Xi in Xinjiang - H1 Economic Data - Li: Foundation for Economic Recovery still Unstable - Beijing Armed Police' Loyalty - Wang Yi on China's Diplomacy - Speed & Precision Key to Dynamic Clearing
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Friday, July 15, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: Although it’s not in PD today, late last night, Xinhua reported that Xi Jinping had visited Xinjiang on Tuesday and Wednesday. So far, there are bits and pieces of information that have been put out, along with a lot of pictures. Xinhua’s reports inform that Xi travelled to the cities of Urumqi and Shihezi. In Urumqi on Wednesday, he inspected a university, an international land port area, a residential community and a museum.
At the museum, he watched a show of the Kirgiz ethnic minority epic Manas. Speaking to the performers, he said that “the extensive and profound Chinese civilization is composed of outstanding cultures of various ethnic groups. A cultural heritage like the Manas is a treasure of both the ethnic minority and the Chinese nation, Xi said, urging better preservation and promotion efforts.”
At the residential community of Guyuanxiang in the Tianshan District, Xi urged authorities to put more effort into community-level work to better learn and respond to the needs of the people. Xi also called for strengthening Party organizations at the community level and improving services in communities to benefit residents of all ethnic groups.
Another bit is about Xi speaking to XPCC officials and staff workers in Shihezi. Xinhua reports: Xi said “he was pleased about the great progress made by the XPCC in reform and development, and XPCC officials and staff workers themselves should also be proud. Calling the XPCC’s strategic status ‘irreplaceable,’ Xi expressed his hope that XPCC officials and staff workers will carry forward the spirit of the XPCC, continue to work hard, step up reform, and make down-to-earth and persistent efforts to make the XPCC stronger and more prosperous.”
Also in Shihezi, “Xi visited the reclamation museum of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) and a unit under a division of the XPCC. Xi learned about the history of the XPCC in cultivating and guarding the frontier areas, as well as the Corps' efforts in strengthening its primary-level organizations, developing specialty agriculture, and promoting the integrated development of the Corps and local areas.”
I am sure there will be a detailed report on the visit tomorrow.
In PD today, at the top of the page is a report (English report) about China’s shipbuilding industry, informing us that China is the world’s biggest shipbuilder so far this year.
China’s shipyards completed 18.5 million deadweight tons (DWT) of orders, which took 45.2 percent of the global market and ranked first in the world, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). Orders on hand as of June 30 accounted for 47.8 percent of the market, the largest in the world. Those orders totaled 102.74 million DWT, up 18.6 percent year-on-year, with ships being built for export accounting for 88.7 percent of the total…The Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI), part of shipbuilding giant China State Shipbuilding Co, received more than 100 design orders for ships as of the end of June, taking 40 percent of domestic market orders and 22.5 percent of global market share, SDARI said on Wednesday.
Next, there’s a piece (English report) about agricultural output in 2022. The National Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday that summer grain output was 147.39 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 1 percent. Wheat output was 135.76 million tons, an increase of 1.0%.
The report adds that the planting area of summer grain recorded a slight increase of 0.3 percent year-on-year, maintaining growth for two consecutive years. The NBS said the growing of planting area is due efforts such as raising the minimum purchase price of wheat to stabilize farmers' grain subsidies, stabilizing the sown area of winter wheat and expanding the spring wheat planting area. The national summer grain yield was 5,555.6 kg/hectare, an increase of 0.6 percent over the previous year.
NDRC’s Zhang Guohua said that China’s grain output reached 680 million tons in 2021, an increase of nearly 100 million tons compared with 10 years ago, and it has remained above 650 million tons for seven consecutive years, and the per capita grain possession stood at a high of 483 kilograms.
Third, a report about Li Keqiang’s discussion on the economic situation with economists and entrepreneurs. Xinhua reports:
“China’s economic development went through ‘extremely rare’ circumstances in the second quarter of this year, with unexpected factors triggering severe shocks and downward pressure increasing, Li said. Under the circumstances, major economic indicators saw a substantial decline in April. With a raft of economy-stabilizing policies taking effect quickly, these indicators pointed to a hard-fought recovery in May and June. However, the foundation for recovery is still unstable and requires more arduous efforts to prop up the economic fundamentals, the premier said. Concerted efforts must be made to consolidate the foundation of recovery in the third quarter and get the economy back on track as soon as possible, he said.
