Xi Thought Campaign in Foreign Affairs Ecosystem - China-DRC Ties - Chen Xu on Taiwan's WHA Bid - Key Officials on Xi's Thought - G7 a 'Hegemonic Clique' - Tibet Anniversary
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily's edition on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
Page 1: The lead story in the paper is a report on Xi Jinping’s letter to volunteers (English report) who have been helping with garbage sorting in a residential community in Hongkou District in Shanghai. Xi said that he was “deeply impressed by the volunteers' enthusiasm for public welfare and their passion for serving the people.” The key point, however, is around garbage sorting and recycling, which Xi called for promoting to “become a new fashion of low-carbon life.”
The other story at the top of the page is a report on how the foreign affairs apparatus is implementing the Xi thought learning campaign. The Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission has treated the campaign “as an important political task.” It says that the CFAC has carried out learning activities, research work around better performance of duties and responsibilities, training around improving the quality and efficiency of work, strengthen rectification around the problems identified, while striving to achieve “tangible results in casting souls, enhancing the wisdom, improving work styles, and promoting work with learning.” 中央外事工作委员会办公室把开展主题教育作为重要政治任务，紧扣“学思想、强党性、重实践、建新功”总要求，围绕党的创新理论开展大学习，围绕更好履职尽责开展大调研，围绕提高工作质效开展大练兵，围绕检视出的问题加强整改整治，努力在以学铸魂、以学增智、以学正风、以学促干方面取得实实在在的成效.
It has held five reading sessions, organised learning sessions and collective study and discussion meetings in order to ensure that all Party cadres further learn and understand Xi’s thought, especially Xi Jinping’s diplomatic thought. 聚焦党的创新理论学习，举办5期全员轮训读书班，组织系列专题辅导报告会，集体学习和研讨交流结合，推动全体党员干部进一步学懂弄通做实习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想特别是习近平外交思想. It adds that the agenda is to intensify theoretical study to guide the development of practice. The aim has been to focus on “strategic and long-term diplomatic and foreign affairs work and key and difficult issues.” 以强化理论学习指导发展实践，以深化调查研究推动解决发展难题。聚焦外交外事工作战略性长远性和重点难点问题，精心研究制定工作方案，大兴调查研究；突出实践导向，把开展主题教育同推动对外工作结合起来，以新气象新作为履行党中央外交外事参谋助手职责.
The Party Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately held a meeting to study Xi’s speech on the campaign. 14 half-days were dedicated to concentrate on reading. The Party Committee of the Ministry sent five roving guidance groups to supervise and guide the 36 internal units of the Ministry and 265 embassies and consulates abroad in carrying out thematic education. The Ministry has strengthened its ideological consciousness, political consciousness and action consciousness of doing a good job in investigation and research, focused on the difficulties in diplomatic work, and identified 10 research topics. 开设部党委读书班，安排14个半天集中读书，领学带学促学. 针对外交战线摊子大、分布广的情况，部党委派出5个巡回指导组，对36个部内部属单位和265个驻外使领馆党委开展主题教育情况进行督促指导...外交部增强做好调查研究的思想自觉、政治自觉、行动自觉，聚焦外交工作中的堵点难点，确定10个方面调研课题.
For the International Liaison Department, three batches of bureau-level officials held a 7-day reading class. 42 symposiums were held to deepen understanding. Other institutions mentioned in the report are CIDCA, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs.
Moving on, there is a front page commentary marking the 72nd anniversary of the 1951 “peaceful liberation of Tibet” and the signing of the 17-point agreement. It argues that China’s rule in Tibet “has created unprecedented historical achievements”; in making this case, the piece argues that Tibet’s “average annual economic growth rate ranks among the top in the country, the growth rate of per capita disposable income of rural residents has ranked first in the country for many years in a row, and the urbanisation rate has steadily increased. In today’s Tibet, political stability, social stability, economic development, ethnic unity, religious harmony, border defence consolidation, and people’s sense of contentment in terms of their life and work present a thriving scene.” 特别是党的十八大以来，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，在全国人民大力支持下，西藏各族干部群众艰苦奋斗、顽强拼搏，西藏步入发展最好、变化最大、群众得实惠最多的新时代——经济年均增速位居全国前列，农村居民人均可支配收入增速连续多年位居全国第一，城镇化率稳步提升. 今天的西藏，政治安定、社会稳定、经济发展、民族团结、宗教和睦、边防巩固、人民安居乐业，呈现出一派欣欣向荣的景象.
