Xi's CCDI Speech - Two Establishments & Historical Confidence - Transportation Plan - Achieving Common Prosperity - New Xi Jinping Economic Thought Research Center - Warning EU on Lithuania
Here are the stories and pieces that I found noteworthy from the Wednesday, January 19, 2022, edition of the People’s Daily.
Page 1: The lead story on the page (Xinhua English report) is based on Xi Jinping’s speech at the CCDI’s 6th Plenary. Xi said that over the past 10 years, since the 18th Party Congress, the Party had made significant achievements in terms of its overall governance. He said that strictly governing the Party was part of the four comprehensives strategy. The effort has led to “improved Party conduct,” and the Party had “combated corruption with unprecedented courage and resolve.” He added that “certain unhealthy tendencies that hadn't been curbed for a long time have been reined in, many problems that had long plagued us have been remedied, and serious potential dangers in the Party, the country and the military have been rooted out.”
Xi added that while “historic and groundbreaking achievements had been made in comprehensively governing the Party with strict discipline, which has had all-round and deep-rooted impact, we must persist and make continuous progress.”
In the next paragraph, Xi talks about the practice of self-revolution. He calls for:
adherence to the Party’s political construction as the guide and adherence to the fundamental political direction of self-revolution;
adherence to ideological construction as the basic construction of the Party, and refine the sharp ideological weapon of self-revolution
implementation of the spirit of the eight central regulations
the importance of persisting in “fighting against corruption and punishing evil with the thunder,” which is part of “protracted battle for self-revolution”;
strengthening the political function and organizational cohesion of Party organizations, thereby forging a contingent of cadres who dare to struggle and are brave in engaging in self-revolution
building an institutional system of rules and regulations to guarantee self-revolution
必须坚持以党的政治建设为统领，坚守自我革命根本政治方向；必须坚持把思想建设作为党的基础性建设，淬炼自我革命锐利思想武器；必须坚决落实中央八项规定精神、以严明纪律整饬作风，丰富自我革命有效途径；必须坚持以雷霆之势反腐惩恶，打好自我革命攻坚战、持久战；必须坚持增强党组织政治功能和组织力凝聚力，锻造敢于善于斗争、勇于自我革命的干部队伍；必须坚持构建自我净化、自我完善、自我革新、自我提高的制度规范体系，为推进伟大自我革命提供制度保障.
In the next paragraph, Xi says that since the 18th Party Congress, “we have inherited and developed the Marxist theory of Party building, summed up and applied the historical experience of the Party’s century of struggle, and further promoted practical, theoretical and institutional innovation in managing the Party, in order to arrive at a new understanding of what kind of long-term ruling Marxist party to build and how should this be built.” 习近平强调，党的十八大以来，我们继承和发展马克思主义建党学说，总结运用党的百年奋斗历史经验，深入推进管党治党实践创新、理论创新、制度创新，对建设什么样的长期执政的马克思主义政党、怎样建设长期执政的马克思主义政党的规律性认识达到新的高度.
The outcome is the understanding that “we must adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee, insist on strict and comprehensive governance of the Party, adhere to the guidance of the Party’s political construction, persist in carrying forward the spirit of nailing nails, strengthen the work style construction, persist in punishing corruption with a zero-tolerance attitude, persist in correcting all corruption and unhealthy practices that harm the interests of the masses, persist in improving the Party and government supervision system, and strengthen the supervision over the ‘key few’...’ 这就是坚持党中央集中统一领导，坚持党要管党、全面从严治党，坚持以党的政治建设为统领，坚持严的主基调不动摇，坚持发扬钉钉子精神加强作风建设，坚持以零容忍态度惩治腐败，坚持纠正一切损害群众利益的腐败和不正之风，坚持抓住“关键少数”以上率下，坚持完善党和国家监督制度，形成全面覆盖、常态长效的监督合力.
