Xi on China's Democracy - Li on CPTPP + He Wants Foreign Investment in R&D - Academic China Forum - Conference on Policies for Ageing Population
Here are the stories and pieces from the October 15, 2021, edition of the People’s Daily that I found noteworthy.
Page 1: It’s all about Xi Jinping on the front page today. First, there was a central conference on work related to people’s congresses (English report). If you’ve been reading through this week, there’ve been review stories about the concept of “whole-process democracy” and the functioning of the people’s congress system. Much of what Xi said here, isn’t stuff that he hasn’t said before.
For instance, the report begins by telling us that in his speech, Xi spoke about the people’s congress system is the “fundamental political system of China,” suits China’s national conditions, reflects the properties of a socialist system, and is a “a great creation in the history of political systems as well as a brand new system of great significance in the political history of both China and the world.” He, therefore, wants China to stick to the socialist path, strengthen the people’s congress system and China’s “whole-process democracy.”
He said that the “people’s congress system adheres to the leadership of the CPC and the basic principles of the Marxist theory of state. It adapts to the system of the people’s democratic dictatorship, and effectively guarantees the country’s progress along the socialist path...The system of people’ congresses ensures that all state power belongs to the people; ensures that the people are the masters of the country to the maximum extent; and organically combines the leadership of the Party, the position of the people being masters of the country, and law-based governance, effectively ensuring that governance transcends the dynastic cycle of rise and fall...in the past 40 years of reform and opening up, the people’s congress system has provided an important institutional guarantee for the Party to lead the people in creating the miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability.” 习近平在讲话中指出，人民代表大会制度，坚持中国共产党领导，坚持马克思主义国家学说的基本原则，适应人民民主专政的国体，有效保证国家沿着社会主义道路前进。人民代表大会制度，坚持国家一切权力属于人民，最大限度保障人民当家作主，把党的领导、人民当家作主、依法治国有机结合起来，有效保证国家治理跳出治乱兴衰的历史周期率。60多年来特别是改革开放40多年来，人民代表大会制度为党领导人民创造经济快速发展奇迹和社会长期稳定奇迹提供了重要制度保障.
The next paragraph has him talking about the importance of upholding the system keeping in mind the “overall strategic situation,” i.e. China’s move towards national rejuvenation and great changes taking place around the world. He called for upholding Party’s leadership, people being masters, and democratic centralism; adherence to the socialist path of political development with Chinese characteristics, and modernising China’s system and capacity for governance.
He then says that systems/institutional competition (制度竞争) is an important aspect of competition in overall national strength, and institutional/systems advantage (制度优势) is an important advantage for a country to gain strategic initiative. 习近平指出，当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局，制度竞争是综合国力竞争的重要方面，制度优势是一个国家赢得战略主动的重要优势.
The next paragraph talks about how the entire system, from the NPC, which should improve the legal system based on the Constitution to local congresses must function according to law.
Then he said that: “It is necessary to strengthen the Party’s centralised and unified leadership over legislative work, better coordinate reform and development decision-making with legislative decision-making, integrate the promotion of domestic rule of law and foreign-related rule of law as a whole, formulate, revise, repeal and interpret laws and regulations in a coordinated way, and strengthen legislation in key areas, emerging areas, and foreign related areas.” 要加强党对立法工作的集中统一领导，把改革发展决策同立法决策更好结合起来，统筹推进国内法治和涉外法治，统筹立改废释纂，加强重点领域、新兴领域、涉外领域立法.
In the next paragraph, he talks about strengthening oversight and how people’s congresses should focus on the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee. And then he calls on deputies to shoulder responsibilities. He also wants people’s congresses at all levels to improve “political judgment, political understanding and political execution,” and called for further strengthening the Party’s overall leadership over the work of the NPC.
After this, we get Xi’s comments on democracy. A lot of commentary since yesterday has been on his remarks about democracy not being an ornament, but rather a system for addressing problems that the people need addressed. And his comments about processes and implementation. As CGTN summarises them:
“The key to a country’ democracy lies in whether the people run the country, depending on if the people have the right to vote and more importantly, whether the people have the right to broad participation, said Xi. He also noted democracy depends on what verbal promises the people have received during the election process, and moreover, it depends on how many of these promises have been fulfilled after the election. Judging whether a country is democratic, according to Xi, should also look at what political procedures and rules are stipulated by the systems and laws. “More importantly, if these systems and laws are implemented well,” he said. Xi also called for focusing on whether the rules and procedures for the operation of power are democratic while stressing the key lies on if the power is really monitored and restrained by the people. “If the people are awakened only at the time of voting and go into dormancy afterward; if the people only listen to smashing slogans during election campaigns but have no say afterward; if the people are only favored during canvassing but are left out after the election, such a democracy is not a true democracy,” said Xi.