It adds: “History has fully proved that without the CPC there would be no new China and no new Tibet, and that the principles and policies of the CPC Central Committee on Tibet are completely correct. Only by upholding 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 policy of governing Tibet in the new era can we achieve prosperity and progress in Tibet and create a better future for Tibet.” 历史充分证明：没有中国共产党就没有新中国，也就没有新西藏，党中央关于西藏工作的方针政策是完全正确的。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，才能开创西藏更加美好的未来！
The second-last paragraph in the article calls for “fully implementing the Party's strategy for governing Tibet in the new era.” This includes “fully, accurately and comprehensively implementing the new development concept, integrating into the new development pattern, promoting high-quality development, strengthening the construction of border areas, focusing on the four major issues of stability, development, ecology, and strengthening the border, making new achievements in promoting the ecological protection and sustainable development of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau”, and “enhancing the identification of the people of all ethnic groups to the great motherland, the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the Communist Party of China, and socialism with Chinese characteristics.” 党的二十大擘画了全面建设社会主义现代化国家、以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的宏伟蓝图。全面建设社会主义现代化国家，一个民族都不能少。站在新的历史起点上，要全面贯彻新时代党的治藏方略，坚持稳中求进工作总基调，立足新发展阶段，完整、准确、全面贯彻新发展理念，服务和融入新发展格局，推动高质量发展，加强边境地区建设，抓好稳定、发展、生态、强边四件大事，在推动青藏高原生态保护和可持续发展上不断取得新成就，多谋长久之策，多行固本之举，不断增强各族群众对伟大祖国、中华民族、中华文化、中国共产党、中国特色社会主义的认同，走出一条符合西藏实际的高质量发展之路，奋力谱写雪域高原长治久安和高质量发展新篇章.
Also on the page is a report on PBSC member Cai Qi’s comments during a symposium on the publication of the first two volumes of the selected works of Xi Jinping. He called for earnestly studying the materials as part of the Xi thought education campaign. “It is necessary to learn political loyalty, mission responsibility, spirit of hard work, profound feels feelings, struggle skills, sobriety and firmness, and truly transform the effectiveness of learning into the inner initiative to transform the subjective and objective world, and into the practical action of building a comprehensively modern socialist country and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 要学出政治忠诚，学出使命担当，学出实干精神，学出深厚情怀，学出斗争本领，学出清醒坚定，真正把学习成效转化为改造主客观世界的内在主动，转化为全面建设社会主义现代化国家、全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的实际行动.
He also wants the learning of Xi’s thought to be imbibed in one’s heart and soul. 要深入开展主题教育，把《习近平著作选读》学习运用工作组织好、安排好，推动习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想入脑入心入魂.
On Page 6, there are comments from other senior officials from this symposium. I’ll cover that separately.
Finally, a report with data from the China State Railway Group, informing that a total of 5,611 China-Europe freight trains ran from January to April, a year-on-year increase of 17 percent, and about 609,000 standard containers of goods were transported, up 32 percent from a year earlier. In a report on this in Global Times, the company says that it has also set up charter trains to Belarus and Russia.
