Xi is People's Leader, a Great Figure for Great Times - HK's John Lee in Beijing - Grandpa Xi's Message for Kids - Xi & Sci-Tech Workers - PLA & PAP at 20th Party Congress - Pacific Islands Diplomacy

Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Tuesday, May 31, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.

Page 1: At the top of the page is a report about Xi Jinping’s remarks to the Pacific Islands Forum. Xinhua reports Xi as saying that:

• China stays committed to equality of all countries regardless of size, and remains guided by the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests and the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith in developing friendly ties with Pacific island countries

• No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China will always be a good friend that shares the same ideal and follows the same path, a good brother going through thick and thin as well as a good partner forging ahead side by side of Pacific island countries

• preserving peace and stability in Asia-Pacific and promoting common development of various countries are a shared aspiration of the people in the region as well as a common responsibility of regional countries

• Xi wants to build a closer community of shared future between China and the Pacific island countries

The lead report on the front page, however, is about Xi’s meeting with incoming HKSAR chief executive John Lee, who takes charge on July 1. Xinhua reports:

“Praising Lee for maintaining the unwavering stance of loving the country and the HKSAR, being willing to assume responsibilities and actively performing his duties, Xi said Lee has made contributions to safeguarding national security and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability in various roles. ‘The central authorities give full affirmation to you and have full trust in you,’ Xi told Lee.” 

Then Xi praised the changes to HK’s electoral system:

It has been proved that the new electoral system played a decisive role in implementing the principle of ‘patriots administering Hong Kong,’ ensuring the position of Hong Kong people as their own masters, and facilitating a good environment in which all sectors of society work together for Hong Kong's development, Xi said. ‘This is a political and democratic system that is in line with the 'one country, two systems' principle and suited to Hong Kong's realities and needs for development,’ Xi said. ‘It must be cherished and upheld for a long time to come’.”

Xi added: “‘Despite challenges over the past 25 years, the practice of ‘one country, two systems’ in Hong Kong has been a resounding success,’ Xi said. ‘The central authorities' resolve to fully and faithfully implement the principle of 'one country, two systems' has never wavered, still less will it change,’ he said. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the central government, the HKSAR government and the whole society, Hong Kong has achieved a major transition from chaos to order and is now at a crucial stage of advancing to prosperity, Xi noted.”

At the bottom of the page is a report with a picture, (English report) of Li Keqiang’s meeting with John Lee. Li met him and issued Order No. 754 of the State Council appointing him as the sixth chief executive of HKSAR. Li said that:

“The central government will maintain the firm commitment to fully and faithfully implement the principle of ‘One country, Two systems’ under which the people of Hong Kong administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy…The premier vowed to ensure that the central government exercises overall jurisdiction over the special administrative region and that patriots administer Hong Kong. The central government will give full support to the chief executive and the SAR government in exercising law-based governance, developing the economy, improving people's well-being, as well as in combining the needs of the country and leveraging Hong Kong's strengths to promote Hong Kong’s better integration into the country’s overall development and maintain its long-term prosperity and stability.”

Li added that “efforts are needed to give full play to Hong Kong's traditional strengths, enhance its overall competitiveness, consolidate and elevate its status as a global financial, shipping and trade center, and accelerate the pace to build the city into an international center for innovation and technology, Li said. He stressed the importance of containing the COVID-19 virus in Hong Kong, improving people's well-being, and solving prominent problems affecting the immediate interests of the public, particularly those troubling their livelihood.”

Next, there’s a report about Li Zhanshu chairing a meeting of the Council of Chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee. It was decided that the 35th session of the NPCSC will be held from June 21 to 24. The bills up for discussion are:

• revisions to the law on physical culture and sports,

• draft black soil conservation law

• draft amendment to the anti-monopoly law, 

• draft amendment to the procedural rules of the NPCSC

• draft law on telecom and online fraud

• draft revision to the law on quality and safety of agricultural products

• draft Yellow River protection law

• draft civil enforcement law

Next there’s a report about Wang Yang presiding over a meeting of the National Committee of the CPPCC. They discussed possible revisions to the Arbitration Law. 

