Xi Thought on Financial Work - What's the Message from the China Development Forum? - SL PM Visits China - PLA at 84th Pakistan Day - Building a Theoretical System of Chinese National Community
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Monday, March 25, 2024.
Page 1: At the top of the page is a report on a new book on Xi Jinping’s discourses on financial work being published. This is evidently a step in the direction of establishing Xi Jinping Thought on Financial Work.
The report informs that “compiled by the Institute of Party History and Literature of the CPC Central Committee, the book brings together 324 relevant passages in 10 categories, excerpted from over 120 important spoken and written works Xi made between November 2012 and February 2024. Some have been made public for the first time in this compilation.”
The report says that “finance is the lifeblood of the national economy and is crucial to the overall situation of China's modernization. Since the 18th Party Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has strengthened the overall leadership and overall planning of financial work from the strategic perspective, making new major achievements in the development of China’s financial sector, and actively explored the laws of financial development in the new era. There has been continuous deepening of understanding of the essence of socialist finance with Chinese characteristics, as well as ongoing advancement in practical innovation, theoretical innovation, and institutional innovation, gradually charting a path of financial development with Chinese characteristics.” 金融是国民经济的血脉，关系中国式现代化建设全局。党的十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的党中央从战略全局出发，加强对金融工作的全面领导和统筹谋划，推动金融事业发展取得新的重大成就，积极探索新时代金融发展规律，不断加深对中国特色社会主义金融本质的认识，不断推进金融实践创新、理论创新、制度创新，逐步走出一条中国特色金融发展之路.
“Comrade Xi Jinping has made a series of important expositions on the major theoretical and practical issues concerning the development of the financial sector. With lofty ideals, rich connotations, and profound thoughts, these have elevated our Party's understanding of the essential laws and development path of financial work to new heights. They represent an important innovative achievement in Marxist political economy with regard to financial matters and constitute the financial aspect of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. In the new era and on the new journey, it is essential to firmly follow the path of financial development with Chinese characteristics, promote high-quality financial development, accelerate the construction of a financially strong country, and provide strong financial support for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.” 习近平同志对金融事业发展的重大理论和实践问题作出一系列重要论述，立意高远，内涵丰富，思想深刻，把我们党对金融工作本质规律和发展道路的认识提升到了新高度，是马克思主义政治经济学关于金融问题的重要创新成果，构成习近平经济思想的金融篇，对于新时代新征程坚定不移走中国特色金融发展之路，推进金融高质量发展、加快建设金融强国，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供强有力的金融支撑，具有十分重要的意义.
Next, let’s look at Li Qiang’s speech at the China Development Forum over the weekend. The theme of the forum this year is The Continuous Development of China. Li said:
“Over the past year, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, we have withstood external pressures, overcome internal difficulties, and successfully completed the main goals and tasks of economic and social development for the whole year. The trend of economic recovery and improvement has continued to consolidate and strengthen; new industries, new models, and new drivers have accelerated in growth and expansion; the Chinese economy has shown strong resilience, great potential, and abundant vitality, and its long-term positive fundamentals remain unchanged.” 过去一年，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，我们顶住外部压力、克服内部困难，圆满完成了全年经济社会发展主要目标任务。经济回升向好的态势持续巩固增强，新产业、新模式、新动能加快成长壮大，中国经济韧性强、潜力大、活力足，长期向好的基本面没有改变.
“Li said that enterprises are participants and contributors to China’s sustainable economic development, as well as witnesses and beneficiaries. We have always regarded respecting the market and serving enterprises as an important starting point for planning economic work and an important focus for implementing economic policies. We have consistently acted as companions and good partners in the development path of enterprises. Especially since last year, we have further improved and optimized services, established a regular communication mechanism with enterprises, earnestly addressed and resolved their concerns, and actively built institutional mechanisms that better combine effective markets with proactive government actions. We believe that mutual trust and mutual cooperation between the government and enterprises will surely build a powerful synergy for cooperation and win-win development.” 李强指出，广大企业是中国经济持续发展的参与者、贡献者，也是见证者、受益者。一直以来，我们都把尊重市场、服务企业作为谋划经济工作的重要立足点、实施经济政策的重要着力点，始终做企业发展成长道路上的同行者、好伙伴。特别是去年以来，我们进一步改进优化服务，建立了与企业常态化沟通交流机制，认真回应解决企业关切，积极构建有效市场和有为政府更好结合的制度机制。相信政府与企业的相互信任、双向奔赴，一定能汇聚成携手同行、发展共赢的强大合力.
