Xi Meets PLA & PAP Delegation - NPC's Financial and Economic Affairs Committee on 2023 Development Plan - Wang Huning Meets HK & Macau Advisors - China 'Open' to Visit by Raimondo
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Thursday, March 9, 2023.
Page 1: Much of the page today is dedicated to Xi Jinping’s meeting with the delegation from the PLA and PAP (English report). Before Xi spoke, the following individuals delivered remarks:
Liu Zejin from the Science and Technology Committee of the CMC
Rao Wenmin from the Equipment Development Department of the CMC
Wang Hongyu from the National Defense Mobilisation System
Tang Linhui from the Joint Logistics Support Force
Wan Jinyang from the Army
Wang Yaru from the Navy
They talked about issues such as national laboratory construction, national defence science and technology industry capacity building, major infrastructure development, building of national reserves, border and coastal defence work, and national defence education. 会上，来自军委科学技术委员会的刘泽金代表、来自军委装备发展部的饶文敏代表、来自国防动员系统的王宏宇代表、来自联勤保障部队的唐林辉代表、来自陆军的宛金杨代表、来自海军的王亚茹代表依次发言，就国家实验室建设、国防科技工业能力建设、重大基础设施统筹建设、国家储备建设、边海防工作、全民国防教育等方面问题提出意见和建议.
Xi then spoke about consolidating and improving the integrated national strategic system and capabilities. He said that the “key to consolidating and improving the integrated national strategic system and capabilities is to work hard on integration to maximise national strategic capabilities. It is necessary to adhere to the centralised and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, strengthen the integration of strategic layouts in various fields, the integration of strategic resources, and the integrated use of strategic forces, and systematically improve China’s overall strength in coping with strategic risks, safeguarding strategic interests, and achieving strategic goals.” 他强调，巩固提高一体化国家战略体系和能力，关键是要在一体化上下功夫，实现国家战略能力最大化。要坚持党中央集中统一领导，加强各领域战略布局一体融合、战略资源一体整合、战略力量一体运用，系统提升我国应对战略风险、维护战略利益、实现战略目的的整体实力.
He added that “consolidating and improving the integrated national strategic system and capabilities is a complex systematic project. It is necessary to make overall plans, highlight key points, and promote overall progress with key breakthroughs. It is necessary to deepen collaborative innovation in science and technology; build, manage and use national laboratories well; pool our efforts to strengthen independent and original innovation; and accelerate efforts to promote self-reliance and self-improvement in high-level science and technology. It is necessary to accelerate our strategic capabilities in emerging areas and seek new advantages in national development and international competition. It is necessary to strengthen the orientation of defence science and technology industries to serve the armed forces and win wars, optimise the layout of systems, innovate development models, and make industrial and supply chains more resilient.” He also called for focussing on the construction of major infrastructure, improving the level of joint contribution and sharing; accelerating the building of national reserves, making the reserves more capable of safeguarding national security. 习近平指出，巩固提高一体化国家战略体系和能力是复杂系统工程，要统筹全局，突出重点，以重点突破带动整体推进。要深化科技协同创新，建设好、管理好、运用好国家实验室，聚力加强自主创新、原始创新，加快推进高水平科技自立自强。要加快提升新兴领域战略能力，谋取国家发展和国际竞争新优势。要强化国防科技工业服务强军胜战导向，优化体系布局，创新发展模式，增强产业链供应链韧性。要加强重大基础设施统筹建设，善于算大账、综合账、长远账，提高共建共用共享水平。要加快构建大国储备体系，提升国家储备维护国家安全的能力.
The next paragraph says: “Xi Jinping emphasised that to consolidate and improve the integrated national strategic system and capabilities, we must seek impetus from reform and innovation. In recent years, all relevant parties have implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee, worked together to promote relevant major reforms, and achieved many important results. It is necessary to adhere to the problem orientation, continue to optimise the system and mechanism, improve the policy system, form a standardised and orderly work pattern in which each performs its own duties and works closely together, so as to better promote the building of the integrated national strategic system and capacities.” 习近平强调，巩固提高一体化国家战略体系和能力，必须向改革创新要动力。这些年，各有关方面贯彻党中央决策部署，协力推进有关重大改革，取得不少重要成果。要坚持问题导向，持续优化体制机制，完善政策制度，形成各司其职、紧密协作、规范有序的工作格局，更好推进一体化国家战略体系和能力建设.
Finally, he talked about the importance of “efforts to foster a sound atmosphere of caring for, devoting to, building and safeguarding national defence among members of the public to pool strengths.”
Next, there’s another feature article on the page about Xi Jinping’s deep concern for the well-being of the people. The key point made in the piece is that throughout his career Xi has been focussed working for the people. There is “no small matter when it comes to serving the people.” “The people are the most important thing in the General Secretary’s heart.” “Communists must keep in mind that benefiting the people is the greatest political achievement.” You get the drift.