Finally, and I kept these for the last, there are three feature stories around Xi Jinping, which occupy overwhelming space on the subsequent two pages too. First, there’s the next piece in the series on following the general secretary’s footprints. This one focuses on Jilin. Second, there’s an article detailing Xi’s concerns for science and technological personnel. There are over 50 mentions of Xi Jinping in the piece. 

The article begins with a quote: “Development is the first priority, talent is the first resource and innovation is the first driving force.” 发展是第一要务，人才是第一资源，创新是第一动力. It talks about Xi attaching great importance to science and technology and cares for science and technology personnel, has drawn out the strategic blueprint of great power innovation and is keen on making innovation an inexhaustible force for national rejuvenation. 习近平总书记高度重视科技关心科技工作者，战略擘画大国创新，让创新成为民族复兴的不竭动力。在习近平总书记领航下，中国正在向建设科技强国的新征程奋进! 

It then talks about the development of the C919 jet, before going back to the 18th Party Congress. 

“Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has placed scientific and technological innovation at the core of China’s overall development, made strategic and systematic plans, and set a series of requirements for science and technology personnel to accelerate scientific and technological innovation and build China into a world-class science and technology power.” 党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央把科技创新摆在国家发展全局的核心位置，作出战略谋划和系统部署，围绕加快推进科技创新、建设世界科技强国，对科技工作者提出一系列要求.

The piece then talks about many of Xi’s comments over the years; he talks about the importance of innovation, independent innovation and self-reliance. Some of the sectors that are mentioned in this context are: agricultural seeds, high-end manufacturing, the space program, etc.

The piece says that:

“Inspired by General Secretary Xi Jinping, Chinese scientific and technological workers are working hard to tackle key problems, and new scientific and technological achievements are constantly emerging. A large number of advanced technology, equipment and systems independently researched and developed have been put into practical use, and have become ‘sharp tools’ to promote rapid industrial upgrading. China is among the world leaders in terms of supercomputers, high-speed railways, smart grids, fourth-generation nuclear power and UHV transmission technologies. In particular, 5G R&D application scenarios have been further expanded, and an ecosystem with Chinese characteristics for artificial intelligence development has been established.” 在习近平总书记的激励下，我国科技工作者奋力攻关，科技成果不断涌现，自主研发的大量先进技术装备和系统进入实用，成为推进产业快速升级的“利器”。超级计算机、高速铁路、智能电网、第四代核电、特高压输电技术进入世界先进行列。特别是5G研发和应用场景深度拓展，人工智能发展的中国特色生态初步建立.

There’s a specific section telling us how Xi is particularly focussed on choke-point technologies. It says that on April 19th, 2016, at the symposium on cyber security and informatization, Xi said that “If the core components are heavily dependent on foreign countries and the ‘life gate’ - 命门 - of the supply chain is in the hands of others; it’s ike building our house on top of someone else’s walls: No matter how big and how beautiful it is, it won't remain standing during a storm.” 2016年4月19日，在网络安全和信息化工作座谈会上，总书记用一个生动的比方，提醒“卡脖子”的风险：“如果核心元器件严重依赖外国，供应链的‘命门’掌握在别人手里，那就好比在别人的墙基上砌房子，再大再漂亮也可能经不起风雨，甚至会不堪一击.”

“Under the care and guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping, starting from the urgent needs and long-term needs of the country, China has made every effort to tackle the challenges of core technologies in oil and gas, basic raw materials, high-end chips, industrial software, seeds, instruments and equipment for scientific experiments, chemicals, etc., and accelerated breakthroughs in a number of core technologies in the fields of medicine, medical devices, medical equipment, vaccines, etc. In the basic core areas that are related to the overall development and national security, China aims at the frontier areas and foresees the deployment of a number of strategic and reserve technology R&D projects. The example given is the world’s first fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear power reactor, ‘Guohe No.1’.” 在总书记关心指引下,从国家急迫需要和长远需求出发，我国在石油天然气、基础原材料、高端芯片、工业软件、农作物种子、科学试验用仪器设备、化学制剂等方面关键核心技术上全力攻坚，加快突破一批药品、医疗器械、医用设备、疫苗等领域关键核心技术。在事关发展全局和国家安全的基础核心领域，我国瞄准前沿领域，前瞻部署一批战略性、储备性技术研发项目。全球首个第四代核电高温气冷示范堆、“国和一号”核电机组等国之重器取得突出成就.