He added that “currently, the international environment is undergoing profound changes and world economic development is facing many severe challenges. China will take practical and effective actions to promote high-quality development and inject more certainty and positive energy into the recovery and stable development of the world economy. We will increase efforts to intensify macro-policy adjustments, expand domestic demand, promote a new type of people-centered urbanization, and advance large-scale equipment renewal and trade-ins of durable consumer goods. Accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system, insist on promoting industrial innovation through scientific and technological innovation, coordinate the promotion of the upgrading of traditional industries, the growth of emerging industries, and the cultivation of future industries, and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces. We will continue to promote green transformation and unswervingly follow the path of prioritizing the ecology and green development. We will address both the symptoms and root causes and properly prevent and resolve various risks and hazards to promote the long-term, sustainable and healthy development of China's economy.” 李强指出，当前，国际环境发生深刻变化，世界经济发展面临许多严峻挑战。中国将以务实有效的行动推动高质量发展，为世界经济复苏和稳定发展注入更多确定性和正能量。我们将加大宏观政策调节力度，加强政策协同配合，确保同向发力、形成合力。着力扩大国内需求，进一步推进全国统一大市场建设，大力推进以人为本新型城镇化，推动大规模设备更新和大宗耐用消费品以旧换新。加快构建现代化产业体系，坚持以科技创新推动产业创新，统筹推进传统产业升级、新兴产业壮大、未来产业培育，加快发展新质生产力。持续推动绿色转型，坚定不移走生态优先、绿色发展的道路。标本兼治稳妥做好各类风险隐患防范化解工作，推动中国经济长期持续健康发展. (Comment: There is nothing new in what Li has said. Basically, Beijing is indicating that the road to recovery will be a long one, as it sticks to shifting China’s economic growth model.)
He then said that China will continue to build a “first-class business environment” that is “market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized”, “improve the efficiency of government services, protect the legitimate rights and interests of various enterprises in accordance with the law, steadily promote institutional opening, and continue to connect to the world with a higher level of openness. A more open China will undoubtedly bring more opportunities for cooperation and win-win outcomes to the world. We are willing to share with the world the great opportunities of China's continuous development…” 李强表示，今天的中国经济已与世界经济深度融合。我们将持续打造市场化、法治化、国际化一流营商环境，进一步深化重点领域和关键环节改革，着力提升政务服务效能，依法保护各类企业合法权益，稳步推进制度型开放，不断以更高水平的开放链接世界。一个更加开放的中国，必将为世界带来更多合作共赢的机遇，我们愿同世界分享中国持续发展的大机遇，与各方携手创造共同发展的美好未来.
The full list of the CEOs attending the CDF is available here.
NDRC Director Zheng Shajie also spoke at the forum. His comments are interesting, if you are looking for a window into Beijing’s economic priorities. The key point that he is making is that China aims to continue to remain the factory of the world. It has no intention of giving up the manufacturing dominance that it enjoys. And this is even in the context of low-cost, labor-intensive manufacturing.
“Over the past year, China's economy has been like a rolling stone climbing up the hill and overcoming obstacles while maintaining stable growth, adjusting its structure, increasing momentum, and preventing risks. It has shown characteristics such as a rebound in growth, improvement in structure, and enhancement in quality. New achievements have been made in economic recovery and rebound, new strides have been made in economic structural adjustment, and new breakthroughs have been achieved in fostering economic momentum.” 对于宏观经济形势，郑栅洁指出，过去一年，中国经济在稳增长、调结构、增动能、防风险中滚石上山、爬坡过坎，呈现出增速回升、结构趋优、质量提升等特点，经济恢复回升取得新成效，经济结构调整迈出新步伐，经济动能培育取得新突破.