And this:
President Xi stressed that democracy is a right for the people of all countries to enjoy, not a special right reserved for an individual country. The judgment on whether a country is democratic or not should be made by their people, not by the handful of others, he said, adding that whether a member of the international community is democratic or not should be judged by the international community together, not by a self-righteous minority.
But there’s also this little paragraph that I thought was interesting. The specific mention of leadership succession as an issue in itself made me go:
“Evaluating whether a country’s political system is democratic and effective mainly depends on whether there is orderly leadership succession according to law, whether all the people can manage state affairs and social affairs, economic and cultural undertakings according to law, whether the people can freely express their interests and desires, whether all segments/sectors of society can effectively participate in the country’s political life, whether the country’s decision-making can be scientific and democratic, whether talents from all segments/sectors can enter the country’s leadership and management system through fair competition, whether the ruling party can lead the country’s affairs according to the constitution and laws, and whether the use of power can be effectively restricted and supervised.” 评价一个国家政治制度是不是民主的、有效的，主要看国家领导层能否依法有序更替，全体人民能否依法管理国家事务和社会事务、管理经济和文化事业，人民群众能否畅通表达利益要求，社会各方面能否有效参与国家政治生活，国家决策能否实现科学化、民主化，各方面人才能否通过公平竞争进入国家领导和管理体系，执政党能否依照宪法法律规定实现对国家事务的领导，权力运用能否得到有效制约和监督.
Anyway, he then offers fulsome praise for China’s “whole-process people’s democracy.” He says that this has achieved “unity of process democracy and results-based democracy, procedural democracy and substantive democracy, direct democracy and indirect democracy, people’s democracy and national will.” It is today “all-encompassing democracy, and the most extensive, authentic, and effective socialist democracy.” 我国全过程人民民主实现了过程民主和成果民主、程序民主和实质民主、直接民主和间接民主、人民民主和国家意志相统一，是全链条、全方位、全覆盖的民主，是最广泛、最真实、最管用的社会主义民主.
Here’s more:
“Under the leadership of the Party, we should constantly expand people’s orderly political participation, strengthen the protection of human rights and the rule of law, and ensure that people enjoy extensive rights and freedoms according to law. It is necessary to ensure that the people exercise their right to vote according to law, democratically elect deputies to the National People's Congress, and ensure that the people's right to know, participate, express and supervise are implemented in all aspects of the work of the National People's Congress, and that the party and the state can hear voices from the people in all aspects of decision-making, implementation and supervision. 要在党的领导下，不断扩大人民有序政治参与，加强人权法治保障，保证人民依法享有广泛权利和自由. 要保证人民依法行使选举权利，民主选举产生人大代表，保证人民的知情权、参与权、表达权、监督权落实到人大工作各方面各环节全过程，确保党和国家在决策、执行、监督落实各个环节都能听到来自人民的声音. He also called for improving mechanisms for “absorbing public opinion and pooling people’s wisdom” and advancing the people’s congresses’ consultative work along with legislative consultations.
After Xi’s speech, Li Zhanshu reportedly spoke. He summarised the key aspects of the speech, and praised it, while calling for “studying and implementing the spirit” of this speech.
Moving on, the other story on the page is about Xi’s letter to the Canton Fair. He wants the fair to promote high-quality development of global trade and facilitate the “dual circulation” of domestic and overseas markets. And the final story is about Xi’s comments (full speech on page 2) at the UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference in Beijing. This was in Beijing, but he spoke via video. Xinhua English has the story. He called for:
efforts from all countries to strengthen both hard connectivity of infrastructure and soft connectivity of institutions and rules, and develop four-dimensional connectivity of land, sea, air and the Internet. He highlighted the importance of common development. To achieve common prosperity, efforts should be made to enhance North-South and South-South cooperation and scale up support for developing transport infrastructure in the least developed countries and landlocked developing countries, Xi noted. He called for deep integration of new technologies like big data, the Internet, artificial intelligence and blockchain with the transport sector, as well as more efforts to foster a green and low-carbon way of transport.