Then the piece talks about the system of science and technology commissioners, which originated in Nanping City, Fujian. This is supposed to be a system for rural working mechanism and agricultural science and technology development, which was devised in 1999. Here’s a paper from 2020 talking about the system. The PD piece says that this system aligns with comrade Xi Jinping’s theoretical guidance and practical exploration.

Later, we get this quote from Xi Jinping from 2016: “Scientific research should not only pursue knowledge and truth, but also serve the economic and social development and the broad masses of the people. The vast number of scientific and technological workers should apply their scientific and technological achievements to the great cause of modernization.” “科学研究既要追求知识和真理，也要服务于经济社会发展和广大人民群众。广大科技工作者要把论文写在祖国的大地上，把科技成果应用在实现现代化的伟大事业中.” 

The piece then says that under Xi’s personal guidance, specific steps have been taken for science and technology system reform. For instance the Central Committee on Deepening Reform has reviewed more than 20 major reform plans in the field of science and technology. The 143 tasks deployed in the Implementation Plan for Deepening the Reform of Science and Technology System put forward by the Central Committee have been fully completed, and the institutional and basic framework to support comprehensive innovation has been basically established. Substantial progress has been made in the reform of key areas and links, and breakthroughs have been made in some long-standing key difficulties and blocking problems. In order to form a strong joint force to promote scientific and technological innovation and make the scientific and technological governance mechanism more suitable for the needs of scientific and technological development, China set up the National Science and Technology Advisory Committee for the first time, established the National Science and Technology Ethics Committee, reconstructed the scientific and technological planning system, solved the problem of closed and scattered allocation of scientific and technological resources, started the restructuring of the national key laboratory system, expanded the autonomy of universities and research institutes, and further strengthened the national strategic scientific and technological strength.” 在习近平总书记亲自关心下，我国科技体制改革拿出硬招实招。中央深改委共审议20多个科技领域的重大改革方案，中央提出的《深化科技体制改革实施方案》中部署的143项任务已经全面完成，支撑全面创新的制度性、基础性框架基本建立。重点领域和关键环节的改革取得实质性进展，一些长期没有解决的重点难点和堵点问题取得突破。为形成推动科技创新的强大合力，使科技治理机制更加适应科技发展的需要，我国首次组建国家科技咨询委员会，建立国家科技伦理委员会，重构科技计划体系，解决科技资源配置封闭分散的问题，建设国家实验室，启动全国重点实验室体系重组，扩大高校、科研院所自主权，国家战略科技力量得到进一步强化。

After this, the piece talks about steps taken to free researchers from tedious work and unreasonable institutional constraints and honour them. 

Third and finally, there’s a long piece talking about Xi’s message for children, which is to strive to be a good child, needed by the motherland and the people. “努力做祖国和人民需要的好孩子” - 习近平总书记这样寄语少年儿童. This is written in the context of international children’s day on June 1. This is another example of how obscure international days/events are marked by emphasising Xi Jinping. In April, it was World Book Day; today it is children’s day. This piece talks about children learning from 习爷爷 - Grandpa Xi.

The piece emphasises the need to “love the party, love the motherland, love the people, and pass down the red gene from generation to generation with practical actions.” “热爱党、热爱祖国、热爱人民，用实际行动把红色基因一代代传下去”.

