Xi Meets Min Aung Hlaing - US-Iran MoU 'Far from an End Point, but a New Starting Point' - NDRC's Vision for China's Service Sector Development - Why New Officials Must Settle Old Accounts

Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

Page 1: The lead report on the page is about Xi Jinping’s meeting with Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing. The readout says:

“President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Myanmar enjoy a deep pauk-phaw friendship. Over the 76 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties, China and Myanmar have always stood together through thick and thin and helped each other, and jointly advocated and practiced the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, setting a fine example of state-to-state relations featuring equality and mutual benefit. China pursues a principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and places its relations with Myanmar in an important position of its neighborhood diplomacy. China is committed to the principle of noninterference in internal affairs. Its policy of friendship toward Myanmar is for all the people of Myanmar. China firmly supports Myanmar in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supports Myanmar’s new government in coordinating development and security and pursuing a right path of development that fits its national conditions and has the support of its people. This year marks the launch of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. China is ready to share its development experience with Myanmar and work together with Myanmar to build a China-Myanmar community with a shared future featuring political friendship and mutual trust, mutually beneficial development, coordinated and mutually reinforcing security and integrated and mutually enriching exchanges, to deliver more benefits to the two peoples and make greater contribution to peace and development of the region.

President Xi Jinping emphasized that China, a neighbor with whom Myanmar shares the longest border, is a trustworthy friend and partner. In the face of the fluid and turbulent international landscape, the two sides need to stay strategically clear-headed and focused, and enhance solidarity and coordination. The China-Myanmar Economic Corridor is a flagship project of the Belt and Road cooperation. The two sides need to steadily advance the construction of major projects on the basis of ensuring safety and security, to support Myanmar in growing its economy and improving livelihoods. China stands ready to step up support for Myanmar’s post-earthquake reconstruction, implement more “small and beautiful” assistance programs, and jointly tell the stories of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. The two sides need to continue cracking down on criminal activities including online gambling, telecom fraud and drug trafficking, and fully safeguard the interests and security of the two peoples. China supports various parties in Myanmar in pursuing peace and reconciliation through peace talks and realizing lasting peace and security in northern Myanmar, which serves the fundamental and long-term interests of Myanmar and its people.”

As per the readout, Min Aung Hlaing said that “Myanmar appreciates China’s long-standing selfless support for Myanmar’s development, stability, peace and reconciliation, and remains firmly committed to the one-China principle. The new government of Myanmar is making full efforts to advance domestic peace and development, and actively exploring a political system and development path suited to its national conditions. China’s implementation of its 15th Five-Year Plan offers important opportunities for its Asian neighbors including Myanmar. Myanmar looks forward to strengthening all-round cooperation with China, jointly building the Myanmar-China Economic Corridor, and elevating trade and investment. Myanmar attaches great importance to the safety and security of Chinese enterprises and personnel in Myanmar and will make every effort to ensure it. Myanmar stands ready to work closely with China to resolutely combat online gambling and telecom fraud and safeguard security and stability in the border areas. Myanmar fully supports the four global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping and is ready to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with China.”

Min Aung Hlaing also met with Li Qiang and Zhao Leji. The report on the meeting with Li says:

Li Qiang pointed out that China is willing to deepen high-quality cooperation with Myanmar under the framework of jointly building BRI, advance the construction of major projects under the China–Myanmar Economic Corridor, further unleash the benefits of China’s zero-tariff policy, continuously expand the scale of bilateral trade, and broaden cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, AI, and the digital economy, so as to continue moving forward hand in hand on the path of common development. Both sides should further strengthen law-enforcement and security cooperation, jointly eradicate the scourge of cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecommunications fraud, and effectively ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, institutions, and projects in Myanmar. China is also willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Myanmar in the fields of education, culture, tourism, youth affairs, and health, so as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries. At present, the international situation is complex and turbulent. China and Myanmar should strengthen close coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Lancang–Mekong Cooperation, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and promote the building of a more just and reasonable global governance system. 李强指出，中方愿同缅方深化高质量共建“一带一路”合作，深入推进中缅经济走廊重大项目建设，进一步释放中方零关税政策红利，持续扩大双边贸易规模，拓展可再生能源、人工智能、数字经济等领域合作，在共同发展的道路上继续携手前行。双方要进一步加强执法安全合作，共同铲除网赌电诈等跨境犯罪毒瘤，切实保障中方在缅人员、机构、项目安全。中方也愿同缅方深化教育、文化、旅游、青年、卫生等领域交流合作，增进两国民众相知相亲。当前国际形势错综复杂，中缅应当在联合国、澜湄合作、上海合作组织等多边框架内密切协调配合，捍卫发展中国家共同利益，推动构建更加公正合理的全球治理体系。

As per Xinhua’s report, Zhao said that “The NPC of China stands ready to conduct closer exchanges and cooperation with Myanmar’s Union Parliament at multiple levels and across various fields, step up exchanges and mutual learning on legislative experience, and promote the China-Myanmar ties…Min Aung Hlaing stressed that Myanmar adheres to the one-China principle, opposes any form of ‘Taiwan independence’, and fully supports the four major global initiatives proposed by China.”