Next, there’s a report on the presidium of the first session of the 14th NPC holding its second meeting on Wednesday. Zhao Leji chaired this meeting. Basically, the PD report informs that the meeting heard reports on and voted to approve a number of key documents. There’s no information on whether there were any disagreements or changes. Xinhua English summarises:
“The meeting decided to submit multiple documents to all delegations for deliberation. The documents included draft resolutions on the government work report, on the implementation of the national economic and social development plan in 2022 and the plan for 2023, on the implementation of the central and local budgets in 2022 and the budgets for 2023, as well as a draft decision on the revision to the Legislation Law. The presidium also decided to submit a draft method on election and appointment to all delegations for deliberation.”
On the next page, there are details of members to be appointed to key NPC committees.
First, members of the Constitution and Law Committee of the NPC.
Second, members of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee
Also on Page 2 are the outcome documents/resolutions on the national economic and social development plan in 2022 and 2023 plan and the implementation of the central and local budgets in 2022 and the budgets for 2023.
In the suggestions, the document on the economic and social development plan says the following:
Maintain stable and healthy economic operation. In this, it begins by calling for adhering to development as the top priority. To do so, it calls to start from improving social psychological expectations and boosting development confidence.
Efforts should be made to expand domestic demand. It says: “expand domestic demand in a coordinated manner and deepen supply-side structural reform, focusing on increasing consumption demand that is supported by income, investment demand that has reasonable returns, and financial demand that is constrained by principal and debt. Increase urban and rural incomes through a variety of channels and focus on improving consumption conditions and environment. Guarantee project construction factor resources and accelerate the formation of physical investment workload. Fully mobilise the enthusiasm of social investment investment, relax market access for social investment, encourage and attract more social capital to participate in major national projects and projects to strengthen weak areas, and improve policies to support such projects.” 着力扩大国内需求。搞好统筹扩大内需和深化供给侧结构性改革，着力扩大有收入支撑的消费需求、有合理回报的投资需求、有本金和债务约束的金融需求。多渠道增加城乡居民收入，注重改善消费条件和消费环境。保障项目建设要素资源，加快形成投资实物工作量。充分调动社会投资积极性，放宽社会投资市场准入，鼓励和吸引更多社会资本参与国家重大工程和补短板项目建设，完善支持政策.
Rely on reform and opening up to stimulate vitality. As part of this, it says: “Focus on the concerns of business entities and the people, continue to deepen decentralisation and streamline administration, delegate power, strengthen regulation and improve services reform, and create and optimise the policy environment and institutional environment in which state-owned enterprises dare to do things, private enterprises dare to venture and foreign companies dare to invest.” 聚焦经营主体和人民群众关切，持续深化简政放权、放管服改革，创造和优化国企敢干、民企敢闯、外企敢投的政策环境和制度环境. It also talks about focussing on urban-rural integration and green transformation.
Optimise the environment for the development of the private economy. In this it talks about equal treatment of public and private sectors. “Protect the property rights of private enterprises and the rights and interests of entrepreneurs according to law. Comprehensively sort out and revise the laws, regulations and policies of enterprises involved, and continue to break down barriers that affect equal access. Improve the fair competition system, clean up and prevent local protection and administrative monopolies, and open up more space for private enterprises. Strengthen the management services of small and medium-sized enterprises and support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and individual industrial and commercial households.” 依法保护民营企业产权和企业家权益。全面梳理修订涉企法律法规政策，持续破除影响平等准入的壁垒。完善公平竞争制度，清理和防范地方保护和行政垄断，为民营企业开辟更多空间。加强中小微企业管理服务，支持中小微企业和个体工商户发展.
Strengthen support for education and development of science and technology talents.
Effectively prevent and defuse major economic and financial risks. In this, it says: “Ensure the stable development of the real estate market and promote the smooth transition of the real estate industry to a new development model. Prevent and defuse financial risks, consolidate responsibilities, and deal with them in a timely manner. Strengthen oversight of local government debt, step up efforts to deal with existing and hidden debt, resolutely curb the increase and reduce the amount of outstanding debt, and effectively identify and prevent all forms of disguised debt raising behaviours. Improve the resilience and safety level of the industrial and supply chains to ensure national food security and energy security.” 确保房地产市场平稳发展，推动房地产业向新发展模式平稳过渡。做好防范化解金融风险工作，压实责任，及时处置。加强地方政府债务监管，加大存量隐性债务处置力度，坚决遏制增量、化解存量，有效识别和防控各种变相举债行为。提升产业链供应链韧性和安全水平，确保国家粮食安全和能源安全.
Attach great importance to stabilising employment and ensuring people's livelihood. In this, it talks about continuing to manage COVID as per the current classification.
The document on central and local budgets, meanwhile, carries this caution. “Intensify the investigation and punishment of illegal debt-raising activities, and strictly implement the accountability mechanism.” This is in the context of local government budgets.
