Xi Meets Visiting American Delegation - Xi's Meetings with Rutte and Gunawardena - China's Standards Development Report - Commentary on Tibet
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
Page 1: Xi Jinping dominates the front page today. Let’s begin with the meeting with visiting representatives of the US business, strategic and academic communities. In attendance were:
Evan Greenberg, chairman of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations
Stephen Schwarzman, chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group
Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm
Graham Allison, founding dean of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government
Craig Allen, president of the U.S.-China Business Council
As per Xinhua, they praised the “extraordinary leadership of President Xi”. The country’s economic “resilience and vitality”. “They said the development rights of the Chinese people should be respected … a strong and prosperous China is a positive force in the world.” “The ‘Thucydides trap’ is not inevitable.” They also “applaud the important measures that China has recently rolled out to further reform and open up, are optimistic about China's development prospects, will maintain their strong commitment to the Chinese market…”
Xi told them that:
“The China-U.S. relationship is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world. Whether China and the United States have a cooperative or confrontational relationship bears on the well-being of the Chinese and American peoples and the future of humanity. The two countries' respective success is an opportunity for each other. As long as both sides see each other as partners and show mutual respect, coexist in peace and cooperate for win-win results, China-U.S. relations will get better.” Xi also “expressed the hope that people from all sectors of Chinese and American societies will have more mutual visits and exchanges, expand common ground and mutual trust, overcome various distractions, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, in an effort to bring more tangible benefits to the two peoples and inject more stability into the world.”
The next three paragraphs make three broad points:
Xi pointed out that the Chinese economy is sound and sustainable. “China did not collapse as predicted by the ‘China collapse theory’, nor will it peak as forecasted by the ‘China peak theory’, he said. ‘We will continue to advance high-quality development and Chinese modernization, enable the Chinese people to live a better life, and contribute more to sustainable development in the world. We have the confidence and determination that China's development has a bright future’.”
“China is planning and implementing a series of major steps for comprehensively deepening reform, and steadily fostering a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment. This will create broader development space for U.S. and other foreign businesses.” He added that “the two sides should stay committed to mutual respect, mutual benefit and equal-footed consultation, follow economic and market rules, expand and deepen mutually beneficial business cooperation, respect each other's development rights, and work for win-win outcomes”. He invited US businesses to participate in BRI, invest in China and attend CIIE.
Finally, Xi said that Sino-US relations had, over the past few years, suffered “some setbacks and serious challenges.” “The relationship cannot go back to the old days, but it can embrace a brighter future.” He added that since the San Francisco meeting between himself and President Biden, the two sides had “made progress in the political and diplomatic, economic and financial, law enforcement and counternarcotics, climate change and people-to-people fields”. “Under the new circumstances, China and the United States have more, not fewer, common interests. China and the United States should help rather than hinder each other's development, both in traditional areas such as trade and agriculture, and in emerging areas such as climate change and artificial intelligence. He said promoting world economic recovery and settling international and regional issues require China and the United States to coordinate and cooperate with each other, and to think and act as major countries. He called on the U.S. side to work with China in the same direction, develop a right strategic perception of each other, handle sensitive issues properly, maintain the momentum of recovery and stabilization of the relationship, actively explore the right way for the two countries to get along, and promote the sustained, steady and sound development of China-U.S. relations.”
I’d like to share Philip Cunningham’s China Story substack’s breakdown of CCTV’s coverage of this meeting. It is so on point.
Next, there’s a report on Xi’s meeting with Dutch PM Mark Rutte. I am keeping a limited focus below. Xinhua reported:
“Xi stressed that economic globalization may encounter headwinds, but the historical trend will not change. There is no way out for ‘decoupling and breaking the chain’, and opening-up and cooperation are the only choice. He said China always believes that the mindset of zero-sum game characterized by binary opposition has long been a thing of the past, and a genuinely secure world should be one featuring deep integration and interdependence. Creating scientific and technological barriers and severing industrial and supply chains will only lead to division and confrontation. The Chinese people also have legitimate development rights, and no force can stop the pace of China's scientific and technological progress, said Xi, adding China will continue to pursue a win-win approach, open wider to the outside world at a high level, and share development dividends with all parties. Xi said China maintains a continuous and stable policy towards Europe and regards Europe as an important pole and cooperative partner in a multipolar world. It is hoped that the Netherlands will continue to play a positive role in promoting mutual understanding and the development of constructive relations between China and Europe, he added.”
Xinhua adds: “Rutte said that ‘decoupling and breaking the chain’ is not a policy choice of the Dutch government, since any act undermining China's development interests will only boomerang.”
On Page 2, there’s a report on Li Qiang meeting Rutte. Xinhua reports:
Li said that “China and the Netherlands are both committed to free trade and should continue to open wider to each other and strengthen practical cooperation. This will help consolidate and deepen bilateral relations, serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples and inject more stability and certainty into the world…The two sides should continue to expand the scale of economic and trade cooperation, tap the cooperation potential in artificial intelligence, green transformation and silver economy, and strengthen innovation cooperation in offshore wind power, photovoltaic power generation and hydrogen energy…” He added that China “welcomes more Dutch companies to invest in China. It also encourages more Chinese companies to invest and develop in the Netherlands, and hopes that the Dutch side will provide more convenience for Chinese people to visit the Netherlands”.