Moving on, there’s a front-page commentary today discussing Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building. It basically reiterates that we now have the formation of this thought, which is a component of the broader cannon of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It also outlines the 14 Upholds 十四个坚持, which I had covered yesterday. It says:

The ‘Fourteen Upholds’ are a concentrated summation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s landmark and guiding new concepts, new ideas and new strategies concerning Party building in the new era, and they deeply expound the highest principles, strategic guidelines, value pursuits, work layout, and methods and paths of Party building. By deeply grasping the intrinsic connection between governing the Party, revitalizing and strengthening the Party, and strengthening the country and advancing national rejuvenation; by coordinating Party leadership and Party building; and by organically unifying epistemology and methodology, as well as the ‘two-point theory’ (i.e., that anything has two aspects, or multiple contradictory sides, and you must look at all of them rather than focussing on just one) and the ‘key-point theory’ (among the two or many sides of something, not all are of equal weightage; one is the principal aspect), Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building integrates theory and application and connects essence and function. It has made a major original contribution to the development of the Marxist theory of party building and marks a new height in our Party’s understanding of the laws governing the construction of a Marxist ruling party. 这“十四个坚持”是对习近平总书记关于新时代党的建设具有标志性、引领性的新理念新思想新战略的集中概括，深刻阐明了党的建设的最高原则、战略方针、价值追求、工作布局、方法路径。深刻把握管党治党、兴党强党和强国复兴的内在联系，统筹党的领导和党的建设，坚持认识论和方法论、两点论和重点论的有机统一，习近平党建思想明体达用、体用贯通，为发展马克思主义建党学说作出重大原创性贡献，标志着我们党对马克思主义执政党建设规律的认识达到了新高度。

“On the new journey of the new era, how can the Party be built to be stronger and more powerful? How can we ensure that the Party never changes its nature, colour, and flavour, and that amid changing circumstances it wins the historical initiative to unite and lead all the people in the common struggle for the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation? The most fundamental thing is to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and especially Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, as the guide, and to achieve the transformation from theoretical armament into a theoretical weapon. To govern the country, one must first govern the Party; only when the Party thrives can the country be strong. Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building has major practical significance and long-term guiding significance for strengthening the Party and strengthening the country. Advancing Party building as a great project, and always upholding the principle and policy that the Party must exercise self-supervision and full and rigorous self-governance, is a great magic weapon for founding the Party and the country and for invigorating the Party and strengthening the country.” 新时代新征程，如何把党建设得更加坚强有力？如何确保党始终不变质、不变色、不变味，在风云变幻中赢得团结带领全体人民为强国建设、民族复兴伟业共同奋斗的历史主动？最根本的就是要以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想特别是习近平党建思想为引领，实现从理论武装到理论武器的转化。治国必先治党，党兴才能国强。习近平党建思想对强党强国具有重大现实意义和长远指导意义。把党的建设作为一项伟大工程来推进，并且始终坚持党要管党、从严治党的原则和方针，是立党立国、兴党强国的一大法宝.

It adds:

Since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has incorporated comprehensive and strict Party self-governance into the ‘Four-Pronged Comprehensive’ strategic layout; turning the blade inward and scraping poison off the bone, applying strong medicine to cure ailments and severe codes to address disorder, it broke ground by formulating and implementing the central Party leadership’s Eight-Point Regulation, put forward and implemented the overall requirements for Party building in the new era, took the Party’s political building as the command and leadership over all aspects of Party building work, deeply advanced the anti-corruption struggle, and constructed a system of comprehensively and strictly governing the Party. By deeply advancing the great new project of Party building in the new era, it fundamentally reversed the situation in which the implementation of the Party’s leadership had been weakened, rendered hollow, and watered down, and in which the management and governance of the Party had been lax, loose and soft. The Party’s political leadership, capacity for ideological guidance, ability to organize the people, and power to appeal to society have been markedly strengthened, making the Party stronger and more powerful through revolutionary tempering, ensuring that the Party always remains the strong leadership core of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and always remains the most reliable mainstay of all the people when storms strike. 党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央把全面从严治党纳入“四个全面”战略布局，刀刃向内、刮骨疗毒，猛药祛疴、重典治乱，从制定和实施中央八项规定开局破题，提出和落实新时代党的建设总要求，以党的政治建设统领党的建设各项工作，深入推进反腐败斗争，构建全面从严治党体系。深入推进新时代党的建设新的伟大工程，从根本上扭转了落实党的领导弱化、虚化、淡化和管党治党宽松软的情况，党的政治领导力、思想引领力、群众组织力、社会号召力显著增强，使党在革命性锻造中变得更加坚强有力，确保党始终成为中国特色社会主义事业的坚强领导核心，始终成为风雨来袭时全体人民最可靠的主心骨.

The reason the cause of the Party and the country has achieved historic accomplishments and undergone historic transformations in the new era, the reason the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become unstoppable, and the reason the new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal has gotten off to a good start, fundamentally lies in having General Secretary Xi Jinping at the helm steering the ship, and in having the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Looking back on the highly unusual and extraordinary course we have traveled over these years of the new era, the complexity of the situation faced by the Party and the state, the severity of the struggles, and the arduousness of the tasks of reform, development, and stability were rare in the world and rare in history. It was precisely because the core position of Comrade Xi Jinping in the Party Central Committee and in the whole Party was established, and the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era was established, that the Party has been able to forcefully resolve the prominent contradictions and problems affecting the Party’s long-term governance, the country’s lasting peace and stability, and the people’s happiness and wellbeing; eliminate serious hidden dangers within the Party, the country and the military; and fundamentally ensure that the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process.” 新时代党和国家事业之所以取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，中华民族伟大复兴之所以势不可挡，第二个百年奋斗目标新征程之所以实现良好开局，根本在于有习近平总书记领航掌舵，有习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引。回望新时代这些年来我们走过的极不寻常、极不平凡的历程，党和国家面临的形势之复杂、斗争之严峻、改革发展稳定任务之艰巨世所罕见、史所罕见，正是因为确立了习近平同志党中央的核心、全党的核心地位，确立了习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的指导地位，党才有力解决了影响党长期执政、国家长治久安、人民幸福安康的突出矛盾和问题，消除了党、国家、军队内部存在的严重隐患，从根本上确保实现中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程.

Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building, a Marxist political party that has traversed 105 years of struggle, is dedicated to the millennial cause of the Chinese nation, and is committed to the noble cause of peace and development for humanity, has consistently remained at the forefront of the times, enjoyed the wholehearted support of the people, and preserved its vitality and vigour. By using the governance of the CPC to pioneer and advance the governance of China, we are striding forward along the broad and bright road of Chinese-style modernization, continuously writing new chapters in the story of the China miracle. 以习近平党建思想为引领，一个走过105年奋斗历程、立志于中华民族千秋伟业、致力于人类和平与发展崇高事业的马克思主义政党，始终走在时代前列、得到人民衷心拥护、永葆生机活力。以中国共产党之治开创中国之治，我们沿着中国式现代化的康庄大道阔步向前，不断续写中国奇迹新篇章。

Moving on, there’s a report informing that the NPCSC will meet for its next session from June 23 to 26 in Beijing. The agenda for this meeting covers:

• The draft revision to the trademark law

• The draft financial law

• Draft revisions to the government procurement law, the public bidding law and the Law on the People’s Bank of China

• Draft amendment to the law on certified public accountants

• Draft laws on procuratorial public-interest litigation, and on Antarctic activities and environmental protection.

• The national fire and rescue personnel law

• Also on the agenda is a review of the central government’s final accounts for 2025, and an audit report on the execution of the central government’s 2025 budget and other fiscal revenue and expenditure.

• Review of Zhao Leji’s report on his visit to Kazakhstan and Russia and his attendance at the 11th meeting of the China-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee

• Reviewing relevant appointment and removal cases

• A bill to authorise jurisdiction over the Hong Kong Port Area at Huanggang Port and its related extended areas

Another report on the page informs that Nepali Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal met with Wang Huning. Finally, there’s a report on Vice President Han Zheng’s remarks at the opening ceremony of the seventh Qingdao Multinationals Summit. The core message was that “China firmly supports multinational corporations in investing and doing business in China and achieving robust and healthy growth.” He made four broad points:

• First, share China’s vast consumer market. It is hoped that multinational corporations will increase their investment and deployment in China, provide high-quality goods and services, and continuously expand new space for development.

• Second, jointly seize new opportunities for industrial upgrading. It is hoped that multinational corporations will deepen industrial cooperation in China and jointly enhance global competitiveness.

• Third, jointly build a new ecosystem for innovation cooperation. It is hoped that multinational corporations will make full use of China’s innovation resources and work hand in hand to create a new innovation-development ecosystem that is more resilient, more dynamic, and more competitive.

• Fourth, jointly create a new situation in open cooperation. It is hoped that multinational corporations will continue to proceed from objective economic laws, firmly safeguard an international economic environment of openness and cooperation, and jointly maintain the stability of global industrial chains and supply chains.

韩正提出4点建议，一是共享中国消费大市场，希望跨国公司加大在华投资布局，提供优质的商品和服务，不断拓展新的发展空间。二是共抓产业升级新机遇，希望跨国公司深化在华产业合作，共同增强全球竞争力。三是共筑创新合作新生态，希望跨国公司充分利用中国创新资源，携手打造更具韧性、更具活力、更具竞争力的创新发展新生态。四是共创开放合作新局面，希望跨国公司继续从客观经济规律出发，坚定维护开放合作的国际经济环境，共同维护全球产业链供应链稳定。

Page 2: There’s a report based on data released by the National Bureau of Statistics yesterday. This covers the economy from January to May. The big takeaways are that foreign trade continues to be remarkably resilient and the only real bright spot for the Chinese economy. Fixed assets investments have continued to remain weak, even excluding the real estate sector. That said, priority areas of manufacturing continue to attract capital. Retail sales, meanwhile, slipped in May. This is the first monthly fall since December 2022.

Key points:

• From January to May, the value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size went up by 5.4 percent year on year. Manufacturing PMI stood at 50.0 percent. The Production and Operation Expectation Index was 53.9 percent.

• In May, the total value added of industrial enterprises above the designated size grew by 4.5 percent year on year, 0.4 percentage points faster than that of the previous month.

• In terms of sectors, the value added of mining increased by 2.3 percent year on year, that of manufacturing grew by 4.4 percent, and that of production and supply of electricity, heat power, gas and water went up by 7.6 percent.

• The value added of equipment manufacturing increased by 9.5 percent year on year and that of high-tech manufacturing increased by 15.1 percent, 1.2 percentage points and 2.3 percentage points faster than that of the previous month respectively.

• In terms of products, the production of 3D printing devices, lithium-ion batteries and industrial robots grew by 54.4 percent, 40.0 percent and 27.9 percent year on year respectively.

• From January to May, the total retail sales of goods and services increased by 2.8 percent year on year, among which, the retail sales of services increased by 5.4 percent and that of goods increased by 1.2 percent.

• In May, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 4,109.0 billion yuan, down by 0.6 percent year on year, or down by 0.38 percent month on month.

• For the January to May period, the total fixed-assets investment reached 17,851.2 billion yuan, down by 4.1 percent year on year; the investment in fixed assets was down by 1.2 percent with the investment in real estate development deducted. Investment in infrastructure grew by 0.6 percent year on year; that in manufacturing declined by 0.4 percent; and that in real estate development down by 16.2 percent. The floor space of newly-built commercial buildings sold was 313.20 million square meters, down by 10.8 percent year on year; the total sales of newly-built commercial buildings were 2,936.6 billion yuan, down by 13.5 percent.

• The investment in high-tech industries grew by 4.5 percent year on year, of which the investment in computer and office device manufacturing, aerospace vehicle and equipment manufacturing, and information services grew by 18.3 percent, 16.7 percent and 13.8 percent respectively.

• In May, the total value of imports and exports of goods was 4,451.6 billion yuan, up by 16.9 percent year on year, 2.7 percentage points faster than that of the previous month. In the first five months, the total value of imports and exports of goods was 20,682.7 billion yuan, an increase of 15.3 percent year on year. Specifically, the total value of exports was 11,913,7 billion yuan, up by 11.8 percent; the total value of imports was 8,769.1 billion yuan, up by 20.5 percent.

• For January to May, the urban surveyed unemployment rate averaged 5.2 percent.

• In May, CPI increased by 1.2 percent year on year, the same level as that of the previous month; or down by 0.1 percent month on month.

• In May, the producer prices for industrial products went up by 3.9 percent year on year, a growth expanded by 1.1 percentage points compared with that of the previous month, or up by 0.5 percent month on month. The purchasing prices for industrial producers went up by 5.8 percent year on year, or up by 1.3 percent month on month. In the first five months, the producer prices for industrial products and the purchasing prices for industrial producers grew by 1.0 percent and 1.6 percent year on year respectively.