The piece talks about Xi’s emphasis on moral education and cultivating useful talents who support the leadership of the Communist Party of China and China’s socialist system, and are determined to strive for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics for life. “Party committees at all levels should strengthen their leadership over the work of the Young Pioneers, governments at all levels and the whole society should strengthen their support for the work of the Young Pioneers, in order to provide favourable conditions for the growth of children in the new era. The Communist Youth League should lead the Young Pioneers to perform their duties and work hard, and add glory to the red scarf in the new era.”“我们党立志于中华民族千秋伟业，必须培养一代又一代拥护中国共产党领导和我国社会主义制度、立志为中国特色社会主义事业奋斗终身的有用人才。在这个根本问题上，必须旗帜鲜明、毫不含糊。这就要求我们把下一代教育好、培养好，从学校抓起、从娃娃抓起。”“各级党委要加强对少先队工作的领导，各级政府及全社会要加强对少先队工作的支持，为新时代少年儿童茁壮成长提供有利条件。共青团要带领少先队履职尽责、奋发有为，为红领巾增添新时代的光荣.”

Page 3: There’s a report of Wang Yi’s participation in the second China and Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Wang Yi read out Xi’s speech. Xinhua reports:

“China is willing to join hands with other countries to bring more stability and certainty to the turbulent and volatile world, and to promote solidarity and confidence to the world faced with the risk of division. Wang said honoring its words is the Chinese way of doing things, providing timely help is the Chinese way of treating friends, and upholding morality is the guide for the Chinese people. Noting that more than 10 outcomes reached at the first China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting have been implemented, Wang said China has made every effort to help Pacific island countries fight natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. China stands firmly with Pacific island countries on their concerns such as national sovereignty and security, climate change, maritime rights and interests, and sustainable development, he added…”

“Based on the basic principle of mutual respect and toward the fundamental goal of common development, China is ready to enhance political communication, join hands in development, provide full support to fight the pandemic, take the lead in tackling climate change, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning, and promote international solidarity and collaboration, so as to push forward steady and long-term development of bilateral relations with more fruitful results, he said. China will continue to listen to the voice of Pacific island countries and their peoples, and respect the existing cooperation mechanisms and arrangements in the region, Wang said. China also supports other willing countries to increase input into the development of Pacific island countries and carry out tripartite or even quartet cooperation so as to draw on each other's strengths and form synergy, he added. China will continue fostering the six new platforms of cooperation on poverty reduction, climate change, disaster prevention, agriculture and the Juncao technology center, Wang said. He announced the plans to hold the second China-Pacific Island Countries Agriculture Ministers' Meeting this year and the China-Oceania and South Pacific region international trade digital expo.”

Also, during this visit by Wang, the Chinese foreign ministry put out a position paper on “Mutual Respect and Common Development with Pacific Island Countries.” On key political and security issues, the document says:

“Respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pacific Island Countries, support Pacific Island Countries in independently choosing development paths suited to their national conditions, adhere to non-interference in internal affairs of Pacific Island Countries. Appreciate that Pacific Island Countries firmly abide by the one-China principle, and understand and support China’s core interests and major concerns. Follow the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, so as to promote regional peace and security. Uphold the international non-proliferation regime with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as its cornerstone and support the development of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone. Combat transnational crime including cyber crime, and jointly tackle non-traditional security threats.”

The paper says that China will appoint a Chinese government special envoy for Pacific Island Countries affairs. Among the many things that Beijing is committing to doing are:

• Hold a Maritime Cooperation High-Level Forum

• Hold a Trade and Digital Expo

• Provide 2,500 government scholarships for Pacific Island Countries from 2020 to 2025

• Inject an additional 2 million USD to the China-Pacific Island Countries Anti-COVID-19 Cooperation Fund in 2022

• Hold training programs for young diplomats from Pacific Island Countries, and hold seminars on governance

• Provide 3,000 human resource training opportunities for Pacific Island Countries from 2020 to 2025

What’s not reported in PD or Xinhua is that the parties failed to agree upon what was supposed to be a sweeping economic and security agreement. Speaking at the foreign ministers’ meeting, Wang said: “Don't be too anxious and don't be too nervous, because the common development and prosperity of China and all the other developing countries would only mean great harmony, greater justice and greater progress of the whole world.”

