Xi Thought Key for Building Party & State Leadership Teams - Li Qiang's NZ Visit - Fair Competition Review Regulation - China-US Dialogue
Hello folks,
Last night, I had the privilege of testifying before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. It was an excellent learning experience for me.
For those interested, you can catch the full recording of the hearing here.
I am also attaching below my full written testimony, which deals with several questions around Chinese perceptions of national security challenges, propaganda around competition and mobilisation of people.
Look forward to hearing any thoughts or feedback.
Cheers,
Manoj
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Friday, June 14, 2024
Page 1: Just a couple of reports to note. First, there is a report on the new Outline of the National Party and Government Leading Group Construction Plan (2024-28). The report says that this is a “guiding document for promoting the construction of Party and government leadership teams at all levels with high quality.”
The ‘Outline’ proposes that it is necessary to build strong leadership teams that are loyal practitioners of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, firmly implement the decisions and deployments of the Central Committee, and are capable of shouldering the significant responsibilities of the times, so as to provide a strong organizational guarantee for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization.
It is necessary to focus on ‘two safeguards’ to strengthen the political construction of the Party, deeply understand the decisive significance of ‘Two Establishments’, forge political loyalty, improve political capabilities, and strictly implement democratic centralism.
It is necessary to unremittingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to forge souls, strengthen the Party's innovative theoretical armament, and ensure the integration of learning, thinking, and application, as well as the unity of knowledge, belief, and action.
It is necessary to select and strengthen leadership teams, focus on selecting the right individuals for principal positions, optimize the age structure, improve the professional structure, improve the source and experience structure, improve the standardised working mechanism for cultivating and selecting outstanding young cadres, and reasonably allocate female cadres, ethnic minority cadres, and non-Party cadres.
It is necessary to vigorously enhance the ability to lead the construction of modernization, strengthen the training regarding one’s ability to perform duties, strengthen practical training, and strengthen the spirit of struggle and the ability to struggle.
It is necessary to encourage one to assume responsibilities for the benefit of the people, establish and practise the correct view of political achievements, and improve the incentive and protection mechanism for responsibility.
It is necessary to strengthen the rectification of work style and discipline with a strict tone, vigorously promote the approach of seeking truth and being pragmatic, and deepen the construction of Party conduct and clean government.
《规划纲要》提出，要建设忠实践行习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想、坚定贯彻落实党中央决策部署、堪当时代重任的坚强领导集体，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供有力组织保证。要聚焦“两个维护”加强党的政治建设，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，铸牢政治忠诚，提高政治能力，严格执行民主集中制。要坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，强化党的创新理论武装，坚持学思用贯通、知信行统一。要选优配强领导班子，重点选好正职，优化年龄结构，改善专业结构，完善来源、经历结构，健全培养选拔优秀年轻干部常态化工作机制，合理配备女干部、少数民族干部和党外干部。要大力提升领导现代化建设能力，加强履职能力培训，强化实践锻炼，加强斗争精神和斗争本领养成。要激励担当造福人民，树立和践行正确政绩观，完善担当作为激励和保护机制。要以严的基调强化正风肃纪，大力弘扬求真务实作风，深入推进党风廉政建设.
On Page 4, there is a Q&A with an official from the Organisation Department. The official says that the outline is a “tangible measure to thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 20th Party Congress. It is of great significance for ensuring and promoting the construction of a strong country and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation from an organizational perspective. 制定实施《规划纲要》是党中央着眼新时代新征程党和国家事业发展作出的重要部署，是深入贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想和党的二十大精神的具体举措，对从组织上保障和推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业具有重要意义.
In an incredibly long sentence, the official then says:
“The construction of the Party and government leadership teams across the country should adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and the Second Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, seriously implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on Party building, thoroughly implement the general requirements for Party-building in the new era and the Party’s organizational line in the new era, implement the spirit of the National Organization Work Conference, put the Party’s political construction as the first priority, deepen theoretical education, strengthen the leadership team, hone strong skills, continue to rectify work styles and discipline, and build a strong leadership team that faithfully practises Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, firmly implements the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, and is capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of the times, providing a strong organizational guarantee for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese-style modernization.” 答：全国党政领导班子建设，要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深入贯彻党的二十大和二十届二中全会精神，认真贯彻习近平总书记关于党的建设的重要思想，深入落实新时代党的建设总要求和新时代党的组织路线，贯彻落实全国组织工作会议精神，把党的政治建设摆在首位，深化理论武装，配强领导班子，锤炼过硬本领，持续正风肃纪，建设忠实践行习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想、坚定贯彻落实党中央决策部署、堪当时代重任的坚强领导集体，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供有力组织保证.
