Xi's Articles in Uzbek & Kazakh Media - 10 Years of Building Law-Based Governance - Pursuing High-Quality Development - What to Expect from SCO Summit?
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy in the Wednesday, September 14, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: The front page is largely about Xi Jinping’s visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This is Xi’s first foreign visit since the pandemic began. At the top of the page, the paper has reproduced Xi’s signed article in the Kazakhstanskaya Pravda (full English text). Xi writes that over the past 30 years, China and Kazakhstan have developed:
“a new type of state-to-state relations featuring mutual respect, good-neighborly friendship, solidarity in trying times, and win-win cooperation. We always give each other unwavering support on the core issues bearing on our respective sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. We always respect each other's choice of development path based on national conditions. And we always take pleasure in each other's sustained progress in development and national rejuvenation. We are friends to trust and partners to count on for each other, and our peoples always stand shoulder to shoulder with each other.”
He added: “During my upcoming visit, I will have in-depth discussions with President Tokayev on how to further the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership and how to advance our mutually beneficial cooperation across the board. We will set out plans for working together to promote China-Kazakhstan relations with the objective and vision of building a China-Kazakhstan community with a shared future.” And then he outlined four points:
First, “China is willing to work with Kazakhstan to make top-level designs for the relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective, maintain close high-level interactions, and enhance exchanges and cooperation between our governments, legislatures, political parties and localities at various levels.”
Second, he called BRI “a platform for international cooperation that is open, inclusive, mutually beneficial and promotes win-win cooperation and a global public good widely welcomed by the international community.” He added, “we should improve investment and trade facilitation, fully unleash the potential of border ports and cross-border transportation, and cultivate new sources of growth such as artificial intelligence, big data, digital finance, e-commerce and green energy. We should commit ourselves to a series of new quality projects that are high-standard, sustainable, and beneficial to the people, bring bilateral cooperation to a higher level, and put the Global Development Initiative into action, so as to contribute our shares to world economic recovery.”
Third, on security issues, he said: “China would like to deepen law enforcement, security and defense cooperation with Kazakhstan. Guided by the Global Security Initiative, we should act on the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work together to promote the implementation of the Data Security Cooperation Initiative of China+Central Asia. We should join hands to combat terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crimes, and ensure the security of oil and gas pipelines and other large cooperation projects and their personnel. We should resolutely oppose interference by external forces and work together for lasting peace and long-term stability of our region.”
Fourth, “we need to strengthen international coordination in all respects. We need to enhance coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the UN, the SCO, CICA, and China+Central Asia. We should exchange views timely on international governance, food security, energy security, industrial and supply chains stability, and regional hotspots. We should reject unilateralism and bloc confrontation, and jointly push for an international order that is more just and more equitable.”
Below this, is Xi’s full article for Uzbek newspaper Narodnoe Slovo and Uzbekistan National News Agency (English text). In this piece, Xi first is complementary to his host, saying that “in recent years in particular, under the leadership of President Mirziyoyev, the people of Uzbekistan have embarked on a new journey toward a "New Uzbekistan". Reform and development in various areas have entered the fast lane. The country has taken on a new look, its people enjoy a better life, and its international standing has risen significantly. As a friendly neighbor and comprehensive strategic partner, China feels truly happy for Uzbekistan.”
He characterises the bilateral relationship as follows:
We are good friends sharing close affinity.
We are good partners pursuing common development.
We are a good example of dialogue between civilizations.
We are good brothers supporting each other in times of need.
He then outlines points of future action:
“First, we need to enhance mutual support and strengthen the bond of mutual trust. We need to set out the blueprint for China-Uzbekistan relations in the new era from a strategic and long-term perspective. We need to intensify high-level exchanges, increase mutual political trust, deepen the sharing of governance experience, and continue to render mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests. China firmly supports Uzbekistan in pursuing a development path suited to its own national conditions and opposes interference in Uzbekistan's internal affairs by any force.”