Page 3: There’s an article by Chen Xu, China's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva. The article begins by telling us that on May 22, the WHA explicitly rejected the proposal to invite Taiwan as an observer. “This is the seventh consecutive year that the WHA has rejected the so-called Taiwan-related proposals. It once again shows that the One-China principle affirmed in UN Resolution 2758 and WHA resolution 25.1 is beyond doubt; the DPP authorities will have no way out by using the WHA to engage in political manipulation.” 5月22日，第七十六届世界卫生大会明确拒绝将“邀请台湾以观察员身份参加世卫大会”的提案列入大会议程。这是世卫大会连续第七年拒绝所谓涉台提案，再次表明联大第2758号决议和世卫大会25.1号决议确认的一个中国原则不容置疑，台湾民进党当局借世卫大会搞政治操弄绝无出路.
“Over the past seven years, the DPP authorities have teamed up with individual countries to stir troubles/commotion whenever the WHA meets. Especially since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the DPP authorities and individual countries have repeatedly sensationalised Taiwan-related issues at the WHA, ignoring the urgent expectation of the international community for unity and fighting the pandemic, bringing political interference in the functioning of professional organisations. This practice of putting self-interest above international justice is doomed to be unpopular.” 7年来，台湾民进党当局伙同个别国家在世卫大会“逢会必闹”。特别是新冠疫情发生以来，台湾民进党当局及个别国家罔顾国际社会对团结抗疫的迫切期待，反复在世界卫生组织炒作涉台问题，给专业机构带来政治干扰。这种将一己私利置于国际公义之上的做法注定不得人心.
Chen then argues that the proposition that excluding Taiwan hurts the fight against the pandemic is “totally false.” He says that the PRC has made “proper arrangements for Taiwan to participate in global health affairs under the premise of the one-China principle. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the mainland was the first to invite experts from Taiwan to Wuhan for inspection, informing the Taiwan region of the epidemic more than 500 times. Since taking office as China's Permanent Representative and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the UN Office at Geneva and other international organisations in Switzerland, I have maintained close coordination with the WHO Secretariat, and arranged for health experts from Taiwan to participate in over 100 technical activities of the WHO under the premise of the One-China principle.” 台湾民进党当局声称不让台参加世卫大会将导致国际防疫体系“出现缺口”，完全是一个伪命题。中国中央政府始终高度重视台湾同胞的健康福祉，在一个中国原则前提下，对台湾地区参与全球卫生事务作出妥善安排。新冠疫情发生以来，大陆最先邀请台湾专家赴武汉考察，向台湾地区通报新冠疫情超过500次。我就任中国常驻联合国日内瓦办事处和瑞士其他国际组织代表、特命全权大使后，同世卫组织秘书处保持密切协调，在符合一个中国原则前提下，安排台湾地区卫生专家参加世卫组织技术活动100余次.
He then claims that the DPP has “ignored the goodwill of the central government and stubbornly sought political self-interest, which aroused strong dissatisfaction from the international community.” For instance, “before the opening of the current WHA, nearly 140 countries explicitly supported China's position, and nearly 100 countries wrote to the Director-General of the WHO or made public statements, reiterating their adherence to the one-China principle and opposing Taiwan Province's participation, stressing that Taiwan Province lacked the political foundation to participate in the WHA, and Taiwan-related issues should not interfere with the meeting process.” 台湾民进党当局无视中央政府善意，顽固谋求政治私利，引发国际社会强烈不满。本届世卫大会开幕前，近140个国家明确支持中方立场，近百个国家专门致函世卫组织总干事或公开发表声明，重申坚持一个中国原则，反对台湾参会，强调台湾缺乏参与世卫大会的政治基础，涉台问题不应干扰会议进程等。这些正义之声是对台湾民进党当局的不满和警告，更是对国际法治和正义的坚守和维护.
In the next paragraph, Chen alleges that the “DPP and individual countries have engaged in Taiwan-related proposals and attempted to create ‘two China's’ and ‘one China, one Taiwan’ at UN agencies.” This, for him, “seriously violates international law,” implies them “seriously reneging on the political commitments” made to China, and “seriously tramples on the basic norms of international relations.” China, Chen adds, will never agree to this. 台湾民进党当局及个别国家搞涉台提案，图谋在世卫组织等联合国机构制造“两个中国”“一中一台”，严重违反国际法，严重背弃有关国家对中国作出的政治承诺，严重践踏国际关系基本准则.
