%. The section also talks about the growth of Chongqing Machine Tools (Group) Co., Ltd., along with developments in Xi’an and Jiangsu on IPR development.
Also a leading article on the page is one that makes the case that Xi Jinping is deeply concerned about the “two rice bowls” of food and energy, with stability being key. For instance, the piece mentions Xi’s criticism of the campaign-style implementation of carbon reduction policies during the Two Sessions in 2022. Xi had criticised the approach for resulting in the energy shortage in late 2021. Xi had said: You cannot discard/throw away your means of making a living/meal ticket (吃饭的家伙), when you have not been able to get your hands on a new one. This will not work. “不能把手里吃饭的家伙先扔了，结果新的吃饭家伙还没拿到手，这不行.”
Two other reports on the page that are worth noting. First, Q1 data on CPI and PPI released by NBS yesterday showed that Consumer Price Index for March rose 0.7%. The figure was lower than the 1-percent increase in February. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged down 0.3 percent, narrowing 0.2 percentage points from the month-on-month decline in the previous month, stated the NBS. Meanwhile, China's Producer Price Index, which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, went down 2.5 percent year on year in March. The decrease expanded by 1.1 percentage points from that registered in February. On a monthly basis, China's PPI remained flat in March.
On CPI, Xinhua’s story captures the comments:
“Data showed that food prices played a major role in dragging down the overall price level and went down 1.4 percent month on month. Specifically, the prices of vegetables and pork, a staple meat, went down by 7.2 percent and 4.2 percent month on month, respectively. Non-food prices remained flat in March, up from the 0.2-percent decline in February, buoyed by the growing demand for travel and increased clothing expenses. The country's core CPI, deducting food and energy prices, climbed 0.7 percent from a year ago last month, up from 0.6 percent seen in February…The country targeted to keep the inflation rate or increase in CPI of around 3 percent for 2023. Its consumer prices grew 2 percent from a year earlier in 2022.”
Second, a report on manufacturing and sales of NEVs:
In 2023 QI, the manufacturing and sales of NEVs were 1.65 million and 1.586 million, respectively. This was an increase of 27.7% and 26.2% year-on-year. The market share of NEVs was 26.1%.
In March, NEV sales expanded 34.8 percent year on year to about 653,000 units.
In Q1, China exported a total of 248,000 NEVs, a year-on-year increase of 1.1 times.
Page 2: Just one report to note. PBOC data showed that:
In Q1 2023, New RMB loans increased by 10.6 trillion yuan, an increase of 2.27 trillion yuan year-on-year. In March alone, RMB loans increased by 3.89 trillion yuan, an increase of 749.7 billion yuan year-on-year.
As of the end of March, the balance of local and foreign currency loans was 230.66 trillion yuan, up 11.1% year on year; the balance of RMB loans was 225.45 trillion yuan, up by 11.8% year-on-year.
The M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 12.7 percent year on year to 281.46 trillion yuan at the end of March
A couple of other key reports related to the economy that are outside of PD.
Bloomberg reports: “Chinese provinces plan to boost spending on major construction projects by almost a fifth this year as Beijing continues to rely on infrastructure to spur an economy being hindered by consumers still bruised from years of pandemic restrictions. About two thirds of China’s regions have announced spending plans for major projects such as transport infrastructure, energy generation and industrial parks this year, adding up to more than 12.2 trillion yuan ($1.8 trillion), according to a Bloomberg analysis of government statements and state-media reports. That’s an increase of 17% compared to last year…The provincial spending plans add to the case made by some economists that investment in manufacturing and infrastructure will continue to provide a significant boost to the economy. It underscores Beijing’s reliance on a tested strategy of using investment to drive employment and eventually household incomes, rather than directly subsidizing households. The analysis shows spending is being directed toward fields like hi-tech manufacturing and energy, underlining Beijing’s focus on technological self-sufficiency and energy security in the face of growing competition and political tension with the US. It also implies Chinese government and corporate debt are likely to increase, adding to investors’ concerns about financial stability.”
WSJ’s story on easing inflation in China has this important note of caution on growth. “Official data on first-quarter growth in China is due to be published next week. Economists expect an expansion of around 4% compared with a year earlier, according to a Wall Street Journal poll of 17 economists. The government has set a target of around 5% growth for the year as a whole. Economists say the real test for growth will come later in the year when the immediate boost to spending from Beijing’s abrupt decision in December to dismantle Covid controls fades. Already, other engines of Chinese growth are sputtering. Exports are sinking as rising interest rates pinch Western consumers and businesses, while real estate construction has collapsed after a long boom and attempts by policy makers to rein in debt.”