To keep the economy running within an appropriate range, the country should place equal emphasis on stabilizing economic growth and curbing inflation, particularly imported inflation. It should ensure both the intensity and rationality of the macroeconomic policy, Li said. The country, accordingly, needs to ensure that all relief measures for businesses are carried out effectively and make further moves to unclog transport, logistics and industrial and supply chains.”
“While creating more jobs through market-based means, the country should safeguard the employment of college graduates and migrant workers and rectify all types of discriminatory practices against jobseekers, Li said. On stabilizing food and energy prices, Li called for efforts to bolster autumn grain production and improve the supply capacity of coal-powered electricity. Adhering to a policy of reform and opening-up, the country will continue to create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, with measures to nurture market entities and boost market vitality, according to Li. Efforts will also go into expanding consumption with market-based and sustainable approaches, eliminating all obstacles to investment and stabilizing foreign trade, Li added.”
PD reports that at the meeting heads of enterprises like State Power Investment Corporation, Dunhuang Net Company, which is engaged in cross-border e-commerce services, and Beijing Liandong, which is engaged in industrial park operation services, delivered speeches. In addition, experts like Su Jian from Peking University and Wu Ge from Changjiang Securities spoke at the meeting.
The PD report also quotes Li as saying that it has only been a month since the economic stabilisation policy package has been implemented and “there is still considerable room for implementation. It is necessary to continue to promote the implementation of the policies and their…It is necessary to sort out the implementation of various policies to help support enterprises…” 稳经济一揽子政策等实施时间才一个多月，还有相当的实施空间，要继续推动政策落地和效果显现。1.6亿多户市场主体是经济发展动力源、就业顶梁柱。要逐条梳理助企纾困各项政策落实情况，确保见效.
I think this is a good point to intervene with Q2 economic data that was put out today. The image below with headlines shows the difference between Xinhua and other news outlets’ coverage.
The data show:
Q2 GDP grew 0.4 percent year on year, the slowest pace of growth since the COVID outbreak in 2020.
H1 GDP growth was 2.5%.
The value-added industrial output of major industrial enterprises rose 3.4 percent year-on-year in H1. It grew 0.7 percent year-on-year in the second quarter, on par with the growth in May. The growth quickened in June to 3.4 percent, 3.2 percentage points faster than in May.
Retail sales dropped by 4.6 percent in Q2, narrowing the gap from a slide of 6.7 percent in May. It grew 3.1 percent year-on-year in June.
Fixed-asset investment grew 6.1 percent in the first half of the year. It quickened its growth in May and June, posting 4.6 percent and 5.6 percent growth, compared with 1.8 percent growth in April.
CNBC reports that investment in real estate in the first half of the year fell by 5.4% from a year ago, worse than the 4% decline in the first five months of the year.
Unemployment across China’s 31 largest cities fell from pre-pandemic highs to 5.8% in June, but that for the age 16 to 24 category rose further to 19.3%.
NYT reports: “The Japanese securities firm Nomura estimated that, as of Monday, 247 million people in 31 cities were under some kind of lockdown in China, covering about one-fifth of the national population and accounting for the equivalent of around $4.3 trillion in annual gross domestic product. The number of affected cities nearly tripled from a week earlier.”
The Global Times report on this adds that: “According to the Ministry of Finance, the annual quota of local special bonds should be issued by June. A total of 1.93 trillion yuan ($ 285.3 billion) of local government bonds were issued in June, up 143.27 percent year-on-year and 60.11 percent from May.”
Fourth, there’s a report on power consumption for June and H1.
From January to June, the total electricity consumption of the whole society was 4.1 trillion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 2.9%.
Electricity consumption of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries increased by 10.3%, 1.3% and 3.1% year-on-year respectively
The domestic electricity consumption of urban and rural residents increased by 9.6% year-on-year.
For June:
Power consumption was 745.1 billion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 4.7% from a year ago.
Electricity used in the primary sector climbed 12.4%, and electricity used in the secondary and tertiary sectors was up 0.8% and 10.1%.
