Xi on Environment-Development Balance in Yellow River Basin - Wang Yi Meets Putin & Doval - Li Qiang's Pitch to UAE Businesses - Dong Jun's Message at Beijing Xiangshan Forum
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People’s Daily’s edition on Friday, September 13, 2024.
Page 1: The main story on the page is on Xi Jinping’s speech at a symposium in Lanzhou on comprehensively promoting ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.
Xi called to adhere to ecological priority and green development, adhere to water-conscious approach and prioritize water conservation, adhere to adapting measures to local conditions and implementing differentiated policies, adhere to overall planning and coordinated advancement, promote new levels in ecological protection across the entire basin, new progress in green transformation, new achievements in high-quality development, and new improvements in people’s lives, creating a new situation for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin. 他强调，要认真贯彻党的二十大和二十届三中全会精神，牢牢把握重在保护、要在治理的战略要求，以进一步全面深化改革为动力，坚持生态优先、绿色发展，坚持量水而行、节水优先，坚持因地制宜、分类施策，坚持统筹谋划、协同推进，促进全流域生态保护上新台阶、绿色转型有新进展、高质量发展有新成效、人民群众生活有新改善，开创黄河流域生态保护和高质量发展新局面.
Zheng Shanjie from the NDRC, Hu Changsheng, Gansu Party Secretary, Zhao Yide, Shaanxi Party Secretary, and Lou Yangsheng, Henan Party Secretary also spoke at the meeting.
In his speech, Xi highlighted the challenges that persist. He called to “improve the holistic framework of ecological protection and collaboration in the Yellow River basin to strengthen the national ecological security shields”.
He called to “promote the construction of an ecological environment management system integrating the upstream and downstream, carry out in-depth major projects for the protection and restoration of important ecosystems, and enhance the stability of river basin ecosystems. Strengthen the joint prevention and treatment of the ‘Three North’ project to improve its overall effect. Strengthen the comprehensive management of coal mining subsidence areas and actively explore new paths for the transformation and development of resource-based areas. Continue to fight the tough battle of pollution prevention and control, strengthen the management of important tributaries and key lakes and reservoirs, and do a good job in the construction of environmental infrastructure in areas around rivers and lakes.” 习近平强调，要持续完善黄河流域生态大保护大协同格局，筑牢国家生态安全屏障。更加突出黄河治理的系统性、整体性、协同性，推动构建上下游贯通一体的生态环境治理体系，深入实施重要生态系统保护和修复重大工程，提升流域生态系统稳定性。强化“三北”工程联防联治，提升整体效果。加强采煤沉陷区综合治理，积极探索资源型地区转型发展新路径。持续深入打好污染防治攻坚战，加强重要支流和重点湖库治理，搞好沿河环湖地区环境基础设施建设.
He added:
Strengthen comprehensive air pollution control, accelerate the upgrades to ensure ultra-low emissions in key sectors and vigorously promote the clean and efficient use of coal. Regulate ‘scattered, disorderly, and polluting’ enterprises in accordance with the law and effectively control sources of risk. Implement fiscal, financial, investment, and pricing policies, as well as a standards system, to support green and low-carbon development. Improve the value realisation mechanism of ecological products. Explore the establishment of a basin-wide, market-oriented and diversified ecological protection compensation mechanism. 强化大气污染综合治理，加快重点行业超低排放改造，大力推进煤炭清洁高效利用。依法整治“散乱污”企业，有效管控风险源。实施支持绿色低碳发展的财税、金融、投资、价格政策和标准体系。健全生态产品价值实现机制。探索建立全流域、市场化、多元化生态保护补偿机制.