Page 3: There is an article on China-Brazil economic ties ahead of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s visit to China. It says:
“In 2022, the bilateral trade volume between China and Brazil reached$171.49 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.9%. According to Brazilian statistics, as of 2022, Brazil-China trade volume had exceeded the $100 billion-mark for five consecutive years, with China being Brazil’s largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years.” 中国和巴西互为重要经贸伙伴，近年来，中巴经贸合作不断深化，双边贸易稳步发展，投资合作日趋活跃。2022年，中巴双边贸易额达1714.9亿美元，同比增长4.9%。据巴方统计，截至2022年，巴中贸易额连续5年突破1000亿美元，中国连续14年成为巴西最大贸易伙伴.
The first section deals with agricultural trade. It mentions Chinese imports of Brazilian soybeans, meat, fruits and honey. It mentions the opening of an export channel for Brazilian corn to China in January. The section also references China-Brazil agricultural science and technology cooperation; this includes seed cooperation and mentions the establishment of the China-Brazil Agricultural Science Industrial Park in Paracatu.
The next section says that China is Brazil's main source of foreign investment, with a cumulative investment of nearly $100 billion in Brazil. The piece mentions the 500kv power transmission project being undertaken by State Grid Brazil Holding Company in Goiânia, the capital of Goiás state. It mentions the XCMG Brazil manufacturing base in Pouse Alegre, Minas State. It says that in Sao Paulo, CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. recently established a smart city technology and cultural exchange centre to build a communication platform for Chinese companies and Brazilian partners. It adds: “In the 15 years since entering the Brazilian market, CRRC has provided 668 rail trains to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and other cities. In the future, 62 trunk railway passenger cars will also be exported to Brazil.” 进入巴西市场15年来，中国中车先后为里约热内卢、圣保罗等城市提供了668辆轨道列车. 未来，还将向巴西出口62辆干线铁路客车.
The final section talks about future cooperation in clean energy and the digital economy. “Brazil is the country with the largest number of joint laboratories established by China in Latin America. The two sides have established agricultural joint laboratories, climate change and energy innovation technology centres, nano-research centres, South American space weather laboratories, joint meteorological satellite centres and are planning to build a biotechnology centre.” 巴西是中国在拉美地区共建联合实验室最多的国家，双方建有农业联合实验室、气候变化和能源创新技术中心、纳米研究中心、南美空间天气实验室、气象卫星联合中心等，并正在筹建生物技术中心.
The piece also talks about the importance of the China–Brazil Earth Resources Satellite programme for strengthening environmental monitoring and climate research in the Amazon rainforest. It says that the LDB wind power expansion project - by CGN Brazil Energy Holding Co. - in Lagoa do Barro in northeast Brazil was completed and put into operation in November 2021, and a new TN wind power project located in northeast Brazil is expected to be completed in June this year. The article also mentions the two sides being in dialogue on AI, big data, Internet of Things, and industrial automation.
Also on the page is an essay by the Chinese ambassador to Brazil, Zhu Qingqiao. He talks about the two being “large developing countries and important emerging markets.” He points to the need to “expand practical cooperation” as both countries are in a critical stage of development.
“At present, changes in the world, times and history are unfolding in an unprecedented way. The world is once again standing at a historical crossroads. In the face of a turbulent international situation, China and Brazil share extensive common interests and shoulder common development responsibilities. China is ready to coordinate and cooperate with Brazil on major international and regional affairs in international organisations and multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the G20, the BRICS countries and the CELAC, jointly uphold true multilateralism, promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction, and add more positive energy to safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.” 当前，世界之变、时代之变、历史之变正以前所未有的方式展开，世界又一次站在历史的十字路口。面对变乱交织的国际形势，中国和巴西拥有广泛的共同利益，担负着共同的发展责任。中方愿同巴方在联合国、世界贸易组织、二十国集团、金砖国家、中拉论坛等国际组织和多边机制中就重大国际和地区事务密切协调配合，共同坚持真正的多边主义，推动国际秩序朝着更加公正合理的方向发展，为维护世界和平、促进共同发展增添更多正能量.