“Judging from this year’s economic performance thus far, as macro policies continue to be effective, China's economy is off to a good start, production is rising steadily, demand continues to recover, and leading indicators continue to improve. We have the confidence, ability, conditions and confidence to achieve the main expected goals of economic and social development.” 从今年经济运行情况看，随着宏观政策持续发力显效，中国经济开局良好，生产稳中有升，需求持续恢复，先行指标继续向好，我们有信心、有能力、有条件、有底气实现经济社会发展主要预期目标.
He then added that “China’s cultivation and development of new quality productive forces and promotion of high-quality development will provide domestic and foreign investors with unlimited market opportunities and extremely broad development prospects”. He then made three specific points highlighting benefits for foreign firms.
First, China offers a big market. He said that the comprehensive transformation through new industrialization and new urbanization, equipment renewal, trade-ins of old consumer goods for new ones, along with the transition from energy control to carbon emissions control are bringing about enormous market demand, creating significant development dividends for both domestic and foreign enterprises.
Second, made in China stabilizes global supply and demand. China possesses the world's most complete industrial system, with well-established soft and hard infrastructure, abundant human resources, enhanced innovation capabilities, and diverse application scenarios. It can rapidly respond to global supply and demand changes with advantages in scale and cost. Whether in the upstream, midstream, or downstream of the industrial chain, whether in labor-intensive, technology-intensive, or capital-intensive industries, or in traditional, emerging, or future industries, ideal partners can be found in China.
Third, China’s innovation is creating huge business opportunities. China is advancing deep-seated reforms, high-level opening-up, and comprehensive innovation, accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system supported by advanced manufacturing. This promotes the rapid transformation of old and new drivers, leading to a multitude of emerging market demands, new investment opportunities, and cooperation projects. This provides a broad space for all types of enterprises to achieve mutual benefit and common development in China.
对于中国发展红利，郑栅洁认为，中国培育和发展新质生产力、推进高质量发展，将给国内外投资者提供无限可能的市场机遇和无比广阔的发展前景。一是中国市场提供海量需求。中国居民多样化高端化消费需求与日俱增，新型工业化城镇化、设备更新和消费品以旧换新、能耗双控向碳排放双控全面转型等带来巨大市场需求，为中外企业创造巨大发展红利。二是中国制造稳定全球供需。中国具备世界上最完整的工业体系，软硬基础设施完善、人力资源丰富、创新能力提升、应用场景丰富，能以规模优势、成本优势等对全球供需变化作出快速响应。无论是产业链上中下游，还是劳动密集型、技术密集型、资本密集型行业，或是传统产业、新兴产业、未来产业，都能在中国找到理想合作伙伴。三是中国创新创造巨大商机。中国正在推进深层次改革、高水平开放和全方位创新，加快构建以先进制造业为支撑的现代化产业体系，推动新旧动能加快转换，新的市场需求、新的投资机会、新的合作项目将大量涌现，为各类企业在中国实现互利共赢、共同发展提供广阔空间.
He then said that the NDRC will continue to take pragmatic measures to accelerate the development of new productive forces. In this regard, he made three points.
First, lead industrial innovation with technological innovation. Accelerate the construction of innovation capabilities, implement major scientific and technological projects, and strengthen the position of enterprises as the main body of technological innovation. Accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, implement actions to enhance the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and technological transformation and upgrading projects, and promote the development of high-end, intelligent and green manufacturing industries. Accelerate the cultivation and expansion of emerging industries, promote the in-depth integration of digital technology and the real economy, the integration of advanced manufacturing and modern service industries, implement the ‘Data Element ×’ action plan, and create new growth engines such as biomanufacturing, commercial aerospace, new materials, and low-altitude economy. Accelerate the layout of future industries, open up new tracks such as quantum technology and life sciences, and carry out ‘artificial intelligence +’ actions. 一是以科技创新引领产业创新。加快创新能力建设，实施一批重大科技项目，强化企业科技创新主体地位。加快改造提升传统产业，实施制造业核心竞争力提升行动、技术改造升级工程，推动制造业高端化、智能化、绿色化发展。加快培育壮大新兴产业，促进数字技术和实体经济深度融合、先进制造业和现代服务业融合，实施“数据要素×”行动计划，打造生物制造、商业航天、新材料、低空经济等新增长引擎。加快布局未来产业，开辟量子技术、生命科学等新赛道，开展“人工智能+”行动.