Xi added that it is necessary to implement the most stringent water resource protection and utilization system, and improve the level of water resource conservation and intensive use. Strictly adhere to the upper limit of water resource development and utilization, refine measures to determine cities, land, population, and production based on water availability, improve the total water use control system covering the entire basin, and scientifically allocate water resources in main and tributary streams. Strengthen groundwater level control and intensify efforts to address over-exploitation of groundwater in the middle and lower reaches. Strengthen protection of drinking water sources. Steadily optimize and adjust the ‘87’ water allocation plan. Actively explore and standardize the promotion of water rights trading, and comprehensively implement the transformation of water resource fees into taxes. Implement water-saving actions and accelerate the construction of a water-saving society. 习近平指出，要实施最严格的水资源保护利用制度，提高水资源节约集约利用水平。严守水资源开发利用上限，细化以水定城、以水定地、以水定人、以水定产举措，健全覆盖全流域的取用水总量控制体系，科学配置干支流水资源。强化地下水水位管控，加大中下游地下水超采漏斗治理力度。加强饮用水水源地保护。稳步优化调整“八七”分水方案。积极探索和规范推进水权交易，全面推行水资源费改税。实施节水行动，加快建设节水型社会.
The next paragraph deals with improving the disaster prevention and mitigation system. Among other things, he calls to strengthen disaster monitoring and early warning, and strengthen the linkage between early warning and emergency response. He also calls to ensure regular and practical mobilisation drills.
The paragraph after deals talks about promoting the comprehensive green transformation of development mode and building a modern industrial system with distinctive advantages. Under this, Xi called to:
strengthen the support of agricultural technology and equipment and develop appropriately scaled agricultural operations
build high-standard farmland that can ensure stable yields in drought and flood
optimize the layout of major project construction to minimize the impact on surface runoff and groundwater
vigorously develop a green and low-carbon economy, orderly promote the planning and construction of large-scale wind power and photovoltaic bases and power transmission channels, and accelerate the substitution of clean energy in key industries
improve the ability of industrial scientific and technological innovation, promote energy-saving and carbon-reduction transformation and equipment renewal in key industries, strengthen strategic emerging industries and advanced manufacturing clusters, and develop new quality productive forces in accordance with local conditions
encourage universities, research institutes, and others organisations within the region to establish mechanisms for technology transfer and industrialization services, and enhance the coordination of innovation and industry chains
习近平指出，要推动发展方式全面绿色转型，建设特色优势现代产业体系。毫不放松抓好粮食和重要农产品生产，强化农业科技和装备支撑，发展农业适度规模经营，因地制宜发展特色优势农业。建设旱涝保收的高标准农田，抓好盐碱地综合改造利用，努力提高耕地质量。优化重大项目建设布局，最大程度降低对地表径流、地下水的影响。大力发展绿色低碳经济，有序推进大型风电光伏基地和电力外送通道规划建设，加快重点行业清洁能源替代。着力提高产业科技创新能力，推动重点行业节能降碳改造和设备更新，壮大战略性新兴产业、先进制造业集群，因地制宜发展新质生产力。鼓励区域内高校、科研院所等布局建设技术转移和产业化服务机制，提高产业链创新链协同水平.
In the next paragraph, Xi doubles down on his reform agenda:
It is necessary to comprehensively deepen reform and expand opening up to add impetus to high-quality development.
Deeply participate in the construction of a unified national market and resolutely eliminate all forms of local protectionism.
Deepen the reform of state-owned assets and state-owned enterprises and fully implement policies and measures to promote the development and growth of the private economy.
Build a regional economic layout and land space system with complementary advantages.
Megacities must take the path of connotative development, and the urban agglomerations along the Yellow River must enhance their population agglomeration and industrial collaboration capabilities.
Improve major cross-provincial infrastructure systems, such as transportation, energy, and water conservancy, and promote the construction of new infrastructure.
Strengthen the connection with other regional strategies and promote the coordinated linkage of the construction of free trade pilot zones.
Actively participate in the high-quality joint construction of BRI and expand development space with high-level opening up.
习近平强调，要全面深化改革扩大开放，为高质量发展增添动力。深度参与全国统一大市场建设，坚决破除各种形式的地方保护主义。深化国资国企改革，全面落实促进民营经济发展壮大的政策举措。构建优势互补的区域经济布局和国土空间体系，特大城市要走内涵式发展之路，沿黄城市群要提升人口集聚和产业协作能力。完善交通、能源、水利等跨省区重大基础设施体系，推进新型基础设施建设。加强与其他区域战略的对接，促进自由贸易试验区建设协调联动。积极参与高质量共建“一带一路”，以高水平对外开放拓展发展空间.