Finally, there is a feature article on the First Mobile Detachment of the Beijing Armed Police Corps.
Quick thought: I am not aware of any specific reason, such as an anniversary or something, that has prompted this piece on the front page. And I am not sure who the target audience is for this piece. My over-the-top and incredibly unfounded speculation is that this is about signalling Xi’s control over a key element of the capital’s security apparatus. But then why would one feel the need to do so? Anyway, it would be great to hear from folks who do study internal security and understand the apparatus. Do please write to me if you have any thoughts on this, particularly if you believe my line of thinking on this makes no sense.
The piece talks about Xi’s inspection of the unit in January 2013. “Since its establishment in 1990, this unit has been stationed in the heart of the motherland, guarding the security of the capital.” The piece praises the unit for having strengthened their theoretical armament via the use of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to educate and cast souls and says that they have implemented Xi Jinping's Thought of Strengthening the Army and paid close attention to and firmly followed the political leadership. 自1990年组建至今，这支部队一直驻守在祖国心脏、守护着首都的平安. 他们加强党的创新理论武装，坚持用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想铸魂育人，全面贯彻习近平强军思想，狠抓政治引领、坚定看齐追随，铁心向党、担当使命，圆满完成重要活动安保、重大演习演训、应急抢险救援等任务.
The piece then talks about Second Sergeant Nie Wenwen, who, over 9 years, has studied Xi’s works and taken massive amounts of notes and emerged as the “red epaulette”红肩章 wearing theory teacher for the unit. 9年来，聂文文牢记习主席的关怀，学习了《习近平论强军兴军》《习近平强军思想学习纲要》等书籍，记下了3本厚厚的读书笔记，成为总队“红肩章”理论宣讲员，先后为数万名官兵宣讲党的创新理论30多场次. In this context, the article talks about “loyalty” education. This includes a bunch of activities, ranging from reading books, engaging in discussions, singing military songs, sharing stories and learning from role models.
The piece also talks about the detachment’s focus on actual combat training. “In recent years, the detachment has always adhered to practical training, being strict with difficulties. In complex environments and dangerous situations, every individual soldier has been sharpened into the ‘tip of a knife’, and every detachment has been cast into a ‘sharp knife’.” 近年来，支队始终坚持实战实训、从难从严，在复杂环境、险情危局中把每一个单兵都磨成“刀尖”，把每一支分队都铸成“尖刀”. This is followed by some details of the difficult environments and hardships, related to training and the work.
Page 2: A report with data from the Ministry of Finance. Here are some of the key data points.
China's fiscal revenue in H1 reached 10.52 trillion yuan ($1.56 trillion), an increase of 3.3 percent after deducting the factors of tax rebates.
The general public budget revenue returned into positive territory and stood at 5.3 percent year-on-year in June after deducting the impact of tax refunds.
In H1, revenue growth after deducing factors of tax rebates for the eastern, central, western and northeastern regions was -1%, 13.7%, 16.5% and -3.5% respectively.
Fiscal spending in the first six months increased by 5.9 percent from a year earlier, settling at 12.89 trillion yuan.
In terms of specific sectors, in H1, transportation expenditure increased by 12%; agriculture, forestry and water expenditures increased by 11%; social security and employment-related expenditures increased by 3.6%; health spending increased by 7.7%,
From April to June, a total of 1.865 million taxpayers received 1.72 trillion yuan in tax refunds. Over the first half, the number amounted to 1.85 trillion yuan, 2.9 times the amount for the whole of 2021
Local governments have issued 3.41 trillion yuan in new special bonds as of the end of June. Consequently, the 2022 quota of new special bonds for project construction had largely been completed.
Considering the financing tasks that local governments need to carry out, in 2022, transfer payments from the central government to local governments will increase by about 1.5 trillion yuan from the previous year, up 18%, the highest increase in recent years.
From the transfer payments from the central government to local governments, 154.68 billion yuan will be allocated to aid and subsidise people in need, an increase of 7.06 billion yuan over the previous year; preliminary estimates show that the financial expenditure of the central government directly used for employment exceeded 20 billion yuan; 1.17 trillion yuan has been spent on basic livelihood aspects such as old-age care, compulsory education, and basic medical care, helping to secure the bottom line of people's livelihood.