Second, promote institutional and mechanism innovation. We will further improve the basic market system, formulate standard guidelines for the construction of a unified national market, and issue a new version of the negative list for market access. We will further optimize the business environment, improve the regular communication and exchange mechanism with enterprises, and implement actions to improve the business environment. We will further promote green and low-carbon transformation, strengthen green manufacturing, develop green service industries, expand green energy industries, and build a green and low-carbon circular economic system. 二是推进体制机制创新。进一步完善市场基础制度，制定全国统一大市场建设标准指引，发布新版市场准入负面清单。进一步优化营商环境，健全与企业常态化沟通交流机制，实施营商环境改进提升行动。进一步促进绿色低碳转型，做强绿色制造业，发展绿色服务业，壮大绿色能源产业，构建绿色低碳循环经济体系.
Third, expand high-level opening up to the outside world. Strengthen international scientific and technological cooperation, support foreign-funded technology companies to collaborate with domestic research institutions or enterprises in technological innovation, and implement the BRI Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan. Enhance personnel exchanges and cooperation, further improve the convenience of exchanges between Chinese and foreign nationals, and provide convenience for foreigners to work, study, and travel to China. Strengthen investment and trade cooperation, steadily expand institutional opening-up, deepen the high-level opening-up of cross-border trade in services and investment, vigorously attract foreign investment, accelerate the introduction of the 2024 version of the negative list for foreign investment access, continue to support the construction of major foreign-funded projects, expand market access for digital products, and vigorously promote the development, opening, circulation, and utilization of data. 三是扩大高水平对外开放。加强国际科技合作，支持外资科技企业与国内科研机构或企业共同开展科技攻关，深入实施“一带一路”科技创新行动计划。加强人员交流合作，进一步提高中外人员往来便利性，为外籍人员来华工作、学习、旅游提供便利。加强投资经贸合作，稳步扩大制度型开放，深入推进跨境服务贸易和投资高水平开放，更大力度引进外资，加快出台2024年版外商投资准入负面清单，继续支持一批重大外资项目建设，扩大数字产品等市场准入，大力推动数据开发开放和流通使用.
Also at the sidelines of the forum, Apple’s Tim Cook met with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. Xinhua reports:
“The China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is a stabilizing force for the bilateral relations, Wang said, adding that China is willing to work with the United States to create a fair, stable and predictable environment for cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.” Wang also said that “China is accelerating the development of innovation-led new quality productive forces and has broad prospects in high-tech fields such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing, which means great opportunities for enterprises from all over the world including Apple, according to the commerce minister. China welcomes Apple to continue to develop its business in China and achieve common development.”
Cook reportedly said that “Apple remains committed to long-term development in China and will continue to increase investment in the supply chain, research and development, as well as sales in the country.”
Just ahead of this forum Beijing eased rules on cross-border data flows, carving out security review exemptions for some information leaving the country. SCMP reports:
“Under the new rules, which came into effect on Friday, businesses do not have to submit information related to cross-border shopping, shipping, payments or visa processing to official security checks. This also applies to data involved in opening bank accounts, booking flights and hotels, and testing services. In addition, businesses will not have to have reviews for personal employee information sent overseas as part of collective contracts or labour rules. But data will still have to go through a security assessment if it relates to critical information infrastructure, or if in one year the transfers amount to the non-sensitive personal information of more than a million people, or involve the “sensitive information” of more than 10,000 people. The Cyberspace Administration of China said cross-border data flows were the foundation for global exchanges and the sharing of capital, information, technology, talent, goods and other resources. ‘In order to promote the lawful, orderly, and free flow of data, unleash the value of data elements, [we should] expand high-level opening-up to the outside world, and optimise and adjust the data export system,’ state news agency Xinhua quoted the administration as saying. ‘Regulations concerning security assessments for data export, standard contracts for personal information export, and certification for personal information protection will be stipulated.’ ‘Adjustments have been made to optimise the system for outbound data’.”
Page 3: There’s a report informing that Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will be visiting China from March 25 to 30th. He has already arrived in Beijing to kickstart the visit.