In the next paragraph, Xi talks about the need to coordinate new urbanisation and rural revitalization and steadily improve people’s well-being. He called for efforts to enhance the industrial and population carrying capacities of county-level cities and reduce the pressure on ecologically fragile areas. Counties should play a better role in connecting cities and driving rural development, aiming to achieve urban-rural integration within counties first. Village construction should be promoted in a categorised manner, building livable, work-friendly and beautiful villages. Strengthen inclusive, basic and bottom-line livelihood guarantees. Put employment in a prominent position, and pay attention to expanding employment capacity in both urban and rural industrial development and rural industrial cultivation. Consolidate and expand the results of poverty alleviation and prevent large-scale relapse into poverty. Fully implement the major policies and guidelines of the Party’s ethnic work in the new era, deepen the creation of ethnic unity and progress, govern ethnic and religious affairs according to law, and forge a strong sense of community of the Chinese nation. 习近平指出，要统筹新型城镇化和乡村振兴，稳步增进民生福祉。引导大中小城市和小城镇协调发展、集约紧凑布局，提升县城产业和人口承载能力，减轻生态脆弱区的承载压力。更好发挥县城连接城市、带动乡村作用，率先在县域内实现城乡融合发展。分类推进村庄建设，建设宜居宜业和美乡村。加强普惠性、基础性、兜底性民生保障。把就业摆在突出位置，城镇产业发展和乡村产业培育都要重视扩大就业容量。巩固拓展脱贫攻坚成果，防止规模性返贫致贫。全面贯彻新时代党的民族工作大政方针，深化民族团结进步创建，依法治理民族、宗教事务，铸牢中华民族共同体意识.
The next bit says:
“Xi Jinping emphasised that the Yellow River Basin is an important birthplace of the Chinese nation and Chinese civilization, and it is essential to protect and promote Yellow River culture, preserving the historical and national roots. Strengthen the overall and systematic protection of cultural heritage and natural heritage, and deepen archaeological work. Protect red cultural resources, promote revolutionary culture, and develop advanced socialist culture. Deeply explore the contemporary value of the Yellow River culture and fully demonstrate the Chinese nation’s self-improvement, perseverance and spirit of struggle. Promote the integrated development of culture and tourism and build a Yellow River cultural tourism belt with international influence.” 习近平强调，黄河流域是中华民族和中华文明的重要发祥地，要保护弘扬黄河文化，传承好历史文脉和民族根脉。加强对文化遗产和自然遗产的整体性、系统性保护，深入推进考古等工作。保护好红色文化资源，弘扬革命文化，发展社会主义先进文化。深入挖掘黄河文化的时代价值，充分展示中华民族自强不息、坚忍不拔的民族品格和奋斗精神。推动文化和旅游融合发展，建设具有国际影响力的黄河文化旅游带.
Next, there’s a report on Li Qiang meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Xinhua says:
Li said that “China is willing to further expand the scale of bilateral trade with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), explore cooperation in new energy, electric vehicles, high-end manufacturing, biomedicine, digital economy and other fields, jointly make a forward-looking layout of emerging industries and future industries, and cultivate more new economic growth points.”
The report adds:
“Li said that China is willing to work with the UAE to enhance communication and give full play to the mechanism of the high-level committee on China-UAE investment and cooperation. He also called on the UAE side to continue to provide a favorable business environment for Chinese companies to invest in the country. China is ready to continue working with the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to promote the early completion of negotiations on the China-GCC free trade agreement, said the premier”.