Next, a report with data from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission. It says:
By the end of June, the loan balance of small and micro enterprises in China was 55.84 trillion yuan, of which the loan balance of inclusive small and micro enterprises was 21.77 trillion yuan, a year-on-year growth rate of 22.64%. 截至6月末，全国小微企业贷款余额55.84万亿元，其中普惠型小微企业贷款余额21.77万亿元，同比增速22.64%，较各项贷款增速高11.69个百分点。
In the first half of the year, the interest rate of new loans for inclusive small and micro enterprises in China was 5.35%, which was 0.35 percentage points lower than that in 2021.上半年全国新发放普惠型小微企业贷款利率5.35%，较2021年全年下降0.35个百分点。
At the end of June, the balance of non-performing loans of banking financial institutions was 3.8 trillion yuan, and the non-performing loan ratio was 1.77%, down 0.05 percentage point from the beginning of the year. 6月末，银行业金融机构不良贷款余额3.8万亿元，不良贷款率1.77%，较年初下降0.05个百分点。
From January to June, insurance companies' original insurance premium income was 2.8 trillion yuan, up 5.1 percent year on year. Compensation payments from the insurance industry totaled 776.8 billion yuan, up 3.1% year on year.1—6月，保险公司原保险保费收入2.8万亿元，同比增长5.1%。保险业赔款支出与给付累计7768亿元，同比增长3.1%.
Page 3: The lead article on the page is an interview with Wang Yi on his recent foreign travels, which included a tour across East Asia, the LMC meeting and the G20 meeting. I am not doing a full breakdown of his comments. If you are interested in catching up on the visits and the many bilateral meetings that he had during the G20 visit in Indonesia, I recommend going through our weekly Eye on China. I had covered everything there.
Answering a specific question on China-Russia ties, Wang says:
“Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Putin, China-Russia relations have shown strong resilience. As each other’s important neighbours and comprehensive strategic partners of coordination, it is necessary for us to eliminate interference, maintain our composure, advance cooperation in various fields in an orderly manner, and vigorously safeguard the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples. As important members of multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the G20, the BRICS, and the SCO, it is necessary for China and Russia to maintain communication and coordination, enhance the consensus of the international community, and promote the cause of global development. We firmly believe that Sino-Russian relations can withstand the test of any international situation and continue to maintain a correct direction. China and Russia are committed to building a new type of relationship between major powers, based on the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third parties. The distortion and smearing of normal Sino-Russian exchanges by the United States is out of thin air and has ulterior motives. We are willing to work with Russia and all international forces committed to peace and development to jointly implement the Global Security Initiative put forward by the President and promote the multi-polarisation of the world and the democratisation of international relations.
“In the face of the Ukrainian crisis, China's position has been open and aboveboard, objective and fair, and consistent in insisting on persuading and promoting peace talks. President Xi Jinping has pointed out that the painful history of the two world wars and the Cold War confrontation shows that hegemonism, bloc politics and camp confrontation will not bring peace and security. China will continue to judge the situation independently based the merits of the issue, support all efforts conducive to a peaceful resolution to the crisis, safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests and those of the vast number of developing countries, practice the common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept, and always stand on the side of maintaining peace and the right side of history.” 答：在习近平主席和普京总统战略擘画下，中俄关系展现出强大韧性。作为彼此重要邻国和全面战略协作伙伴，我们有必要排除干扰，保持定力，有序推进各领域合作，有力维护两国和两国人民根本利益。作为联合国、二十国集团、金砖国家、上海合作组织等多边机制的重要成员，中俄有必要保持沟通协调，增进国际社会共识，促进全球发展事业。我们坚信，中俄关系能够经受住任何国际风云考验，继续保持正确前进方向。中俄致力于构建的是新型大国关系，以不结盟、不对抗、不针对第三方为原则，美国对中俄正常交往的歪曲和抹黑是无中生有，别有用心。我们愿同俄方以及国际上一切致力于和平与发展力量一道，共同践行习近平主席提出的全球安全倡议，推动世界多极化和国际关系民主化。面对乌克兰危机，中方的立场光明磊落，客观公道，一以贯之，坚持劝和促谈。习近平主席深刻指出，两次世界大战和冷战对抗的惨痛历史表明，霸权主义、集团政治、阵营对抗不会带来和平安全。中方将继续从问题本身的是非曲直出发，独立自主地作出判断，支持一切有利于和平解决危机的努力，维护自身及广大发展中国家的正当权益，践行共同、综合、合作、可持续的安全观，始终站在维护和平的一边，站在历史正确的一边。
Wang also spoke about new governments taking power in Australia, Canada and South Korea.
