Xi Meets Charles Michel - Jiang Zemin's Funeral Preparations - Sun Chunlan: Pathogenicity of Omicron Weakening - Dai Houliang on Energy Security - Developing Countries Think Tank Forum
Dear subscribers,
Sorry for missing out on the past two days with the newsletter. I have been traveling for a conference. Anyway, I thought I’d share Jiang Zemin’s official obituary in English for those who haven’t read it already.
Cheers,
Manoj
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Friday, December 02, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: For another day, Jiang Zemin’s death continues to be the focus of the front page of the paper. At the top of the page is the second announcement from Jiang’s funeral committee. Xi Jinping is the chairman of the funeral committee.
The first announcement from the committee was about flags flying at half mast until the funeral on December 6. It also said that “in accordance with China's practice, foreign governments, political parties and friendly personages will not be invited to send delegations or representatives to China to attend the mourning activities.”
The second announcement discusses the memorial service that will be held on December 6 at 10 am. This will be broadcast live. It also talks about a 3-minute silence, which will be accompanied by 3 minutes of whistles, horns and air defence sirens. Public entertainment activities will be suspended for the day. And there will be no ceremony to pay final respects to Jiang’s remains.
The main report on the page is about Jiang’s body being brought to Beijing. Xinhua says:
“Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders including Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Wang Qishan, received Jiang's remains at the Xijiao Airport in Beijing and extended deep condolences to Jiang's relatives. Cai Qi, some staff members of the office of Comrade Jiang Zemin's Funeral Committee, and Jiang's relatives escorted his remains from Shanghai to Beijing.”
Third, there’s an article with views from different central departments, cadres at local levels and some citizens mourning Jiang’s passing. The piece reiterates this formulation from Jiang’s official obituary.
Jiang was a “great Marxist, a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist and diplomat, a long-tested communist fighter, and an outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He was the core of the CPC's third generation of central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents.”
Likewise, there’s an article on the mourning activities, condolence messages and reportage on Jiang’s death in Hong Kong, Macau and even Taiwan. Some key folks from Taiwan who are mentioned are:
Kuomintang Chairman Eric Chu
Mayor of New Taipei City Hou You-Yi
Yok Mu-ming
Kao Yu-jen
中国国民党主席朱立伦、新北市市长侯友宜、新党前主席郁慕明、台湾二十一世纪基金会董事长高育仁等以不同形式对江泽民先生逝世表达哀悼.
Page 2: First, there’s a report on Xi’s meeting with the EU Council President Charles Michel. Xinhua reports:
“Xi expounded on the key outcomes of the 20th CPC National Congress and the five features of Chinese modernization. He stressed that at present amid accelerated changes in the world, the times and history, all countries are thinking about the road ahead. The 20th CPC National Congress has given China's answer: We will follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, apply a people-centered development philosophy, and remain committed to deepening reform and opening up; and we will remain firm in pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, keep to the foreign policy goals of upholding world peace and promoting common development, and stay committed to promoting the building of a human community with a shared future. Noting that China's development marks a growing force for world peace, Xi said China will never seek hegemony or expansion, and that this is the solemn political commitment of the CPC and reflects the will of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people.”
Then Xi made four key points. It’s useful to read them in full.
First, it is important to keep the right perception. There are no strategic differences or conflicts of fundamental significance between China and the EU. China does not seek dominance or hegemony. China has never exported and will never export its system. China supports the EU's strategic autonomy and supports a united and prosperous Europe. It is hoped that the EU institutions and member states will gain an objective and right perception of China, firmly pursue peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit in their China policies, rise above the Cold War mentality and ideological antagonism, transcend confrontation of systems, and reject a new Cold War of whatever forms.
Second, it is important to properly manage differences. China and Europe differ in history, culture, development level and ideology. It is only natural that the two sides have different views on some issues. They should maintain communication and coordination in a constructive way. It is essential to respect each other's major concerns and core interests, especially sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs, in order to jointly preserve the political foundation of China-EU relations. China stands ready for the China-EU Human Rights Dialogue conducted on the basis of equality and mutual respect.
Third, it is important to carry out cooperation at a higher level. Europe is an important partner and beneficiary of China's rapid development. China will continue to pursue high-level opening up and move faster in fostering a new development paradigm. China welcomes the EU's continued participation for win-win results. The two sides need to strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, seek greater complementarity in market, capital and technology, and work together to nurture new growth drivers in digital economy, green development and environment protection, new energies, and artificial intelligence. Joint efforts are also needed to keep industrial and supply chains secure, stable and reliable; to reject practices of decoupling, severing supply chains, and protectionism; and to oppose attempts to politicize and weaponize exchanges in economy, trade, science and technology. While China will stay open to European businesses, it would like to call on the EU to stay free from disturbances and provide Chinese companies with a fair and transparent business environment.
