Xi on BRI: 'Opportunities Outweigh Challenges' - Wang-Baerbock Meeting - China-Lithuania Tensions - Party Newspapers Discuss Improving Commentary Style - Hydropower Project in Afghanistan
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Tuesday, December 03, 2024.
Page 1: The lead story today informs that Xi Jinping attended the fourth BRI symposium and delivered an important speech. Xi said that “in the current severe and complex international environment, advancing the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative presents both opportunities and challenges, but overall, opportunities outweigh challenges. We must firmly maintain strategic confidence and strategic determination, take bold responsibility, and work to create an even brighter future for the joint construction of the Belt and Road.” 中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平2日在北京出席第四次“一带一路”建设工作座谈会并发表重要讲话强调，在当前严峻复杂的国际环境下，推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展机遇和挑战并存，但总体上机遇大于挑战。我们要坚定战略自信，保持战略定力，勇于担当作为，开创共建“一带一路”更加光明的未来.
Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang were in attendance. Ding presided over the symposium. Also in attendance were Wang Yi, He Lifeng and Wu Zhenglong. Among the officials who spoke were:
Zheng Shanjie, Director of the National Development and Reform Commission
Ma Zhaoxu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Yin Li, Beijing Party Secretary
Wang Menghui, Hubei Party Secretary
Hu Wangming, Chairman of China Baowu Steel Group Co., Ltd.
Feng Xubin, Chairman of YXE Trade Service Group Co., Ltd.
Xing Guangcheng, CASS Member, director of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies
Xi then spoke. He said that since BRI was announced in 2013, it has “adhered to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits; the areas of cooperation have continuously expanded, the scope of cooperation has steadily broadened, and the levels of cooperation have consistently deepened; its international appeal, influence, and cohesion have been increasingly enhanced, achieving significant accomplishments and making China’s contribution to strengthening friendships with participating countries and promoting their economic and social development.” 在听取大家发言后，习近平发表了重要讲话。他指出，自2013年提出共建“一带一路”倡议以来，在党中央坚强领导下，经过各方共同努力，共建“一带一路”始终秉持和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢的丝路精神，始终坚持共商共建共享的原则，合作领域不断拓展、合作范围不断扩大、合作层次不断提升，国际感召力、影响力、凝聚力不断增强，取得了重大成就，为增进同共建国家友谊、促进共建国家经济社会发展作出了中国贡献.
"Xi Jinping emphasized that in recent years, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and transformation, with unilateralism and protectionism increasing significantly, and local conflicts and unrest occurring frequently. In this context, in promoting the high-quality joint construction of BRI, we must properly respond to various risks and challenges, effectively overcome the impact of geopolitical conflicts, correctly handle enhancing the sense of gain for partner countries while maintaining relations beneficial to ourselves, and effectively safeguard China’s overseas interests and security.” 习近平强调，近年来，世界进入新的动荡变革期，单边主义、保护主义明显上升，局部冲突和动荡频发。在此背景下，推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展，必须妥善应对各种风险挑战，有效克服地缘冲突影响，正确处理增强共建国家获得感和坚持于我有利的关系，切实保障我国海外利益安全.