Quick thought: This was interesting. In a nutshell, the deterioration of ties with Australia was a product of Australian policy; the deterioration of ties with Canada was somewhat mutual, but really it was because Canada didn’t think about self-reliance and didn’t follow an independent policy, i.e., the US was to blame; and for South Korea, there’s a warning that Wang offers in terms of the political direction that the new government appears to be taking.
On Australia, he said: “In the past few years, China-Australia relations have encountered difficulties, the root of which is that the previous Australian government insisted on treating China as an ‘adversary’ or even a threat, and, therefore, adopted a series of irresponsible and reckless words and deeds targeting China. At present, China-Australia relations are facing both challenges and opportunities. China is willing to take the pulse again, recalibrate and set sail/take off the bilateral relationship again in the spirit of mutual respect. We have noted that the Australian side has reiterated that China and Australia are comprehensive strategic partners and that it will continue to pursue the one-China policy. It is hoped that the Australian side will correct its understanding of China, refrain from hyping up differences, refrain from participating in the containment of China, and conduct constructive exchanges with equal respect, calm and pragmatic attitude, and strive to bring China-Australia relations back on track. 过去几年中澳关系遭遇困难，根子在于澳前政府执意把中国视为“对手”甚至威胁，对华采取了一系列不负责任和轻率的言行。当前中澳关系既面临挑战，也出现机遇。中方愿本着相互尊重精神，为双边关系再把脉、再校准、再启航。我们注意到澳方重申中澳是全面战略伙伴，将继续奉行一个中国政策。希望澳方端正对华认知，不炒作放大分歧，不参与围堵中国，本着平等尊重和冷静务实态度开展建设性交流，争取推动中澳关系重归正轨.
On Canada, he said: “China and Canada have never been rivals, but partners; China has never been a threat, but an opportunity. A healthy and stable China-Canada relationship serves the common interests of both sides. The foreign ministers’ meeting was constructive and candid. The improvement and development of China-Canada relations requires the joint efforts of both sides. Specifically, we should grasp the correct direction of the development of bilateral relations, properly manage differences, uphold mutual respect, adhere to independence and self-reliance, and seek win-win cooperation.” 中加关系曾长期走在中国同发达国家关系的前列，中加从来不是对手，而是伙伴；中国从来不是威胁，而是机遇。健康稳定的中加关系符合双方的共同利益。此次外长会见是建设性的，也是坦诚的。中加关系的改善和发展需要双方共同努力，具体而言，应该把握好双边关系发展的正确方向，妥善管控分歧，秉持相互尊重，坚持独立自主，寻求合作共赢.
On South Korea, he talked about the relationship facing “practical challenges.” He said: Prior to and following the establishment of the new South Korean government, the two heads of state successfully communicated with each other, leading to a smooth transition and good start to bilateral relations. Maintaining and stabilising China-ROK relations is in the common interests of both sides, otherwise both countries will suffer. This is an important experience in the exchanges between the two countries in the past 30 years. The two sides should review the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations, abide by political commitments, focus on mutually beneficial cooperation, eliminate external interference, and promote the healthy and stable development momentum of bilateral relations.” 韩新政府成立前后，两国元首成功通话，引领双边关系平稳过渡、良好开局。维护好、稳定住中韩关系符合双方共同利益，反之两国都会受损，这是过去30年两国交往的重要经验。双方要重温建交初心，信守政治承诺，聚焦互利合作，排除外部干扰，推动双边关系保持健康稳定发展势头.