I just find it fascinating how so seamlessly Xi can talk about Internet connectivity while simultaneously maintaining the great firewall. Reciprocity should be at the heart of cyberspace diplomacy for democracies dealing with China.
Page 2: There’s a reaction story following from Xi’s speech at the sustainable transport conference, and there’s a commentary on the whole-process democracy speech.
It tells us that Xi “clearly outlined the guiding ideology, major principles and major tasks for strengthening and improving the work of the NPC in the new era from the strategic perspective of improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China’s system and capacity for governance, and profoundly answered a series of major theoretical and practical questions on developing socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics and upholding and improving the system of people's congresses in the new era.” 在中央人大工作会议上，习近平总书记发表重要讲话，从完善和发展中国特色社会主义制度、推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化的战略高度，明确提出新时代加强和改进人大工作的指导思想、重大原则和主要工作，深刻回答新时代发展中国特色社会主义民主政治、坚持和完善人民代表大会制度的一系列重大理论和实践问题.
The commentary basically argues that the “miracles” of development and social stability reflect the strength of the whole-process democracy and people’s congress system that the Party has put together. And the key going ahead “is to uphold the organic unity of the leadership of the Party, the position of the people as masters of the country, and law-based governance,” which the people’s congress system effectively integrates.
There’s also another commentary on the page drawing from Xi’s COP15 speech on biodiversity. I am not interested in this.
Page 3: Let’s begin with Li Keqiang’s comments (full speech and English report) at the opening of the Canton Fair. He spoke about the impact of the pandemic and the said that:
We must insist on the supremacy of life and join hands to fight the pandemic. This bit entailed talking about “vaccine nationalism” and promoting “the spirit of science.”
We must persist in openness and cooperation to jointly promote economic recovery. Here, he talked about the need to have “free trade and fair trade, strengthen policy coordination, increase the production and supply of bulk commodities and key parts, improve the supply capacity of important commodities…” and smooth operation of global supply chains.
We must persist in inclusiveness and benefit, and promote common development. Here he talked about the need to “promote economic globalization toward a more open, inclusive, balanced, and win-win direction.”
He then talked about the Chinese economy. Some of the key point he mentioned are:
The Chinese economy has sustained a steady recovery, and the major economic indicators have been running within an appropriate range.
From Jan to September, the daily average number of newly registered market entities exceeded 78,000. Also, more than 10 million new jobs have been created in urban areas.
But, the recovery is still unstable and unbalanced. There are challenges of high commodity prices and sharp increase in logistics costs. There are issues of high operating costs of mid- and downstream industries and small, medium and micro enterprises. Energy supply is encountering new challenges. Also, the pandemic has restricted the recovery of the consumer market and the service industry.
He then said: “Development is the foundation and key to solving all problems in China.”
He then spoke about China’s foreign trade, arguing that “in recent years, the average growth rate of China’s imports has been higher than that of exports. Last year, the global share of imports increased to 11.5%. We will maintain the continuity and stability in our foreign trade policy and continue to expand imports of high-quality products and services.” He spoke about establishing new integrated pilot zones for cross-border e-commerce. Before the end of the year, there will be full coverage of all cities in Guangdong. He also spoke about the development of new business forms such as overseas warehouses and overseas smart logistics platforms.
On foreign investment, he promised to “further shorten the negative lists on the market access of foreign investment, zero out the manufacturing items on the negative list in pilot free trade zones, and keep easing access to the services sector.” He added that “China will ensure the high-standard implementation of the post-establishment national treatment for foreign investors.” He wants foreign investors to increase investment in such areas as medium and high-end manufacturing and modern services and in the central and western regions. He added: “Foreign-invested firms are encouraged to undertake commissioned research and development business and projects in China’s National Science and Technology Plan.”
On international regimes, he said that China welcomes all regional free trade arrangements that conform to WTO principles. On the WTO, he said that “we have faithfully fulfilled our WTO commitments. The current overall tariff level has dropped to 7.4%, which is a relatively low level in the world. China supports the necessary reforms of the WTO, but it must adhere to its basic principles and core values, and fully accommodate the interests and concerns of all parties.” He spoke about pushing the implementation of RCEP and then promised to “actively promote the process of joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).” He also talked about China eyeing deals to expand its role in “global digital and green governance.”