“Xi Jinping pointed out that the joint construction of BRI has entered a new stage of high-quality development. We must adhere to the overall work principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, comprehensively and accurately implement the new development concept, accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, hold high the banner of building a community with a shared future for humanity, adhere to the guiding principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, as well as openness, greenness, and integrity, high standards, people-centered benefits, and sustainability. Guided by the eight actions for high-quality BRI construction, with connectivity as the main line, we must combine high-quality development with high-level security, government guidance with market operations, scientific planning with dynamic optimization, and quantitative growth with qualitative improvement. Efforts should be coordinated to deepen ‘hard connectivity’ in infrastructure, ‘soft connectivity’ in rules and standards, and ‘people-to-people connectivity’ with the populations of participating countries. There should be a balanced advancement of major landmark projects and ‘small but beautiful’ livelihood projects, consolidation of cooperation in traditional fields, and steady expansion into emerging areas. Mechanisms for promoting high-quality BRI construction should be improved, continuously expanding a new space for higher-level, more resilient, and more sustainable win-win development.” 习近平指出，共建“一带一路”已经进入高质量发展新阶段。要坚持稳中求进工作总基调，完整准确全面贯彻新发展理念，加快构建新发展格局，高举人类命运共同体旗帜，坚持共商共建共享、开放绿色廉洁、高标准惠民生可持续的指导原则，以高质量共建“一带一路”八项行动为指引，以互联互通为主线，坚持高质量发展和高水平安全相结合、政府引导和市场运作相结合、科学布局和动态优化相结合、量的增长和质的提升相结合，统筹深化基础设施“硬联通”、规则标准“软联通”和同共建国家人民“心联通”，统筹推进重大标志性工程和“小而美”民生项目建设，统筹巩固传统领域合作和稳步拓展新兴领域合作，完善推进高质量共建“一带一路”机制，不断拓展更高水平、更具韧性、更可持续的共赢发展新空间。
“Xi Jinping stressed that we should focus on advancing the construction of high-quality BRI mechanism, improve the overall management mechanism of cooperation planning for BRI, improve the coordination and promotion mechanism for ‘hard connectivity’, ‘soft connectivity’, and ‘people-to-people connectivity’, improve the practical cooperation mechanisms for industrial and supply chains, improve the mechanisms for international exchanges and cooperation in emerging fields, improve the diversified investment and financing guarantee mechanisms, improve the internal and external coordination mechanisms for risk prevention and control, improve the mechanisms for safeguarding overseas interests, improve the high-level international communication mechanisms, and improve the clean Silk Road cooperation mechanisms, to ensure the stable and long-term development of high-quality joint construction of BRI.” 习近平强调，要重点推进高质量共建“一带一路”机制建设，完善共建“一带一路”合作规划统筹管理机制，完善“硬联通”、“软联通”、“心联通”协调推进机制，完善产业链供应链务实合作机制，完善新兴领域国际交流合作机制，完善投融资多元化保障机制，完善风险防控内外协同机制，完善海外利益保障机制，完善高水平国际传播机制，完善廉洁丝绸之路合作机制，推进高质量共建“一带一路”行稳致远.
“Xi Jinping pointed out that we must persist with the blueprint to the end, continuing work from one phase to the next, bravely overcoming various risks and challenges, resolutely advancing the high-quality joint construction of BRI, and making greater contributions to promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.” 习近平指出，要坚持一张蓝图绘到底，一茬接着一茬干，勇于战胜各种风险挑战，坚定不移推进高质量共建“一带一路”，为推动构建人类命运共同体作出更大贡献.
Ding Xuexiang then said that Xi’s speech had “made comprehensive arrangements for promoting the high-quality development of the joint construction of BRI in the current and future period.” He praised the speech for its “lofty intentions, profound thinking, refined arguments, and rich connotations” adding that “it provides important guidance and points out the direction forward for promoting high-quality joint construction of BRI in the next golden decade. We must study and understand it carefully and resolutely implement it. All regions, departments, and units must continuously strengthen strategic thinking, security awareness, systemic perspective, and international vision. They should focus on advancing systematization and institutional/mechanism-based approaches, continuously improve top-level design, formulate practical measures, deepen external cooperation, strive to cultivate a batch of well-known and substantial cooperation brands, form more exemplary and leading major achievements, and jointly create new spaces for win-win development of the Belt and Road Initiative that are at a higher level, more resilient, and more sustainable.” 丁薛祥主持会议时表示，习近平总书记重要讲话充分肯定共建“一带一路”取得的重大成就，对当前及今后一个时期推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展作出全面部署。总书记重要讲话立意高远、思想深邃、论述精辟、内涵丰富，为下一个金色十年推动共建“一带一路”高质量发展提供了重要遵循、指引了前进方向，我们要认真学习领会，坚决贯彻落实。各地区各部门各单位要不断强化战略思维、安全意识、系统观念、国际视野，以推进体系化机制化为重点，持续完善顶层设计，制定务实措施，深化对外合作，着力培育一批叫得响、有分量的合作品牌，形成更多示范性、引领性的重大成果，共同开创更高水平、更具韧性、更可持续的共建“一带一路”共赢发展新空间.