The official then says that the outline puts forth six working principles. These are:
Adhere to the Party's political construction as the guide, and strengthen the Party's overall leadership and the Central Committee's centralised and unified leadership
Adhere to both virtue and talent, prioritising virtue, be inclusive of all talents, appoint people based on merit, and implement the standards for good cadres in the new era
Adhere to focusing on the Party's central tasks, establish and practice a correct view of political achievements, and continuously improve the ability to perform duties
Adhere to democratic centralism, enhance creativity, cohesion and combat effectiveness
Adhere to a systematic approach, coordinate efforts in selection, training, management, and utilisation
Adhere to the laws of cadre growth and cadre work, adapt to the requirements of the new era, and provide classified guidance and implement precise policies
即坚持以党的政治建设为统领，坚持加强党的全面领导和党中央集中统一领导；坚持德才兼备、以德为先、五湖四海、任人唯贤，落实新时代好干部标准；坚持聚焦党的中心任务，树立和践行正确政绩观，持续提升履职本领；坚持民主集中制，增强创造力凝聚力战斗力；坚持系统观念，统筹抓好选育管用工作；坚持遵循干部成长规律和干部工作规律，适应新时代要求，分类指导、精准施策.
The document also sets forth the main goals for strengthening Party and government leadership teams over the next five years.
the political, ideological, organisational, style, and discipline construction of Party and government leadership teams at all levels will be comprehensively strengthened
institutional construction would have been further improved
the political character of loyalty to the Party will become clearer
the Party’s innovative theoretical armament will be more solid
the people-centred development approach will be more solid
the structure and function will be more optimized
the ability to lead modernization construction will be stronger, and
the political responsibility of comprehensive and strict Party governance will be implemented more effectively
同时，着眼今后5年党和国家事业发展，提出了加强党政领导班子建设的主要目标，即各级党政领导班子政治、思想、组织、作风、纪律建设全面加强，制度建设进一步完善，对党忠诚政治本色更加鲜明，党的创新理论武装更加扎实，以人民为中心的发展思想更加牢固，结构和功能更加优化，领导现代化建设能力更加过硬，落实全面从严治党政治责任更加有力.
The next exchange is really striking:
Question: Learning and implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the primary political task for the construction of leadership teams at all levels. What arrangements does the ‘Outline’ make for this?
Answer: “The Outline proposes that we should unremittingly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to unite hearts and forge souls. It emphasizes the need to strengthen the Party’s innovative theoretical armament, take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the primary content of the Party Committee (Party Group) Theoretical Study Center Group’s study, and the main theme of the education and training of leading cadres, and fully grasp the worldview, methodology, standpoints, and methods that run through this important thought. It stresses the need to integrate learning, thinking, and application, as well as the unity of knowledge, belief, and action. When researching or studying important issues and key tasks, the first step is to benchmark and align with General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important discourses and instructions; develop the habit of fully, accurately, and comprehensively understanding their spiritual essence, closely integrate them with actual work to ensure thorough implementation, achieving the goals of forging the soul through learning, enhancing wisdom through learning, correcting conduct through learning, and promoting action through learning.” 问：学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想是各级领导班子建设的首要政治任务，《规划纲要》对此有什么部署？答：《规划纲要》提出要坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂。强调要强化党的创新理论武装，将习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想作为党委（党组）理论学习中心组学习的首要内容、领导干部教育培训的主题主线，全面把握这一重要思想的世界观、方法论和贯穿其中的立场观点方法。强调要坚持学思用贯通、知信行统一，研究重要问题和重点工作，首先要对标对表习近平总书记有关重要讲话和重要指示批示精神，养成完整准确全面领会精神实质、紧密结合实际抓好贯彻落实的习惯，做到以学铸魂、以学增智、以学正风、以学促干。
The next response informs about the six requirements for the selection and strengthening of the leadership team:
First, focus on selecting the right principal leaders. Emphasize placing political standards first, selecting individuals who have undergone practical tests, have strong political integrity, rich leadership experience, the ability to manage complex situations, are brave to take responsibility, dare to fight, are exemplars in the implementation of democratic centralism and excel in grasping teams and leading teams, adhere to principles, and are fair, just, and honest so as to maintain stability in the positions of principal Party and government leaders…
Second, optimize the age structure. The interesting bit in this is the call to ensure the inclusion of young cadres in the leadership teams of the central and state organs and their internal departments and bureaus; the provincial, municipal and county Party and government leadership teams; and the leadership teams of the provincial and municipal Party and government work departments.