Another report informs that Xiao Jie, Vice Chairman of the NPCSC, led a delegation to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina from March 21 to 24. He is quoted to have said that the NPC is willing to strengthen policy communication and exchange of experience in state governance with the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The readout on the website of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina says that the Chinese delegation welcomed “the progress of our country on the European path”. It also “underlined full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while at the same time expressing gratitude for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s support for the one-China principle.” It further states:
“The volume of our economic cooperation is characterized by constant and stable growth; however, given its enormous potential, it is necessary to further work on connecting entrepreneurs and promoting open opportunities. It was emphasized today that the active participation of the People's Republic of China in the implementation of major projects in the field of energy and infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina represents a very good platform for further cooperation. At the same time, there is a need to open up spaces for stronger connections in the fields of education and culture, thereby further acquainting and connecting the citizens of the two friendly countries.”
Also on the page is a report on Jiang Xinzhi, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC NC, traveling to South Africa. The report says very little. But before visiting South Africa, Jiang was in Zimbabwe. On that visit, Xinhua reported:
“Under Xi's and Mnangagwa's strategic guidance, China-Zimbabwe relations have become a model of China-Africa and South-South cooperation. Jiang said the CPC stands ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with ZANU-PF, deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance and promote further in-depth development of the China-Zimbabwe comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.” Other media outlets reported Jiang as saying that China supports the removal of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
Another report (English report) informs that a joint scientific expedition conducted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency successfully completed a 7,178 meters deep dive into the Java Trench in the Indian Ocean, setting the deepest dive record for Indonesia.
Next, there’s a report on a photo exhibition themed “Xinjiang is a Good Place” being held in Jeju Province in South Korea. This is part of the positive propaganda effort by China.
Finally, there’s a report (English report) on a 36-member PLA Guard of Honor participating in a military parade to mark the 84th Pakistan Day. Xinhua reports: Pakistan Day commemorates the Lahore Resolution passed on March 23, 1940.
Page 8: There’s a report informing that China's non-financial outbound direct investment increased 10 percent year on year to 149.64 billion yuan (about $21.09 billion) in the first two months of the year. Non-financial ODI in BRI countries came in at 33.18 billion yuan during the period, an increase of 0.6 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Alas, BRI countries are receiving just around 22% of overall non-financial ODI from China.
The turnover of contracted projects overseas grew 9 percent year on year to 138.06 billion yuan. The value of newly-signed contracts was 195.12 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.1%. Among them, the turnover from BRI projects was 111.42 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 9.6%; the value of newly-signed contracts with BRI countries 162.86 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.7%.
Page 9: The page today is dedicated to articles discussing what it means to build a “scientifically sound theoretical system of the Chinese national community.” The first article is by Ma Guoqing from Minzu University of China.
Ma writes that “building a strong sense of the Chinese national community is the main line of the Party's ethnic work and all work in ethnic areas in the new era.” Ma adds that “the theoretical system of the Chinese national community is a complete knowledge structure and ideological system composed of a series of concepts, categories, principles, etc. These reflect a standardized understanding of the objective existence of the Chinese national community and embody the essence, connotation, requirements, etc. of the Chinese national community. The system plays a theoretical supporting role in forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.” 铸牢中华民族共同体意识是新时代党的民族工作和民族地区各项工作的主线。习近平总书记指出：“铸牢中华民族共同体意识，需要构建科学完备的中华民族共同体理论体系。”中华民族共同体理论体系，是由一系列概念、范畴、原理等构成的完整知识结构和思想体系，反映对中华民族共同体这一客观存在的规律性认识，体现中华民族共同体的本质、内涵、要求等，对铸牢中华民族共同体意识发挥着理论支撑作用.
Ma further argues that “It is China’s basic national condition that people of all ethnic groups work together to create a unified multi-ethnic country. The community of the Chinese nation is gradually integrated in the history written by people of all ethnic groups in our country. Only by sorting out the formation and development process of the Chinese nation, revealing the laws of the evolution of the Chinese national community, and abstracting principles, academic theories, and philosophies from it can the theoretical system of the Chinese national community be built on a clear and solid basis of history and facts, thereby establishing China’s independent historical narrative system and discourse system of the Chinese national community.” 各族人民共同缔造统一的多民族国家，是我国的基本国情。中华民族共同体是在我国各族人民共同书写的历史中逐渐融聚而成的。梳理中华民族形成和发展的过程，揭示中华民族共同体的演进规律，从中抽象出道理、学理、哲理，方能使中华民族共同体理论体系建构在清晰坚实的历史和事实基础之上，并形成中国自主的中华民族共同体历史叙事体系和话语体系.