Fourth, it is important to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs. China and the EU, both advocates of upholding the international system with the United Nations at its core, can work together to follow true multilateralism, rise to challenges, and safeguard global peace and development. The two sides need to lead the global response to climate change and efforts for biodiversity protection, energy and food security, and public health, among others, and strengthen synergy and coordination of each other's quality public goods and cooperation platforms. China welcomes the EU's participation in Belt and Road cooperation and the Global Development Initiative for greater synergy with the EU's Global Gateway strategy. Efforts should be made through existing mechanisms to push for more fruitful outcomes in dialogue and cooperation in various fields.
Xinhua then says:
“Michel said China does not pursue expansion. It is an important partner for upholding the purposes of the UN Charter and supporting multilateralism. The EU values the opportunity to have a face-to-face meeting at the highest level with China shortly after the 20th CPC National Congress…He said the EU pursues strategic autonomy and stays committed to building its own capacity and pressing ahead with European integration. The EU upholds the one-China policy and respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It will not interfere in China's internal affairs. The EU is ready to become a reliable and predictable cooperation partner for China…It will work with China to ensure the success of upcoming high-level exchanges, reduce misunderstanding and miscalculation through direct dialogue and cooperation, and strengthen communication and coordination to better respond to energy crisis, climate change, public health and other global challenges, Michel said, adding that the EU will work with China to push forward the process toward an EU-China investment agreement, make supply chains more stable, strengthen mutual trust, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.”
The last bit on Ukraine is also important.
“The two sides exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. President Xi expounded on China's principled position and quoted an ancient Chinese saying, ‘When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat would suffer.’ A political settlement of the crisis best serves Europe's interests and the common interests of all countries in Eurasia. Xi said under the current circumstances, it is important to prevent an escalation or expansion of the crisis, stay committed to promoting talks for peace, manage the spillovers of the crisis, and watch out for any risk of bloc confrontation. China supports the EU in stepping up mediation efforts and playing a leading role in building a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture in Europe. China will remain on the side of peace and continue to play a constructive role in its own way.” — Basically, China is not keen on mediation. It’s the EU’s job to take the lead in addressing the problem in Europe. Also, who is the fish?
Charles Michel’s remarks following the meeting are also worth reading. Among other things, he said:
“We had the occasion to discuss Russia’s war against Ukraine. China is a global player and a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council. We all share the responsibility to work for peace and for the respect of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. I urged President Xi — as we did at our EU-China Summit in April — to use his influence on Russia to respect the UN charter. The Kremlin’s attack on a sovereign nation blatantly violates international law. President Xi and I agreed that nuclear threats are not acceptable and highly dangerous, and endanger the international community. I also raised the issue of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rights of minorities. Human rights are universal. I welcome the readiness to resume the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. We will follow up on this commitment. This format has not convened for more than three years. So, this is an important signal. The Dialogue will allow us to focus on wider human rights policy issues and on individual cases. The right of peaceful assembly is a fundamental right enshrined both in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in national constitutions. I also raised the situation of minorities. We discussed for instance at length the situation in Xinjiang. This is not about interfering with internal affairs. It’s about upholding the principles agreed by the UN for decades and this also applies to Hong Kong. It’s essential that we continue to talk. We also discussed issues related to the wider Asian region. The EU will have a summit with the ASEAN countries in two weeks. We are deeply connected with our ASEAN partners. We are committed to a peaceful Indo-Pacific and Southeast China Sea. We recall the importance of de-escalating tensions in the region. We need to maintain freedom of navigation and overflight in the region and beyond. We also discussed Taiwan. The EU is committed to and maintains its One China Policy. I repeated the longstanding position of the EU on Taiwan and the Taiwan strait. The EU has a strong interest in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait: 40% of our trade passes through it. It is important to promote stability and prosperity in East Asia. We also discussed the situation in the DPRK and Myanmar.”
