Xiplomacy Review - New Year Commentary - Interview with Zhejiang Party Chief Yuan Jiajun
Today’s is a shorter holiday edition of the paper. So this is a shorter post. But there are still a couple of interesting bits to note.
Page 1: There are two Xi Jinping-specific stories on the front page today. First, a report about Xi sending a condolence message to Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou over the passing of former Greek President Karolos Papoulias. Xinhua reports:
“Xi said that Papoulias was an extraordinary politician and leader of Greece, and also an old friend of the Chinese people. Papoulias had long been committed to deepening the China-Greece friendship, actively promoted bilateral practical cooperation in various fields and firmly supported Beijing in hosting the 2008 Summer Olympic Games and the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, making important contributions to the development of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership.”
Second, a report (English report) about Xi’s chat with his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Xi said that bilateral relations have set “a fine example of international relations featuring harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation.”
I thought this bit from Mirziyoyev was interesting
“Under President Xi’s personal attention, Mirziyoyev said, the Uzbekistan-China comprehensive strategic partnership is thriving, adding that bilateral cooperation in various fields has seen smooth progress, people-to-people and cultural exchanges are being enhanced continuously, and the two countries have maintained close communication within the frameworks of international and regional organizations. The Uzbek side stands ready to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation with China…”
Third, there’s a long piece reviewing China’s Head of State diplomacy in 2021. So I guess, this too in a sense is a Xi-specific story. There’s a shorter English version of this in Xinhua too.
The story tells us that Xi has responded to the situation in a “calm and scientific manner” and also made “bold and pioneering progress.” It says that Xi’s diplomacy has allowed the world to see China’s “determination and boldness.” The piece adds that “China's far-sighted voice, China’s commitment to uphold justice, China’s commitment of being true to its word, and China’s wisdom of harmony without uniformity inspire the world and the future.”
Anyway, the piece begins with what I guess is the order of diplomatic priority; so first Russia and then the US. The broad data is this:
“The year 2021 witnessed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s tight schedule of ‘cloud diplomacy:’ he had 79 telephone calls with leaders of foreign countries and international organizations, and attended 40 major diplomatic events via video link.”
After the listing of key forums and meetings, Xu Bu from the China Institute of International Studies praises Xi, saying that the “most prominent feature of Chinese diplomacy in 2021 was the leadership of the head of state, which gave firm guidance to Chinese diplomacy. President Xi Jinping’s strategic planning for major power diplomacy fully demonstrated the Communist Party’s leadership’s profound insight into the world trend and deep feelings for the fate of mankind, winning high praise from all quarters.” “元首引领是2021年中国外交最显著的特点，给予中国外交最坚定的指引。习近平主席对大国外交的运筹谋划，充分彰显了大国大党领袖对世界大势的深刻洞察和对人类命运的深厚情怀，赢得各方高度赞誉." 中国国际问题研究院院长、习近平外交思想研究中心秘书长徐步说.
This is followed by some examples of praise. So there’s a comment by Mauritanian Foreign Minister Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed; appreciation of vaccine diplomacy by President of Guyana Irfaan Ali; support from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; a quote praising China’s “true multilateralism” from a piece in Spain’s El País newspaper; there’s reiteration of the policy of opening up; finally BRI gets mentioned. In fact, the piece says that last year BRI made “remarkable progress.”
Also, the Global Development Initiative gets mentioned in the piece. It argues that GDI has been welcomed and supported by the United Nations and other international organizations and nearly 100 countries. The piece also talks about China’s eradication of absolute poverty, and how this has led to many countries seeking out the “code behind the Chinese miracle.”
Next on the page, we have the third in a series of commentaries around Xi’s new year speech. This one talks about ensuring that people have a better life. The piece draws this chunk from Xi’s speech:
“Every time I visit people in their homes, I would ask if they have any more difficulties, and I would remember everything my folks have to share with me. The concerns of the people are what I always care about, and the aspirations of the people are what I always strive for. Having worked in the countryside myself, I know precisely what poverty feels like. Thanks to the sustained efforts of the Chinese people from generation to generation, those who once lived in poverty no longer have to worry about food or clothing, or access to education, housing and medical insurance. Realization of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and elimination of extreme poverty is what the CPC has delivered to our people, and it is also a contribution to the world. To ensure that everyone leads a better life, we must never rest on what we have achieved, and there is still a long way to go.”