He then listed what I would call action points:
First, “thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 6th Plenum of the 19th Central Committee, persistently promote the study, education and publicity of Party history, guide the whole Party to strengthen its historical self-confidence, let the original mission truly take root in the heart, put loyalty to the Party and the people into action, inherit and carry forward the Party’s glorious tradition and fine work style, sincerely contribute to the cause of the Party and the people…”
Second, he called for strengthening “political supervision” “to ensure the complete, accurate and comprehensive implementation of the new development concept.” He calls for the implementation of the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and arrangements. He warns that there must be “no compromises, no going through the motions, no selfish departmentalism and protectionism, do not resort to petty tricks for the purpose of local or short-term interests, ensure the implementation has no deviation, no compromise and no distortion.” 要把握新发展阶段、贯彻新发展理念、构建新发展格局、推动高质量发展，引导督促党员、干部真正悟透党中央大政方针，时时处处向党中央看齐，扎扎实实贯彻党中央决策部署，不打折扣、不做表面文章，纠正自由主义、本位主义、保护主义，不因一时一地利益而打小算盘、耍小聪明，确保执行不偏向、不变通、不走样。
Third, Xi talked about maintaining the “political resolve” to fight corruption. He said that “we should be aware that the fight against corruption continues to rage.” SCMP has a good translated summary of the next bit: “there is still a long way to go to prevent all kinds of interest groups from converging and corrupting our officials. There is still a long way to go to effectively tackle the more invisible, deep-rooted corruption and we still have a long way to go to eradicate it completely.” Xi then called on leading officials, especially senior ones, to take the lead in strengthening the development of a culture of integrity and honesty, strengthen the ideological foundation, enhance the Party spirit consciousness and enhance the ability to resist corruption and prevent degeneration. Leading cadres should “enhance their political acumen” and “must attach importance to family education, lead by example, manage their spouses and children well, behave themselves and act with integrity.” 领导干部特别是高级干部要带头落实关于加强新时代廉洁文化建设的意见，从思想上固本培元，提高党性觉悟，增强拒腐防变能力。领导干部要增强政治敏锐性和政治鉴别力。领导干部特别是高级干部一定要重视家教家风，以身作则管好配偶、子女，本分做人、干净做事.
Fourth, Xi said that the practice of formalities for formalities’ sake and bureaucratism are the arch enemies of the cause of the Party and the country. He asked officials to make more solid efforts to work for the people’s well-being and guard against massively launching flashy programs for appearance’s sake. He added that it is “necessary to implement the relevant system of cadre assessment and work inspection, scientifically evaluate cadres’ achievements, and encourage cadres to perform better with greater responsibilities. It is necessary to strengthen the supervision over the implementation of policies of the Party Central Committee for benefiting and ensuring people’s wellbeing; focus our efforts on correcting prominent problems that the people feel strongly about in areas like education, medical care, social security for the elderly, ecological and environmental protection, workplace safety, and food and drug safety. We will consolidate and deepen our achievements in the campaign to eradicate organized crime and root out evil, and in the education and rectification of the political and judicial forces. We will ensure that the people feel equity and justice through the resolution of specific problems.” 要落实干部考核、工作检查相关制度，科学评价干部政绩，促进干部更好担当作为。要加强对党中央惠民利民、安民富民各项政策落实情况的监督，集中纠治教育医疗、养老社保、生态环保、安全生产、食品药品安全等领域群众反映强烈的突出问题，巩固深化扫黑除恶专项斗争、政法队伍教育整顿成果，让群众从一个个具体问题的解决中切实感受到公平正义。
Fifth, Xi said that education, management and supervision of young officials must be strengthened to ensure they are loyal and reliable to the Party and the people. He added that young officials/cadres “must always have a clear understanding of the Party’s theory, line, principles and policies, the Party constitution, Party rules and discipline, and the original mission…”
Sixth, he demanded that Party committees at all levels strengthen the oversight over the ‘key few’, particularly those in command and the leading bodies.
Seventh, he said that discipline inspection organs and cadres engaged in discipline inspection must be held to and must maintain “higher standards and stricter discipline.” They must be “upright and impartial,” “use power prudently,” and “constantly improve their immunity.”
Zhao Leji then summed up the speech, praising it. As Xinhua English reports, Zhao said that “Xi's speech has made the strategic plans clear to deepen strict Party governance in all aspects and prepare for the opening of the Party's 20th national congress”
Next, there’s a commentary based on Xi’s WEF speech. There’s a lot of praise for the speech. The article says that this was “another historic speech” by Xi at the WEF, and will “definitely have a positive and far-reaching impact on the future development of the world.” The piece reiterates the key points from Xi’s speech about the global economy. pandemic containment, multilateralism, protectionism, etc. For instance:
“Despite many headwinds and treacherous currents, the direction of economic globalization has never changed and will never change. History has repeatedly shown that confrontation is not only unhelpful, but will also bring disastrous consequences. Protectionism and unilateralism can protect no one and will only harm others and ourselves in the end. Hegemony and bullying run counter to the trend of history. We must respond to the trend of history, bear in mind the common interests of mankind, answer the question of our times with confidence, courage, and responsibility, and make a historical choice.” 尽管出现了很多逆流、险滩，但经济全球化方向从未改变、也不会改变。历史反复证明，对抗不仅于事无补，而且会带来灾难性后果。搞保护主义、单边主义，谁也保护不了，最终只会损人害己。搞霸权霸凌，更是逆历史潮流而动。我们要顺应历史大势，从人类共同利益出发，以信心、勇气、担当回答时代课题，作出历史抉择.