“On China-Europe relations, Li said China always believes that cooperation should be the mainstream of China-Europe relations, and partnership is the most correct positioning for both sides. China welcomes Europe to share the opportunities of China's mega-scale market and hopes that Europe will prudently introduce restrictive economic and trade policies and use trade remedy measures, Li said, adding that China is willing to work with the Netherlands to promote the sustained, sound and steady development of China-Europe relations.”
As per Xinhua, Rutte said that the Netherlands adheres to the “one-China principle.”
Third, there’s a report on Xi meeting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Xinhua says:
“China is willing to work with Sri Lanka to carry forward the spirit of the Rubber-Rice Pact, which is characterized by ‘independence, self-reliance, unity and mutual support’, to consolidate political mutual trust, enhance exchanges of experience in governance, expand practical cooperation, and advance the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation … China firmly supports Sri Lanka in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and national dignity, and in exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions, Xi said, adding that China will continue to provide due assistance within its capacity for Sri Lanka's economic and social development. He said that both sides should make joint efforts to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, especially that of the two flagship projects, the Colombo Port City and the Hambantota Port. China and Sri Lanka should also work together to enhance logistics, energy and industrial cooperation, and promote exchanges and cooperation in digital economy, green economy, clean energy, culture-oriented tourism and marine economy. China will continue to import more high-quality specialty products from Sri Lanka, encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country, and hopes that the business environment in Sri Lanka will be fair and transparent…The two sides should continue to maintain the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, enhance coordination on international and regional affairs, safeguard the common interests of both sides, uphold international fairness and justice, and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.”
Xinhua adds: “Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka adheres unswervingly to the one-China principle, unequivocally follows the policy of friendly cooperation with China, and gives China priority on its diplomatic agenda…Sri Lanka will take part in the China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative…”
Page 2: There’s a report on Li Qiang meeting with Markus Soeder, minister-president of Bavaria. Xinhua reports:
“Li said that China is ready to strengthen economic and trade cooperation with Bavaria further, and to view that cooperation as the ballast of relations. China will strengthen cooperation in the fields of electric vehicles, clean energy, biopharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence, deepen exchanges in the fields of culture, education, sports and youth, and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides to bring it to a new level, he added. China will continue to expand market access, ensure foreign-funded enterprises are treated the same as domestic companies, and build a market-oriented, legal and first-class business environment, Li said. It will work on issues such as cross-border data flows and provide more support and convenience for German enterprises to invest in China, he said, noting that China hopes Bavaria will also provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises.”
Next, there’s a report (English report) on Zhao Leji meeting with the Boao Forum for Asia board of directors and some representatives of the BFA council of advisors as well as strategic partners in Boao. Zhao told them that “China will provide the world with more new opportunities through its own new development…China advocates inclusive economic globalization, opposes various forms of unilateralism and protectionism, and is willing to closely link its own development with that of other countries.”
Xinhua adds: “BFA Chairman Ban Ki-moon and other representatives attending the meeting spoke highly of the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity and a series of global initiatives proposed by China.”
Third, there’s a report on Wang Huning chairing the CPPCC NC session. The key point he made was about implementing the requirements outlined in Xi’s remarks during the Two Sessions and the spirit of the Two Sessions. He said:
It is necessary to thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on promoting high-quality development, comprehensively deepening reforms, and developing new productive forces. It is important to conduct solid research, in-depth consultations and discuss political affairs, and make contributions to promote high-quality development and promote Chinese-style modernization. It is necessary to thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important exposition on promoting the rise of the central region in the new era, to help promote its rise and promote coordinated regional development. Persistently use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to focus our minds and forge souls, conduct regular readings, theoretical research, and training for members, promote the theoretical arming of the CPPCC members, and and consolidate the common ideological base and political spirit of unity and struggle.” 要深入学习贯彻习近平总书记关于推动高质量发展、全面深化改革、发展新质生产力的重要论述，扎实开展调研，深入协商议政，为推动高质量发展、推进中国式现代化献计出力要深入学习贯彻习近平总书记关于新时代推动中部地区崛起的重要论述，助力新时代推动中部地区崛起、促进区域协调发展。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，常态化开展委员读书、理论研究和学习培训，推动党的创新理论武装在人民政协走深走实，夯实团结奋斗的共同思想政治基础.
Page 3: There’s a report on the remarks by Chen Xu, Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council. She spoke at the Boao Forum for Asia 2024: Chinese Business Leaders and Chinese Think Tanks Roundtable. She told them that:
“China’s development is still in a period of important strategic opportunities, and it is also a period of opportunity for Chinese businessmen and overseas Chinese to make great achievements. I hope everyone will maintain confidence in development, tell the story of China's development well; keep pace with the times and seize major development opportunities; adhere to the great cause of national rejuvenation, give full play to our unique advantages to promote mutual learning between Chinese and foreign civilizations, and together with the people of our ancestral (native/origin) country write a new chapter in Chinese-style modernization.” 国务院侨务办公室主任陈旭表示，中国经济回升向好，高质量发展扎实推进，中国发展仍然处于重要战略机遇期，也是广大华商和海外侨胞可以大展宏图、大有作为的机遇期。希望大家坚定发展信心，讲好中国发展故事；紧跟时代步伐，把握重大发展机遇；坚守民族大义，助力民族复兴伟业；发挥独特优势促进中外文明互鉴，与祖（籍）国人民一道，共同书写中国式现代化建设新篇章.