Another report on the page says that Zhang Shengmin spoke at the first session of the training course for senior officers at the National Defense University.

“He stressed the need to persist unremittingly in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unite hearts and forge souls, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, deepen ideological rectification and advance political rectification, firmly uphold the Two Establishments and resolutely achieve the Two Safeguards, implement the CMC Chairman Responsibility System, and greet the centenary of the founding of the military with a renewed political outlook.” 他强调，要坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，深入贯彻习近平强军思想，深化思想整风、推进政治整训，坚定拥护“两个确立”，坚决做到“两个维护”，贯彻军委主席负责制，以崭新政治面貌迎接建军一百周年.

“Zhang Shengmin pointed out that this training session involved the thorough study and implementation of the spirit of Chairman Xi’s important speech delivered at the opening ceremony, the strengthening of ideological remoulding, and the tempering of a sense of responsibility and commitment, and that the participating trainees broadly underwent a baptism and tempering from the inside out. He called for consolidating and deepening the results of the training; upholding well, applying well, and developing well the important magic weapon of building the military politically; continuing to strengthen revolutionary tempering; conscientiously fulfilling the political responsibility for managing and governing the Party; solidly advancing all work in military training and preparedness for war as well as in planning and development; and leading the troops to fulfil well the missions and tasks entrusted by the Party and the people.” 张升民指出，这次培训深入学习贯彻习主席在开班式上的重要讲话精神，加强思想改造、砥砺责任担当，参训学员普遍经受由内而外的洗礼淬炼。要巩固深化培训成果，坚持好运用好发展好政治建军这个重要法宝，持续加强革命性锻造，认真履行管党治党政治责任，扎实推进练兵备战、规划建设各项工作，带领部队完成好党和人民赋予的使命任务.

Page 3: There’s a report on Wang Yi’s call with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Xinhua says:

“Dar briefed on the situation of the first-phase memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached between Iran and the United States, expressing gratitude to China for maintaining close communication with Pakistan over the past few months and providing valuable support for Pakistan’s mediation efforts. The Pakistani side looks forward to continuing communication and coordination with the Chinese side, maintaining the current momentum of peace talks, and jointly playing a positive role in achieving lasting peace and stability in the region, Dar added.”

“Wang congratulated Pakistan on facilitating the first-phase MoU between Iran and the United States, and stressed that working for peace is an international responsibility shared by all countries, including China and Pakistan. As long as there remains hope for peace, every effort is worthwhile, he said. Since the outbreak of the war, China has engaged with all parties and actively promoted a ceasefire and peace talks, Wang noted. From the very beginning, China has firmly supported Pakistan and emphasized to all parties that Pakistan is a trustworthy mediator, he said, adding that China has also engaged separately with Iran and the United States in its own way.”

“Quoting a Chinese saying, ‘For a journey of a hundred miles, reaching ninety is only half the task’, Wang noted that the current consensus is far from the end point but a new starting point, and lasting peace in the Middle East and the Gulf region still requires sustained efforts from all parties. It is foreseeable that, compared with the first phase of the talks, the second phase will be even more difficult. However, China believes there must be no turning back, still less any return to the use of force, he said. The international community should further support the Iran-US talks, and multilateral institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, should also play a greater role, said Wang. China has consistently advocated that regional countries should take their future and destiny into their own hands, and hopes to explore, through dialogue and consultation, a peace and security architecture that is jointly participated in by all countries in the region, he said. Once the door to peace has been opened, it should not be closed again, said Wang, adding that the Middle East has been deeply scarred by war and its people deserve peace.”

Another report (English report) informs that Wang met with Rebeca Grynspan, candidate for the next UN secretary-general, in Beijing.

“Grynspan, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and former vice president of Costa Rica, outlined her vision for the future of the United Nations, saying the organization remains irreplaceable but must advance reforms to keep pace with the times. She said the UN should place greater emphasis on peace, development and the future while fully playing its role as the center of the international system. Reaffirming her commitment to the one-China principle, Grynspan praised China for consistently supporting multilateralism and the UN Charter. Grynspan said she looks forward to working with China and the international community to strengthen the authority of the United Nations and help build a shared future for humanity.”

“Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Grynspan’s remarks reflected a firm commitment to the UN cause, an unwavering pursuit of world peace and a deep understanding of the concerns and aspirations of Global South countries. The United Nations is a century-defining undertaking built through the tremendous efforts of the international community, Wang pointed out. Since the restoration of the lawful seat of the People’s Republic of China in the United Nations 55 years ago, China has consistently been a supporter and builder of the UN cause, he noted. Wang recalled that China assumed the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council last month, during which he traveled to New York to chair a high-level Security Council meeting. The meeting delivered a unified message in support of multilateralism, adherence to the UN Charter and efforts to revitalize the authority of the United Nations, he said. The post of UN secretary-general carries significant responsibilities and global influence, Wang said, adding that the next secretary-general should uphold the UN Charter, demonstrate outstanding competence, act with fairness and integrity, and shoulder responsibilities with commitment and resolve. As a responsible major country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China will participate in the selection of the next UN secretary-general in a constructive manner, Wang noted. He added that China stands ready to work with all parties to safeguard, revitalize and strengthen the United Nations.”

Next, Liu Guozhong addressed the High-Level Meeting of African Heads of State and Government and Partners on the Ebola Disease Outbreak via video link. Xinhua says:

“Noting that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, Liu said China has provided emergency humanitarian assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the African Union (AU), and dispatched medical expert teams to the DRC. Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 Chinese medical professionals who are working in African countries stand side by side with local people in combating the disease, he said. China stands ready to provide more medical support to Africa within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and calls for the international community to enhance solidarity and cooperation to increase support for African countries, said Liu.”

Finally, there’s a report on the 14th party dialogue between the Communist Party of China and Germany’s CDU/CSU being held in Beijing.