The foreign ministry’s reaction to the WHA decision is also published on the page. Here’s the English version.
Next, there’s a report on Qin Gang meeting with Christophe Lutundula, Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Xinhua reports Qin saying that “China and the DRC are good friends and brothers that enjoy a time-honored friendship.”
“Qin pointed out that China has been the largest trading partner and source of investment to the DRC for many consecutive years. China will continue to work with the DRC to advance the building of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implement the consensus under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and achieve win-win cooperation. China is willing to help the DRC to turn the resource advantages into a driving engine for its economic development, and hopes that the DRC could create a sound business environment and provide security guarantee for Chinese investors, Qin said. Qin said both sides should strengthen solidarity and coordination at the UN and other multilateral occasions, firmly safeguard the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and jointly develop fairer and more equitable international order and global governance.”
For some context, DRC President Felix Tshisekedi will be visiting China from May 24 to 29. Al-Jazeera reports that the visit “could pave the way for the two countries to formally overhaul and seal a $6bn infrastructure-for-minerals deal with Chinese investors.” The report adds:
“The DRC is the world’s largest producer of battery material cobalt. It also has significant deposits of diamonds, gold, lithium and tantalum. Tshisekedi instructed his government at a cabinet meeting on May 19 to move ahead with talks on the deal with Chinese counterparts after the DRC government and other stakeholders ‘consolidated their position’, a DRC government statement said. He informed cabinet members that a task force looking at the deal had submitted its conclusions, enabling discussions with Chinese partners to commence in the coming days.”
Also note this Reuters report from February.
“Congo’s state auditor has demanded an additional $17 billion of investments from a 2008 infrastructure-for-minerals deal with Chinese investors that is currently being renegotiated…President Felix Tshisekedi’s government has been revisiting the deal struck by his predecessor Joseph Kabila under which Sinohydro Corp and China Railway Group Limited agreed to build roads and hospitals in exchange for a 68% stake in Sicomines, a cobalt and copper joint venture with Congo’s state mining company Gecamines. Under the Sicomines deal, the Chinese investors committed to spending $3 billion on infrastructure projects, but the state auditor - Inspection Generale des Finances (IGF) - demanded that commitment be increased to $20 billion, to reflect the value of the mining concessions that Gecamines contributed to the deal.”
Finally, do also read through this piece in The Diplomat by Robert Bociaga for a broader perspective on China’s engagement with the DRC.
Page 4: Two stories to highlight. First, the Ninth China-Russia Youth Games just opened in Chongqing. State Councilor Shen Yiqin and Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin were in attendance for the opening. A total of 440 athletes from both sides will participate in 62 events across eight sports.
Second, the Central Propaganda Department has awarded Wan Buyan, a 59-year-old professor at the Hunan University of Science and Technology and current NPC deputy, as the Role Model of the Times. China Daily has an English report:
“According to a China Media Group report, he focuses on the major strategic needs of China and has been researching marine resource exploration technology for more than 30 years. He has led his team to resolve key core technical problems and has made pioneering contributions to the research and development of marine mineral exploration technology and equipment in China, it said. In addition, Wan has built a high-level innovation team and has trained a large number of young scientific and technological professionals. Moreover, he has presided over a series of key scientific research programs, including the 863 Program, a national high-tech development plan, and over 40 provincial-or-ministerial-level scientific research projects.”
Page 6: So, the entire page is dedicated to comments from select officials who attended the event focussed on the publication of the two volumes of selected works of Xi Jinping. I am doing rough summary of the comments of some of the key officials:
Meng Xiangfeng, deputy director of the General Office of the Central Committee, said that the publication of the books was like “timely rain” and “has great political, theoretical and historical significance.”