Page 4: There’s a commentary commemorating the 65th anniversary of Tibet’s “democratic reform”. In other words, this is the PRC’s celebration of the complete takeover of Tibet and the departure of the Dalai Lama.
“65 years ago, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Tibet launched a magnificent democratic reform, completely abolishing the feudal serfdom that combined politics and religion, bringing about fundamental changes in Tibet's social system and achieving a historical leap. This epoch-making significant transformation in the history of social progress and human rights development in Tibet enabled millions of serfs and slaves in Tibet to achieve emancipation in various aspects of political, economic, and social life, effectively promoting the development of productive forces in Tibetan society and paving the way for Tibet’s modernization construction.” 65年前，在中国共产党领导下，西藏掀起波澜壮阔的民主改革，彻底废除了政教合一的封建农奴制，使西藏社会制度发生了根本性变化，实现了历史飞跃。这一西藏社会进步和人权发展史上划时代的重大变革，使西藏百万农奴和奴隶在政治、经济和社会生活多方面实现了翻身解放，有效促进了西藏社会生产力的发展，为西藏的现代化建设开辟了道路.
The article later adds: “Especially since the 18th Party Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to the work in Tibet. General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally steered and directed the plans for Tibet work, leading Tibet into a new era of the best development, greatest changes, and the most tangible benefits for the people. All aspects of Tibetan endeavors have achieved comprehensive progress and historic achievements.” 特别是党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央高度重视西藏工作，习近平总书记亲自为西藏工作掌舵定向、谋篇布局，西藏步入发展最好、变化最大、群众得实惠最多的新时代，各项事业取得全方位进步、历史性成就.
The piece further states: “Only by adhering to the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the system of regional ethnic autonomy, and the Party's strategy for governing Tibet in the new era can we achieve prosperity and progress in Tibet and create a better future for Tibet. This is the profound conclusion of history and the common aspiration of the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet.” 只有坚持中国共产党领导，坚持中国特色社会主义制度，坚持民族区域自治制度，坚持新时代党的治藏方略，才能实现西藏繁荣进步，开创西藏更加美好的未来。这是历史的深刻结论，也是西藏各族人民的共同心声.
Page 10: There’s a report with details from the annual report on China’s standards development. It says that:
“In 2023, the Standardization Administration of China approved the release of 2,902 national standards and approved the release of 225 national standard samples. As of the end of 2023, there are 44,499 national standards and 4,164 national standard samples. 2023年，国家标准委批准发布国家标准2902项，批准发布国家标准样品225项。截至2023年底，国家标准共44499项，国家标准样品共4164项.
Some key points:
169 new national standards related to agriculture and rural areas were released
in regard to building a modern industrial system, 126 basic industrial standards, 41 high-end equipment manufacturing standards, 50 aerospace standards, and 38 industrial chain standards for additive manufacturing and hydrogen energy were released
308 new national standards for the service industry were released, focusing on key areas such as e-commerce and data security.
241 national standards have been formulated in key consumer goods fields such as baby products, household appliances, and cosmetics to strengthen the quality and safety of consumer goods
In key areas such as Beidou navigation and manned spaceflight, efforts have been made to develop 7 Beidou satellite navigation standards and tackle 14 space science standardization challenges, promoting the development of over 100 Beidou application standards.
More than 200 national standards have been developed in key and emerging technology fields, such as integrated circuits, clean energy, and biotechnology. There were 4,141 newly registered industry standards, of which 1,902 were related to strategic emerging industry standards, accounting for 45.9%. More than 23,000 group standards were newly announced, including nearly 12,000 standards for strategic emerging industries, accounting for 50.3%
助力产业高质量发展方面，围绕农业现代化和乡村振兴重点，新增发布农业农村领域相关国家标准169项。围绕现代化产业体系建设重点，发布工业基础标准126项、高端装备制造标准41项、航空航天标准50项，增材制造、氢能等产业链标准38项。围绕电子商务、数据安全等重点领域，新增服务业类国家标准308项...消费品领域标准方面，在婴童用品、家用电器、化妆品等重点消费品领域制定国家标准241项，强化消费品质量安全...在北斗导航、载人航天等重点领域开展7项北斗卫星导航标准、14项空间科学标准研制攻关，推进了100余项北斗应用标准研制。在集成电路、清洁能源、生物技术等关键和新兴技术领域开展了200余项国家标准研制。新增备案行业标准4141项，其中涉及战略性新兴产业标准1902项，占比45.9%。新增公布2.3万多项团体标准，其中涉及战略性新兴产业标准近1.2万项，占比50.3%。