Finally, on his meeting with Secretary of State Blinken, this is what Wang said:
“Both sides believed that the meeting was substantive and constructive, and it also created the condition for high-level exchanges between the two countries going forward. We all believe that the current Sino-US relationship is at a critical period, and it is necessary and beneficial to maintain such regular communication.”
“During the meeting, the Chinese side emphatically pointed out that there was a serious misjudgment in the United States’ understanding of China, which had resulted in a deviation of the American views on China, its interests and the nature of competition. Consequently, the US’ China policy has deviated from the right path. The US side should not merely view Sino-US relations from the perspective of great power competition, nor should it seek to manage Sino-US affairs from the prism of a zero-sum game mindset. The US should immediately stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and harming China's interests on issues related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and the maritime domain. The Chinese side has taken the initiative to issue ‘four lists’ to the US side; three of these are for the US side to eliminate negative factors in the relationship between the two countries, and one for the exploration and promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. This reflects China's principled and constructive approach. to explore how China and the United States can interact positively in the Asia-Pacific region and establish common rules to abide by. The two sides also reached specific consensus on advancing joint working group discussions to resolve their respective concerns, facilitating the performance of duties by diplomatic and consular personnel of the two countries, and restarting exchanges and consultations on cultural issues, and agreed to cooperate in areas such as climate change and public health.”
In the next paragraph, he calls on the US to do away with the “strategic anxiety” that it has which leads to “inflation of threats”; he talks about adhering to the four nos and the one no intention, i,e, the “US does not seek a new Cold War with China; it does not aim to change China’s system; the revitalization of its alliances is not targeted at China; the US does not support ‘Taiwan independence’; and it has no intention to seek a conflict with China.” Then, Wang eventually says that “to manage conflicts and differences, we must first practise peaceful coexistence in the Asia-Pacific region and achieve positive interactions.”双方都认为这次会晤具有实质性，也具有建设性，也为下阶段两国高层交往积累了条件。我们都认为当前中美关系处在关键时期，保持这样的经常性沟通是必要的，也是有益的。在会晤中，中方着重指出，美方的对华认知存在严重误判，致使美国的中国观、利益观、竞争观都出现了明显偏差，由此制定的对华政策自然也偏离了正确轨道。美方不应仅从大国竞争的视角看待中美关系，不能只用零和博弈的思维处理中美事务。美方应立即停止在涉台、涉疆、涉港、涉海等问题上干涉中国内政、损害中国利益。中方主动向美方打出“四份清单”，三份是分别要求美方消除两国关系中的负面因素，一份旨在探索推进两国互利合作，这体现了中方的原则性和建设性。中方还提出探讨中美在亚太地区如何良性互动，设立共同遵守的规则。双方并就推进联合工作组商谈解决各自关切、便利两国外交领事人员履职、重启人文议题交流磋商等达成具体共识，同意在气变、公共卫生等领域开展合作。中美关系要走出困局，根本遵循是认真落实两国元首达成的重要共识，遵照相互尊重、和平共处、避免对抗、合作共赢的精神，探讨确立双方的行动指南。拜登总统多次重申“四不一无意”承诺，这次布林肯国务卿也作出进一步积极表态。关键是要言而有信、言行一致。美方应消除“威胁膨胀”的战略焦虑，摒弃“你输我赢”的惯性思维，拒绝“政治正确”的无端绑架，停止一系列破坏中美关系和地区战略稳定的错误做法，同中方一道有效管控矛盾分歧，首先在亚太地区践行和平共处，实现良性互动。
Second, a report on the China-Cambodia intergovernmental coordinating committee with Wang Yi and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong. Xinhua reports:
“The two sides formulated a new action plan on building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future and coordinated exchanges and cooperation in various fields. The two sides will deepen the exchange in governing their respective countries, and firmly support each other in safeguarding core interests and taking the development path in line with their national conditions. The two sides will promote the joint construction of key projects of the Belt and Road Initiative with a high standard, continue to fight the epidemic together, and develop their cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and agriculture. The two sides will increase flights between the two countries, implement livelihood projects, and strengthen cooperation in science and technology, education, culture, think tanks and tourism. The two sides will adhere to the ASEAN-led regional cooperation architecture and reject any attempt to turn the East Asian cooperation platform into an arena for major powers to engage in game playing. After the meeting, the two sides jointly announced the signing of cooperation documents on human resources and infrastructure.”