Page 4: A report that informs that the PLA and PAP candidates for the 20th Party Congress will be elected by 25 electoral units in accordance with the prescribed procedures and steps. Among the shortlisted candidates that have been confirmed,

• leading cadres (领导干部) account for 59.12%, while the remaining 40.88% are grassroots cadres

• 69.06% of them are below 55 years of age

• 95.3% of them have been honoured by the third-class level merit awards or above

And “there are a certain number of female party members, minority party members, civilian party members, professional and technical party members and military (police) party members.” 预备人选中，党员领导干部占59.12%，基层和工作一线党员占40.88%；55岁以下党员占69.06%；荣获三等功以上奖励的占95.3%；有一定数量的女党员、少数民族党员、文职人员党员、专业技术人员党员和军（警）士党员.

After this, the piece informs that Chairman Xi attached “great importance to the PLA’s participation in the 20th Party Congress electoral process and gave special instructions. The Central Military Commission issued a special notice to deploy the election work. All electoral units resolutely implemented the spirit of the important instructions, performed their duties with a high sense of political responsibility and historical mission, carefully organised and implemented them, and made vigorous and orderly progress.

The next paragraph talks about the qualities that have been emphasised among the candidates. It says that in the process of selecting candidates so far, the emphasis has been on “putting political standards in the first place, and strengthening the Party’s leadership, promoting inner-party democracy, strictly selecting candidates, and strictly enforcing discipline throughout the process.” It adds that throughout the process, there was been an awareness of the importance of “deeply understanding the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, strengthening the ‘four consciousnesses’ and ‘four self-confidences’ and achieving the ‘two maintenance’, implementing Chairman Responsibility System, focussing on combat readiness, implementing the requirements of the ‘four musts", and maintaining political integrity. 预备人选遴选确定过程中，各级坚持把政治标准放在首位，把加强党的领导、发扬党内民主、严格人选条件、严肃纪律要求贯穿全程。始终突出深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，聚焦备战打仗，落实“四必”要求，把牢政治关廉洁关身份关.

Later the piece talks about the process of selection of candidates. It talks about “doing a good job in propaganda and mobilisation, and mobilising and organising the majority of Party members to actively participate in the recommendation and nomination work. Grass-roots party organisations in the armed forces and the majority of party members have been required to participate in the recommendation and nomination, and leading comrades of the Central Military Commission and members of the party committees of electoral units participated in the recommendation and nomination work of their party branches as ordinary party members.”

It adds that “each electoral unit formed an inspection team to comprehensively inspect the ideals, beliefs, political character, moral cultivation and integrity of the candidates, solicit opinions from the Party organisations and Party representatives of the unit from which the candidates are nominated, publicise the determined preliminary candidates to all party branches and all party members of the electoral unit, and examine the candidates according to the prescribed procedures.” The emphasis has been on adhering to “serious political discipline, organisational discipline, electoral discipline; always putting discipline and rules at the forefront, and ensuring that the candidates are determined in a clean and upright manner.”

预备人选遴选确定过程中，各级坚持把政治标准放在首位，把加强党的领导、发扬党内民主、严格人选条件、严肃纪律要求贯穿全程。始终突出深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，聚焦备战打仗，落实“四必”要求，把牢政治关廉洁关身份关。严格按党章办事，坚持走群众路线，尊重和保障党员民主权利，按照自下而上、上下结合、反复酝酿、逐级遴选的办法，集体研究确定推荐人选。运用多种形式深入搞好宣传发动，动员组织广大党员积极参与推荐提名工作。军队基层党组织和广大党员均按要求参加推荐提名，军委领导同志和选举单位党委班子成员以普通党员身份参加所在党支部推荐提名工作。各选举单位均按要求组成考察组，全面考察人选的理想信念、政治品格、道德修养和廉洁情况，对提名人选征求所在单位党组织和党代表的意见，对确定的初步人选公示到选举单位所有党支部和全体党员，对预备人选按规定程序进行审查。坚持严肃政治纪律组织纪律选举纪律，始终把纪律和规矩挺在前面，确保预备人选确定工作风清气正.