He adds that the “more you get into the learning, the more you can deeply understand the power of truth and the profoundness of the truth” contained within Xi’s ideas. “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era scientifically answers the questions of China, the world, the people, and the times, and realises a new leap in the modernization of Marxism in China.” 习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学回答了中国之问、世界之问、人民之问、时代之问，实现了马克思主义中国化时代化新的飞跃. He calls on everyone to use “this thought to forge one’s soul” and “to transform the thought into a powerful force to strengthen ideals, temper Party spirit, guide practice, and promote work.” 新征程上，我们必须坚持不懈用这一思想凝心铸魂，将其转化为坚定理想、锤炼党性和指导实践、推动工作的强大力量.
He then stresses on the Two Establishments and achieving the two safeguards. He argues that “strengthening the overall leadership of the Party, especially the centralised and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, is a red line running through the selected readings.” 加强党的全面领导特别是加强党中央集中统一领导，是贯穿选读的一根红线. “The historical achievements and historical changes in the cause of the Party and the country in the new era are fundamentally due to the ‘Two Establishments’, the steering and navigation of General Secretary Xi Jinping at the helm and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. 新时代党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，根本在于“两个确立”，在于习近平总书记掌舵领航，在于习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的科学指引.
He also calls for understanding the principle of the “supremacy of the people.” Basically, in this, he credits Xi for the achievements in poverty alleviation and pandemic containment. Finally, Meng emphasises the importance of comprehensive and strict governance of the Party and self-revolution, which he says is a “major original contribution” that Xi’s thought has provided to break away from the dynastic cycle. He adds that “by systematically studying and reading relevant essays, I became more aware of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s far-reaching considerations, earnest intentions and political responsibility.” 系统学习选读中有关论述，越发体悟到习近平总书记的深远考量、良苦用心和政治担当.
Next, there are comments from Xie Chuntao, vice president of the Central Party School. Xie calls for studying Xi’s thought from four perspectives:
A. Problem orientation: This is because “since the 18th Party Congress, the new changes in domestic and international situations and new requirements in practice urgently require us to deeply answer a series of major questions of the times related to the development of the cause of the Party and the country and the governance of the country by the Party through a combination of theory and practice.” 党的十八大以来，国内外形势新变化和实践新要求，迫切需要我们从理论和实践的结合上深入回答关系党和国家事业发展、党治国理政的一系列重大时代课题. Essentially, one needs to approach everything from a new prism.
B. Theoretical Contribution: In this, he identifies 18 contributions of Xi’s thought. These are:
In terms of the characteristics of the times, it proposed that the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century.
In terms of the principle contradiction, it proposed that the principle contradiction in our country has changed to the people's growing needs for a better life and unbalanced and inadequate development.
In terms of Party leadership, it proposed that the most essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics is the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
In terms of the construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics, it outlined the Five-sphere Integrated Plan and Four Comprehensives strategic layout
In terms of the road to modernization, it proposed to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese-style modernization.
In terms of national governance, it proposed to promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities.
In terms of economic construction, it proposed to implement the new development concept, build a new development pattern, and promote high-quality development.
In terms of political construction, it proposed developing whole-process people's democracy.
In the construction of the rule of law, it proposed the promotion of comprehensive rule of law.
In terms of cultural construction, it put forward the core socialist values to achieve cultural self-confidence and self-improvement.
In terms of social construction, it proposed protecting and improving people's livelihood, and strengthening and innovating social governance.
In the construction of ecological civilization, it proposed the harmonious co-existence of man and nature.
In terms of national security, the overall national security concept has been put forward.
On ethnic issues, it proposed strengthening the consciousness of the Chinese nation as a community.
In terms of national reunification, it proposed the implementation of comprehensive governance over the special administrative region and the overall strategy of the Party in the new era to solve the Taiwan issue.
In terms of national defence and armed forces building, it proposed to take the road of strengthening the army with Chinese characteristics.
In terms of diplomacy, it proposed promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
In terms of Party building, it proposed promoting the Party's self-revolution and comprehensive and strict Party governance.