Next, there’s a report on Ding Xuexiang meeting visitors during the 2024 Understanding China Conference in Beijing. The report says:
Ding Xuexiang said that China is comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. We will carry out reforms to provide a strong impetus for Chinese-style modernization; unswervingly expand high-level opening up to the outside world and share development opportunities with countries around the world; closely focus on the primary task of high-quality development to promote the effective improvement of economic quality and reasonable growth in quantity; adhere to the path of peaceful development and provide more stability and certainty for the world. A China that comprehensively deepens reform, continuously expands openness, pursues high-quality development, and seeks world peace is bound to be a China with a bright future. 丁薛祥表示，中国正在以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业。我们将把改革进行到底，为中国式现代化提供强大动力；坚定不移扩大高水平对外开放，与世界各国共享发展机遇；紧紧围绕高质量发展首要任务，推动经济实现质的有效提升和量的合理增长；坚持走和平发展道路，为世界提供更多稳定性和确定性。一个全面深化改革、不断扩大开放、高质量发展、谋求世界和平的中国，必定是前景光明的中国.
Third, there’s a report on Wang Huning meeting with Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) President Samdech Techo Hun Sen. Xinhua says:
Wang said that “China is willing to work with Cambodia to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and promote the continuous development of China-Cambodia relations. The CPPCC is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Cambodia to promote greater achievements in the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, Wang said.”
Also on the page is a feature article marking the 25th anniversary of Macao’s return to China. I am not detailing this.
Page 2: There’s a report informing that as per the China National Intellectual Property Administration, as of the end of October 2024, the number of valid invention patents owned in China reached 4.66 million, of which 3.417 million are owned by enterprises, accounting for 73.3% of all valid invention patents.
Page 3: Let’s now cover the Chinese readout of the meeting between Wang Yi and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock for the 7th round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security. It says:
Wang Yi said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany. Both sides need to seriously review the past and actively explore the future. The world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and human society faces multiple challenges, with noticeable increases in uncertainty, instability, and unpredictability. The more turbulent the world becomes, the more major powers need to maintain composure, and the more it is required for major-power relations to maintain stability. China is responding to all external uncertainties with its own certainty. China’s policy towards Germany also remains stable and consistent. Over the 52 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China has always regarded Germany as an important partner. Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries and the joint efforts of the two peoples, China-Germany relations have generally maintained a momentum of development, which has not only brought important benefits to the people of the two countries, but also become a stabilizer in China-Europe relations and even the international situation. There are differences and disagreements between China and Germany, but differences should not be an obstacle to cooperation, and disagreements should not be a reason for confrontation. The positive results and beneficial experience achieved in China-Germany relations so far are worth cherishing and inheriting by both sides. 王毅表示，今年是中德建立全方位战略伙伴关系10周年，双方有必要认真总结过去，积极开拓未来。当今世界进入百年未有之大变局，人类社会面临多重挑战，不确定、不稳定、不可预期因素明显上升。世界越是动荡，大国越要保持定力，大国关系更要维持稳定。中国正以自身确定性应对外部的所有不确定性。中国对德政策同样保持稳定和连贯，建交52年来始终视德国为重要合作伙伴。在两国领导人战略引领和两国人民共同努力下，中德关系总体上保持发展势头，不仅为两国人民带来重要利益，也成为中欧关系乃至国际局势中的稳定器。中德之间有差异和分歧，但差异不应成为合作的障碍，分歧更不应是对抗的理由。中德关系迄今取得的积极成果和有益经验，值得双方珍惜和传承。
Wang added that earlier this year, the CPC held the third plenary session, which launched a new reform agenda. He said that “in the past few months, the Chinese government has successively introduced new measures for reform and opening up, which have garnered the attention of and been welcomed by the international community, including the German business community; practical cooperation between China and Germany faces an even broader prospect. As the world’s second and third largest economies, respectively, China and Germany must overcome interference and eliminate resistance; adhere to the main tone of dialogue and cooperation; abandon outdated confrontational Cold War mentality; jointly resist external risks and jointly respond to global challenges; strive to be promoters of pragmatic cooperation, advocates of open development, and exemplars of multilateralism; and showcase the responsibilities of major powers the turbulent changes and turmoil in the international situation.” 王毅说，今年7月，中国共产党成功召开二十届三中全会，释放进一步全面深化改革，扩大高水平对外开放的明确信号。几个月来，中国政府陆续出台改革开放新举措，受到国际社会包括德国经济界的重视和欢迎，中德务实合作面临更加广阔的前景。作为世界第二、第三大经济体，中德要克服干扰、排除阻力，坚持对话合作主基调、摒弃冷战对抗旧思维，共同抵御外部风险，共同应对全球挑战，努力做务实合作的推动者、开放发展的倡导者、多边主义的示范者，在变乱交织的国际局势中展现中德的大国担当.