Third, improve the professional structure. This is about getting people with “relevant professional qualities” in positions.
Improve source and experience structure: This talks about setting corresponding requirements for the central and state organs and local party and government leadership teams, emphasizing the orderly promotion of cadre exchanges across regions, departments, and industries.
Improve the standardised working mechanism for cultivating and selecting outstanding young cadres
Reasonably allocate female cadres, ethnic minority cadres, and non-Party cadres.
一是重点选好正职。强调要把政治标准放在首位，注重选拔经过实践考验，政治过硬，领导经验丰富、能够驾驭复杂局面，勇于担当、敢于斗争，模范执行民主集中制、善于抓班子带队伍，坚持原则、公道正派、清正廉洁的干部担任正职，保持市县党政正职任职稳定。二是优化年龄结构。提出在严格标准条件的前提下，坚持老中青相结合的梯次配备，统筹用好各年龄段干部。坚持分层分类，对中央和国家机关及其内设司局领导班子、省市县党政领导班子、省市两级党政工作部门领导班子配备年轻干部提出明确要求。三是改善专业结构。根据不同类型领导班子的职责任务，分别对中央和国家机关及省市两级党政工作部门领导班子，地方党委和政府领导班子选配具有相关专业素养的干部提出要求。四是完善来源、经历结构。对中央和国家机关、地方党政领导班子提出相应要求，强调要有序推进干部跨地区跨部门跨行业交流。五是健全培养选拔优秀年轻干部常态化工作机制。强调要完善专题调研、日常发现和动态优化机制，完善跟踪培养机制，从严从实加强教育管理监督，水到渠成地把党和人民需要的优秀年轻干部选拔进各级党政领导班子。六是合理配备女干部、少数民族干部和党外干部.
The next question asks what steps does the document contemplate to improve “the ability of party and government leadership teams to lead modernization construction”? The official makes three points:
First, strengthening training to enhance one’s ability to perform duties or job training and professional capabilities training with regard to cultivating new knowledge and new skills.
Second, strengthening practical training. It is emphasised that we should focus on the central task of economic construction and the primary task of high-quality development, and strengthen the ability of serving and safeguarding major national strategies, as well as major projects, major initiatives, and key tasks. Through practical work and hands-on experience, enhance the capabilities to promote high-quality development, serve the people effectively, and prevent and resolve risks.
Third, strengthen the spirit of struggle and the cultivation of struggle skills. It is emphasised that we must enhance the sense of urgency, adhere to the bottom line thinking, coordinate development and security, improve coordination related to risk assessment, evaluation, prevention and control, improve mechanisms for command and response to major emergencies, and continuously enhance the ability to prevent risks, meet challenges, and resist suppression.
一是加强履职能力培训。提出实施领导班子成员履职能力提升计划，抓好任职培训和专业化能力培训，分层级分领域开展专题培训，注重新知识新技能学习培训，开展实战化培训等。二是强化实践锻炼。强调要聚焦经济建设这一中心工作和高质量发展这一首要任务，围绕服务保障党和国家重大战略以及重大工程、重大项目、重点任务，在实践实干中增强推动高质量发展本领、服务群众本领、防范化解风险本领。三是加强斗争精神和斗争本领养成。强调要增强忧患意识，坚持底线思维，统筹发展和安全，健全风险研判、评估、防控协同以及重大突发事件应急指挥与处置机制，不断增强防风险、迎挑战、抗打压能力.
The next question is about the measures to “encourage cadres to take responsibility and act”. One bit from the response that is worth highlighting is this:
“Currently, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and the realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is at a critical stage. There is an urgent need for leadership teams and leading cadres at all levels to boost their spirit of overcoming difficulties and doing things.” 当前，世界百年未有之大变局加速演进，实现中华民族伟大复兴正处于关键时期，迫切需要各级领导班子和领导干部提振攻坚克难、干事创业的精气神. The official then talks about implementing the new development concept, having the correct view of political achievements, pursuing high-quality development, taking benefiting the people as the most important political achievement, etc.
There is also a Zhong Zuwen by-lined commentary on Page 4 on this subject. It reiterates similar points mentioned above.