Next, a report about Li Keqiang at the national conference on the work concerning the ageing population. Li, Han Zheng and Sun Chunlan spoke at the meeting, as per the report. The frame of the conversation is to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, earnestly implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, implement the national strategy to actively respond to the aging of the population. In this context, the call is to do a bunch of things to improve the lives of the elderly. These range from enhancing social security, improving elderly care, healthcare, and basic old-age insurance system, and also addressing spiritual and cultural needs and safeguarding the elderly’s dignity, rights, and interests.
Two more reports to note on the page. First, Wang Yi’s chat with Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Haji Erywan (English report). Brunei has the ASEAN chair and Erywan is ASEAN’s special envoy to Myanmar. Wang said that China is happy to see the ASEAN envoy go to Myanmar at an early date, and to mediate among parties and facilitate talks in an objective, pragmatic and incremental fashion. Second, Wang’s chat with Indonesia’s Coordinator for Cooperation with China and Coordinating Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan (English report). Wang said that China welcomes Indonesia to purchase more COVID-19 vaccines from China, and supports Indonesia in building a regional vaccine production center. Apart from comments about COVID-19 related and economic cooperation, the story also tells us that:
“The two sides expressed concerns and opposition to actions that create nuclear proliferation risks and regional division, stressing that all parties should jointly safeguard regional peace and stability. The two sides also agreed to strengthen coordination on promoting regional cooperation and addressing climate change.” -- So AUKUS was discussed clearly. I wonder if the “regional division” bit refers to the Quad.
Page 4: Two stories to note. First, Han Zheng addressed an international forum of 2021 Russian Energy Week. Xinhua English tells us, Han said that China will work to optimize the energy structure, deepen reforms in energy and other related sectors, accelerate the construction of a national market for trading energy use rights and carbon emission rights, and encourage the innovation of low-carbon technologies. He added that energy cooperation between China and Russia “plays a vital role in optimizing the global development and governance of energy.”
He wants the two countries to ensure:
the smooth progress of major projects, including gas and oil pipelines and nuclear power units, expand cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, hydrogen energy, smart energy and energy finance, deepen cooperation in basic energy studies and key technology research and development, and jointly practice multilateralism to help forge a global energy governance pattern that is fair, just and inclusive.
Then there’s a report about the first 学术中国 -Academic China forum meeting with the theme New Path of Chinese-style Modernization opened in Beijing, with Huang Kunming in attendance. This is being organised by CASS.
Huang said:
“With unremitting exploration and continuous efforts, we have created a new path of Chinese-style modernization and created a new form of human civilization. The new Chinese path of modernization is characterized by self-reliance, self-improvement, innovation and creativity. It reflects the value of putting the people first and delivering benefits to the people. It embodies the goal of all-round development and progress, and embodies the vision of peaceful development, inclusiveness and mutual learning. On this new journey, we will unswervingly follow our own path, step up exchanges and mutual learning, endow Chinese-style modernization with more distinctive practical, theoretical, national and contemporary characteristics, and strive to make greater contributions to the world with new achievements in modernization.” 黄坤明指出，今年是中国共产党成立100周年. 一百年来，在世界现代化潮流中，中国共产党领导人民把握历史大势、掌握历史主动，不懈探索、接力奋斗，创造了中国式现代化新道路，创造了人类文明新形态。中国式现代化新道路彰显着自立自强、创新创造的鲜明特质，映照着人民至上、为民造福的价值底色，蕴含着全面发展、全面进步的方向目标，昭示着和平发展、包容互鉴的理念追求。新征程上，我们将坚定不移走自己的路，加强交流互鉴，赋予中国式现代化更加鲜明的实践特色、理论特色、民族特色、时代特色，努力以现代化建设新成果为世界作出更大贡献.
It’s really worth chewing on this for a bit - 创造了人类文明新形态 - (creating a new form of human civilisation); this is such an emphatic statement about the sense of achievement.
Other Stories:
A report about Young Pioneers engaged in activities themed around 请党放心强国有我 - roughly: let the party and people be at ease, this powerful country has me. This is more about them learning Party history and achievements and meeting role models rather than doing things.