“Second, we need to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation to pursue common development and prosperity…Uzbekistan is welcome to board the express train of China's development and share its development opportunities. Next year marks the tenth anniversary of the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative. Our two sides could use this opportunity and harness the momentum to further flesh out the bilateral cooperation and pursue high-quality development together. We also need to expand cooperation on poverty reduction and alleviation so that more people in both countries benefit from our mutually beneficial cooperation. China hopes to work with Uzbekistan to actively implement the Global Development Initiative, and take concerted actions to safeguard the interests of developing countries and foster a balanced, coordinated and inclusive development landscape that embraces win-win cooperation, works for all and delivers common prosperity.”
“Third, we need to strengthen security cooperation to defuse risks and challenges. Our two sides need to deepen cooperation in the security field and unequivocally reject attempts by any force to undermine regional security, to foster a secure external environment for the development of both countries. Afghanistan is a mutual neighbor of China and Uzbekistan. A peaceful, stable, growing and prosperous Afghanistan is in our shared interests. China appreciates and supports the unique role of Uzbekistan in resolving the issue of Afghanistan. We stand ready to work with Uzbekistan to put the Global Security Initiative into action, fend off new threats and challenges, and uphold peace, stability and international fairness and justice.”
“Fourth, he points to people-to-people exchanges, saying “We need to expand cooperation in the areas of media, education, health, culture, tourism, press, archeology and at the sub-national level, open culture centers in each other's countries at an earlier time and set up a Luban Workshop in Uzbekistan, to foster a multi-faceted framework of people-to-people exchanges.”
The other top story on the page is about the construction of law-based governance under Xi Jinping since the 18th Party Congress, which the piece says has gone through historic changes and achieved historic achievements. This is a long, long article!
The first section of the article says that “in November 2020, the third national Constitution Awareness Week ushered in a new theme - ‘in-depth study and publicity of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and vigorously promote the spirit of the Constitution’.” This, the piece says, resulted in “setting off a wave of learning to promote the implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on the rule of law and the Constitution.” 2020年11月，第三个全国“宪法宣传周”迎来了一个新的主题——“深入学习宣传习近平法治思想，大力弘扬宪法精神”。从法律工作者走进社区更贴近百姓日常生活做普法宣讲，到“报、网、端、微、屏”等全媒体以大众话语更生动呈现，全国各地迅速掀起了学习宣传贯彻习近平法治思想和宪法的热潮.
“November 16-17, 2020, was a milestone day in the history of the rule of law in China. The central conference on work related to comprehensive law-based governance was held in Beijing…The most important outcome of this meeting was the establishment of the guiding position of Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law, which was in line with the aspirations of the party and the people and the requirements of the times.” 2020年11月16日至17日，是中国法治史上具有里程碑意义的日子。中央全面依法治国工作会议在北京召开，这是第一次以党中央工作会议形式研究部署全面依法治国。这次会议最重要的成果，就是顺应党心民心和时代要求，确立了习近平法治思想在全面依法治国中的指导地位.
Later the piece informs that “the leadership of the party is the soul of the socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.” 党的领导是中国特色社会主义法治之魂.
The article then talks about the establishment of the Commission for Overall Law-Based Governance and says that Xi serves as the director of the commission, “achieving centralised leadership, efficient decision-making, unified deployment, and overall planning; he has made several important instructions on political and legal work and a series of major deployments; presided over the meeting of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and deliberated on the Regulations on Political and Legal Work of the Communist Party of China, transforming the Party’s long-standing successful experience in leading political and legal work into institutional achievements… Setting the direction, planning, taking measures, and implementing them, General Secretary Xi Jinping has been at the helm, taking the lead and guiding the advancement of law-based governance in the new era and implementing the Party’s leadership in the whole process and all aspects of comprehensively governing the country according to law. 亲自担任中央全面依法治国委员会主任，实现集中领导、高效决策、统一部署、统筹推进；多次对政法工作作出重要批示指示，作出一系列重大部署；主持中共中央政治局会议，审议《中国共产党政法工作条例》，把党长期以来领导政法工作的成功经验转化为制度成果……定方向、定规划、定举措、抓落实，总书记为新时代法治前行掌舵领航，把党的领导贯彻到全面依法治国全过程和各方面.