二是理论贡献。习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为丰富发展马克思主义作出了一系列原创性贡献。我理解，至少有18个方面。在时代特征上，提出当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局。在社会主要矛盾上，提出我国社会主要矛盾已经转化为人民日益增长的美好生活需要和不平衡不充分的发展之间的矛盾。在党的领导上，提出中国特色社会主义最本质的特征、中国特色社会主义制度的最大优势是中国共产党领导。在中国特色社会主义建设方面，提出“五位一体”总体布局和“四个全面”战略布局。在现代化道路方面，提出以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴。在国家治理上，提出推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化。在经济建设上，提出贯彻新发展理念，构建新发展格局，推动高质量发展。在政治建设上，提出发展全过程人民民主。在法治建设上，提出推进全面依法治国。在文化建设上，提出社会主义核心价值观，实现文化自信自强。在社会建设上，提出保障和改善民生，加强和创新社会治理。在生态文明建设上，提出人与自然和谐共生。在国家安全上，提出总体国家安全观。在民族问题上，提出铸牢中华民族共同体意识。在国家统一上，提出对特别行政区实行全面管治权和新时代党解决台湾问题的总体方略。在国防和军队建设上，提出走中国特色强军之路。在外交上，提出推动构建人类命运共同体。在党的建设上，提出推进党的自我革命，全面从严治党.
C. Practical Value: In this, Xie outlines what he argues are achievements, such as the situation of loose and lax Party governance has been reversed; economic development has become more balanced and sustainable; there has been institutionalisation, standardisation, and proceduralization of socialist democratic politics; overall and fundamental changes have taken place in the ideological field; great strides have been made in the construction of beautiful China; the PLA has achieved a revolutionary reshaping; Hong Kong has moved from chaos to governance; major country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has been comprehensively promoted, and China’s international influence, appeal, and shaping power have been significantly enhanced.
D. Global Significance: In this, he talks about ideas and initiatives like the concept of the community with a shared future for mankind, GDI, GSI, GCI, BRI, the common values of all mankind, the construction of a new type of international relations, etc.
The next commentator is Gao Xiang, President of CASS. He basically emphasises the six musts/persistences 六个必须坚持.
Must persist in upholding the supremacy of the people
Must persist in self-confidence and self-reliance
Must persist in integrity and innovation
Must persist in maintaining problem orientation
Must persist with the systems concept
Must persist in keeping the world in mind
Next is Hu Heping, deputy director of the Central Propaganda Department. He makes three points:
Xi’s thought has “made original contributions to the enrichment and development of Marxism.”
Xi’s thought has “made historic contributions to the inheritance and development of China’s excellent traditional culture.” “Based on the practical requirements of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, this thought profoundly expounds the historical origin, development context, ideological essence, and distinctive characteristics of the fine traditional Chinese culture, further clarifies the value of Chinese excellent traditional culture as the foundation and lifeblood of the times, and marks the new era in the Chinese Communists' understanding of the excellent Chinese traditional culture, which has reached a new historical height.” 这一思想立足中华民族伟大复兴的现实要求，深刻阐述中华优秀传统文化的历史渊源、发展脉络、思想精华、鲜明特质，进一步明确中华优秀传统文化作为根基和命脉的时代价值，标志着新时代中国共产党人对中华优秀传统文化的认识达到了新的历史高度。
Xi’s thought has “made worldwide contributions to promoting the cause of human civilization and progress.” “This thought holds high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, promotes and expands that path of Chinese-style modernization, and with its unique world outlook, values, historical outlook, civilization outlook, democracy outlook and ecological outlook and its great practice, it has achieved great innovation in the theory and practice of world modernization, created a new version of scientific socialism, opened up a new form of human civilization, and displayed a picture different from that of western capitalist modernization, providing a brand-new choice for the vast number of developing countries to independently explore the road to modernization.” 这一思想高举中国特色社会主义伟大旗帜，推进和拓展中国式现代化，以中国式现代化蕴含的独特世界观、价值观、历史观、文明观、民主观、生态观等及其伟大实践，实现了对世界现代化理论和实践的重大创新，写出了科学社会主义新版本，开拓了人类文明新形态，展现了一幅不同于西方资本主义现代化的图景，为广大发展中国家独立自主探索现代化道路提供了全新选择.