Third, a report on the second China-Pacific Island Countries Political Leadership Dialogue. Xinhua reports:
“Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the CPC is willing to work with political parties in Pacific island countries to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning on country governance, promote pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and build a closer China-Pacific island countries community with a shared future. Leaders of political parties from Pacific island countries said that China's successful experience provides important inspiration for their countries to achieve prosperity and development, and the political parties will firmly uphold the One-China policy, synergise the Belt and Road Initiative and development strategies of their own countries, and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.”
Fourth, a report on Zhou Zuyi. China’s new Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, chairing the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting. PD says that the meeting discussed topics such as green employment and sustainable development, skills development for a resilient recovery, protection of labour rights and interests in new forms of employment. The meeting ended with the adoption of the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Declaration, which recognised the need for promoting green jobs for sustainable development, strengthening of cooperation in skills development and protection of workers’ rights in new forms of employment.
Fifth, a report informing us that a team of 8 Chinese police officers will be heading to Croatia on July 15 for a month-long joint patrol activity. China Daily reports:
“They will also work to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Croatia and develop a strong communication channel with the European nation's police department. During their trip, the police will also visit Chinese enterprises and communities in Croatia to gain a broad understanding of their safety needs, promote efforts to combat telecom and internet fraud, and share their work experiences with Croatian law enforcement authorities.”
China has had a joint police patrol mechanism with law enforcement departments in Italy, Croatia and Serbia since 2016.
Page 4: The second 仲音 commentary on the issue of corruption. This one describes corruption as a “social cancer and a fatal threat”, and reiterates the call for adhering to self-revolution. It talks about Xi’s leadership in this regard. There’s also some useful data.
“Since the 18th Party Congress till the end of April this year, national discipline inspection and supervision organs have filed a total of 4.388 million cases to examine and investigate 4.709 million people, and used the ‘four forms; of criticism and education to help and deal with more than 11 million people, with unprecedented strength and obvious results, thus writing a new chapter in the history of mankind’s anti-corruption struggle.” 党的十八大以来，截至今年4月底，全国纪检监察机关共立案审查调查438.8万件、470.9万人，运用“四种形态”批评教育帮助和处理1100多万人次，力度之大前所未有、成效之大有目共睹，书写了人类反腐败斗争历史新篇章.
Next, there’s a report warning of the potential of flooding in parts of the northeast with water levels across some 40 rivers exceeding the alarm level.
Page 5: There’s the second commentary defending the dynamic clearing policy. It says that the essence of the policy is speed and precision.
The article talks about the 9th COVID containment plan that was issued in late June. It says that the 9th plan takes into account the peculiarities of the Omicron variant and based on that, it has revisions in terms of quarantine management of those at risk, demarcation standards for middle and high risk areas, and with regard to epidemic monitoring. Basically, the article is arguing that the zero COVID policy has been adjusted with time, which is what makes it scientific and not rigid. For instance, the 9th plan altered the quarantine time for those arriving from overseas and close contacts was changed from ‘14 days centralised quarantine + 7 days home monitoring and observation’ to ‘7 days centralised quarantine + 3 days home monitoring’; the control measures for close contacts has been adjusted from ‘7-day centralised isolation’ to ‘7-day home isolation and observation’. There are unified standards for determining control areas and medium and high risk areas. 将密切接触者、入境人员隔离管控时间从“14天集中隔离医学观察+7天居家健康监测”调整为“7天集中隔离医学观察+3天居家健康监测”；密接的密接管控措施从“7天集中隔离医学观察”调整为“7天居家隔离医学观察”；统一封管控区和中高风险区划定标准……前不久，《新型冠状病毒肺炎防控方案（第九版）》正式公布。相较第八版，第九版防控方案针对奥密克戎变异株的特点，因时因势对风险人员隔离管理、中高风险区划定标准、疫情监测等方面进行了修订。这是进一步提高疫情防控科学性、精准性的有力举措，是坚持科学精准、动态清零的具体体现.