Page 9: There’s a long article by the NDRC on the high-quality development of the service industry. It’s worthwhile looking at some excerpts from this to understand the Party’s thinking about the service industry, and which areas are of focus. The first section outlines four points to frame the significance of the service sector. These are:

It is an important component of building a modern industrial system. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasised that ‘focusing on the development of new quality productive forces, we must strengthen the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation and build a modernized industrial system with international competitiveness.’ The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a critical period for consolidating the foundations and making comprehensive advances towards the basic realization of socialist modernization. A modern industrial system is the material and technological foundation of Chinese-style modernization. The scale and capacity of the service sector determines the weight and quality of the modern industrial system, and its potential for future development is enormous. On the one hand, the growth in scale and upgrading in the structure of the service sector itself is an inherent requirement for the development and expansion of a modern industrial system. In 2025, the value added of the service sector accounted for 57.7% of GDP, and the service sector contributed more than 60% to the growth of the national economy. New forms of business such as artificial intelligence and the industrial internet are flourishing, further expanding the boundaries of the industrial system and injecting continually evolving momentum into the modern industrial system. On the other hand, the service sector is deeply embedded in every link of the industrial chain and is an important bond for making the internal connections of the industrial system tighter and the division of labour more coordinated. Producer services run through the entire chain of production activity, and the specialized development of services such as research and design, inspection and testing, supply-chain management, modern logistics, and brand-building can make the technological linkages among the various links of the industrial chain smoother, the transmission of information more efficient, and the allocation of resources more precise, thereby promoting deep industrial integration and systemic efficiency gains. It is necessary to accelerate the building of a new, high-quality and efficient service-sector system, promote the deep integration of modern services with advanced manufacturing and modern agriculture, and better support the building of a modern industrial system. 建设现代化产业体系的重要内容。习近平总书记强调：“着眼发展新质生产力，强化科技创新和产业创新深度融合，建设具有国际竞争力的现代化产业体系。”“十五五”时期是基本实现社会主义现代化夯实基础、全面发力的关键时期。现代化产业体系是中国式现代化的物质技术基础。服务业的体量能级决定着现代化产业体系的分量和成色，未来发展潜力巨大。一方面，服务业自身规模增长与结构升级，是现代化产业体系发展壮大的题中应有之义。2025年，服务业增加值占国内生产总值比重达57.7％，服务业对国民经济增长贡献率超过60％。人工智能、工业互联网等新业态蓬勃兴起，进一步拓展了产业体系的边界，为现代化产业体系注入持续演进的动力。另一方面，服务业深度嵌入产业链各环节，是促进产业体系内部衔接更加紧密、分工更加协同的重要纽带。生产性服务业贯穿生产活动的全链条，研发设计、检验检测、供应链管理、现代物流、品牌塑造等服务的专业化发展，可促使产业链各环节之间的技术衔接更加顺畅、信息传递更加高效、资源配置更加精准，促进产业深度融合与系统增效。必须加快构建优质高效的服务业新体系，推动现代服务业同先进制造业、现代农业深度融合，更好支撑现代化产业体系建设.

It is an important measure for accelerating the construction of a new development pattern. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out that ‘strengthening the domestic economic cycle and smoothing the dual domestic and international circulation constitute a strategic measure for us to seize the initiative in development and cultivate new advantages in international cooperation and competition’. The service sector runs through every link of production, distribution, circulation and consumption, and is a key bond for promoting the sound interaction between consumption and investment and between supply and demand; the quality and efficiency of its development directly bear on the stability and competitiveness of the new development pattern. From the perspective of smoothing the domestic economic circulation, China possesses a super-large market of more than 1.4 billion people. Household consumption is shifting from a model dominated by goods consumption to one that gives equal importance to goods and services consumption. As a result, the role of the service sector in expanding domestic demand is becoming increasingly prominent. Conforming to the trend of consumption pattern upgrading and accelerating the expansion of capacity and improvement of quality in the service sector will effectively unleash the potential of domestic demand and inject sustained momentum into smoothing the domestic economic circulation. With regard to linking the domestic and international cycles, the service sector has become a focal area of international competition and cooperation. Expanding the level of opening-up in services will help China attract high-end global resources, enhance the competitiveness of service exports, and integrate more deeply into global innovation chains, industrial chains, supply chains, and value chains. It is therefore necessary to expand the supply of high-quality services, advance high-level opening-up of the service sector, cultivate more ‘China Service’ brands, and develop new advantages in international cooperation and competition. 加快构建新发展格局的重要举措。习近平总书记指出：“做强国内大循环、畅通国内国际双循环，是我们把握发展主动权、塑造国际合作和竞争新优势的战略举措。”服务业贯穿生产、分配、流通、消费各环节，是促进消费和投资、供给和需求良性互动的关键纽带，其发展质效直接关系新发展格局的稳定性和竞争力。从畅通国内大循环看，我国拥有14亿多人口的超大规模市场，居民消费结构正从商品消费为主向商品消费和服务消费并重转变，服务业在扩大内需方面的作用日益突出。顺应消费结构升级趋势，加快服务业扩能提质，将有效释放内需潜力，为畅通国内大循环注入持续动力。从联通国内国际双循环看，服务业已成为国际竞争与合作的热点领域，扩大服务业对外开放水平，有利于我国吸引全球高端资源集聚，增强服务出口竞争力，深度融入全球创新链、产业链、供应链和价值链。必须着力扩大优质服务供给，推进服务业高水平开放，培育更多“中国服务”品牌，形成国际合作和竞争新优势.

Third, it is an inherent requirement for better meeting the people’s needs for a better life. Under this, the article informs that “between 2020 and 2025, China’s per-capita service-consumption expenditure grew by an average annual rate of 8.5 percent. In 2025, per-capita service-consumption expenditure accounted for 46.1 percent of total per-capita consumer expenditure, with services consumption demonstrating strong growth momentum. We must place the promotion of high-quality development of the service sector in a prominent position in safeguarding and improving people’s livelihood, use the expansion of capacity and improvement of quality in the service sector to support the expansion and upgrading of services consumption, and let the fruits of service-sector development benefit all the people more fully and more fairly.” 2020—2025年我国居民人均服务性消费支出年均增长8.5％，2025年居民人均服务性消费支出占居民人均消费支出的比重达46.1％，服务消费展现出强大的增长动能。必须把推动服务业高质量发展摆在保障和改善民生的突出位置，以服务业扩能提质支撑服务消费扩容升级，让服务业发展成果更多更公平惠及全体人民.