On economic ties, he said: “China is our top trading partner in goods amounting to almost EUR 2 billion every day and China accounts for over 22% of European imports. China’s growth in recent decades has benefited both China and the EU and has contributed substantially to China’s dramatic economic transformation. But I also set out the difficulties faced by EU companies and investors. On the European side, market access remains very open, while in China several sectors remain much more closed. We need greater reciprocity, we need a more balanced relationship with no overdependencies, a real level-playing field for our companies. We need to strike the right balance. A shift into ‘self-reliance’ carries dangers not only for China and the EU but also for the world. We believe in free trade, in cooperation; but we need balance and fairness.”
Also this: “We also exchanged views about the COVID situation. The recovery from the COVID pandemic remains a shared priority. I stressed that, in Europe, vaccines have proved especially effective in reducing the number of severe COVID cases and fatalities.”
Interestingly, all this comes while the US and EU seem to be having serious differences. Here’s NYT’s report on President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Washington. He’s been quite blunt about his displeasure over US economic policies. Also, Politico reports that European Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has pulled out of the upcoming EU-U.S. Trade and Tech Council meeting because of differences over the US Inflation Reduction Act.
Also on the page is a consolidated report on Li Zhanshu and Li Keqiang meeting with Michel.
Xinhua’s report on the meeting with Li Keqiang: “Calling on both sides to open up further to each other, Li said China will always remain committed to its basic state policy of opening up. It will continue to foster a market-based and law-based international business environment, and treat all types of companies equally and fairly. Li said China will steadily open its financial sector and encourage more investment from qualified foreign institutional investors, while maintaining domestic financial stability. China will strive to maintain the basic stability of the exchange rate of Chinese currency, the renminbi (RMB), and keep it at a reasonable and balanced level, he said. China is ready to boost cooperation with the European Union on the basis of mutual respect and equality, and handle differences properly to promote the sound and steady development of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Li said, stressing that China hopes to see a united and prosperous EU. Both sides agreed to protect free trade and the stability of international supply chains, and jointly address climate change, energy security and other global challenges.”
In the PD report, Li Keqaing specifically is quoted as saying that “nuclear weapons must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought.” It’s noteworthy that the reporting on Xi’s meeting with Michel by Chinese media does not carry any statement on nuclear weapons.
Xinhua’s report on the meeting with Li Zhanshu: “Noting that China-EU relations are now at a critical period of succession and development, Li said China is ready to work with the EU to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two sides, uphold mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, achieve peaceful coexistence and common development, make new progress in the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute more to world peace and prosperity. He said that the NPC is ready to conduct exchanges with the European Parliament and the parliaments of EU member states in various forms, at various levels and through multiple channels to provide a legislative guarantee for China-EU practical cooperation.”
Next, there’s a report on Sun Chunlan’s remarks at the National Health Commission when listening to the opinions and suggestions of frontline workers on improving epidemic containment measures. Xinhua English’s report carries the operative part of the reporting, which again is a signal of the narrative around pandemic containment shifting.
“She said the healthcare and disease control systems of the country had stood the test of the epidemic over the past nearly three years, and effective diagnostic and treatment methods and medicines have been developed. More than 90 percent of the Chinese people have been fully vaccinated and health awareness of the public has been significantly improved. The pathogenicity of the Omicron virus is weakening, she said, adding that all these factors have created the conditions for tweaking the epidemic response measures. Sun called for more epidemic control professionals for neighborhoods, reinforcing triage and treatment strategy at community hospitals and clinics, and strengthening health management and services for residents.” 经过近三年的抗疫，我国医疗卫生和疾控体系经受住了考验，拥有有效的诊疗技术和药物特别是中药，全人群疫苗完全接种率超过90%，群众的健康意识和素养明显提升，加上奥密克戎病毒致病力在减弱，为进一步优化完善防控措施创造了条件.
A couple of other reports to note. The State Council has announced that China will conduct its fifth economic census soon. The Ministry of Commerce says that China’s services trade value grew 17.2% year-on-year in the first 10 months of 2022. The total trade value stood at nearly 4.92 trillion yuan ($690.77 billion). Services exports expanded 18.1% year-on-year to 2.36 trillion yuan, and services imports totaled over 2.56 trillion yuan, up 16.4% from a year ago.
Finally, although I am not detailing it, the full China-Laos joint statement is available, following the visit of Thongloun Sisoulith to Beijing.
Page 3: There’s a report on foreign leaders’ condolences after the passing of Jiang Zemin. If you are interested, Xinhua too has an English version of the report too.
Next, there’s a report on Qian Hongshan, Vice Minister of the International Liaison Department, leading a delegation to Serbia from November 27 to December 1. The delegation met with the leadership of the Serbian Progressive Party, President Vucic and leaders from other political parties.