Sheikh Mohamed “expressed his sincere appreciation to President Xi for attaching great importance to the UAE-China relationship and providing strategic guidance for promoting bilateral ties. The UAE firmly abides by the one-China principle and is willing to be a reliable cooperative partner of China and a strategic partner in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, said Mohamed. He said the UAE looks forward to closer exchanges at all levels with China, giving full play to the mechanism of the high-level committee on China-UAE investment and cooperation, deepening practical cooperation in economy, trade, investment, energy, health, education, and other fields, and continuously enriching the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The UAE stands ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with China in international and multilateral affairs, and promote world peace, stability and development, he said.”
Li also met with UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This is covered on Page 3. Xinhua says:
“China has long placed the UAE as a priority in China’s Middle East diplomacy, and stands ready to work with the UAE to forge ahead hand in hand, firmly support each other, consolidate the political foundation of bilateral ties, further strengthen cooperation in various fields, so as to inject new vitality into bilateral relations, achieve more results and deliver more benefits to their people. Li pointed out that China and the UAE are good partners on the path of common development, and it is in the fundamental interests of both sides to strengthen cooperation and help each other succeed. China is willing to share development opportunities with the UAE for better mutual benefit, Li said, calling on the two sides to further tap the cooperation potential, give full play to complementary advantages, expand the scale of economic and trade cooperation, and strengthen cooperation on infrastructure, new energy, digital economy and green economy to help realize each other's sustainable development. The UAE is welcome to increase investment in China and China encourages enterprises to invest and do business in the UAE, Li added.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum reportedly said that “the UAE government attaches great importance to developing relations with China and has always firmly adhered to the one-China policy … The UAE government is ready to take the opportunity of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with China to further leverage its advantages, expand trade, deepen cooperation in such fields as investment, energy and education, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and push for new progress in the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.”
Also on Page 3 is the report on Li’s address to enterprises in the UAE. Xinhua reports:
Li said that China-UAE trade and economic ties are “rooted in the long-standing trade traditions of the two countries, aligned development philosophies, and shared values…Both China and the UAE have actively embraced economic globalization, worked together to create miracles of development through opening-up, and promoted mutual benefit and win-win results through cooperation, he said. The premier said that both China and the UAE belong to the Asian family, and the Asian people have a firm and persistent desire for peace, unity and cooperation and have made unremitting efforts to this end. Noting that Asia has generally enjoyed peace, stability and rapid development in the past few decades, Li said that this common pursuit of value is even more valuable amidst global changes and turmoil, and thus should be cherished and upheld.”
He then made a few specific points, while calling for more investment from UAE enterprises.
First, he called on enterprises from China and the UAE to seize the new opportunities of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The two countries should base their cooperation on bilateral relations while keeping a global perspective to explore partnerships and expand markets, he said. It is hoped that the two countries could deepen cooperation in areas such as connectivity, infrastructure development and financing to promote their deeper integration into global industrial and supply chains, he said.
Secondly, the premier called on China and the UAE to seize the new opportunities of the docking of each other's development strategies. The two countries should identify more areas of shared interests and opportunities for cooperation from the intersection of their strategic priorities, and deepen cooperation in trade, new energy, tourism, and other sectors, Li added.
Thirdly, he urged both sides to jointly seize the burgeoning opportunities in technological and industrial innovation, harness innovation as a driving force, and advance cooperation in cutting-edge fields such as advanced manufacturing, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence, and work together to seize future development opportunities.