And then it talks about keeping in mind the original mission, persisting in addressing livelihood issues and unbalanced and inadequate development. It talks about future goals of “narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas and between regions, and achieving all-round human development and common prosperity for all.” It adds:
“There is no reason for us to be complacent or slack off. We must build on the momentum, make persistent efforts and continue to struggle. Adhere to the principle that everything is for the people and everything depends on the people; always put the people at the top of our minds and take their aspiration for a better life as our goal; ensure that the fruits of reform and development benefit all the people in a more equitable manner and make more substantive progress in achieving common prosperity. Make the people’s sense of gain, happiness and security more substantial, secure and sustainable.” 我们没有任何理由骄傲自满、松劲歇脚，必须乘势而上、再接再厉、接续奋斗。坚持一切为了人民、一切依靠人民，始终把人民放在心中最高位置、把人民对美好生活的向往作为奋斗目标，推动改革发展成果更多更公平惠及全体人民，推动共同富裕取得更为明显的实质性进展，我们就一定能让广大人民群众获得感、幸福感、安全感更加充实、更有保障、更可持续.
Finally, there’s a piece on the page telling us that tough action to curb food waste will continue.
Page 2: There’s an interview with Yuan Jiajun, the 59-year-old Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province. The piece begins by telling us that this year, provincial GDP growth is expected to be around 8.5%, urban and rural residents’ income, fiscal revenue and corporate profits will achieve double-digit growth. Yuan talks about seven priorities for the province this year:
steadily promote the construction of the common prosperity demonstration zone. In this regard, he talks about having landmark achievements with national influence.
push forward the digital reform. Efforts will be made to build three high-tech zones, promote the construction of new infrastructure, and promote the deep integration of digital economy and real economy
prepare for the Asian Games and the Asian Paralympic Games
ensure the development of energy, resources and food security system. “We will speed up efforts to rebuild our capacity to ensure key resources, build bulk commodity storage and transportation bases, promote high-quality grain projects, and improve our capacity to ensure energy security.”
promote the construction of a more green and low-carbon beautiful Zhejiang
steadily promote the standardised and sound development of the platform economy. He talks about attaching “equal importance to standardisation and development” and promoting platform governance, building a fair and transparent system of rules and an efficient and coordinated regulatory system. The aim is to have a healthy and dynamic innovation system, he argues.
promote the prevention and defusing of major risks. This covers political security, social stability and people's peace, along with maintaining a balance between high-quality development and high-level security. Epidemic prevention also comes in this context.
The next question is about common prosperity. Yuan says that:
First, focus on building a high-quality employment and entrepreneurship system.
Second, improving the high-quality social security system. In this, he talks about gradually narrowing the gap between different groups of people. The only specific thing he mentions here is the basic old-age insurance for enterprise employees.
Third, he talks about narrowing the income gap. I didn’t think there was anything specific in terms of policy that he talked about.
Fourth, narrow the urban-rural development gap. The aim in this regard is to create more opportunities in rural areas.
Fifth, improve provision of quality public services. This includes education, healthcare, etc.
Sixth, he talks about the spiritual dimension of common prosperity. Here, he mentions the need to “strengthen the guidance of public opinion and make the new concept of common prosperity deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.”
Finally for 2022, he broadly talks about three main themes in economic work:
First, make steady progress and improve quality. He talks about focussing on stabilising the market as a major political task; stabilising investment, industry, enterprises and expectations; and ensuring that the economy operates within a reasonable range. He promises to enhance the confidence of market entities, and stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship.
Second, the talks about ensuring security and maintaining bottom-line thinking,
Third, he talks about effecting change by implementing the new development concept and integrating it into all aspects of economic and social development and modernisation.
Page 3: There’s a positive piece on the RCEP coming into force.