Finally, it is a key support for expanding the quantity and improving the quality of employment. “By the end of 2025, the number of people employed in China’s service sector reached 358 million, accounting for 49.4% of the country’s total employment, which is the highest among the three industrial sectors. On the one hand, the service sector has a natural advantage in employment capacity. The service sector covers many fields such as wholesale and retail, accommodation and catering, culture, tourism, health and wellness, and information technology, and can accommodate employment groups at different levels, from basic labor to highly skilled talent. The vigorous development of new models and new forms of business has given rise to flexible and diverse new forms of employment. Data show that in 2025 the number of jobs in new forms of employment grew by 15.1% year-on-year; demand for emerging occupations such as medical-appointment companions, pet caregivers, and internet doctors grew rapidly; and the number of online skill-delivery jobs grew by 58.7% year-on-year, with employment in the service sector demonstrating strong growth potential. On the other hand, the service sector is irreplaceable in terms of employment resilience. The essence of modernization is the modernization of people, and the service sector is closely related to the modernization of people. Enhancing people’s livelihood and wellbeing and promoting the well-rounded development of people both depend on the strong support of the service sector. Even against the backdrop of rapid iteration of technologies such as artificial intelligence, the demand for person-oriented services remains robust. Data show that fields such as face-to-face services, emotional interaction, and personalized customization continue to maintain stable demand for jobs. At the same time, the improvement of the quality of the labor force and the cultivation of skills still rely mainly on vocational education, human-resource services, and the like to be accomplished. We must promote the high-quality development of the service sector, give play to the key role of the service sector in expanding employment, and, while stabilizing the scale of employment, continuously improve the quality of employment, so as to build a firm livelihood foundation of employment.” 促进就业扩容提质的关键支撑。习近平总书记指出：“就业是最基本的民生，事关人民群众切身利益，事关经济社会健康发展，事关国家长治久安”。服务业就业带动能力强，发挥着就业“蓄水池”和“稳定器”作用。截至2025年底，我国服务业就业人数达到3.58亿，占全国就业总人数的49.4％，居三次产业首位。一方面，服务业在就业容量上具有天然优势。服务业涵盖批发零售、住宿餐饮、文旅康养、信息技术等众多领域，能容纳从基础劳动力到高技能人才的不同层次就业群体。新模式新业态蓬勃发展，催生了灵活多样的新就业形态。数据显示，2025年新就业形态职位数同比增长15.1％，陪诊师、宠物护理师、互联网医生等新兴职业需求快速增长，在线技能交付类职位数同比增长58.7％，服务业领域就业展现出强劲增长潜力。另一方面，服务业在就业韧性上不可替代。现代化的本质是人的现代化，服务业与人的现代化紧密相关。增进民生福祉、促进人的全面发展，都离不开服务业的有力支撑。即使在人工智能等技术快速迭代背景下，面向人的服务需求依然旺盛。数据显示，面对面服务、情感交互、个性化定制等领域仍保持着稳定的岗位需求。同时，劳动力素质提升、技能培养，主要还是依靠职业教育、人力资源服务等来完成。必须推动服务业高质量发展，发挥服务业促进就业扩容的关键作用，在稳定就业规模的同时持续提升就业质量，筑牢就业的民生之基.

The second section of the article outlines 4 principles for high-quality development of the service sector. These are:

• Be demand-driven to serve the industrial system

• Pursue reform of key challenges

• Pursue empowerment via technology

• Pursue openness and cooperation. Under this, the article calls for “enabling ‘China Services’ to go global, raising China’s position in the global services-trade landscape. At present, China’s services trade remains in deficit, well-known service brands are relatively few, and international competitiveness needs to be enhanced. Highlighting openness and cooperation means proactively aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules, steadily expanding institutional opening-up, promoting substantive breakthroughs in areas such as cross-border data flows and the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and cultivating more ‘China Services’ brands with global recognition. 突出开放合作。开放合作是服务业高质量发展的“登高之梯”。扩大服务业高水平对外开放，既有利于吸引全球资金、技术、人才等高端要素向国内集聚，推动国内服务业在规则、标准、管理等方面与国际接轨，也有利于“中国服务”走出去，提升我国在全球服务贸易格局中的地位。当前，我国服务贸易仍处于逆差状态，知名服务品牌偏少，国际竞争力有待增强。突出开放合作，就是要主动对接国际高标准经贸规则，稳步扩大制度型开放，推动跨境数据流动、专业资质互认等领域取得实质性突破，培育更多具有全球辨识度的“中国服务”品牌

The final section outlines policy tasks. There are four points in this. I am briefly covering them.

First, promote the extension of producer services toward greater specialization and the high end of the value chain. It is necessary to closely align with the needs of industrial transformation and upgrading, address weak links in producer services across the entire industrial chain, accelerate the move toward more specialized and refined development, and climb toward the higher-end segments of the value chain. Around the goals of specialization and high-end development in R&D, and design, efforts should be made to rapidly expand science and technology services. Vigorously develop services such as technological R&D, industrial design, technology transfer and commercialization, intellectual property services, inspection, testing, and certification. Build high-level industrial design centers, metrology and inspection testing centers, certification centers, common technology platforms, and pilot-scale testing and validation bases. Centering on raising the value of production links, we should vigorously develop advanced manufacturing services. We should accelerate independent innovation in the software and information services industry, support the development of vertical-industry models and intelligent agents oriented toward production and manufacturing, and develop new models such as ‘model as a service’ and ‘agent as a service’. We should deeply implement special actions for energy conservation and carbon reduction in key fields, and grow the market for energy-management contracting services. Centering on the realization of market value, we should work hard to raise the level of supporting professional services. We should make business services stronger and better, accelerate the cultivation of a number of specialized brand-operation service institutions, strengthen the management of qualification accreditation and quality certification for inspection and testing institutions, improve the system of quality-inspection standards, actively develop foreign-related legal services, and cultivate a number of world-class arbitration institutions and law firms.