Page 2: There’s a report on Wang Yi’s meeting with Vladimir Putin. As per the Chinese readout, Putin told Wang that:
“The Russian side is willing to take the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and China this year as an opportunity to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen the docking of development strategies, and promote Russia-China relations to a new level. Putin thanked China for its support for Russia’s presidency of the BRICS. He added that the BRICS Security Conference has achieved positive results and successfully held a dialogue with the ‘Global South’ countries, which fully demonstrated the influence and strength of the BRICS. The Russian side appreciates that China's diplomacy has always been based on the long-term and the common future of mankind. It is willing to strengthen coordination with China, unite more ‘Global South’ countries, work together to promote the process of world multipolarity, and build an international order based on justice and international law. 普京请王毅转达对习近平主席的诚挚问候和良好祝愿，表示热切期盼中方出席下月举行的金砖国家领导人喀山峰会。俄中在平等互利基础上不断深化新时代俄中全面战略协作伙伴关系，各层级往来保持良好势头，各领域合作顺利推进。 俄方愿以今年俄中建交75周年为契机，落实好元首达成的重要共识，加强发展战略对接，推动俄中关系迈上新台阶。 感谢中方对俄方担任金砖轮值主席国的支持，本次金砖国家安代会取得积极成果，成功举办同“全球南方”国家对话会，充分彰显了金砖影响和金砖力量。 俄方赞赏中国外交始终立足长远和人类共同未来，愿同中方加强协调，团结更多“全球南方”国家，携手推进世界多极化进程，构建基于公正和国际法的国际秩序.
Wang said that China will fully support Russia in hosting the BRICS summit. He added that “we are willing to work together with BRICS partners to promote equal and orderly world multi-polarization and inclusive economic globalization, and make a BRICS contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind. 愿同金砖伙伴团结协作，推进平等有序的世界多极化、普惠包容的经济全球化，为构建人类命运共同体作出金砖贡献.
They discussed the war in Ukraine. Putin appreciated the ‘six-point consensus’ between China and Brazil and reiterated that Russia has always been open to peace talks. Wang Yi said that China is committed to promoting a political solution to the crisis and is willing to work with all parties to gather objective, rational and balanced voices in the international community.双方还就乌克兰问题交换了看法。普京赞赏中国巴西“六点共识”，重申俄方始终对和谈持开放态度。王毅表示，中方致力于推动危机政治解决，愿同各方一道，汇聚国际社会中的客观理性平衡声音.
Wang also met with Indian NSA Ajit Doval. The Chinese readout of that meeting says that:
“The two sides discussed the progress made in the recent consultations on border issues. Both parties expressed the belief that the stability of China-India relations is in the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples and conducive to regional peace and development. Both China and India agreed to implement the consensus reached by the heads of the two countries, enhance mutual understanding and trust, maintain continuous communication, and create conditions for boosting bilateral ties.” 双方讨论了近期边境事务磋商取得的进展，认为中印关系实现稳定符合两国人民根本和长远利益，有利于地区和平发展。一致同意落实两国领导人共识，努力增进理解互信，为双边关系改善创造条件，并就此继续保持沟通.
Wang added that “facing a turbulent world, as two ancient Eastern civilizations and emerging developing countries, China and India should adhere to independence, choose unity and cooperation, and focus on mutual achievement while avoiding mutual consumption. I believe that both sides have the wisdom and capability to view each other with a correct perspective, address differences with a pragmatic attitude, and find the right way for two neighboring major countries to coexist constructively, thereby promoting the return of China-India relations to a healthy, stable, and sustainable development trajectory.” 王毅强调，面对变乱交织的世界，作为两大东方文明古国和新兴发展中大国，中印应坚持独立自主，选择团结合作；坚持相互成就，避免彼此消耗。相信双方有智慧和能力以正确眼光看待彼此，以务实态度妥处分歧，以建设性思考找到两个相邻大国正确相处之道，推动中印关系重回健康稳定可持续发展轨道。
The Indian readout says:
“The meeting gave the two sides an opportunity to review the recent efforts towards finding an early resolution of the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), which will create conditions to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations. Both sides agreed to work with urgency and redouble their efforts to realize complete disengagement in the remaining areas. NSA conveyed that peace and tranquility in borders areas and respect for LAC are essential for normalcy in bilateral relations. Both sides must fully abide by relevant bilateral agreements, protocols, and understandings reached in the past by the two Governments. The two sides agreed that the India-China bilateral relationship is significant not just for the two countries but also for the region and the world. The two sides also exchanged views on the global and regional situation.”
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Wang will meet foreign minister S. Jaishankar in Switzerland this week.