After emphasising the importance of precision, the piece says that epidemic control is a systematic activity that comprises three key components: controlling the epidemic; ensuring the normal life of ordinary people; and ensuring the necessary economic and social operations. All three are indispensable. 抗疫是一项系统工程，需要同时考虑三个方面：一是控制疫情，二是保障老百姓正常生活，三是确保经济社会必要运行。三者缺一不可.
In this regard, the key to determine the best plan to fight the epidemic lies in how to control the epidemic in the shortest possible time-span at a lower cost, while protecting the safety of people’s life and health to the maximum extent, reducing the adverse effects brought by the epidemic, and ensuring sustained, healthy and stable economic and social development with good prevention and control effects. Since the normalisation of epidemic prevention and control, it is precisely because of our adherence to scientific precision and dynamic clearing that we have continuously adjusted prevention and control measures according to the times and circumstances, worked together to eliminate infections, withstood the impact of the different rounds of outbreaks, and quickly and effectively managed clusters. This has effectively ensured that China's economic development and epidemic prevention and control remain at the leading position in the world. The hard-won anti-epidemic achievements profoundly show that our prevention and control policies can stand the test of history, and our prevention and control measures are scientific and effective; And that speedy and precise dynamic clearing is an effective magic weapon to control the epidemic situation in China. 就此而言，确定抗击疫情最佳方案，关键在于如何用更小成本在更短时间内控制住疫情，在最大限度保护人民生命安全和身体健康的同时，减少疫情带来的不利影响，以良好的防控成效保障经济社会持续健康稳定发展。常态化疫情防控以来，正是因为坚持科学精准、动态清零，因时因势不断调整防控措施，发现一起、扑灭一起，我们顶住了一轮又一轮疫情的冲击，快速有效处置局部地区聚集性疫情，有力保障了我国经济发展和疫情防控处于全球领先地位。来之不易的抗疫成果深刻表明：我们的防控政策是经得起历史检验的，我们的防控措施是科学有效的；快速和精准的动态清零，正是我国控制疫情的有效法宝。
The next paragraph makes the point that China is a large country, and the local situation varies from place to place. Therefore, one needs to take the reality of local situations into account and not apply a “one size fits all” approach to different regions and restrict the restoration of economic and social order, nor should one relax prevention and control measures and waste earlier efforts. One must instead focus on precise, differentiated and targeted prevention and control work in different regions and at different levels. 这样的现实国情也决定了，我们既不能对不同地区采取“一刀切”的做法、阻碍经济社会秩序恢复，又不能不当放松防控、导致前功尽弃，必须不断提升分区分级差异化精准防控水平。
The next paragraph talks about the peculiarities of the Omicron variant and its sub-variants. It talks about the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants having greater transmissibility and immune escape capability. The challenges related to prevention and control will, therefore, increase, and the pressure of preventing imported cases will increase. So, one must focus much more on scientific precision and dynamic clearing. 根据现有的初步研究结果，BA.4和BA.5的传播力和免疫逃逸能力略有增强，防控难度将有所增加，我国外防输入压力增大。面对奥密克戎变异株传播，我们必须更加突出“科学精准、动态清零”，提高科学精准防控水平.
The article again reiterates speedy and precise dynamic clearing being the only way to deal with the pandemic in China.
Page 17: On the international page, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary talking about the US’ “sinister plan” to “contain China using Xinjiang.” This is fundamentally in the context of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act coming into force. The piece says:
“The so-called ‘forced labor’ in Xinjiang is a big lie woven by the anti-China forces in the United States and the West. The United States concocted evil laws on the basis of lies, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and seriously violated international law and basic norms governing international relations. The U.S. violates human rights in the name of human rights, violates rules in the name of rules, and tramples on the rule of law under the guise of law. The fundamental purpose is to maintain American hegemony.” 近日，美国政府正式实施所谓“维吾尔强迫劳动预防法”，进一步升级以人权为借口祸乱新疆、遏制中国的政治操弄。所谓新疆存在“强迫劳动”，完全是美西方反华势力编织的弥天大谎。美国以谎言为基础炮制恶法，粗暴干涉中国内政，严重违反国际法和国际关系基本准则。美国打着人权的旗号破坏人权、打着规则的旗号破坏规则、披着法律的外衣践踏法治，根本目的是为了维护美式霸权.