推进生产性服务业向专业化和价值链高端延伸。要紧扣产业转型升级需求，全链条打通生产性服务业薄弱环节，加快向专业化方向精耕细作、向价值链高端环节攀升。围绕研发设计专业化、高端化，加快壮大科技服务。大力发展技术研发、工业设计、技术转移转化、知识产权、检验检测认证等服务，打造高水平的工业设计中心、计量和检验检测中心、认证中心、共性技术平台、中试验证基地。围绕生产环节价值提升，大力发展先进制造服务。加快软件和信息服务业自主创新，支持垂直行业模型和面向生产制造的智能体开发，发展“模型即服务”“智能体即服务”等新模式。深入实施重点领域节能降碳专项行动，壮大合同能源管理服务市场。围绕市场价值实现，着力提升配套专业水平。做强做优商务服务业，加快培育一批专业化品牌运营服务机构，强化检验检测机构资质认证和质量认证管理，完善质检标准体系，积极发展涉外法律服务，培育一批国际一流仲裁机构、律师事务所.

Second, promote the high-quality, diversified and convenient development of consumer services. This covers daily-life needs, meal-assistance services for the elderly, community-embedded childcare services, travel, culture and sports, performing arts and entertainment, games and animation sector, etc.

Third, raise the level of digital-intelligence transformation, standardization, integration and internationalization in the service sector. Among other things, under this, the article calls to support Chinese service brands to go global, and adds that “Pilot opening measures in areas such as value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals should be expanded in an orderly manner. National Comprehensive Demonstration Zones for Expanding Openness in the Service Sector should be strengthened, and service exports expanded.”

Fourth, the article calls to improve the system of supporting policies for the service sector.

Another article on the page is worth reading. It focuses on Xi’s grouse with regard to cadres and officials focussing on ‘image projects’ and ‘vanity achievement projects’ and the tendency of ‘new officials ignoring old accounts’. It talks about how Xi has said that “political achievements ‘are reflected not only in visible accomplishments that produce immediate results, but also in latent accomplishments that lay foundations, build momentum for the future’...”

The article says:

“Benefitting the people is the fundamental purpose of governance. ‘Old accounts’ are unfinished livelihood undertakings; they are tied to the urgent difficulties and anxious hopes of thousands of households, and to the blockages and difficulties in the development of enterprises. In reality, a small number of Party members and officials are keen on pursuing ‘quick-win’ ‘bonsai projects’, while skirting around, or even turning a blind eye to, the ‘hard bones’ left by their predecessors that weigh on the immediate interests of the masses. This ‘task-avoidance’ mentality reflects an indifference to the security and wellbeing of the masses. If old accounts are allowed to pile up layer upon layer, as in a game of ‘passing the parcel’, it will not only trap grassroots governance in a low-efficiency cycle, but will also seriously overdraw the credibility of the Party and the government. Settling old accounts is both about clearing away ‘historical debts’ and about repairing the masses’ opinion of us. We must put the interests of the masses first, regard old accounts as a checklist of livelihood issues, do everything possible to relieve the worries and solve the difficulties of the masses, and truly be accountable to history and accountable to the people.” 造福于民，是为政的根本目的。旧账是未竟的民生事业，连着千家万户的急难愁盼，连着企业发展的堵点难点。现实中，少数党员干部热衷于搞“短平快”的“盆景工程”，对前任留下、事关群众切身利益的“硬骨头”绕道而行，甚至视而不见。这种“避事”心理，折射出的是对群众安危冷暖的漠视。如果任由旧账如“击鼓传花”般层层积压，不仅会让基层治理陷入低效循环，更会严重透支党和政府的公信力。理旧账，既是在清理“历史欠账”，也是在修复群众口碑。必须把群众利益放在第一位，把旧账看作民生问题清单，千方百计为群众排忧解难，真正做到对历史负责、对人民负责.

“The reason some Party members and officials fail to address old accounts lies in a deviation in their understanding of the relationship between visible and latent accomplishments, and between old accounts and new achievements. They believe that settling old accounts is a case of ‘putting in effort without earning appreciation’ and that ‘the credit will be counted as belonging to those who came before’. In fact, visible and latent accomplishments, and old accounts and new achievements, have never been mutually separate. The process of resolving old accounts is also a process of investigation and research, through which one can ascertain the real situation and gauge public sentiment, and can grasp the essence of problems through their surface manifestations and identify the key factors constraining development. Only by getting a clear picture of the shortcomings and weak links can one tailor measures to local conditions and to specific matters, laying the foundation for blazing a new path of development and establishing new achievements. Settling old accounts is not only about resolving problems left over from history; it is even more about clearing obstacles for an undertaking and building up momentum for development, and it can leave a long-term ‘dividend’ for future development. Party members and officials should take up the baton with the broad-mindedness of ‘success need not come during my tenure,’ resolve thorny matters with the sense of responsibility of ‘but there must be a part of me in that success’, break through deadlocks and open up new paths by gnawing through the “hard bones” and establishing new achievements, lay foundations for those who come after, and store up strength for future development.” 有的党员干部之所以不理旧账，原因在于对显绩与潜绩、旧账与新功的关系出现了认识偏差，认为理旧账“出力不讨好”“功劳算在前人身上”。实际上，显绩与潜绩、旧账与新功从来不是割裂的。解决旧账的过程，也是调查研究的过程，从中可以察实情、摸民意，可以透过表面矛盾抓住问题本质，找到制约发展的关键因素。只有摸清了短板弱项，才能因地制宜、因事施策，为蹚出一条发展新路、建立新功奠定基础。理旧账，不仅是解决历史遗留问题，更是在为事业清障、为发展积势，能够为未来发展留下长远“红利”。党员干部要以“功成不必在我”的胸怀接过接力棒，以“功成必定有我”的担当解决棘手事，在啃下“硬骨头”中破局开路、建立新功，为后人打下基础，为未来发展积蓄力量.