The final paragraph says that the process of selecting the candidates this time around was also a “process of deeply studying and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Army; it was a process of implementing the general requirements for Party building in the new era and the Party’s organisational line for the new era; it was a process of educating people about ideals and beliefs, party spirit, conduct, discipline and history; it was a process of vividly practising intra-party political activities and educating people about democratic centralism.” 部队普遍反映，这次预备人选遴选确定的过程，是深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想、学习贯彻习近平强军思想的过程，是贯彻落实新时代党的建设总要求和新时代党的组织路线的过程，是理想信念教育和党性党风党纪党史教育的过程，是党内政治生活生动实践和民主集中制教育的过程.

Second, there’s a report about personal changes by the State Council. Xinhua reports:

“Zheng Xincong replaced Fu Ziying as head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), and national security affairs adviser of the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Macao SAR, and no longer serves as the national security technical adviser of the committee. Fu was also removed from the post as deputy head of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council. 

Ma Jun was appointed president of Beijing Normal University, replacing Dong Qi. 

Long Teng was appointed president of Beijing Institute of Technology.”

Page 5: There’s an interesting commentary on ensuring strict financial discipline and the safe and efficient use of public funds, assets and resources.

The author, Zhou Renjie, argues that considering the currently increasing “complexity, severity and uncertainty” around China’s economic development environment, “it is even more necessary to strengthen financial management, standardise revenue and expenditure behaviour, and strictly prevent problems such as illegal construction of buildings and halls, granting of subsidies, and engaging in image-building projects, etc…” 当前我国经济发展环境的复杂性、严峻性、不确定性上升，更需要切实加强财政管理，规范收支行为，严防违规建设楼堂馆所、发放津贴补贴、搞政绩工程形象工程等问题，推动积极的财政政策提高效能，稳住宏观经济大盘.

The author adds: “Ensuring the smooth flow of central government decrees is the proper meaning of serious financial discipline. The advantage of macro policy is that local governments obey the central government and all parties obey the overall situation. Only by standardising the financial order with financial discipline can we ensure that the financial work can fully and accurately implement the decision-making arrangements of the CPC Central Committee. All localities and government departments should ensure that every aspect of funding is fully implemented, and at the same time, resolutely curb the increase of hidden local government debt and maintain the bottom line of no systemic risks. The enforcement of prohibitions as per regulation are both financial and political responsibilities.” 保证中央政令畅通，是严肃财经纪律的题中应有之义。宏观政策的优势，体现在地方服从中央，各方服从大局。以财经纪律规范财经秩序，才能保证财经工作全面准确贯彻党中央决策部署。各地各部门要确保每一笔资金都落实到位，同时坚决遏制新增地方政府隐性债务，守住不发生系统性风险的底线。调控中的令行禁止，既是财经责任，也是政治责任.

The author acknowledges that in some places finances have tightened and therefore it is important to focus on efficiency of investment and implementation of major strategic decisions; in addition, Zhou warns against granting subsidies in violation of regulations, while calling on local governments to ensure that “t “funds actually benefit enterprises and the people.”

Page 7: Today, we have the 7th piece in the series excerpted from the book Face to Face with the Century-old Party. This one discusses the decisive significance of the Two Establishments. It says that:

“A great era can be called great, when it is marked by the birth of great people and great ideas. The historic achievements and changes in the new era are sufficient for it to go down in history – all of these were based on the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee clearly put forward that the Party has established General Secretary Xi Jinping’s position as the core of the CPC Central Committee and the whole party, and the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. This reflects the common aspiration of the whole Party, army and the people of all ethnic groups in China, and is of decisive significance for the development of the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and to the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 伟大的时代能够称之为伟大，必定是以产生伟大的人物、诞生伟大的思想为标志的。新时代以历史性成就和历史性变革足以载入史册，这一切根本在于以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导，在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指导。党的十九届六中全会鲜明提出，党确立习近平同志党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，确立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的指导地位，反映了全党全军全国各族人民共同心愿，对新时代党和国家事业发展、对推进中华民族伟大复兴历史进程具有决定性意义.