Next, there’s a 寰宇平 commentary pushing back on the US summit for democracy. The author writes:
“The US government once again divided the world into ‘democracies’ and ‘non-democracies’ using its own standards. Such an egoistic way of thinking and hegemonic practice of the US has nothing to do with democracy; these are simply meant to stir up camp confrontation. There is no superior ‘democracy’ in the world, and no country can claim to be an ‘international judge of democracy’. People of all countries should and can embark on a democratic development path with their own characteristics on the basis of independence and contribute wisdom and strength to enriching the diversity of human political civilisation.” 日前，美国举办第二届所谓“领导人民主峰会”。在这场被美国媒体称为“标志性的意识形态会议”上，美国政府再次以自身标准将世界划分为“民主国家”和“非民主国家”。美方这种唯我独尊的思维方式和霸道做法，与民主毫不搭边，完全是在挑动阵营对立。世界上不存在高人一等的“民主”，任何国家都没有资格以“国际民主判官”自居，各国人民应该而且也能够在独立自主的基础上走出一条具有本国特色的民主发展道路，为丰富人类政治文明多样性贡献智慧和力量.
“Democracy means ‘rule by the people’ and ‘sovereignty rests with the people’. Democracy is not abstract, but concrete and historical. There are many ways to realise democracy, and different forms of democracy are the results of the development of human political civilization under certain historical conditions. The world today is home to more than 200 countries and regions and more than 2,500 ethnic groups. Different historical traditions and customs have given birth to different civilizations. This diversity and difference implies that there is no identical political system in the world, and there is no political system model applicable to all countries. As countries have different national conditions, each country's political system is unique and determined by its people. It is the result of long-term development, gradual improvement and endogenous evolution based on the country's historical heritage, cultural traditions and economic and social development. History and reality have shown time and again that copying other countries' political systems and copying and pasting their democratic models will result in a situation of setting out to paint a tiger but ending up with a dog (画虎不成反类犬 huà hǔ bùchéng fǎn lèi quǎn - an idiom that means failing to achieve what one set out to and becoming a laughing stock). More importantly, it can even lead to social unrest, national division, political death and ruin the future and destiny of the country. Many non-western countries have gradually developed their own democratic systems on the basis of combining the basic values of democracy with their own national conditions, thereby achieving good governance.” 民主本意是“人民统治”“主权在民”。民主不是抽象的，而是具体的、历史的。实现民主有多种方式，不同形式的民主，都是一定历史条件下人类政治文明发展的结果。当今世界有200多个国家和地区、2500多个民族，不同的历史传统、风土民情，孕育了不同的文明。这种多样性与差异性决定了世界上不存在完全相同的政治制度，也不存在适用于一切国家的政治制度模式。各国国情不同，每个国家的政治制度都是独特的，都是由这个国家的人民决定的，都是在这个国家历史传承、文化传统、经济社会发展的基础上长期发展、渐进改进、内生性演化的结果。历史和现实一再表明，照抄照搬他国的政治制度，对他国的民主模式搞复制粘贴，只会画虎不成反类犬，甚至会导致社会动荡、国家分裂、人亡政息，把国家前途命运葬送掉。许多非西方国家正是在将民主的基本价值与本国国情相结合的基础上，逐步发展出适合本国的民主制度，从而实现了良好治理.