The piece talks about Xi’s personal engagement in the drafting the outcome of the fourth plenary of the 18th Central Committee and the eventual inclusion of comprehensive law-based governance as part of the Four Comprehensives. It then says that the 19th Central Committee has put together “a grand blueprint for basically building a country under the rule of law, a government under the rule of law, and a society under the rule of law by 2035.”
It adds that Xi Jinping Thought on Rule of Law embodies “profound strategic thinking, a clear political orientation, a strong sense of historical responsibility and sincere feelings for the people. With its strong power of truth and great practical strength, it provides a powerful ideological weapon for embarking on a new journey of building law-based governance in China, and draws a grand blueprint for building a rule of law in China in the new era.” 习近平法治思想蕴含着深远战略思维、鲜明政治导向、强烈历史担当、真挚为民情怀，以强大真理力量和巨大实践伟力，为奋力开启法治中国建设新征程提供了强大思想武器，在中华大地描绘出新时代法治中国建设的壮阔蓝图.
The second section of the article talks about the purpose of law-based governance being to serve the people. The third section talks about adherence to the country’s constitution and legislation providing legal guarantees for policies, reform and public security. The fourth section talks about the advancement of law-based governance over the years.
“As of the end of June 2022, more than 730 laws and administrative regulations have been enacted and amended, 292 laws and 598 administrative regulations are in force, and the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics is becoming more and more scientific and perfect.” 从“大块头”到“小快灵”，统筹运用立改废释纂等多种立法形式，截至2022年6月底，制定修改法律行政法规730余件次，现行有效法律292件，行政法规598件，中国特色社会主义法律体系日趋科学完善。– I presume this data is over the past 10 years.
In this section, the article also makes the point that law-based governance “sets rules and demarcates the boundaries of executive power,” helps improve the business environment, and maintains a sense of fairness and justice within society.
The final section discusses the importance of impartiality, fairness and justice in law enforcement.
“In January 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping gave important instructions on political and legal work, emphasising that it is necessary to carry out “in-depth education and rectification of political and legal teams, and strive to build a political and legal team that the Party and the people can trust, depend on, and feel reassured by. Temper the sword by casting the soul. On the basis of the experiences of the pilot effort in 2020, in 2021, a nationwide education and rectification of the political and legal teams was implemented. This quickly set off a self-revolution by scrapping the poison off the bones, a ‘Yan’an-style rectification’ promoting purity…Eliminate the black sheep, rectify stubborn diseases, and promote the establishment of rules and regulations…This education & rectification campaign was unprecedented in terms of its high standards, strict requirements, and great efforts, and made great achievements, reshaping the image of the political, legal and iron army as loyal and clean.” 2020年1月，习近平总书记对政法工作作出重要指示强调，“深入开展政法队伍教育整顿，努力建设一支党和人民信得过、靠得住、能放心的政法队伍”。凝心铸魂，淬火砺剑。在2020年开展试点并取得经验的基础上，2021年，一场触及灵魂的全国政法队伍教育整顿全面铺开，迅速掀起一场刮骨疗毒式的自我革命、激浊扬清式的“延安整风”、铸魂扬威式的主题教育。清除害群之马、整治顽瘴痼疾、推进建章立制……这次教育整顿标准之高、要求之严、力度之大前所未有，取得了重大成果，重塑了政法铁军忠诚干净担当的时代形象.
Next, there’s a report on Wang Yang’s meetings with President of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Esperanca Bias and the Burundian Senate President Emmanuel Sinzohagera. Xinhua English reports:
“China is willing to work with Mozambique in jointly building the Belt and Road, strengthening coordination and cooperation on international and regional affairs, and promoting the sustained and in-depth development of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, Wang said. He said that the CPPCC is willing to enhance friendly exchanges with the Mozambican assembly and expand exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, health, youth and women, to consolidate the political, social and public opinion foundation for the development of bilateral relations. Bias said that the friendship and mutual trust between Mozambique and China are unbreakable and Mozambique thanks China for its consistent support and help and looks forward to more fruitful cooperation between the two countries. Bias said that the Mozambican assembly is willing to strengthen exchanges with the CPPCC and contribute to the development of relations between the two countries.”