The other two speakers covered are Qu Qingshan and Mo Gaoyi, member Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Committee.
Page 9: On the theory page, the lead article is by Zang Anmin, who talks about the importance of conducting research and investigation while performing duties, because this is a “major issue that affects the success or failure of the cause of the Party and the people.” While I am not doing a detailed breakdown of the article, it is important to note this framing. This is essentially the challenge that lies at the heart of governance in China today, i.e., in an era of increasing centralisation and central control, how does one remain in touch with the grassroots and ensure diversity in local policies and implementation based on local conditions?
This matters because of course popular legitimacy is key to the Party’s governance.
For instance, as the author argues:
“To persist in governing for and by the people, we must implement the Party’s mass line, always pay attention to what the people are thinking and looking forward to, and truly understand their happiness, anger, sorrow and joy and the their bitter and sweet tastes of their lives (喜怒哀乐, 酸甜苦辣) in order to a correct understanding in the people’s creative practice, so that all decisions and work arrangements can concentrate the people's wisdom, reflect public opinion, win the people's hearts, win the support of the people, and transform the correct propositions of the Party into the conscious actions of the people.” ”坚持为人民执政、靠人民执政，必须贯彻党的群众路线，时刻关注群众在想什么、盼什么，真正搞清楚老百姓的“喜怒哀乐、酸甜苦辣”，从而在人民的创造性实践中获得正确认识，使各项决策和工作部署集中民智、体现民意、反映民情、深得民心，赢得人民群众的拥护和支持，把党的正确主张变为人民群众的自觉行动.
Zang then argues that conducting proper research and investigation requires seeking truth from facts. The process he outlines is:
Treat people with sincerity
Listen sincerely
Solve problems
“Building a comprehensively modern socialist power, realising the second centennial goal, and comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization are unprecedented pioneering undertakings. There are many major problems that need to be studied and solved. It is, therefore, an urgent need for leading cadres at all levels to forge ahead towards the frontline and go deep into rural areas, communities, enterprises, hospitals, schools, and other grassroots units to diagnose the pulse and conduct sample assessments (解剖麻雀). It is necessary to go to the most difficult places, where people have the most opinions, and where work is most challenging. It is necessary to avoid a situation in which there are too many investigations and too little research, avoid having an abundance of circumstances but insufficient analysis. One should not be proposing too broad/general, superficial and abstract strategies and measures to deal with the challenges. It is necessary to combine micro-research with macro-research, combine qualitative analysis with quantitative analysis, and focus on sorting out problems, troubleshooting difficult problems, researching and analysing, finding the crux of the problem, and defining the grasp, so as to form a list of problems, responsibilities, and tasks that need to be studied and solved one by one.” 全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标，以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴，是前无古人的开创性事业，需要研究和解决的重大问题很多，迫切需要各级领导干部扑下身子、沉到一线，深入农村、社区、企业、医院、学校、“两新”组织等基层单位，把脉问诊、解剖麻雀。要多到最困难的地方去，到群众意见多的地方去，到工作推不开的地方去。要防止调查多研究少、情况多分析少，提出的对策措施大而化之、空洞抽象。要把微观调研和宏观调研结合起来，把定性分析和定量分析结合起来，把调研重心放在梳理问题、排查难题、研机析理、找准症结、明确抓手上，形成问题清单、责任清单、任务清单，一条一条研究，一项一项解决.
Drawing inferences from instances, because the process of investigation and research is not only about delving into reality and understanding the ‘actual situation,’ but also about drawing inferences and deepening the pursuit of truth. The purpose of this process of investigation for the author is: “we should thoroughly study those universal and institutional issues, deep-seated key issues involving reform, development and stability, as well as difficult problems and stubborn diseases, so that we can have a ‘panoramic view’ in our work and a ‘toolbox’ in our hands.” 特别是对那些具有普遍性和制度性的问题、涉及改革发展稳定的深层次关键性问题以及难题积案和顽瘴痼疾等要研究透彻，从而在工作中胸中有“全景图”、手中有“工具箱”.