“Historically, the development of American democracy has been progressive. However, over time, the US democratic system has gradually grown alienated and metamorphosed, increasingly deviating from the core of the democratic system and the original purpose of the system’s design. The idea of America as the ‘beacon of democracy’ has long lost its lustre. Today, American democracy is in chaos, and the nature of money politics and oligarchy is constantly exposed. According to a study by Open Secrets, a group tracking money in politics, campaign spending on the 2022 midterm elections in the US approached an unprecedented $17 billion, which is more than the total GDP of more than 70 countries in the world in 2021. Democracy is meant to solve the problems that people need addressed, but the effectiveness of American democracy in governance has continued to falter. The majority of voters are awakened only when they vote, and then go dormant afterwards, unable to have any real influence on political decision-making; the voices and demands of the American people for democracy are considered as ‘noise’. This has led to a growing number of Americans becoming deeply disillusioned with American democracy. Americans’ pride in their democracy has fallen sharply, as per a new survey by The Washington Post and University of Maryland. According to Pew, 65 percent of Americans think the US democratic system needs major changes, and 57 percent think the US is no longer a model of democracy.” 历史上，美国民主的发展有其进步性。但随着时间的推移，美国的民主制度逐渐异化和蜕变，越来越背离民主制度的内核和制度设计的初衷，美国所自我标榜的“民主灯塔”早已黯然失色。如今，美国民主乱象丛生，金钱政治、寡头政治的本质不断暴露。美国政治捐献数据库“公开秘密”的研究显示，2022年美国中期选举的竞选花费前所未有地接近170亿美元，超过全球70多个国家2021年全年的国内生产总值。民主是要用来解决人民需要解决的问题的，但美国民主的治理效能不断走低。政客竞选时口号天花乱坠、空头支票满天飞，当选后从不兑现或者大打折扣；大多数选民只有在投票时被唤醒、投票后就进入休眠期，无法对政治决策产生实际影响；美国民众对民主的呼声和诉求甚至被视为“杂音”。这导致越来越多美国民众对美国民主深感失望。《华盛顿邮报》和马里兰大学的联合调查显示，美国人对民主的自豪感急剧下降。皮尤中心民调显示，65%的美国人认为美国民主制度需要重大改革，57%的受访者认为美国不再是民主典范.
The next paragraph makes the case for diversity. It is “undemocratic to use a single yardstick to measure the rich and colourful political systems of the world…The so-called ‘democratic transformation’ of other countries tramples on the spirit of democracy. Today, more and more countries have come to realise that if they want to find their own path of democratic development, they must stay on high alert when it comes to America’s dangerous practice of ‘exporting democracy’. For a long time, the United States has imposed its own political system and values on others despite the huge differences in economic development, history and culture among different countries and regions in the world, resulting in many regions and countries becoming mired in turmoil, conflicts and wars. As some foreign media have pointed out, in the hands of the US, ‘democracy’ has long been a ‘weapon of mass destruction’ that is used against dissenting countries. The current US government has ignored the lessons of history, the chaos of American democracy and the aspiration of the overwhelming majority of countries not to be held hostage by the hypocritical practices of the US, and fabricated and peddled the false narrative of ‘democracy against authoritarianism’. This practice of promoting geostrategy under the banner of democracy is doomed to be rejected by the times. Richard Haas, president of the Council on Foreign Relations of the United States, said in an interview with the media that the ‘Democracy Summit’ was a ‘bad idea’ and that ‘American democracy can hardly be a model for other countries’.” 民主是各国人民的权利，不是少数国家的专利。用单一的标尺衡量世界丰富多彩的政治制度，用单调的眼光审视人类五彩缤纷的政治文明，本身就是不民主的。对别国进行所谓的“民主改造”，更是对民主精神的践踏。历史发展到今天，越来越多国家认识到，要找到适合自己的民主发展道路，就必须对美国搞“民主输出”的危险做法保持高度警惕。长期以来，美国不顾世界上不同国家和地区在经济发展水平和历史文化方面存在的巨大差异，将自己的政治制度和价值理念强加于人，最终导致许多地区和国家深陷动荡、冲突和战争泥潭。正如有外国媒体所指出的，“民主”在美国手中早已成为对异见国家的“大规模杀伤性武器”。本届美国政府无视历史教训，无视美国民主乱象，无视绝大多数国家不愿被美国的虚伪做法绑架的心声，编造和兜售“民主对抗威权”虚假叙事。这种打着民主旗号推进地缘战略的做法，注定被时代所抛弃。美国对外关系委员会会长理查德·哈斯在接受媒体采访时表示，“民主峰会”是一个“坏主意”，“美国民主很难成为其他国家的榜样”.
“Democracy is the common value of all mankind. Only by respecting the diversity of world civilisations, promoting the common values of mankind, sincerely supporting all efforts to independently explore the path of democratic development, and strengthening exchanges and mutual learning on the issue of democracy on the basis of mutual respect and equality can we promote the continuous development and progress of human political civilization and build a beautiful world in which each country cherishing its own beauty.” 民主是全人类共同价值。各国唯有尊重世界文明多样性，弘扬全人类共同价值，真心实意支持一切独立自主探索民主发展道路的努力，在相互尊重、彼此平等的基础上就民主问题加强交流互鉴，才能推动人类政治文明不断发展进步，才能建设一个各美其美、美美与共的美好世界.