“When meeting with Sinzohagera, Wang said that the two sides should deepen political mutual trust, firmly support each other and promote pragmatic cooperation to achieve more results under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state. China is willing to work with African countries, including Burundi, to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and to safeguard the common interests of China and Africa as well as the other developing countries, said Wang. The CPPCC is willing to strengthen exchanges with the senate of Burundi to push relations between the two countries to a higher level, he added. Sinzohagera said that Burundi attaches great importance to developing ties with China. He said Burundi firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is willing to continue to deepen friendly cooperation between the two countries. The senate of Burundi is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the CPPCC to push Burundi-China relations to a new level.
Page 3: The top two stories on the page talk about the enthusiastic responses to Xi’s articles in Kazakh and Uzbek media. Then, there’s a report (English report) with comments from MoFA on Xi’s visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan:
“This will be China’s most important event of head-of-state diplomacy on the eve of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which shows the high importance China attaches to the SCO and our relations with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The profound changes in the international landscape and the protracted COVID-19 pandemic have further underscored the role the SCO plays in upholding regional security and stability and promoting countries’ development and prosperity. At the upcoming SCO summit,President Xi Jinping will have in-depth exchanges of views with other participating leaders with a focus on all-dimensional SCO cooperation and major international and regional issues to build new common understandings and open a new chapter for cooperation. We are convinced that the SCO will continue to carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, stay true to its founding mission and work hard to achieve even more on the new journey ahead and make greater contributions to the cause of global and regional peace and development as the organization enters its third decade. Both Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are China’s friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners, and important countries along the Belt and Road. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the two countries three decades ago, we have always followed the principles of mutual respect, good-neighborliness, friendship, mutual assistance, and win-win cooperation and advanced bilateral ties toward new heights. President Xi Jinping’s upcoming state visits will mark a new stage in China’s relations with the two countries. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with Kazakh President Tokayev and Uzbek President Mirziyoyev. They will have in-depth exchanges on bilateral ties, cooperation in various fields and international and regional issues of mutual interest. We’re confident the visits will provide a new blueprint, new goals and new impetus for China’s ties with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.”
Next, there’s an interview with Zhang Ming, Secretary-general of the SCO. He says that “since its establishment in 2001, SCO has grown and become the world's most extensive and populous comprehensive regional organisation with significant influence and authority, and is an indispensable, constructive force to improve the international order, promote regional and global development and safeguard the security and stability of its member states.” 上合组织秘书长张明日前接受本报记者采访时表示，自2001年成立以来，上合组织不断发展壮大，已成为世界上幅员最广、人口最多，具有重要影响力和权威性的综合性区域组织，是完善国际秩序、推动地区和全球发展、维护成员国安全稳定不可或缺的建设性力量.
Maintaining regional security and stability is the priority of SCO cooperation. Zhang Ming said that over the past 20 years, regional economic cooperation based on universal security has been continuously integrated and developed, and countries have made full use of their own advantages to carry out in-depth cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, transportation, agriculture, energy, industry, finance, science and technology, and work together to promote the connection between development initiatives such as BRI and regional cooperation initiatives. 维护地区安全稳定是上合组织合作的优先方向。张明表示，20多年来，建立在普遍安全基础上的区域经济合作不断融合发展，各国充分利用自身优势，深入开展经贸、交通、农业、能源、工业、金融、科技等领域合作，携手推进共建“一带一路”等发展倡议和区域合作倡议对接.
He adds that “the current world situation is undergoing profound and complex changes, and international organisations, including the SCO, are facing new challenges. SCO has always stood for true multilateralism, and its member states respect each other’s right to choose their own path of development, becoming an example of equal and mutually beneficial partnership in today’s international community. President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Security Initiative at the opening of the 2022 Boao Forum for Asia, contributing a Chinese solution to addressing the difficult problems of global security governance and promoting world peace and security. Zhang Ming said that the future development of the SCO can draw greater energy from GSI, promote the all-round and in-depth development of security cooperation, and make the SCO region a model of harmony, tranquillity, stability and sustainable development.” 在张明看来，当前世界形势正经历深刻复杂变化，包括上合组织在内的国际组织也面临着新的挑战。上合组织始终站在真正的多边主义一边，成员国尊重彼此自主选择发展道路的权利，成为当今国际社会平等互利伙伴关系的范例。习近平主席在博鳌亚洲论坛2022年年会开幕式上提出全球安全倡议，为破解全球安全治理难题、促进世界安危与共贡献了中国方案。张明表示，未来上合组织发展可从全球安全倡议中汲取更大能量，推动安全合作全方位深入发展，将上合组织地区打造成和谐、安宁、稳定、可持续发展的典范.
