Xi-Macron Call - People's Diplomacy - 20th Congress Election Commentary - 10 Clears Commentary - National Soil Survey
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Thursday, February 17, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: We still don’t have a photograph of Xi Jinping on the front page, but at least there’s a report about an actual conversation that he’s had. This is the first such report since February 7th. In the interim, there were a couple of reports about messages being sent by Xi to the leaders of Turkey and Mexico.
Xi Jinping spoke to France’s Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday. Xinhua reports that Xi said:
On bilateral ties: “bilateral trade exceeded 80 billion U.S. dollars last year, and China's total imports of agricultural products from France increased by 40 percent year on year. The first China-France seminars on artificial intelligence and agri-tech cooperation were held in succession, and the first guidelines for collecting joint laboratory projects were released as scheduled, he added, pointing out that all those efforts were of pioneering significance. In the new year, Xi said, China and France should keep up with the positive, healthy and upward trajectory, adhere to the principle of mutual respect and equality, strengthen dialogue and exchanges at all levels, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and push for new achievements in bilateral cooperation.”
On the EU: Xi “noted that since taking over the rotating EU presidency this year, France has made quite some efforts to enhance solidarity within the bloc and strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy. Xi said he has repeatedly stressed that China and the EU should uphold a correct understanding of each other, and stick to mutual respect, dialogue and cooperation, and mutual benefit. The two sides should work together to build the greatest common ground and steer China-EU relations towards new development”
Xi also talked about pushing ahead with a “new round of high-level dialogues on strategic, economic and trade, green, digital and people-to-people affairs, and advance the ratification and implementation of the China-EU investment agreement.”
Xinhua’s report on Macron’s comments: “Macron said that as the current international situation is fraught with tension and turbulence, such a backdrop has strengthened France's hope to deepen its comprehensive strategic partnership with China. France, he added, is satisfied with the major achievements the two countries have made over recent years in bilateral cooperation in such fields as technology, agriculture, aviation and nuclear energy…The French president also expressed his hope for progress in the ratification and implementation of the EU-China investment agreement.
The two sides arrived at agreements, which sound like broad MoUs:
push for early implementation of cooperation on agricultural technology and between agricultural industries with local advantages.
deepen the China-France green manufacturing partnership initiative and each provide a fair, equitable and non-discriminatory business environment for enterprises from the other country
support more French banks and financial infrastructure in joining the RMB Cross-Border Interbank Payment System
Deepen cooperation between aviation enterprises
Accelerating the implementation of the list of the fourth batch of demonstration projects in third-party market cooperation
Agreement to hold the space and cyber sub-group meetings of the China-France Strategic Dialogue at an early date, carry out polar and maritime dialogues, and strengthen military dialogue and exchanges at all levels.
On Ukraine, the story says this:
“Macron presented his view on the current situation in Ukraine. Xi stressed that related parties should stick to the general direction of political settlement, make full use of multilateral platforms including the Normandy format, and seek a comprehensive settlement of the Ukraine issue through dialogue and consultation.”
The French readout is a bit different on this. It says that “the French President recalled the importance of respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chinese President praised the action of France and Germany within the framework of the Normandy format and reiterated his full support for the implementation of the Minsk Agreements.”
In other areas, the French readout says: The French readout of the call has some different elements. It says that “within the framework of the France-China strategic and global partnership, the authorities of the two countries will redouble their efforts to support projects in the aeronautics, civil nuclear and space sectors.” It adds that Macron called for continued access for French agricultural products and business to the Chinese market; he sought a “gradual resumption of flights” to China; and he “expressed his concern about the situation in Xinjiang.”
Interestingly, the readout says that Macron called for “closer dialogue between the European Union and China in order to address all the issues, both common objectives and points of divergence, and to move towards a rebalancing of the Europe-China relationship towards greater reciprocity. He encouraged China to lift sanctions against Lithuania and address Chinese demands through dialogue.”
Next, there’s a new book that’s out; this one’s a collection of selected letters of Xi Jinping. The book includes 239 letters from Xi spanning from May 2013 to December 2021.
Third, there's a new commentary around the 20th Party Congress. My colleague Swayamsiddha Samal has helped translate this. It begins by saying that Party organizations at all levels should adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, conscientiously act in accordance with the Party constitution and the requirements of the Party Central Committee, uphold and strengthen the overall leadership of the Party, give full play to inner-party democracy, pay attention to improving the quality and effectiveness of democracy, and ensure that the deputies elected to the 20th Party Congress meet the requirements of the Party Central Committee and are supported by the majority of Party members. 各级党组织要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，认真按党章和党中央要求办事，坚持和加强党的全面领导，充分发扬党内民主，注重提高民主质量和实效，确保选出符合党中央要求、广大党员拥护的二十大代表.