A couple of other stories to note. First, Qin Gang is travelling to Uzbekistan to attend the fourth foreign ministers' meeting among the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan today and tomorrow. Second, ILD chief Liu Jianchao met with Philip Barton, permanent under-secretary of Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. They exchanged views on strengthening party-to-party exchanges, promoting the sound and steady development of bilateral relations, and international and regional issues of common concern. Finally, a report on Iran’s foreign ministry praising China’s “constructive” role in easing Saudi-Iran tensions. The ministry also said that “a Saudi delegation is visiting Iran and an Iranian delegation will also visit Saudi Arabia soon. The two sides are preparing to reopen embassies and consulates in each other's country, and will send ambassadors to each other after necessary preparations are completed.”
Page 15: On the international page, there’s a report on South Korea protesting Japanese claims on the Dokdo islets. This came as Japan’s Foreign Ministry presented this year’s Diplomatic Bluebook to a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. It stated that ROK has continued an “illegal occupation” of the area with no legal basis. The South Korean foreign ministry summoned Naoki Kumagai, deputy chief of mission at the Japanese Embassy, to register its complaint.
Second, brief coverage of Macron’s interview reported in Les Echos and Politico.
Finally, a piece bylined 史青, which makes the point that China remains a developing country. This is obviously coming in the context of moves in the US to designate China as a developed country. On March 27, the US House of Representatives unanimously approved (415-0) a bill seeking to strip China of its developing country status. The 'PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act' has now moved to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It’s a long way from becoming law. But the PRC pushback has begun.
The first section of the article talks about what goes into determining whether a country is a developing country. The author argues:
“First, countries are classified based on relevant international indicators. The World Bank defines economies with a GNI per capita of more than $13,205 (2022 standard, updated annually) as high-income economies and considers them as developed countries. Those below this standard are divided into high middle income, low middle income and low income, which are all developing countries (including China). In 2021, China's per capita GNI was $11,880, ranking 68th in the world and not yet reaching the threshold of a developed country. According to the UNDP, a country with a Human Development Index (HDI) rating of less than 0.8 is considered a developing country. In 2021, China’s HDI was 0.768, ranking 79th, on par with that of major developing countries. The United States ranked 21st.
Second, international organisations classify countries as per actual conditions. The recognition of developing country status at the WTO is based on two categories — active provisions decided by the members themselves and passive provisions determined by other members.. China was clearly identified as a developing country when it entered the WTO. The IMF classifies all economies into two groups based on per capita income, trade freedom and financial openness. The first is advanced economies and the second is emerging markets and developing economies, which includes China.
The above shows that there is no uniform criterion for determining the status of developing countries in the international arena, and even based on the relevant indicators, China has not yet reached the threshold of developed countries.”
通常，国际社会评判一个国家发展程度普遍参照如下标准：一是参照相关国际指标。世界银行将人均国民总收入（GNI）超过13205美元（2022年标准，每年更新标准）的经济体定为高收入经济体并认为是发达国家，低于该标准的分为中等偏高收入、中等偏低收入和低收入三类，均为发展中国家（含中国）。2021年，中国人均GNI是11880美元，位列世界第六十八位，尚未到达发达国家门槛。根据联合国开发计划署的人类发展指数（HDI），小于0.8被认为是发展中国家。2021年，中国HDI为0.768，排名第七十九位，与主要发展中国家位次相当，美国列第二十一位。二是国际组织根据实际情况分类。世界贸易组织对发展中国家身份的认定分为两类，一类是由成员自己决定的主动型条款，另一类是由其他成员认定的被动型条款。中国在“入世”时即被明确认定为发展中国家。国际货币基金组织将人均收入水平、贸易自由度、金融开放性等作为分类标准，把所有经济体分为两个组别，一是先进经济体，二是包括中国在内的新兴市场和发展中经济体。由此可见，在国际上发展中国家地位的认定并无统一评判标准，即使依据有关指标，中国也尚未达到发达国家门槛。
The second section says that one needs to adopt a comprehensive view to understand China’s status as a developing country. “Although China is the second largest economy in the world, its development is still unbalanced and inadequate, and there are still many bottlenecks in promoting high-quality development. There are still many problems to be solved in ensuring the reliability and security of food, energy, industrial and supply chains. People face many difficulties in employment, education, medical care, childcare, elderly care and housing, and there is still a wide gap in development between urban and rural areas and between regions and in income distribution. Many development indicators of China, especially per capita indicators, are still in the middle reaches of the world. In 2022, China's per capita GDP was $12,741, which is only one-fifth of that of developed economies and 16.6% of that of the US. The tertiary sector accounts for 52.8% of the total GDP, which is lower than the average level of 70% in developed countries. In the global industrial value chain, China is still at the lower end, and its GDP is mainly composed of manufacturing and agriculture.” 中国的经济总量虽然居世界第二，但发展不平衡不充分问题仍然突出，推进高质量发展还有许多卡点瓶颈。在保障粮食、能源、产业链供应链可靠安全等方面还有许多问题亟待解决。群众在就业、教育、医疗、托育、养老、住房等方面面临不少难题，城乡区域发展和收入分配差距仍然较大。中国多项发展指标特别是人均指标仍处于世界中游。2022年，中国人均国内生产总值（GDP）为12741美元，仅相当于发达经济体的1/5、美国的16.6%。第三产业占比52.8%，低于发达国家70%的平均水平。在全球产业链中，中国仍处于中低端，GDP构成以加工制造、农业等为主。
The author punctuates this argument by saying that among developing countries China is an ‘excellent student’, but by no means a ‘graduate’ yet. 中国取得的成绩全世界有目共睹，是发展中国家的“优等生”，但绝非“毕业生”，仍面临艰巨挑战和困难.