In another interview with CGTN, Zhang said that:
CGTN: “What topics will be mainly discussed at this year's SCO summit?”
Zhang Ming: “This year's summit will issue the Samarkand Declaration, which will be a comprehensive political declaration on the SCO's position on international politics, economy and a range of other aspects. In 2007, the SCO issued a very important document, namely the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, which has an implementation plan every five years, and this year, the summit will discuss the formulation of the plan for 2023 to 2027. The participants will also discuss climate change, and the security of supply chains, energy and food.”
CGTN: “What can you tell us about the organization's expansion plans?”
Zhang Ming: “The memorandum of understanding on Iran’s accession to the SCO will be discussed at this summit; Belarus has also formally submitted an application for full membership. There is a saying here that there is a long queue outside the door of the SCO, and I think this metaphor is not exaggerated. Why is this happening? I think given the profound global changes that we are witnessing; members of the international community are expecting a new type of international relations based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, which are the essence of the SCO Charter and 'Shanghai Spirit'.”
Finally on the page is an essay by the Chinese ambassador to Kazakhstan. Ambassador Zhang Xiao writes that:
“China-Kazakhstan political relations have always been solid and reliable. The two countries firmly support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests. China firmly supports Kazakhstan in safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Kazakhstan has publicly expressed its firm support for the one-China principle on many occasions. In January this year, after the riots broke out in Kazakhstan, President Xi Jinping immediately sent a message to President Tokayev, emphasising that China firmly opposes any forces that undermine Kazakhstan’s stability and threaten Kazakhstan’s security. In recent years, the exchanges between the Chinese and Kazakh governments at all levels have been increasing. The strategic guidance of the two heads of state has drawn a blueprint and pointed out the direction for the two sides to carry out in-depth cooperation in various fields.” 中哈政治关系始终牢固可靠。两国在涉及彼此核心利益问题上相互坚定支持。中方坚定支持哈萨克斯坦维护独立、主权和领土完整，哈方多次公开表示坚定支持一个中国原则。今年1月，哈萨克斯坦发生骚乱后，习近平主席第一时间向托卡耶夫总统致口信，强调中方坚决反对任何势力破坏哈萨克斯坦稳定、威胁哈萨克斯坦安全。近年来，中哈政府间各层级交往不断增多。两国元首的战略引领，为双方深入开展各领域合作擘画蓝图、指明方向.
The next two paragraphs talk about China-Kazakhstan cooperation.