The next paragraph is interesting. It begins by saying that “the leadership of the Party and the promotion of democracy are unified, not in opposition to each other, and neither can be neglected.” It talks about ensuring that cadres “correctly exercise their democratic rights and participate in the political life within the Party in accordance with the principle of democratic centralism.” But it also says that it is important to create “favourable conditions” and “guarantee the party members’ right to know, participate, choose and supervise,” and guide the party members to participate in electing delegates to the 20th Party Congress in an orderly and effective manner.
It talks about the importance of organisation, propaganda, Party spirit, style and history education and calls for members to “obey political discipline and political rules” in order to deepen members’ understanding of the decisive significance of the ‘two Establishments’, and enhance the ‘four consciousnesses’, the ‘four self-confidences’ and achieve the ‘two safeguards’, while always maintaining ideological, political and action alignment with the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core. 党的领导和发扬民主是统一的，不是对立的，两者不能偏废。选举产生二十大代表，是广大党员按照民主集中制原则，正确行使民主权利，参与党内政治生活的重要途径和形式。要尊重党员主体地位，积极创造有利条件，保障党员的知情权、参与权、选择权和监督权，引导党员有序有效参加，让每个党员都能充分表达自己意愿。通过加强组织领导、学习宣传和党性党风党纪党史教育，引导各级党组织和广大党员干部尊崇党章、遵守党章，经受政治历练、党性锻炼，严守政治纪律、政治规矩，深化对“两个确立”决定性意义的认识，自觉增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，在思想上政治上行动上始终同以习近平同志为核心的党中央保持高度一致.
The next paragraph says that the selection of delegates to the 20th Party Congress is carried out in five steps: recommending nominations, organising inspections, determining preliminary candidates, confirming candidates for delegates, and election at congresses. Each link's work must be rigorous and meticulous, must standardise the operation, and cannot be flexible, simplified, or deformed. For example, when recommending nominations, it is critical to adhere to the mass line, to extensively organise and mobilise, and to strive to involve all grass-roots party organisations and party members. When organising inspections, we should conduct investigations of differences and advance inspection notices, understand through multiple channels, at multiple levels, and in many aspects, and strictly control candidates' political and honesty. When determining preliminary candidates for deputies, we should make public announcements through appropriate channels to further solicit the opinions of Party organisations, Party congress delegates, and Party members, in order to avoid situations in which Party members and the general public are unaware of the work of electing deputies and do not understand the selection of deputies. Before selecting candidates, the opinions of discipline inspection and supervision organs at the same level should be solicited, and the opinions of administrative law enforcement, industry supervision, and other departments should be targeted. Candidates from financial institutions, enterprises, and other such fields, and the opinions of relevant party building work bodies should be paid attention to candidates for non-public economic positions or social organisations. 严格代表产生程序。二十大代表的产生，采取自下而上、上下结合、反复酝酿、逐级遴选的办法进行，分为推荐提名、组织考察、确定代表候选人初步人选、确定代表候选人预备人选和会议选举等五个环节。各环节工作必须严谨细致、规范操作，不能搞变通简化，更不能走样变形。比如，推荐提名时，要走好群众路线，广泛进行组织发动，努力使所有基层党组织和党员都参加；组织考察时，实行差额考察和考察预告，多渠道多层次多侧面了解，严把人选政治关和廉洁关；确定代表候选人初步人选时，要通过适当方式公示，进一步征求党组织、党代会代表和党员的意见，防止出现党员群众对代表选举工作不知情、对代表人选不了解的情况。人选确定前，应征求同级纪检监察机关意见，对金融机构、企业等方面人选，有针对性地听取行政执法、行业监管等部门意见，对非公有制经济组织或社会组织人选，注意听取相关党建工作机构意见.