The first section of the article talks about Mao’s emergence as the Party’s core through the Zunyi Conference of 1935 up to the 7th Party Congress of 1945. It says that looking back at the historical process of the triumph of the Chinese revolution, although there were episodes of Zhang Guotao setting up a separate central government and Wang Ming's attempt to seize power, these instances did not affect the establishment of the great historical position and the great historical role of Comrade Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought in the end. 回顾中国革命凯歌向前的历史进程，尽管出现过张国焘“另立中央”、王明“空降夺权”的插曲，但最终没有影响毛泽东同志和毛泽东思想的伟大历史地位的确立和伟大历史作用的发挥.

Then we are told that: 

“This is a time of peace, but the challenges we face, the sharpness of the struggle and the difficulties in unifying thoughts are no less severe than those of the revolution; in fact, in many ways, they are far greater today. The realisation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered a crucial period. The goal is clear, but the difficulties and obstacles ahead are beyond imagination. As China moves ahead on its new Long March, it is facing an unprecedented complex environment. The overall situation of global challenges and national rejuvenation are in mutual animation; new and old contradictions intertwined, there is an interplay of tangible and intangible struggles; and we face foreseeable risks and unforeseeable challenges one after another...The more ambitious the goal, the more stormy the voyage, the more it needs to be steered by the leadership core and guided by scientific theories. The hard work of the past decade has made us deeply aware that the General Secretary Xi Jinping is the most solid and reliable backbone of the CPC and the Chinese people in the new era when storms abound and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the most scientific and correct compass for the ship of China to navigate the waves. It is from the deep call of theory, the profound revelation of history, and the deep need of the reality that our Party has made a decisive political judgement of the ‘Two Establishments’.” 现在是和平时期，但面临挑战的严峻程度、进行斗争的尖锐程度、统一思想的艰难程度，丝毫不亚于革命时期，甚至在很多方面远超于那个年代。今天，实现中华民族伟大复兴进入关键时期，目标已经清晰可见，但前方的艰难险阻超乎想象。行进在新长征路上的中国前所未有地置身于复杂环境中，世界变局和复兴全局相互激荡，新矛盾和旧问题彼此交织，有形斗争和无形较量轮番博弈，可预见风险和不可预见挑战接踵而来……目标越是远大，航程越是风高浪急，就越需要有领导核心的掌舵定向、科学理论的指引领航。十年的砥砺奋进让我们深切认识到：习近平总书记是风雨来袭时新时代中国共产党和中国人民最坚实可靠的主心骨，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是新时代“中华号”航船劈波斩浪最科学正确的指南针. 正是从理论的深沉呼唤中、历史的深刻启示中、现实的深切需要中，我们党作出了“两个确立”具有决定性意义的重大政治判断.

The next section talks about Xi taking charge as General Secretary in November 2012, and calls him 人民领袖 - the people’s leader - on more than one occasion, and says that soon, Xi declared his governance philosophy: “The people’s yearning for a better life is our goal.” It says that from that moment Xi has been in service of the people, been concerned about what the people are concerned about, been selfless in his approach to the people, and says that the people have reposed “high trust and heartfelt support” in him. 

This section ends by saying that “Xi’s outstanding leadership, majestic personality and sincere feelings for the people are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people and the truth, spiritual and practical strength of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era have been fully demonstrated” during his tenure. This is the most profound and vivid interpretation of the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’.” 念念不忘，必有回响。放眼神州大地，习近平总书记的卓越领导才能、崇高人格风范、赤诚为民情怀深入人心，习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的真理力量、精神力量、实践力量充分彰显。这就是“两个确立”决定性意义最深刻、最生动的诠释。