“From January to July this year, the trade volume between China and Kazakhstan reached $17.67 billion, a year-on-year increase of 18.9%, and is expected to hit a record high for the whole year. The two countries have carried out in-depth cooperation in production capacity, and have identified 52 projects with a total value of more than $21.2 billion, involving minerals, energy, industry, commerce, transportation and other fields. The connectivity between the two countries has been continuously strengthened. In the first half of 2022, the number of China-Europe trains passing through Kazakhstan reached 6,195, setting a new record. Chinese branded electrical appliances, mobile phones, automobiles, etc, are very popular in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan’s high-quality green agricultural products are appreciated by Chinese consumers. The economic complementarity and interdependence of the two countries have been further enhanced. In the future, China and Kazakhstan will further strengthen strategic alignment, and promote the continued deepening of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.” 中哈务实合作持续健康发展。两国共建“一带一路”及各领域务实合作不断取得新成果。今年1—7月，中哈贸易额达176.7亿美元，同比增长18.9%，全年有望创下历史新高。两国深入开展产能合作，已确定52个项目，总金额逾212亿美元，涉及矿产、能源、工业、商贸、交通运输等领域。两国互联互通不断加强，2022年上半年，途经哈萨克斯坦的中欧班列达6195列，创下新纪录。中国品牌电器、手机、汽车等在哈萨克斯坦广受欢迎，哈萨克斯坦优质绿色农产品得到中国消费者认可，两国经济互补性和相互依存度进一步提升。未来，中哈将进一步加强战略对接，推动两国经贸合作继续走深走实。
The next paragraph talks about COVID-19-related cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. “At present, there are five Confucius Institutes in Kazakhstan, and more than 3,000 people complete Chinese language training every year…The two sides have continuously deepened cooperation in education, film and television, publishing, entertainment, media and other fields, and are promoting the establishment of cultural centres in each other’s countries. China and Kazakhstan have established 19 pairs of sister provinces, states and cities. In July this year, China and Kazakhstan resumed two-way direct commercial flights, and Kazakhstan implemented a 14-day visa-free system for Chinese citizens. The two sides have reached an agreement on setting up consulates general in Xi'an and Aktobe, respectively…” 中哈民心相通日益深化巩固。面对新冠肺炎疫情，中哈两国人民相互理解、相互支持，为各国携手抗疫作出表率。目前，哈萨克斯坦有5所孔子学院，每年完成汉语培训3000余人，“汉语热”持续升温。双方在教育、影视、出版、娱乐、媒体等领域合作不断深化，正推动互设文化中心。中哈已建立19对友好省州和城市关系。今年7月，中哈恢复双向直飞商业航班，哈方对中国公民实行14天免签制度。双方已就分别在西安和阿克托别互设总领事馆达成一致。随着两国人民相互了解和友谊不断增强，中哈必将携手谱写出千年丝路的时代新篇章.
Page 6: A few reports to note. First, in 2021, Chongqing invested 60.38 billion yuan in research and development, which was a year-on-year increase of 14.6%. The R&D expenditure intensity was 2.16%, 0.05% higher than the previous year.
Among this, enterprises funded 47.89 billion yuan, an increase of 15% year-on-year; the expenditure of government research institutions was 4.12 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 5.6%; the expenditure of colleges and universities was 5.89 billion yuan, an increase of 21.2% year-on-year. In 2021, Chongqing applied for a total of 37,548 patents, an increase of 1,024 over the previous year.
The city’s basic research funding was 2.97 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 27.9%; applied research funding was 7.5 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.3%; experimental development funding was 49.91 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.3%.
重庆市统计局与市科技局联合发布的《2021年重庆市科技投入统计公报》（以下简称《公报》）显示，2021年，重庆共投入研究与试验发展经费（以下简称研发经费）603.8亿元，比上年增加77亿元，同比增长14.6%。研发经费投入强度为2.16%，比上年提高0.05%。从研发活动类型看，《公报》显示，2021年，全市基础研究经费为29.7亿元，同比增长27.9%；应用研究经费75亿元，同比增长12.3%；试验发展经费499.1亿元，同比增长14.3%。从研发活动主体看，各类企业经费支出478.9亿元，同比增长15%；政府属研究机构经费支出41.2亿元，同比下降5.6%；高等学校经费支出58.9亿元，同比增长21.2%。《公报》还显示，2021年，重庆共申请专利37548件，较上年增加1024件.
Page 11: A lead article on the theory page is by the Party Committee of Xinhua News Agency on the fourth volume of Governance of China, focussing on the theme of high-quality development.