Finally, there’s a report on the presidium of the first session of the 14th CPPCC NC holding a meeting. The key decision was that the meeting adopted a recommended name list of candidates for its new leadership. Xinhua English summarises this well too:
“The list included nominees of the chairperson, vice chairpersons, secretary-general, and standing committee members of the 14th CPPCC National Committee. A draft method of election of the CPPCC session was reviewed and adopted in principle at the meeting. Participants also deliberated a draft resolution on the work report of the Standing Committee of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, a draft resolution on the report on the work of proposals from political advisors, a draft resolution on an amendment to the CPPCC charter, a draft report on proposal examination, and a draft political resolution of the first session of 14th CPPCC National Committee. It was decided at the meeting that the recommended name list and all the drafts would be submitted to CPPCC members for discussion and consultation.”
Page 2: A report on Wang Huning meeting with political advisors from Hong Kong and Macau. The report says:
“After carefully listening to the speeches of members such as Tan Jinqiu, Li Jiaming, and Wang Dongsheng, Wang Huning said that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core attaches great importance to the development of Hong Kong and Macau. General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of original new concepts, new ideas and new strategies on ‘one country, two systems’ and the work in Hong Kong and Macau, guiding and promoting the sound momentum of long-term and stable development of Hong Kong and Macau, and making steady and better progress in the cause of ‘one country, two systems’.” 在认真听取谭锦球、李佳鸣、王冬胜等委员发言后，王沪宁表示，以习近平同志为核心的中共中央高度重视香港、澳门的发展，习近平总书记对“一国两制”和港澳工作提出一系列原创性的新理念新思想新战略，引领和推动香港、澳门保持长期稳定发展良好态势，“一国两制”事业越走越稳、越走越好.
“It is necessary to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, strengthen confidence in the development of the country and Hong Kong and Macau, and give full play to the unique role of Hong Kong and Macau in comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernisation, so as to create a better tomorrow for Hong Kong and Macau. We must comprehensively, accurately and unswervingly implement the principles of ‘one country, two systems’; ‘Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong’, ‘Macao people governing Macao’, and a high degree of autonomy; support the implementation of the central government’s overall governance power, and implement ‘patriots governing Hong Kong’ and ‘patriots governing Macau’. and be advocates, practitioners and defenders of the cause of ‘one country, two systems’. It is necessary to give full play to the ‘dual positive role’ of the Hong Kong and Macau committee members, firmly safeguard national security, work together to seek development, effectively resolve concerns around people’s livelihood, enhance ideological guidance, build consensus, and gather wisdom and strength to promote the steady and long-term implementation of ‘one country, two systems’.” 要深入学习贯彻中共二十大精神，坚定对国家和港澳发展的信心，在以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴中发挥香港、澳门独特作用，创造港澳更加美好的明天。要全面准确、坚定不移贯彻“一国两制”、“港人治港”、“澳人治澳”、高度自治的方针，支持落实中央全面管治权，落实“爱国者治港”、“爱国者治澳”原则，做“一国两制”事业的拥护者、实践者、捍卫者。要发挥港澳委员“双重积极作用”，坚定维护国家安全，齐心协力谋发展，切实排解民生忧难，多做思想引领、凝聚共识工作，汇聚促进“一国两制”行稳致远的智慧和力量.
Page 3: Foreign affairs related reports are on the page. First, there’s a brief report (English report) on ILD chief Liu Jianchao meeting with Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Denmark.
There’s also a short report on comments by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during an Invest Malaysia 2023 forum. Among other things, he had said that “China is a key economic engine and an important economic partner for Malaysia.” The PD report says that:
“According to a report released by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority on March 8, in 2022, China was the largest source of foreign investment in Malaysia. Malaysia has approved a total of 163.3 billion Ringgit foreign direct investment, with investment from China reaching 55.4 billion Ringgit, accounting for 33.9% of the total. According to Chinese statistics, the bilateral trade volume between China and Malaysia hit $203.6 billion in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 15.3%. China has been Malaysia's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years.” 马来西亚投资发展局8日公布的报告显示，2022年，中国是马来西亚最大外资来源地，马来西亚共批准外国直接投资1633亿林吉特（1美元约合4.43林吉特），来自中国的投资额达554亿林吉特，占比33.9%。据中方统计，2022年中马双边贸易额为2036亿美元，同比增长15.3%，中国连续14年成为马来西亚最大贸易伙伴.
And that’s about it for the paper today.
Outside of PD, Xinhua reports that Beijing is “open” to US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo visiting the country this year. Xinhua quotes an unidentified Ministry of Commerce official saying that it is very important for the commerce departments of both sides to maintain dialogue and communication.
“We have noticed relevant media reports but have not received any proposal from the U.S. side on Raimondo's visit to China,” the official with the Ministry of Commerce said in response to an inquiry. China will remain committed to addressing each other's concerns through dialogue and will promote constructive and pragmatic cooperation, the official added.”
Also, Xinhua has published a new report on Xi Jinping Economic Thought. I’m sharing the PDF version below, if you are interested.