“The difficulty of resolving old accounts lies in their complex causes and intertwined contradictions; relying on individual enthusiasm alone, one easily falls into a situation of ‘willing in heart but lacking the power’. To get new officials to address old accounts, it is also necessary to work hard to improve the relevant institutions and strengthen institutional enforcement, turning the settling of old accounts from an ‘optional question’ into a ‘compulsory question’. In recent years, many localities have made beneficial explorations in this regard, such as establishing rigid binding mechanisms for handover upon leaving a post, turning ‘verbal handovers’ into ‘handovers of the accounts’; promoting the resolution of problems left over from history on a regular and checklist basis, breaking down the mindset of lazy governance; and incorporating the resolution of historical legacy problems into the system for assessing and evaluating political achievements, establishing a closed loop of responsibility. These institutional practices both compel incumbents to observe the rules and hold the bottom line, and make clear the responsibilities of their successors. Through a combination punch of rigid constraints and positive incentives, a good atmosphere for doing one’s job and starting undertakings—one in which ‘predecessors plant the trees and successors continue to tend them’—is formed. We should further improve the full-chain mechanism of departure audits, handover of responsibilities, and lifelong accountability. On the one hand, taking real and tough action against ‘officials who do nothing’ and ‘shifting the blame and shirking responsibility’; and on the other hand, improving incentive mechanisms to back up and encourage Party members and officials who dare to gnaw through the ‘hard bones’, so that doers stand out.” 解决旧账之难，难在成因复杂、矛盾交织，单凭个人热情易陷于“有心无力”的境地。要使新官理旧账，还要着力完善相关制度、强化制度执行，让理旧账从“选择题”变成“必答题”。近年来，多地在这方面进行了有益探索：建立离任交接刚性约束机制，让“口头交接”变为“账目移交”；推动解决历史遗留问题常态化、清单化，破除懒政思维；将化解历史遗留问题纳入政绩考核评价体系，建立起责任闭环。这些制度实践既倒逼在任者讲规矩、守底线，也使继任者明确责任。通过刚性约束与正向激励的“组合拳”，形成“前人栽树、后人续护”的干事创业良好氛围。要进一步健全离任审计、责任移交、终身追责的全链条机制，一方面，对“为官不为”“甩锅推责”动真碰硬；另一方面，完善激励机制，为敢于啃“硬骨头”的党员干部撑腰鼓劲，让实干家脱颖而出.

Page 15: There’s an article with a perspective on why it is so difficult to get peace when it comes to Gaza. The author makes two arguments. First, that the ceasefires are temporary and there is no binding force behind these arrangements. Second, the erosion of the two-state solution and the US pushing the Abraham Accords has undermined the prospects for peace. I am sharing the relevant paragraphs below.

“Ceasefire arrangements have repeatedly proven difficult to put into effect, and an important reason is that the mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement lack binding, mandatory force. Since the first-phase Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect last October, differences among the parties at the level of implementation have persisted and frictions and conflicts have continued unabated; nearly 1000 people have already died in attacks by the Israeli military, more than 3,000 have been wounded, and large numbers of innocent civilians remain mired in a humanitarian crisis. Reality fully proves that a temporary ceasefire lacking binding, mandatory force cannot safeguard a hard-won peace. A brief ceasefire and respite is merely a stage-by-stage buffer in a geopolitical competition; it cannot resolve deep-seated contradictions, still less break the predicament of the cycle of war and turmoil.” 停火安排屡屡难以落地，监督执行机制缺乏强制约束力是重要原因。去年10月，加沙停火第一阶段协议生效以来，各方在执行层面的分歧持续存在、摩擦冲突不断，已有近千人死于以军袭击，超过3000人受伤，大量无辜平民深陷人道主义危机。现实充分证明，缺乏强制约束力的临时停火，守不住来之不易的和平。短暂的停火休整，只是地缘博弈中的阶段性缓冲，无法化解深层矛盾，更难以打破战乱循环的困局。

“The long-term stagnation and inability of the Middle East peace process to achieve a breakthrough stem fundamentally from the continued erosion of the foundations of the ‘two-state solution’. In accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the broad consensus of the international community, the two-state solution’ is the only viable path to a thorough resolution of the Palestinian question. For a long time, external forces have deeply intervened in regional affairs and dominated the peace agenda and post-war governance arrangements, causing Palestine to lose control over its own affairs, so that the fairness, representativeness and effectiveness of the peace process have naturally been greatly diminished. Recently, the United States has continued to push for the expansion of the ‘Abraham Accords’, courting some Middle Eastern countries to advance the normalization of relations with Israel, deliberately bypassing the Palestinian question and attempting to substitute partial bilateral cooperation for an overall political settlement. This approach has met with opposition from numerous countries in the region. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and other countries unanimously hold that the Palestinian question is the core of the Middle East question, and that if this contradiction is not justly resolved, lasting peace in the region will be out of the question.” 中东和平进程长期空转、难以破局，根源在于“两国方案”的根基持续遭受侵蚀。依据联合国安理会相关决议和国际社会普遍共识，“两国方案”是彻底解决巴勒斯坦问题的唯一可行路径。长期以来，外部势力深度介入地区事务，主导和平议程与战后治理安排，导致巴勒斯坦丧失自身事务主导权，和平进程的公正性、代表性、有效性自然大打折扣。近期，美方持续推动“亚伯拉罕协议”扩容，拉拢部分中东国家推进与以色列关系正常化，刻意绕开巴勒斯坦问题，试图以局部双边合作替代全局政治解决，这一做法遭到众多地区国家反对。沙特、卡塔尔、约旦等国一致认为，巴勒斯坦问题是中东问题的核心，这一矛盾得不到公正解决，地区持久和平便无从谈起。