The first section says that development of the new era and new stage must be high-quality development
“High-quality development is an inevitable requirement in order to promote sustainable development. Growth driven by high-levels of input, high-levels of consumption and high-levels of emissions is bound to be unsustainable due to the increasingly tight constraints on energy, resources, and the environment. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: ‘the extensive model of economic development historically played a big role in China, and the large-scale corps operations accelerated the pace of China's economic development. However, if we continue to follow the extensive development model of the past, it will not be supported not only by domestic conditions, but also by international conditions. If we do not pay close attention to changes, we will one day hit a dead end.’ High-quality development is not simply about making the GDP growth rate the hero, but about improving the quality and efficiency of economic growth as the basis of development. Building a modern economic system on the basis of changes in quality, efficiency, and power will surely promote the construction of a resource-saving and environment-friendly society in China, and embark on a path of civilised development that is productive, prosperous, and ecologically sound.” 高质量发展是推动实现可持续发展的必然要求。高投入、高消耗、高排放粗放型增长，必定因能源、资源、环境等约束条件日趋紧张而不可持续。习近平总书记指出：“粗放型经济发展方式曾经在我国发挥了很大作用，大兵团作战加快了我国经济发展步伐，但现在再按照过去那种粗放型发展方式来做，不仅国内条件不支持，国际条件也不支持，是不可持续的，不抓紧转变，总有一天会走进死胡同。”高质量发展不简单以国内生产总值增长率论英雄，而以提高经济增长质量和效益为立足点，在质量变革、效率变革、动力变革的基础上建设现代化经济体系，必将促进我国资源节约型、环境友好型社会建设，走出一条生产发展、生活富裕、生态良好的文明发展道路.
Later the piece adds that:
“High-quality development is an inevitable requirement to lay a stronger material foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Throughout the history of the world, if a country wants to become prosperous and strong, it needs not only the growth of its total economic output, but also the improvement of its economic quality. Quantitative development without quality is bound to make you big but not strong.” 高质量发展是为中华民族伟大复兴奠定更为雄厚物质基础的必然要求。纵观世界历史，一个国家要想实现富强，不仅需要经济总量的增长，更需要经济质量的提升。有量无质的发展，必然是大而不强.
“Today, China has built a comprehensively moderately prosperous society. Its GDP has reached 114 trillion yuan, ranking second in the world. Its per capita GDP has exceeded $12,000. Its economic strength, scientific and technological strength, comprehensive national power and people’s living standards have leaped to new heights. However, we must also note that compared with the requirements of building a powerful modern socialist country in an all-round way, there is still a big gap in our development. Through high-quality development, we must improve the level of China’s science and technology, human resources, production capital and other factors, improve total factor productivity, make key core technology breakthroughs, move towards the mid-to-high end of the global value chain, improve the quality and resilience of the economy, and enhance the country’s comprehensive national power and core competitiveness, and lay a stronger material foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” 今天，我国全面建成小康社会，国内生产总值达到114万亿元，稳居世界第二；人均国内生产总值超过1.2万美元，经济实力、科技实力、综合国力和人民生活水平跃上了新的大台阶。但也要看到，与全面建成社会主义现代化强国的要求相比，我们的发展仍有很大差距。必须通过高质量发展，提升我国科学技术、人力资源、生产资本等要素水平，提高全要素生产率，突破关键核心技术，迈向全球价值链中高端，提升经济的质量和韧性，增强国家综合国力和核心竞争力，为中华民族伟大复兴奠定更为雄厚的物质基础.
The second section says that pursuing high-quality development is the implementation of Xi’s economic thought. This covers points like:
adhere to the people-centred development philosophy
strive to achieve a high level of technological self-reliance
address weaknesses and promote coordinated development
adhere to prioritising the ecology and green development
adhere to the supply-side structural reform as the main line and accelerate the construction of a new development pattern
The final section talks about promoting Chinese-style modernisation via high-quality development.
“General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions have provided a scientific epistemology and methodology to cope with the profound and unprecedented once-in-a-century changes in the world and create a new situation of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, guiding us to accurately grasp the historical trend, concentrate on managing our own affairs well, and forge new glories and create new great achievements in unswervingly promoting high-quality development.” 总书记的重要论述，为我们应对世界百年未有之大变局、开创中华民族伟大复兴新局面提供了科学认识论和方法论，指引我们准确把握历史大势，集中精力办好自己的事，在坚定不移推进高质量发展中铸就新的辉煌、创造新的伟业.