Third, there’s a report on a Chinese medical team providing free health services to people in Gizo in the Solomon Islands. This is the first such engagement by Beijing in that country.
Page 4: There’s a commentary, the third in a series on the Chinese Dream. This one talks about how China’s development has benefitted the world. There’s nothing really new in the argument in this. But I am highlighting the key talking points, nevertheless.
“As the largest developing country in the world, China has made a major contribution to the world by maintaining healthy and stable economic and social development, concentrating on its own affairs, and making the country stronger and its people happier. Over the past century, the Communist Party of China's unremitting struggle has profoundly influenced the historical process of the world and profoundly changed the trend and pattern of world development. Especially since the new era, in the process of striving to realise the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we have historically solved the problem of absolute poverty, and nearly 100 million rural poor people have been lifted out of poverty, making a significant contribution to the cause of global poverty reduction; China's economic strength has achieved a historic leap, with its total economic output accounting for 18.5% of the world economy, ranking second in the world, and its contribution rate to world economic growth has exceeded 30% for many consecutive years; China's total grain output ranks first in the world. It has built the world's largest high-speed railway network and expressway network, and built the world's largest education system, social security system and medical and health system. People's lives have been improved in all respects…China's influence on the world has never been as comprehensive, profound and long-term as it is today; the world's attention on China has never been so extensive, deep and focused as it is today. The great transformation of the decade in the new era is a milestone in the history of the Party, the history of New China, the history of reform and opening up, the history of socialist development, and the history of the development of the Chinese nation. Practice has fully demonstrated that China has not only developed itself, but also benefited the world; a stable, open and prosperous China is always an opportunity for the future development of the world.” 作为世界最大发展中国家，中国保持经济社会健康稳定发展，集中力量办好自己的事，让国家更富强、人民更幸福，本身就是对世界的重大贡献。百年来，中国共产党以自强不息的奋斗，深刻影响了世界历史进程，深刻改变了世界发展的趋势和格局。特别是新时代以来，在为实现中华民族伟大复兴中国梦而奋斗的过程中，我们历史性地解决了绝对贫困问题，近1亿农村贫困人口实现脱贫，为全球减贫事业作出了重大贡献；我国经济实力实现历史性跃升，经济总量占世界经济的比重达18.5%，稳居世界第二位，连续多年对世界经济增长贡献率超过30%；我国谷物总产量稳居世界首位，建成世界最大的高速铁路网、高速公路网，建成世界上规模最大的教育体系、社会保障体系、医疗卫生体系，人民生活全方位改善……中国对世界的影响，从未像今天这样全面、深刻、长远；世界对中国的关注，也从未像今天这样广泛、深切、聚焦。新时代十年的伟大变革，在党史、新中国史、改革开放史、社会主义发展史、中华民族发展史上具有里程碑意义。实践充分表明，中国不仅发展了自己，也造福了世界；一个稳定、开放、繁荣的中国始终是世界未来发展的机遇.
The article adds that:
China adheres to the basic national policy of opening to the outside world, firmly pursues an open strategy of mutual benefit and win-win, adheres to the correct direction of economic globalisation… it actively participates in the reform and construction of the global governance system, practises the global governance concept of sharing, adheres to genuine multilateralism, promotes the democratisation of international relations, and promote the development of global governance in a more just and reasonable direction…it has proposed the BRI, GDI and GSI in order to contribute Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions, China's strength to promote the building of a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, openness, inclusiveness, cleanliness, and beauty…it advocates the concept of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilisations and calls on all countries to promote the common values of all mankind, such as peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom…China upholds the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, contributes to solving common problems facing mankind… 中国坚持对外开放的基本国策，坚定奉行互利共赢的开放战略，坚持经济全球化正确方向，增强国内国际两个市场两种资源联动效应，不断以中国新发展为世界提供新机遇，推动建设开放型世界经济；积极参与全球治理体系改革和建设，践行共商共建共享的全球治理观，坚持真正的多边主义，推进国际关系民主化，推动全球治理朝着更加公正合理的方向发展；提出并推动构建人类命运共同体，提出共建“一带一路”重大倡议、全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议，为建设持久和平、普遍安全、共同繁荣、开放包容、清洁美丽的世界贡献中国智慧、中国方案、中国力量；主张平等、互鉴、对话、包容的文明观，世界各国弘扬和平、发展、公平、正义、民主、自由的全人类共同价值，以文明交流超越文明隔阂，以文明互鉴超越文明冲突，以文明共存超越文明优越，为世界文明朝着平衡、积极、向善的方向发展提供助力；特别是在新冠肺炎疫情席卷全球的危难之际，中国积极同世界分享防控经验，向许多国家输送了大批抗疫物资、疫苗药品，深入开展病毒溯源科学合作，真诚为人类彻底战胜疫情而积极努力……中国秉持人类命运共同体理念，为解决人类面临的共同问题作出贡献，为世界各国共同发展注入更多活力、带来更多机遇。事实已经并将继续证明，中国梦是追求和平的梦，是追求幸福的梦，是奉献世界的梦。实现中国梦给世界带来的是机遇不是威胁，是和平不是动荡，是进步不是倒退。
The next paragraph talks about Chinese-style modernisation, which is based on “peaceful development” and different from “the old Western modernisation, which is capital-centred, polarised, materialistic and based on foreign expansion and plunder.” 这是走和平发展道路的现代化，摒弃了西方以资本为中心的现代化、两极分化的现代化、物质主义膨胀的现代化、对外扩张掠夺的现代化老路。中国式现代化强调同世界各国互利共赢，在坚定维护世界和平与发展中谋求自身发展，又以自身发展更好维护世界和平与发展.