Page 17: There’s a Zhong Sheng commentary lashing out at the G7 as a “hegemonic ‘clique’ that undermines international order and tramples on fairness and justice”. On Taiwan, the commentary says that the G7’s communique shows that it “is becoming an accomplice in ‘using Taiwan to contain China’ and appears to have chosen to stand on the opposite side of the post-war international order.”
The author accuses the G7 of “hypocrisy and hegemonism”, “sowing discord between regional countries (ref: SCS & ECS) over maritime issues”; and engaging in economic coercion via sanctions and decoupling and breaking chains.
“The joint statement issued by the Hiroshima Summit reveals the shadow of American hegemony everywhere. The political farce at the Hiroshima summit shows that the US is turning its anti-China plan into the consensus of the G7. The forces of justice in the international community remain on high alert in the face of hegemonic powers' increasing efforts to provoke confrontation between camps by ‘cliques’, undermining international order and endangering peace and stability. The international community does not accept the ‘Western rules’ led by the G7, which draw lines based on ideology and values. It does not accept the ‘clique rules’ that serve the interests of ‘America First’ and a few other countries. It also does not accept the condescension of Western ‘teachers’ who dictate and meddle in the affairs of other countries. ‘The G7 has become a 'politicised body' manipulated by the US and does not represent the whole world.’ ‘The decisions made by the G7 are completely 'politicised' and seek political and economic benefits for the United States at the expense of the rest of the world.’ ‘Such political blocs that prevent the development of other countries should be eliminated by history’...These just voices show the true attitude of the overwhelming majority of countries in the international community towards the G7, which is going against the historical trend.” 广岛峰会发表的联合声明，处处透出美国霸权的影子。广岛峰会的政治闹剧表明，美国正把其反华遏华图谋变为七国集团的共识。面对霸权国家变本加厉以“小圈子”挑动阵营对抗、破坏国际秩序、危害和平稳定，国际社会正义力量保持着高度警惕。国际社会不接受七国集团主导的、以意识形态和价值观划线的“西方规则”，不接受服务于“美国第一”和少数国家既得利益的“小圈子规则”，更不接受西方“教师爷”般的说三道四、指手画脚。“七国集团已成为一个被美国操纵的‘政治化团体’，代表不了全世界。七国集团做出的决定完全‘政治化’，是以牺牲世界上其他国家的利益为代价，为美国谋取政治和经济利益”“这样阻止其他国家发展的政治集团理应被历史淘汰”……这些正义声音表明了国际社会绝大多数国家对违背历史潮流的七国集团的真实态度。
The last paragraph is important as a message to America’s partners and the developing world.
“Gone are the days when a handful of Western developed countries wantonly interfered in other countries' internal affairs and manipulated global affairs. Against the backdrop of a growing awareness about the sense of strategic autonomy among the international community, especially developing countries, the G7's insistence on cooperating with the US for hegemony and bullying will only lead to them further isolating themselves. Instead of continuing to act with recklessness, the G7 should introspect. Only when the G7 stops operating as a closed and exclusive ‘clique’, stops containing and suppressing other countries, stops provoking camp confrontation and returns to the right path of dialogue and cooperation can it avoid becoming an obstacle to world peace, stability and development and avoid being eliminated by the tide of the times.” 西方少数几个发达国家肆意干涉别国内政、操纵全球事务的时代已经一去不复返了。在国际社会特别是广大发展中国家战略自主意识不断上升的背景下，七国集团执意配合美国搞霸权霸道霸凌，只会让自己进一步陷入孤立状态。七国集团应该反躬自省，而不是继续肆意妄为。只有停止搞封闭排他的“小圈子”，停止遏制打压他国，停止挑动阵营对抗，回到对话合作的正确道路上来，七国集团才能避免成为世界和平、稳定、发展的绊脚石，才能避免被时代大潮淘汰.