Ma then stresses on the ideas of diversity and unity. He writes: “We not only have diverse ethnic groups, but also diverse regions, languages, religions, customs, and cultures. However, the ‘diversity’ of the Chinese nation is not about being separate or detached from each other; each ethnic group shares commonality and unity on various levels such as economy, politics, and culture. Various ethnic groups interact, exchange, and blend together to form the Chinese nation and jointly create Chinese culture. Diversity converges into unity, and unity leads diversity. Even during the weakest periods in history, the Chinese nation has never disintegrated, and Chinese civilization has continued to develop uninterrupted for over 5000 years.” 我们不仅有多样的族群，还有多样的区域、语言、宗教、习俗和文化。但中华民族的“多元”不是彼此分立、相互脱离的，各民族在经济、政治、文化等各个层面具有共同性和统一性。各民族交往交流交融，汇聚形成中华民族，共同创造中华文化。多元聚为一体，一体引领多元，中华民族即使在历史上最孱弱的时期也没有分崩离析，中华文明绵延发展五千多年而从未中断.
And then Ma makes a more serious argument, which would have undoubtedly led to a chuckle by Benedict Anderson. I must add that this is the key part of the argument that Ma is making, i.e, that a uniquely Chinese theoretical system is needed in order to build legitimacy for the Party’s rule and ensure legitimacy of claims over ethnic minority areas and populations.
“Starting from the historical logic, we deeply recognize that the Chinese nation has its own unique history. When analyzing the history of the Chinese nation, we cannot simply apply Western theories of ethnicity. Western theories of ethnicity tend to overly emphasize the differences between different ethnic groups, neglecting issues such as interaction, organic connection, and symbiosis among ethnic groups; they have a strong Western-centric tendency. The Chinese national community is not an ‘imagined community’, but rather the historical result of the integration of different ethnic groups on the land of China, forming a large family with the attitude of ‘you are in me, and I am in you’. Many Westerners are accustomed to viewing China as a nation-state in the context of Western modernization theories, without considering China’s civilizational history of over 5,000. This makes it difficult for them to truly understand the past, present, and future of the Chinese nation.” 从历史逻辑出发，我们深刻认识到，中华民族有自身独特的历史，解析中华民族的历史，就不能套用西方那一套民族理论。西方民族理论研究存在过于强调不同民族间的差异性，忽略民族之间的互动性、有机联系性和共生性等问题，带有浓重的西方中心主义倾向。中华民族共同体不是“想象的共同体”，而是中华大地上不同民族融聚一体的历史结果，是你中有我、我中有你的大家庭。西方很多人习惯于把中国看作西方现代化理论视野中的近现代民族国家，没有从五千多年文明史的角度来看中国，这样就难以真正理解中华民族的过去、现在，也难以理解中华民族的未来.
He adds: “To build a theoretical system of the Chinese nation community, we must establish a correct view of the history of the Chinese nation and view the formation and development of the Chinese nation community from the overall perspective of Chinese civilization and the Chinese nation. It is important to study the mechanisms, historical processes and development patterns of exchanges and integration among various ethnic groups, and grasp the rights of historical narrative and discourse from the perspective of the Chinese national community. It is necessary to place the study of the Chinese national community in the context of the new form of human civilization, write the story of the unity and struggle of all ethnic groups and common prosperity, and form a Chinese narrative that enhances national cohesion and national identity.” 构建中华民族共同体理论体系，要树立正确的中华民族历史观，从中华文明和中华民族的整体角度来看中华民族共同体的形成和发展，研究各民族交往交流交融的发生机制、历史进程及其发展规律，从中华民族共同体的高度把握历史叙述权和话语权。要把对中华民族共同体的研究置于人类文明新形态的语境之下，书写好各民族团结奋斗、共同繁荣的故事，形成增强国家凝聚力和国家认同感的中国叙事.
Ma later adds that “To strengthen the construction of the theoretical system of the Chinese national community, it is necessary to systematically sort out and summarize the history of ethnic work of the Communist Party of China for more than 100 years, and to deepen the understanding of the Party’s historical experience in ethnic work.” 加强中华民族共同体理论体系建设，需要系统梳理总结中国共产党一百多年来的民族工作历史，深化对党的民族工作历史经验的认识.