The article then says:
Continue to select the best at each level. That is, representative candidates are selected step by step, beginning with grass-roots party organisations, progressing to party organisations of recommending units, and finally to party organisations of election units. This is not only a process of fully advancing inner-party democracy, but also of correctly centralising and strengthening the checks and balances of party organisations. It is necessary to pay attention to grasping key nodes and determining the candidates recommended for delegates; the recommending units should follow the party committees' rules for deliberative decision-making, and give full play to the role of the party committees' standing committee meetings and plenary meetings in selecting and determining the candidates. To determine the preliminary candidates for deputies, the party organisations of the election units should study and propose a list of candidates based on the inspection situation and the representative structure's requirements. They should determine the candidates for deputies by voting on the basis of deliberation and discussion, and decisions made at meetings cannot be replaced by circle reading 圈阅, soliciting opinions on the phone, and individuals cannot not have the final say. 坚持逐级遴选择优。就是从基层党组织开始，到推荐单位党组织，再到选举单位党组织，逐级对代表人选进行比较遴选、好中选优。这既是充分发扬党内民主的过程，也是正确集中、强化党组织把关的过程。要注意把握关键节点，确定代表候选人推荐人选，推荐单位要遵循党委议事决策规则，充分发挥党委常委会会议、党委全体会议在遴选、确定人选中的把关作用；确定代表候选人初步人选，选举单位党组织要根据考察情况和代表结构要求等，集体研究提出人选名单；确定代表候选人预备人选，要在酝酿讨论基础上以投票方式确定，不能以传批、圈阅、电话征求意见等形式代替会议研究决定，不能搞个人说了算.
The last paragraph talks about organisation of the election process and making sure that these are carried out with due process.
Finally, a report on the decision to conduct the third national soil condition census from 2022 to 2025. Xinhua reports that:
“The census aims to find out soil types and distribution around the country, as well as current status and changing trends of soil resources, while acquiring basic data such as soil quality, properties and utilization status, in order to improve protection and utilization of soil resources. The census will target soil of arable land, garden plot, forest land, grassland and other agricultural lands around the country including some unused land…It added that the census on saline-alkali soil will be completed in 2022, and from 2023 to 2024, field survey sampling and interior testing are expected to be concluded. In the first half of 2025, the census data will be sorted and reviewed, and in the second half, a report on national arable land quality and an evaluation report on national soil utilization suitability will be prepared.”
Reuters reports that Vice Premier Hu Chunhua will chair the group set up to lead the survey.
Page 2: Much of the page today is dedicated to the fourth in the 10 Clears commentary series. Just FYI, the fourth clear is:
“The integrated plan for building socialism with Chinese characteristics covers five spheres, namely economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological advancement, and that the comprehensive strategy in this regard includes four prongs, namely building a modern socialist country, deepening reform, advancing law-based governance, and strengthening Party self-governance.”
The piece begins with talking about how Xi has been participating in the tree-planting exercise in Beijing for the past nine years. This links to the idea that after becoming General Secretary, he has emphasised the building of an ecological civilization, called for integrating it with economic, political, cultural, and social development. After more details on this, later the piece says:
“The ‘five in one’ integrated plan is both a roadmap and a mission/task statement. Economic construction is the root, political construction is the guarantee, cultural construction is the soul, social construction is the condition, and ecological civilization construction is the foundation.
In terms of economic construction, adhere to the new development concept to promote profound changes in the overall development and move towards a track of high-quality development;
In terms of political construction, adhere to the organic unity of the Party’s leadership, the people as masters of the country, and the rule of law, and actively develop whole-process people’s democracy;
In terms of cultural construction, adhere to the principle of purifying the source, maintaining integrity and innovation, and greatly improving the cohesion and centripetal force of the whole society;
In terms of social construction, adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, and improve people’s lives in an all-round way;
In the construction of ecological civilization, adhere to the concept that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, and take great strides in constructing a beautiful China…”
“五位一体”总体布局，既是路线图，也是任务书，经济建设是根本、政治建设是保障、文化建设是灵魂、社会建设是条件、生态文明建设是基础。——经济建设上，坚持以新发展理念推动发展全局深刻变革，迈向高质量发展轨道；——政治建设上，坚持党的领导、人民当家作主、依法治国有机统一，积极发展全过程人民民主；——文化建设上，坚持正本清源、守正创新，全社会凝聚力和向心力极大提升；——社会建设上，坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，人民生活全方位改善；——生态文明建设上，坚持绿水青山就是金山银山的理念，美丽中国建设迈出重大步伐……
The piece then says that while advancing the ‘five in one’ integrated plan in a coordinated manner, the four-pronged comprehensive strategy has gradually taken shape and advanced in a coordinated manner, restructuring the strategic logic of China’s development in the new era. The piece says that the aim of this is to ensure a problem-oriented approach.