Wang Yi stressed that in order to maintain the stable development of China-Germany relations, it is necessary to first correct strategic perception. China is a force for peace, growth and stability in the world. Its strategic intentions and policy orientations are open and transparent. It is the only major country that has written its adherence to the path of peaceful development into its constitution. The historical logic that a ‘strong country will inevitably seek hegemony’ (国强必霸的) does not apply to China. The systems of China and Germany and China and Europe are different. This is a product of their respective historical and cultural traditions and is also the choice made by the people. Both sides should uphold mutual respect and mutual understanding as the foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation. China-Germany relations are not directed against third parties and should not be affected by third parties. 王毅强调，保持中德关系稳定发展首先要匡正战略认知。中国是世界上和平、增长和稳定的力量，战略意图和政策取向公开透明，是唯一将坚持和平发展道路写入宪法的大国，国强必霸的历史逻辑在中国不适用。中德、中欧制度不同，这源于各自的历史文化传统，也是人民做出的选择。双方应坚持相互尊重、相互理解，在此基础上开展互利合作。中德关系不针对第三方，也不应受第三方影响.
“Wang Yi pointed out that competition should be fair, not a zero-sum game. The EU’s high anti-subsidy tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles violate the principles of fair competition and free trade and have become a prominent issue between China and Europe. It is hoped that Germany and the EU will view China’s development objectively and rationally, adopt a positive and pragmatic policy toward China, and properly handle trade disputes through dialogue and consultation.” 王毅指出，竞争应当是公平的，而不是零和博弈。欧盟对中国电动汽车征收高额反补贴税违反公平竞争和自由贸易原则，成为当前中欧之间的突出问题。希望德方、欧方客观理性看待中国发展，采取积极务实对华政策，通过对话协商妥处贸易争端.
Among other things, the readout quotes Baerbock as saying that “Germany supports the EU and China to continue negotiations on the EVs anti-subsidy issue and strive to find a solution acceptable to both sides.” 贝尔伯克表示，德方支持欧盟和中国继续就电动汽车反补贴问题进行谈判，争取找到双方都能接受的解决方案. They also discussed the war in Ukraine. The readout only says that Baerbock “hoped that China, as a partner of Europe, would play an active role in this regard. Wang Yi comprehensively and systematically elaborated China’s position on promoting peace and dialogue.” 双方还就乌克兰危机交换了意见，贝尔伯克希望中方作为欧洲的合作伙伴为此发挥积极作用，王毅全面系统阐述了中方致力于劝和促谈的立场.