What does this mean? Well, Ma says that it is important to “deepen our understanding of the historical inevitability of upholding the Party’s leadership in ethnic work.” In this context, he briefly talks about the emergence of the CPC as the ruling party in China, and says: “Based on historical facts, and using historical perspectives and comparative methods, it is essential to reveal the truth, theory and philosophy that only the Communist Party of China could realize the integration of the forces of all ethnic groups. This clarifies that the fundamental political guarantee for effectively carrying out the Party’s ethnic work in the new era lies in adhering to and improving the Party’s overall leadership.” 要立足历史事实，运用历史眼光、比较方法，揭示只有中国共产党能够实现各民族力量整合的道理、学理、哲理，阐明做好新时代党的民族工作的根本政治保证在于坚持和完善党的全面领导.
Finally, Ma calls to strengthen research on major practical issues in building a Chinese national community. In this regard, the author writes:
First, “cultural identity is the root of national unity. Building a shared spiritual home for the Chinese nation is crucial to building a community of the Chinese nation.” 文化认同是民族团结的根脉。构筑中华民族共有精神家园对建设中华民族共同体至关重要. So what’s needed for this is research into “paths and mechanisms of propaganda and education for the awareness of the Chinese national community” and “the construction of the shared spiritual home of the Chinese nation in cyberspace”. (Comment: So this is about narrative building and control. And if the “imagined community” concept does not apply, then what is the need for this?)
Second, conduct research around promoting all ethnic groups to jointly move toward socialist modernization. People of all ethnic groups are not only the builders of Chinese-style modernization, but also the joint recipients of the fruits of modernization.” 围绕推动各民族共同迈向社会主义现代化开展研究。各民族人民既是中国式现代化的建设者，也是现代化成果的共同享有者. So, Ma calls for working on ensuring “high-quality development of ethnic minority areas” and “exploring effective ways to solidly promote common prosperity”. (Comment: This is about ensuring economic development as a means to bind people together.)
Third, “it is essential to understand the new characteristics and trends of exchanges and integration among various ethnic groups in China, and study how to promote the construction of an interlocking social structure through economic, cultural, structural, residential, and relational integration. This will further facilitate exchanges and integration among ethnic groups and effectively promote ethnic unity.” 要深入研究我国各民族交往交流交融的新特点、新趋势，研究如何通过经济互嵌、文化互嵌、结构互嵌、居住互嵌、关系互嵌等推动构建互嵌式的社会结构，推动各民族进一步交往交流交融，有效促进民族团结. (Comment: This sounds like a good thing in theory. But in practice, this has been rather problematic. Also, there has been nothing organic about this evolution of intermingling. For instance, see this from 2014 on cash incentives for interracial marriages or this more recent story on Han migration to Xinjiang.)
Fourth, explore improving the modernization level of ethnic affairs governance. “It is necessary to conduct in-depth research on strengthening and perfecting the system and mechanism of the Party's overall leadership over ethnic work, bringing ethnic affairs into the social governance pattern of co-construction, co-governance and sharing, and enhancing legal awareness of people of all ethnic groups. It is necessary to pay attention to the potential risks in the ethnic affairs field, analyze their occurrence mechanism and countermeasures, and provide more intellectual support for preventing and resolving potential risks.” 在这方面，需要对加强和完善党对民族工作全面领导的体制机制、将民族事务纳入共建共治共享的社会治理格局、提升各族群众的法治意识等问题进行深入研究。要关注研判民族领域可能出现的风险隐患，分析其发生机制、应对措施等，为防范化解风险隐患提供更多智力支持.
Other Stories:
There’s a Xinhua report, which discusses the developments related to China’s real estate sector since January, after the creation of whitelists of approved projects that can receive bank funding. In terms of some background data, do check out this Reuters report:
“Property investment in China fell 9.0% year-on-year in the first two months of 2024, compared with a 24.0% fall in December 2023, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed. Property sales by floor area logged a 20.5% slide in January-February from a year earlier, compared with a 23.0% fall in December last year. Official property figures released last week showed the sector struggling to stabilise with home prices down 0.3% on a month-on-month basis in February, in line with a drop in January.”