The third section begins by saying that “in the magnificent journey of the Chinese nation towards the great rejuvenation and in the great cause of building socialist China into a global power, the ‘Two Establishments’ is like a peak towering into the cloudy sky and a flag flying high, guiding the nation and country with a long civilisation to carry out this glorious exciting great practice in human history. Once the power/strength of the ideas of great people is transformed into the consciousness of hundreds of millions of people, it allows the trickle to merge into a surging tide and the little drops of water will gather into a surging trend, generating a great force that will transform the earth and renew the mountains and rivers. The ‘Two Establishment’ is to complete this transformation, so that more than 95 million Party members and more than 1.4 billion Chinese people can stick together like sunflower seeds, single-mindedly focus on the red sun, follow the leader, and march forward courageously towards the brilliant and bright goal with one heart and one mind.” 一个民族、一个国家要想走在时代前列，就一刻不能没有伟大人物的引领，就一刻不能没有先进思想的指导。在中华民族走向伟大复兴的壮丽征程中，在社会主义中国迈向世界强国的宏图伟业中，“两个确立”犹如一座耸入云间的高峰、一面高高飘扬的旗帜，指引着具有悠长文明的民族和国家进行着人类历史上气势如虹、激动人心的伟大实践。伟人及其思想的力量一旦转化为亿万群众的自觉，就会让涓涓细流汇成浪奔之涌、点点滴水聚成澎湃之势，迸发出改造大地、更新山河的洪荒之力。“两个确立”就是要完成这种转化，让9500多万名党员、14亿多中国人民像葵花籽一样紧紧地贴在一起，一心向红日、紧跟领路人，朝着灿烂光明的伟大目标勇毅前行.

Then there are four paragraphs outlining specific requirements:

• The first of these is political loyalty. “Political loyalty is the first quality of party members and cadres. To support the ‘Two Establishments’, the first thing is to be loyal to General Secretary Xi Jinping and to Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. One must never change one’s mind or will at any time or under any circumstances. It adds that “​​Political loyalty is not abstract but concrete/tangible; it is not general, but must be specific.” 政治忠诚是党员干部第一位的品质。拥护“两个确立”，首要的就是做到对习近平总书记忠诚拥戴、对习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想忠诚信仰，任何时候任何情况下都不改其心、不移其志。政治忠诚不是抽象的而是具体的，不是泛泛的而是唯一的.

• Second, be thoughtful and clear-minded. In this, the piece says: “In today's China, there is only one core of the Party, that is, General Secretary Xi Jinping. To establish the core of the party is to establish Comrade Xi Jinping as the core of the Party Central Committee and the core of the whole party; to establish the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, it is necessary to make it clear that this thought has achieved a new leap in the sinicization of Marxism, and that it is a scientific guide and program of action for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the new era.” 在当今中国，党的核心只有一个，就是习近平总书记。确立党的核心，就是确立习近平同志党中央的核心、全党的核心地位；确立习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的指导地位，就要明确这一思想实现了马克思主义中国化新的飞跃，是新时代坚持和发展中国特色社会主义、实现中华民族伟大复兴的科学指南和行动纲领。

• Third, be pure and genuine in your feelings. In this, the article calls on cadres to internalise the Two Establishments, such that they become part of one’s subconscious.

• Fourth, be consistent in action. This calls for obeying the command of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Party Central Committee in all actions.

The final paragraph is emphatic. It says that every era needs its own great figures. “General Secretary Xi Jinping is a great figure called out by the great times. His strength leads the trend of China’s destiny, and his thoughts set the direction of history. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the whole Party, the armed forces and the people of all ethnic groups in China are marching with full confidence and pride toward a bright and hopeful future.” 每一个社会时代都需要有自己的伟大人物，如果没有这样的人物，它就要创造出这样的人物来。习近平总书记正是被伟大时代呼唤出来的伟大人物，他的力量引领中国命运的走势，他的思想标定历史行进的方向。在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，全党全军全国各族人民信心满怀、豪情万丈，向着无限美好的未来、充满希望的明天阔步前行。

Page 17: On the international page, there’s a Zhong Sheng commentary attacking the use of private prisons in the United States - a policy that it says puts capital and profit above justice and fairness. This is part of the series criticising the “so-called democracy and human rights” in the US.

The lead story on the page, however, is about some countries in the West seeking to decouple scientific and technological cooperation with Russia following the war in Ukraine. It says that experts, scholars and media are criticising this “politicisation of scientific issues by the United States and the West.”