Back to the front page, there’s a report on Li Qiang’s meeting with Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, in Wellington. The report says:
“Li Qiang pointed out that the development of China and New Zealand means opportunities, not challenges to each other. The two sides should stay partners committed to mutual respect and mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual learning, and solidarity and coordination. China is ready to work with New Zealand to continue to scale up trade, tap into the potential of cooperation in such fields as digital economy, green economy, new energy vehicles and creative industry, and jointly promote regional economic cooperation. The two sides should work to remove the disturbance of non-economic factors to bilateral trade and economic relations, and provide stable expectations and a sound business environment for the operation and development of companies. China welcomes more New Zealand businesses to invest and do business in China. China is ready to include New Zealand into China’s unilateral visa-free policy, and hopes that New Zealand will provide more convenience for Chinese citizens to visit New Zealand. Both China and New Zealand are firm in supporting multilateralism, and both support free trade and building an open world economy. The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination in multilateral settings, and encourage all parties to pull in the same direction toward win-win cooperation.”
As per the readout, Luxon said that “New Zealand firmly adheres to the one-China policy, and is ready to strengthen dialogue with China at both the top and other levels, further deepen cooperation in fields like agriculture, food, creative industry and environmental protection, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and promote sustained and in-depth development of bilateral relations. New Zealand is ready to strengthen law enforcement cooperation with China, promote coordination and cooperation within such multilateral frameworks as APEC, and work together with China to address global issues like climate change.”
The two sides issued a joint statement after the talks. They also signed deals on service trade, business environment, export of agricultural and food products to China, science and technology, patent examination and migratory birds protection. Some of the key deals are mentioned in the joint statement.
Exchange of Letters on the Commencement of the Trade in Services Negotiations Based on a Negative List Approach under the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement;
Export Plan Concerning Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Fresh Kiwiberry from New Zealand to China;
Memorandum of Arrangement on Infant Formula Cooperation;
Memorandum of Arrangement Concerning Cooperation on Business Environment Optimisation;
Memorandum of Arrangement on the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Programme;
Memorandum of Arrangement on Cooperation to Promote the Exchange of Bird Banding Data for Migratory Shorebirds and Seabirds;
Exchange of Letters Confirming the Ninth Round New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Recipients;
The full text of the joint statement is available on Xinhua. Some excerpts:
Both sides recommitted to regularly holding discussions on foreign affairs, trade and economics, agriculture, consular issues, law enforcement, defence, the Pacific, and human rights. They welcomed the upcoming Ministerial Climate Change Dialogue, set to take place this year. Both sides welcomed ongoing cooperation in the areas of food safety, customs, agriculture, and trade facilitation and other areas including green economy. They welcomed the importance of people-to-people exchanges to the bilateral relationship, including exchanges in education, tourism, culture, sports, science and innovation, and through Track II dialogues. They welcomed steps to facilitate further people-to-people exchanges, with China announcing a unilateral visa exemption policy to New Zealand.
New Zealand noted China's application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and reiterated that CPTPP remains open to accession by economics that can satisfy the three Auckland Principles. New Zealand noted the ongoing Accessions Working Group discussions in China's DEPA accession progress.
Next, there’s a brief report on Wang Huning meeting with a delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Nguyen Trong Nghia. Nguyen is a CPV Politburo member and the head of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for Information and Education. Wang urged “China and Vietnam to adhere to the strategic guidance of the general secretaries of the two parties and promote the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.” Nguyen reportedly said that “Vietnam sincerely appreciates China's valuable support for its revolution and construction, adheres to the spirit and principle of ‘comrades-plus-brothers’ and ‘top priority’ to advance the relations between the two parties and two countries, and firmly pushes forward the building of a community of shared future that carries strategic significance between Vietnam and China.”
Finally, there is a report informing that the number of private business entities in China hit 180.45 million by the end of May 2024, accounting for 96.4 percent of the country's total business entities, according to the State Administration for Market Regulation. This number is up from the 95.5% registered in 2019, the administration said, adding that China is now home to nearly 55.18 million private companies and over 125.27 million self-employed businesses.
Page 2: A couple of stories to note. First, there’s a brief report on CPPCC NC Vice Chair Bater visiting Maldives and meeting with President Mohamed Muizzu. The report doesn’t say anything special; just that the delegation visited from the 11th to the 13th and met with Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Speaker of the People's Majlis too. But do note the timing of the visit, which comes soon after Muizzu was in India for the swearing in ceremony of the new government. This was also his first visit to Delhi since taking over as President.