The Xinhua report begins by referencing the real-estate sector-related discussion during the State Council executive meeting on Friday. The meeting had heard reports on optimizing real estate policies. It had “called for efforts to refine real estate policies further, ensure the delivery of housing projects, and ensure that real estate financing coordination mechanisms deliver tangible results. Related support policies should be made systematically to tap into potential housing demand and increase the supply of high-quality housing, promoting the steady and healthy development of the real estate market.”
The Xinhua report says that it has learned that “since the deployment of the urban real estate financing coordination mechanism in January, various regions and relevant financial institutions have taken swift actions, establishing mechanisms, creating lists, and implementing measures. Recently, several cities including Guangzhou, Wuhan, and Lanzhou have released the second batch of ‘white list’ projects. At the same time, many leading real estate companies have announced the financing status of real estate projects that made it to the ‘white list’. Industry insiders say that with the continuous expansion of the ‘white list’, reasonable financing demands of real estate companies will be further met.” 记者了解到，自1月份城市房地产融资协调机制工作部署以来，各地和相关金融机构迅速行动，建机制、列名单、抓落实。近期，广州、武汉、兰州等多个城市发布了第二批“白名单”项目。与此同时，多家头部房企纷纷公布入围“白名单”的房地产项目融资情况。业内人士表示，伴随着“白名单”持续扩容，房企合理的融资需求将进一步得到满足。
The report adds that:
In Guangzhou, the second list involves a total of 116 projects, an increase of 69 compared with the first list of 47 projects.
Wuhan’s second list covers 72 real estate projects, 66 development companies, and a financing demand of 41.684 billion yuan.
Lanzhou’s list contains 37 projects.
广州市房地产融资协调工作小组办公室近日发布了《关于推送市房地产融资协调机制项目清单（第二批）的通知》。第二批清单涉及项目共116个，与第一批47个项目相比，增加了69个。武汉市住房保障和房屋管理局近期也报送了第二批清单，涉及房地产项目72个，开发企业66家，融资需求416.84亿元。兰州市已向当地各银行业金融机构推送第二批“白名单”房地产项目，符合融资支持条件的项目共37个.
The report adds that “it is worth noting that recently, many real estate companies such as Country Garden, Sunac, Rongsheng Development, and CIFI Group have announced real estate projects that have been shortlisted for the ‘white list’, and they have all stated that the funds obtained will fully support the financing and construction delivery of their ongoing projects.” 值得注意的是，近期，碧桂园、融创、荣盛发展、旭辉等多家房企公布了入围“白名单”的房地产项目，并纷纷表示所获资金全力支持其在建项目融资和建设交付.
Speaking to Economic Information Daily, an official from Sunac said that it has more than 90 projects shortlisted under the first whitelist. These are across 20 cities. Greenland Group, meanwhile, has 34 projects approved in the ‘whitelist’, with a total planned financing amount of approximately 11.7 billion yuan. 融创相关负责人在接受《经济参考报》记者采访时表示，融创已有超过90个项目入围第一批“白名单”，涉及包括北京、天津、成都、重庆、郑州、沈阳、青岛、武汉、昆明、西安等在内的20个城市。“后续随着新的融资陆续落地，融创项目开发运营的资金压力将得到进一步缓解，各地的‘保交楼’工作也将得到更有力的保障。”绿地集团相关负责人也对记者表示，截至目前，绿地集团获批进入“白名单”的项目已有34个，拟融资金额合计约117亿元.
The article also cites a statement by Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development Ni Hong during the Two Sessions, saying that “312 cities in 31 provinces across the country have established urban real estate financing coordination mechanisms, submitting over 6,000 projects for the ‘whitelist’. Among them, 82.8% are projects of private enterprises and mixed-ownership enterprises.” 根据住房和城乡建设部部长倪虹在今年全国两会期间披露的数据，全国31个省份312个城市建立了城市房地产融资协调机制，报送“白名单”项目6000多个。其中，有82.8%是民营企业和混合所有制企业的项目.
Finally, I’ll leave you with the peace-loving Chinese coastguard’s actions in the South China Sea, as it targeted a Philippine vessel with water cannons.