Finally, the readout from Wang’s meeting with Ali Ahmadian, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, says:
“Wang noted that China supports Iran’s efforts to protect its national sovereignty, security, and dignity, as well as its opposition to external interference and excessive suppression, adding that China is ready to promote the stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations. Wang also stated that China supports Iran and other regional countries in resolving their disputes via communication and consultation, as well as continually improving regional relations.”
On the war in Gaza, Wang stressed the importance of fostering a durable ceasefire and complete military withdrawal, as well as resuming the ‘two-state solution’ as soon as feasible.
If you are interested, there are reports on the page about the opening of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum. Zhang Youxia met with the defense ministers of Cambodia and Singapore. Dong Jun also met with a bunch of attendees. More than 1,800 guests, including official representatives from over 100 countries and international organisations are attending the forum. You can track the news from the forum here. From the US, Michael Chase, who is the deputy assistant secretary of defence for China, is attending the forum.
Minister of National Defense Dong Jun delivered a speech at the opening.
Dong said that amid the unprecedented, once in a century changes, we should respect each other, treat each other with sincerity, seek common ground while reserving differences, be open and inclusive, cooperate for mutual benefit, achieve mutual success, and seek a long-term way to live in harmony. As part of an indivisible security community, we should share responsibilities, promote security through common development, and solidarity and mutual assistance, and explore a new security path based on the greatest common denominator rather than the interests of small groups. In the face of turmoil and disputes, we should strengthen our confidence in political solutions, uphold an objective and fair position, establish the concept of treating both the symptoms and the root causes, pool positive forces to promote peace and stability, and jointly advocate an equal and orderly world multipolarization. 董军指出，身处百年变局，我们应相互尊重、以诚相待，求同存异、开放包容，合作共赢、彼此成就，共谋和睦相处的长久之道。在不可分割的安全共同体中，大家要以责任共担、以共同发展、以团结互助共促安全，探索走出基于最大公约数而非小团体利益的新型安全之路。面对动荡纷争，应坚定政治解决的信心，秉持客观公正的立场，树立标本兼治的理念，共聚促和维稳的正向力量，共倡平等有序的世界多极化.
Dong Jun said that the Chinese military will firmly implement the GSI and is willing to work hand in hand with the armed forces of various countries to build a new security partnership, promote pragmatic and open military cooperation, improve the level of security governance in emerging fields, and jointly provide guarantees for high-quality development, so as to make new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind and maintaining world peace and security. 董军表示，中国军队坚定践行全球安全倡议，愿同各国军队携手并肩，构建新型安全伙伴关系，推进务实开放军事合作，提升新兴领域安全治理水平，共同为高质量发展提供保障，为构建人类命运共同体、维护世界和平与安全作出新的更大贡献.
Page 7: A couple of reports of disciplinary actions taken against officials.
Li Haitao, former vice-chairman of the Heilongjiang Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has been expelled from the Party and dismissed from his post for serious violations of Party disciplines and laws. The report adds that “Li was disloyal to the Party and dishonest, and he resisted the investigation conducted by the Party organizations, the statement said. He was found to have engaged in superstitious activities and to have violated the eight-point regulation. The watchdogs found that he violated regulations by frequenting private clubs and accepting banquet invitations, and he failed to provide truthful explanations during their inquiries, the statement said. He also accepted gifts, cash and gift cards, arranging for subordinates to reimburse and pay for his personal expenses. He used his authority to seek benefits for family business activities, condoning and allowing family members to exploit his official influence for personal gain. Taking advantage of his position, Li unlawfully accepted large sums of money to benefit companies and people in project development, enterprise management and post placement.”
Zhang Zulin, former vice-governor of Southwest China's Yunnan province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) over serious violations of Party discipline and laws. The report adds: Zhang had formed political cliques, engaged in superstitious activities, and accepted banquet and trip arrangements in violation of the Party’s frugality rules…Zhang had intervened in judicial proceedings and resisted investigation. Zhang was also found to have taken advantage of his position to seek profits for others in matters including real estate development, project contracting, employment and job promotion, illegally accepting huge sums of money and gifts in return.