“‘The four-pronged comprehensive strategy is derived from the realistic needs of China’s development, from the expectations of the people, and is also put forward to promote the solution of the outstanding contradictions and problems we are facing’. By building a well-off society in an all-round way and thoroughly solving the problem of absolute poverty, the country’s comprehensive strength will leap to a new level; through comprehensively deepening reform we will break through the barriers of entrenched interests; effectively safeguard social fairness and justice by comprehensively governing the country according to law; by strictly administering the Party in an all-round way, we will provide a strong guarantee for upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.” “‘四个全面’的战略布局是从我国发展现实需要中得出来的，从人民群众的热切期待中得出来的，也是为推动解决我们面临的突出矛盾和问题提出来的.” 通过全面建成小康社会、彻底解决绝对贫困问题，使国家综合实力跃上新台阶；通过全面深化改革，冲破利益固化的藩篱；通过全面依法治国，有力维护社会公平正义；通过全面从严治党，为坚持和发展中国特色社会主义提供坚强保障.
Basically, the idea of the piece from here is that the above strategies and approaches are correct and good and that one must stick to it, while strengthening Party leadership.
Page 3: Just one report to highlight, with Evgeny Markin from the Russian-Chinese Business Council speaking about economic and technology ties. There’s nothing really new here.
Page 9: The lead piece on the theory page is by Wang Chao from the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs. Wang writes about China’s “people’s diplomacy” 人民外交, calling it an “important part of China’s diplomacy.” In the first section of the piece, he talks about:
Adhering to the Party’s leadership
Adhering to the people: “In recent years, we have invited some former dignitaries and foreign guests who visited China to visit grassroots communities, so that they can see the enterprising China, and the Chinese people’s love for their home country and cherish peace.”
Keeping the world in mind: In this, he talks about Xi speaking about the Community of Shared Future for Mankind
Keep pace with the times: Here he says that despite the pandemic, China has engaged in cloud diplomacy.
In the next section, he says that people’s diplomacy has aided in the following”
Stabilising major power relations. In this, he talks about the Xi-Biden call in November and then says that:
People's diplomacy has played an important role in maintaining and promoting the development of US-China relations, with in-depth exchanges being held with former U.S. officials, experts and scholars through video. Co-organised with the National Committee on United States-China Relations to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Kissinger's secret visit to China. Mr. Kissinger attended and spoke via video link, arousing the interest of Chinese and foreign media, and making active efforts to maintain the overall stability of US-China relations at a non-governmental level. 人民外交在维护和促进中美关系发展中发挥着重要作用，通过视频方式同美国前政要、专家学者等进行深入交流。同美国美中关系全国委员会共同举办基辛格秘密访华50周年纪念活动，基辛格先生视频连线出席并讲话，引发中外媒体高度关注，从民间层面为维护中美关系总体稳定作出积极努力.
Advise/make suggestions on matters of foreign policy. Wang writes that:
In recent years, people’s diplomacy has played the role of ‘policy incubator’ around hot issues in international regions and difficult foreign policy matters; Track 1.5 and Track 2 consultations with relevant countries have been held in order to provide suggestions for policy formulation.” He talks about the China-EU Track 2 dialogue with the European Policy Center, a dialogue with Russia’s Alexander Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, the establishment of the Committee for the Future Development of China-South Korea Relations, and talks with research institutions and scholars in the United States, Canada, France, ASEAN, Philippines, Latin America and other countries and regions.
Supporting national interest. Wang talks about events such as “events such as the World Peace Forum and the ‘Understanding China’ International Conference. Wang mentions efforts to publicise the Party’s view on history. He adds that:
“In the face of certain countries’ deliberate attempts to slander, smear and oppress China, the Chinese government has resolutely carried out a public opinion campaign, refuted all kinds of untrue remarks, and thoroughly clarified the source of the false remarks, so as to safeguard national interests and demonstrate the confidence, self-reliance and self-improvement of the Chinese people. Invite foreign scholars and parliamentarians to ‘cloud visit’ Xinjiang and expose all kinds of lies and false evidence by presenting the truth.” 面对个别国家对中国的蓄意污蔑和抹黑打压，坚决开展舆论斗争，批驳各种不实言论，正本清源，捍卫国家利益，展现中国人民的自信、自立、自强。邀请外国学者、议员等“云访问”新疆，以事实真相戳穿各种谎言与伪证.
Add energy to world peace. Here he talks about events held to highlight China’s role at the UN, particularly the 50th anniversary of the PRC getting the UNSC seat.