Second, there’s a report on Wang Yi co-chairing the China-Indonesia High-Level Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism with Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Indonesia's coordinator for cooperation with China and coordinating minister of maritime affairs and investment. Xinhua says:
“China is ready to work with Indonesia to make full use of the mechanism and set a fine example for developing relations between major developing countries with high-level strategic mutual trust, complementarity in various fields, and all-round and coordinated development, Wang said. Noting that China and Indonesia should continue to firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, Wang said the two sides should make efforts to ensure that the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway remains a shining example of Belt and Road cooperation, advance the construction of two flagship projects, namely the Regional Comprehensive Economic Corridor and the ‘Two Countries, Twin Parks,’ expand cooperation in the three key areas of digital economy, green development and improving people's livelihoods, and push for new achievements in maritime cooperation.”
Third, there’s a report on the China-U.S. Track 1.5 Dialogue. Xinhua reports:
“Some 30 representatives from both China and the United States, including John Thornton, co-chair of the Board of Trustees of the Asia Society, attended the dialogue and had candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges. Both sides agreed that the stable development of China-U.S. relations is in line with the interests of the two peoples and the general expectations of the international community. Both China and the United States should adhere to peaceful coexistence, avoid conflicts and confrontations, and strengthen communication and dialogue to enhance mutual understanding and trust. The two sides should also deepen cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, climate change, health, and artificial intelligence, and expand people-to-people exchanges, especially among the youth. Both sides recognized the need to strengthen risk management and properly handle differences, to shoulder their responsibilities as major countries in jointly addressing global challenges. Both sides agreed to continue deepening dialogue and communication, and make efforts to promote the stable and healthy development of China-U.S. relations.”
Page 3: There is a report on the new regulations for fair competition reviews. Three key points from the report:
As per the new rules, administrative agencies and organizations legally authorized to manage public affairs must conduct fair competition reviews when formulating laws, rules and policies related to business activities. 一是明确公平竞争审查的范围。行政机关和法律、法规授权的具有管理公共事务职能的组织（以下统称起草单位），起草涉及经营者经济活动的法律、行政法规、地方性法规、规章、规范性文件以及具体政策措施（以下统称政策措施），应当依照本条例规定开展公平竞争审查.
The State Council shall establish a mechanism for coordinating fair competition reviews, overseeing, coordinating, and guiding nationwide efforts in fair competition reviews. The State Administration for Market Regulation shall be responsible for guiding the implementation of the fair competition review system, supervising relevant departments and localities in conducting fair competition reviews. Local governments at the county level and above shall establish and improve mechanisms for fair competition reviews, with the market supervision and administration departments responsible for organizing the implementation of the fair competition review system within their respective administrative regions. 二是规定有关方面的职责。国务院建立公平竞争审查协调机制，统筹、协调和指导全国公平竞争审查工作。国务院市场监督管理部门负责指导实施公平竞争审查制度，督促有关部门和地方开展公平竞争审查工作。县级以上地方人民政府建立健全公平竞争审查工作机制，市场监督管理部门负责在本行政区域组织实施公平竞争审查制度.
When drafting policy measures, it must be ensured that they do not have content that restricts – directly or in a disguised form — market access and exit, limits the free flow of goods and factors, or improperly affects the conduct of production and business operations. Policy measures that have or may have the effect of excluding or restricting competition, but meet the requirements to maintain national security, achieve social public interests, etc., and where there are no alternative measures with less impact on fair competition, and for which reasonable implementation periods or termination conditions can be determined, may be promulgated. 三是明确公平竞争审查标准。起草政策措施，不得含有限制或者变相限制市场准入和退出、限制商品和要素自由流动、不当影响生产经营成本和影响生产经营行为的内容。政策措施具有或者可能具有排除、限制竞争效果，但符合维护国家安全、实现社会公共利益等规定情形，且没有对公平竞争影响更小的替代方案，并能够确定合理的实施期限或者终止条件的，可以出台.
Page 6: Yesterday I covered the report on Xi’s letter to Andrew Chi-Chih Yao. Today, there’s a detailed report on his career and thoughts. The idea is of holding him up as an exemplar.
Page 10: There are two articles that I am highlighting but not summarising owing to paucity of time.
First, there’s a piece by the Party Committee of the NDRC, discussing the “big food” concept. This refers to the goal of diversifying food structure and food sources, along with promoting sustainable food development and ensuring stable supply chains.
Second, there’s an article by Liu Mingsheng, who heads the State Power Investment Corporation. Liu writes about the steps being taken to promote “green, low-carbon and high-quality development” of the energy sector.