Page 6: A report on the Third High-end Think Tank Forum on National Governance in Developing Countries. This was organised by the Central Party School, the Central Party History and Literature Research Institute and Peking University. The theme was The Path to Modernisation in Developing Countries: Ideas and Practice. PD says that government officials, experts and scholars from more than 20 developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and other regions discussed the achievements and experiences of Chinese-style modernisation, and how developing countries can explore a path of modernization suited to their national conditions.” 论坛采取线上线下结合的方式进行，来自亚洲、非洲、拉丁美洲等地区20多个发展中国家的政府官员、专家学者，围绕中国式现代化的成就与经验启示、发展中国家如何探索适合本国国情的现代化道路等议题开展深入研讨.
Page 9: On the theory page, there’s an article by Dai Houliang, Chairperson of the China National Petroleum Corporation, on energy security. He talks about the “five unwaverings/unswervings” that are needed to be adhered to in order to ensure energy security. These are:
Unswervingly fulfil the mission of state-owned enterprises. In this, he says that “focusing on the safe and stable supply of oil and gas, we will vigorously enhance domestic oil and gas exploration and development efforts, fully promote efficient exploration and increase oil and gas storage and production, give full play to the role of self-sufficiency in oil and gas production as the ballast stone, provide a strong energy guarantee for realising people's yearning for a better life, and contribute to the oil power for realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 紧紧围绕油气安全稳定供应，大力提升国内油气勘探开发力度，全力推进高效勘探和油气增储上产，充分发挥油气资源生产自给的压舱石作用，为实现人民对美好生活的向往提供有力能源保障，为实现中华民族伟大复兴贡献石油力量。
Unswervingly implement the strategic decision of scientific and technological self-reliance. In this, he says: “Only by deeply implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and keeping the lifeblood of science and technology firmly in our own hands can the petroleum industry continuously improve the independence, autonomy and security of China's energy development.” He adds that CNPC “must always be guided by the national strategic needs, insist on taking scientific and technological innovation as the first strategy, further improve the scientific and technological innovation system and mechanism, accelerate the cultivation of first-class innovative talent teams, and gather strength to strengthen original and leading scientific and technological research. Do a good job in the battle of key core technologies, relying on the two ‘national-level original technology sources’ of onshore oil and gas resources exploration and development and new chemical materials. deploy innovation chains around the industrial chain, rely on innovation chains to upgrade the value chain…and strive to achieve self-reliance in energy science and technology. 石油行业只有深入实施创新驱动发展战略，把科技的命脉牢牢掌握在自己手中，才能不断提升我国能源发展的独立性、自主性、安全性。中国石油要始终以国家战略需求为导向，坚持把科技创新作为第一战略，进一步健全完善科技创新体制机制，加快培育一流创新人才队伍，集聚力量加强原创性引领性科技攻关，打好关键核心技术攻坚战，依托正在打造的陆上油气资源勘探开发、化工新材料两个“国家级原创技术策源地”，围绕产业链部署创新链，依靠创新链提升价值链，积极推进“数智中国石油”建设，努力实现能源科技自立自强.
Unswervingly implement the requirements of green and low-carbon development.
Unswervingly deepen reform and promote the modernisation of the corporate governance system and governance capabilities.
Unswervingly cast souls with the spirit of Daqing and Iron Man. This CGTN piece can help familiarise you with these slogans.