“Discussed in depth major issues such as the direction of humanity amid the unprecedented changes in a century and a once-in-a-century pandemic, and called on the international community to join hands to meet challenges, safeguard multilateralism, improve global governance and achieve common development. Strengthen friendly exchanges with young people of other countries, invite young politicians to visit China virtually, and expand our circle of friends in people’s diplomacy.” 深入探讨在百年变局与世纪疫情交织的时代条件下人类向何处去等重大问题，呼吁国际社会联手应对挑战，捍卫多边主义、完善全球治理、实现共同发展。加强同各国青年的友好交流，邀请青年政治家虚拟访华，不断扩大人民外交的朋友圈.
The last section talks about the goals going ahead. These are:
Tell China’s story well
Defend China’s interests: “In the face of remarks and actions by certain countries that interfere in China's internal affairs, undermine China's interests and tarnish its image, we must resolutely fight, uphold justice, dispel evil and usher in good, and resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.” 面对个别国家干涉我国内政、损害我国利益、抹黑我国形象的言论和行径，我们要坚决斗争、伸张正义、激浊扬清，坚定捍卫国家主权、安全、发展利益.
Promote cooperation: “People’s diplomacy can promote pragmatic non-governmental cooperation in a broader array of areas, build bridges of communication for international anti-epidemic cooperation, high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and green development, etc. so that more of China’s propositions and proposals can be put into practice and play a greater role in promoting world peace and development.” 人民外交可以在更加宽广的领域促进民间务实合作，为国际抗疫合作、“一带一路”高质量发展、绿色发展等搭建沟通桥梁，让更多中国主张、中国方案落到实处，为促进世界和平发展发挥更大作用.
Enhance friendship between people: “More than 1.4 billion Chinese people are the strong backing of people’s diplomacy, and foreign politicians, think tanks, scholars, media, youth, etc. are all the contacts of people’s diplomacy. We should make new friends, never forget old friends, fully enhance exchanges and understanding, further communicate ideas, convey friendship, strengthen mutual trust, treat people sincerely and make friends with faith…” 4亿多中国人民是人民外交的坚强后盾，外国政要、智库、学者、媒体、青年等都是人民外交的交往对象。我们要广交新朋友、不忘老朋友，更加充分地增进交流和理解，更加深入地沟通思想、传递友谊、加强互信，以诚待人、以信交友，充分发挥人民外交国家关系“润滑剂”、人民友谊“播种机”的功能和作用，增进各国民心相通，携手各国人民共同推动构建人类命运共同体.
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From the MoFA press conference:
RIA Novosti: Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that the country was moving some forces away from the border with Ukraine and from Crimea following military drills. The move comes after days of Western media competing to predict the date of an alleged Russian invasion of Ukraine. Does China see signs of military aggression from the Russian side, or does Beijing trust Moscow’s claims that troops were sent to regions near the border with Ukraine only for military drills? How does China see the current development of the situation around Ukraine?
Wang Wenbin: For days, the US has been playing up the threat of war and creating an air of tension. This has gravely impacted the economy, social stability and people’s lives in Ukraine, and added obstacles to advancing dialogue and negotiation between parties concerned.
I noted that the Russian side recently said that the West has resorted to “information terrorism” on the Ukraine issue, and that February 15, 2022 will go down in history as the day of the failure of Western propaganda. We must point out that it is exactly the persistent hyping and dissemination of disinformation by some in the US and the West that has added more turbulence and uncertainty to the world already fraught with challenges and intensified distrust and division. We hope relevant parties can stop such disinformation campaign and do more things that benefit peace, mutual trust and cooperation.
CCTV: It is reported that on February 15, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison criticized China’s position on Ukraine and called on China to condemn Russia. Separately, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that China and Russia becoming closer and closer is a reality that impacts NATO security. Do you have any comment?
Wang Wenbin: Under the leadership of the two heads of state, China and Russia have always worked to develop long-term good-neighborliness and mutually-beneficial cooperative relationship on the basis of non-alliance, non-confrontation and non-targeting of third countries. We are always committed to fostering a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, equity, justice and win-win cooperation. As is witnessed by all, the two countries have made undoubted contribution to promoting international and regional peace and development.
The international community can see very clearly who is the real trouble-maker and threat to security in the world. Self-serving acts that shift the blame on others will not only hurt one’s own country and people but also all people of the world. Such behavior will not be allowed by the force for justice and will eventually be forsaken by the trend of the times.
China advocates treating the security concerns and proposals of relevant countries in a balanced and just manner and resolving differences through dialogue and consultation to promote global strategic balance and stability. We urge the parties concerned to stop making comments that exacerbate tensions. It is immoral and very dangerous to seek selfish political gains by whipping up confrontation and spreading disinformation.
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