I haven’t seen a German readout, but Baerbock told reporters in Beijing that:
“every permanent member of the United Nations Security Council has a responsibility for peace and security in the world; they must not fuel conflicts that threaten the security of us all with its support…Drones from Chinese factories, and North Korean troops attacking peace in the middle of Europe, violate our core European security interests”
“The Russian president is not only destroying our European peace order through his war against Ukraine, but is now also dragging Asia into it via North Korea. My Chinese counterpart and I have discussed extensively why this cannot be in China's interest,” she said. Acknowledging that Berlin and Beijing hold different perspectives on the conflict, Baerbock said both sides engaged in substantive discussions about diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution. ‘A process for a just peace is needed more urgently than ever, as these thousand days of brutal Russian aggression have brought not only devastation to Ukraine,’ Baerbock said. ‘They have also caused worldwide consequences, with the soaring food prices and now with the risk of involvement of other regions to this conflict’.”
ILD chief Liu Jianchao also met with Baerbock. The report on that in the paper is far too brief.
Next, there’s a report on MoFA’s statement on Lithuania asking Chinese personnel to leave the country.
“On November 29, Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry, without any reason, declared relevant diplomatic personnel of the Office of the Chargé d’Affaires of China in Lithuania ‘persona non grata’ and demanded that they leave the country within the time required. China strongly condemns and firmly rejects this wanton and provocative action. As many are aware, on issues concerning China’s Taiwan region, Lithuania has been acting in serious violation of the one-China principle and breached the political commitment Lithuania made in the communiqué on the establishment of China-Lithuania diplomatic relations. This has caused severe difficulty for bilateral ties. Three years on since the downgrade of bilateral ties with China, Lithuania has again taken detrimental action that further exacerbates the relations. China calls on Lithuania to immediately stop undermining China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stop creating difficulty for bilateral relations. China reserves the right to take countermeasures against Lithuania. We hope the upcoming new government of Lithuania will follow the prevailing international consensus, abide by the one-China principle, and foster conditions for the normalization of China-Lithuania relations.”
Another report (related English report) informs that Remin University of China and Complutense University of Madrid have jointly launched a research center in Madrid, with the aim of enhancing educational collaboration and promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning of civilizations between China and Spain.
Page 6: There’s a report on the 2024 Party Newspaper Commentary Integrated Development Forum. This was convened by the People’s Daily Commentary Department, and hosted by Hunan Daily in Changsha. The theme of this forum was ‘Demonstrating the Responsibility of Commentary to Shape a New Mainstream Public Opinion Landscape’.
The report says that “representatives from central media outlets, provincial Party committee propaganda departments, over 30 provincial-level Party newspapers, academia, and new media platforms gathered to exchange ideas and pool their efforts to strengthen and expand mainstream ideological discourse in the new era”. Yang Haodong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee and head of its Propaganda Department, and Ma Hongwei, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the People’s Daily, attended the meeting and delivered speeches.
The report adds:
Participants focused on how Party newspaper commentaries should respond to challenges and opportunities in the all-media era. They conducted in-depth discussions around themes such as ‘change the style of writing and expand the space of influence of mainstream public opinion’ and ‘develop practical strategies to cultivate more widely-known and popular commentary experts’. The forum also held a ‘Praising the New Era’ Party Newspaper Commentary Integrated Media Excellent Works Sharing Activity, where representatives from provincial Party newspapers including Beijing Daily, Hunan Daily, Southern Daily, Sichuan Daily, Gansu Daily, Qinghai Daily and others showcased outstanding works and shared their experiences and insights. 与会嘉宾聚焦党报评论应如何应对全媒体时代的挑战和机遇，围绕“改文风，拓展主流舆论的影响力空间”“出实招，培养更多叫得响、受欢迎的文章高手”等主题进行了深入研讨。论坛还举办了“好评新时代”党报评论融媒体精品分享活动，由来自北京日报、湖南日报、南方日报、四川日报、甘肃日报、青海日报等省级党报的代表展示优秀作品、分享经验感悟。
Page 15: There’s a report on the signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement on the Bagh Dara Hydropower Project, a key supporting project of the Aynak Copper Mine in Afghanistan, in Kabul. The PD report is very limited. But this report informs that this was a “geophysical and geotechnical feasibility agreement”. This study is expected to be completed in 8 months.
Finally, there’s a report on the beginning of the China-Indonesia ‘Peace Eagle-2024’ joint drills, which began on December 1.