The final section says that the status of a developing country also has “special political attributes” for China. This is a fun section because from a logical perspective, it undermines everything that’s written earlier. It underscores that this status is not about any metric of development but a political tool for Beijing to enjoy certain benefits and position itself with the Global South.
The piece says that Xi Jinping has said that “China will always be a member of the big family of developing countries and will be unswervingly committed to improving the representation and voice of developing countries in the international governance system. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that my country is a large developing country and is still in the primary stage of socialism. No matter how China's economy develops in the future and how its international status improves, China will always be a developing country.” 习近平主席强调，中国永远是发展中国家大家庭的一员，将坚定不移致力于提高发展中国家在国际治理体系中的代表性和发言权。党的二十大报告提出，我国是一个发展中大国，仍处于社会主义初级阶段。不管中国今后经济如何发展，国际地位如何提高，中国永远都是发展中国家一员.
The status of a developing country also embodies China's true feelings of sharing difficulties and strong sense of friendship with other developing countries. New China's unequivocal support for the national liberation movements in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and assistance to build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway when it was not rich, vividly demonstrated what ‘a friend in need is a friend indeed’ means. Entering the new era, China and other developing countries have continued to carry forward the Bandung Spirit, acted as good friends, good partners and good brothers who share weal and woe, promoted the construction of a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation as the core, and worked to jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. China has always been firmly opposed to hegemonism and power politics, and has always been a force for peace and development. China will remain committed to identifying itself as a developing country and will not join the ‘rich man's club’ of the West. China will always work with other developing countries to strive for and safeguard common interests. The US and the West are trying to deny China's status as a developing country and spread false arguments of one kind or another. Their real intentions are nothing more than squeezing China's development space, making it shoulder a greater burden and responsibilities, and provoking friction in the friendly relations between China and developing countries, and so on. In the final analysis, whether China is a developing country cannot be judged by just a few indicators, let alone by other countries, especially the United States. The insidious schemes to speculate on China's status as a developing country are doomed to fail. 发展中国家地位还蕴含中国对其他发展中国家的患难真情和牢固友谊。新中国旗帜鲜明支持亚非拉民族解放运动，曾在自己不富裕的情况下帮助修建坦赞铁路，生动诠释了什么是“患难见真情”。进入新时代，中国与发展中国家继续弘扬万隆精神，做休戚与共、同甘共苦的好朋友、好伙伴、好兄弟，推动构建以合作共赢为核心的新型国际关系，携手构建人类命运共同体。中国始终坚决反对霸权主义、强权政治，始终代表和平的力量、发展的力量。中国将始终坚守发展中国家自我定位，不会加入西方的“富人俱乐部”。中国将永远同广大发展中国家一道，争取共同权益、维护共同利益。美西方试图否定中国的发展中国家地位，散布这样那样的虚假论调，其真实意图无外乎是要挤压中国发展空间，让中国背包袱、扛责任，挑拨中国与发展中国家友好关系，等等。说到底，中国是不是发展中国家，不能单看几个指标，更不能任由他国特别是美国来当“判官”。那些炒作中国发展中国家地位的阴险图谋，注定将以失败收场.