In the face of the uncertainty and instability in the world economy, we are working address the issue of key core technologies in order to solve the ‘chokepoint’ problem, our investment in R&D continues to grow; and we are striving to move towards high-level scientific and technological self-reliance; we have implemented the action of strengthening the and supplementing the industrial and supply chains; the resilience of the industrial and supply chains is being constantly enhanced, so as to build the foundation and empower the manufacturing industry to move towards the middle and high end; we are actively shaping a diversified foreign trade pattern, with closer trade relations with ASEAN, Europe, Africa and other countries and regions…” 面对世界经济不确定性不稳定性，我们瞄准关键核心技术解决“卡脖子”问题，基础研发投入持续增长，努力向着高水平科技自立自强迈进；我们实施强链补链行动，产业链供应链韧性不断增强，为制造业迈向中高端筑基赋能；我们积极塑造多元化的外贸格局，与东盟、欧洲、非洲等国家和地区的贸易往来更加紧密.
Then there’s a paragraph on coordinating development and security.
“In the coming period, we will face increasing difficulties and headwinds when it comes to the external environment, and the task of domestic reform, development and stability remain arduous. We must be prepared to deal with a series of new risks and challenges, and correctly understand and grasp such important theoretical and practical issues as ‘the strategic goal and practical ways to achieve common prosperity’, ‘the characteristics and behaviour rules of capital’, ‘the supply guarantee of primary products’, ‘preventing and resolving major risks’ and "carbon peak and neutrality’. Only high-level security can achieve high-quality development, and only high-quality development can guarantee high-level security. Security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security. The more complicated the situation is, the more critical the situation is, the more we should always have foresight and be prepared for danger in times of peace, establish the bottom-line thinking, enhance our sense of hardship, improve our struggle ability, estimate the difficulties more fully, think more deeply about the risks, prevent all kinds of ‘black swan’ and ‘grey rhinoceros’ incidents, efficiently coordinate epidemic prevention and control and economic and social development, and promote a dynamic balance between high-quality development and high-level security.” 今后一个时期，我们将面对更多逆风逆水的外部环境，国内改革发展稳定任务艰巨繁重，必须做好应对一系列新的风险挑战的准备，正确认识和把握“实现共同富裕的战略目标和实践途径”“资本的特性和行为规律”“初级产品供给保障”“防范化解重大风险”“碳达峰碳中和”等重大理论和实践问题。只有高水平安全才有条件实现高质量发展，只有高质量发展才有可能保障高水平安全。安全是发展的前提，发展是安全的保障。越是面临复杂情况，越是处于关键时期，越要常怀远虑、居安思危，树立底线思维，增强忧患意识，提升斗争本领，把困难估计得更充分一些，把风险思考得更深入一些，防止各类“黑天鹅”“灰犀牛”事件发生，高效统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，推动高质量发展和高水平安全动态平衡.
Towards the end, however, the piece reiterates that the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. And at present and in the future, China's development is still in an important period of strategic opportunities.” 中华民族伟大复兴进入了不可逆转的历史进程。当前和今后一个时期，我国发展仍然处于重要战略机遇期.
General Secretary Xi Jinping observes the general situation, determines the overall situation, and plans for major events; he has placed China’s economic development within a historical perspective, the tide of the times and the global perspective in order to observe and plan; grasps the new development stage, implements the new development concept, builds a new development pattern; he has strived for building new competitive advantages of a strong country through self-reliance in science and technology, strived for new advantages of coordinated development by regional development strategies, sought new advantages through the layout of major projects, sought to pursue sustainable development, strived for the strategic initiative and new advantages by building a new development pattern, and to gain momentum and empowerment for achieving high-quality development. 习近平总书记观大势、定大局、谋大事，把中国经济发展放到历史长河、时代大潮和全球视野中来观察和谋划，把握新发展阶段、贯彻新发展理念、构建新发展格局，以科技自立自强谋强国竞争新优势，以区域大战略谋协调发展新优势，以布局重大工程谋深根固本新优势，以绿水青山谋永续发展新优势，以构建新发展格局谋战略主动新优势，为实现高质量发展蓄势赋能。新时代新征程上，我们要树立正确的历史观、大局观和角色观，准确把握发展之机，牢牢掌握发展主动，在把握好高质量发展的时与势中赢得主动、赢得优势、赢得未来。