Next, a report about the new plan to develop a modern comprehensive transportation system during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The document lists goals for 2025 and a broad goal for 2035. The plan identifies 9 key tasks. These are:
build a high-quality, comprehensive, three-dimensional transportation network
enhance the capacity of transport to support and serve major strategies and promote coordinated development between urban and rural areas and between regions
modernize transportation in city clusters and metropolitan areas
ensure diversified and high-quality development of transport services
pursue innovation-driven development and accelerate the extensive use of smart technologies
comprehensively promote green and low-carbon transformation for the transport sector, keeping in mind goals of carbon peak and neutrality
focus on safety
focus on better service provision
focus on the deep-seated problems that restrict high-quality development and strengthen the capacity building of modern governance《规划》明确九个方面的主要任务。一是构建高质量综合立体交通网，勾画好美丽中国的“交通工笔画”。二是增强交通运输对重大战略支撑服务能力，差异化推进城乡区域协调发展。三是加强互联互通和一体衔接，推进城市群和都市圈交通现代化。四是扩大优质运输服务供给，推动运输服务多元化品质化发展。五是坚持创新驱动发展，加快智能技术深度推广应用。六是贯彻落实碳达峰碳中和要求，全面推进绿色低碳转型。七是夯实安全发展基础，提升安全应急保障能力。八是更好服务和融入新发展格局，推动高水平对外开放合作。九是聚焦制约高质量发展的深层次矛盾问题，加强现代化治理能力建设。
Some goals that have been identified in this English report are:
By 2025, more than 95% of cities with a population of over 500,000 will be covered with the high-speed railway network with the trains running at 250 kilometers and above per hour
Main transportation lines and transportation of grains, energy commodities, and ores will be more secure with extensive use of clean low-carbon facilities to reduce emissions
Efforts will be made to improve major transportation passages and build multi-layered and integrated comprehensive transportation hubs, covering key cities, and passenger and cargo transport hub systems
Improve road networks with secondary and above highways occupying 70 percent of the national highway system in the western region
An improved waterway transportation facility network and expanded aviation network are also planned
Integrated urban-rural transportation and roads and airports in border areas will be improved
The report adds: “The nation will further promote interconnected infrastructures with neighboring countries, construct railways and highways in port areas and boundary river channels, and intensify work on land transport passages to Russia, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia. High-quality development of China-Europe freight trains and secured international logistics chains are also listed in the circular.”
Finally, a brief report (English report) on lending last year. It says that China’s new yuan-denominated loans totalled 19.95 trillion yuan (3.13 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2021, up 315 billion yuan year on year. On Page 3, there’s a detailed report based on the PBOC’s press briefing on Monday. The officials had said that in order to stabilise the economy, the central bank will widen the use of policy tools to “prevent a collapse in credit.”
Here’s the full video of the press conference:
Page 2: A report with foreign voices positively assessing Xi’s WEF speech. Second, there’s this short data update on BRI. The report has Jin Xiandong from the NDRC saying that China has signed BRI cooperation agreements with 147 countries and 32 international organizations so far.
The report also informs that “since December 2021, China has signed cooperation documents with São Tomé and Príncipe, Cuba, Morocco, Nicaragua and Syria, and the NDRC and Laos’ Ministry of Planning and Investment have signed an MoU on establishing a coordination mechanism BRI cooperation. Also, by the end of December 2021, for 20 consecutive months, more than 1000 train journeys per month had been undertaken between China and Europe. In 2021, there were 15,183 train journeys between China and Europe, transporting 1.464 million TEUs, up by 22% and 29% respectively year on year. Here is an English report with data on train journeys.
There’s another commentary on the page discussing Xi’s speech at the WEF. This is numbered as the first in a series. Again, this basically repeats the key points that Xi made.
Fourth, there’s an article by Zhang Hanhui, the Chinese ambassador to Russia. He writes about Putin’s expected visit to China for the Winter Olympics. In discussing this, he talks about Xi’s visit to Russia in 2014 for the Sochi Olympics. He argues that these actions demonstrate the nature of bilateral ties and their desire to “defend the Olympic spirit and oppose the politicization of sports.”
He then praises Russia’s sporting prowess when it comes to the winter games. He informs that the Chinese hockey team had gone to Russia to train last year, ahead of the Beijing Games. He also highlights that 2022-23 is the year of China-Russia sports exchange and that both Xi and Putin have guided sports cooperation between the two countries.
“Towards the end, he writes that the “trade volume between the two countries has exceeded $140 billion, a record high. The Sino-Russian Science and Technology Innovation Year was successfully concluded, a series of large strategic projects were successfully implemented, and the joint construction of BRI and the Eurasian Economic Union has been smoothly advanced. China and Russia joined hands to fight against the pandemic. Together, they have made positive contributions to international solidarity and the building of a community of health for mankind. China and Russia firmly defend international fairness and justice, and firmly oppose the Cold War mentality and hegemonic acts disguised as ‘rules’ and ‘democracy’. China and Russia have become the mainstay of upholding true multilateralism and international fairness and justice.” 两国贸易额突破1400亿美元，创历史新高。中俄科技创新年圆满闭幕，一系列战略性大项目顺利实施，共建“一带一路”同欧亚经济联盟对接顺利推进。中俄携手抗疫，为推动国际社会团结抗疫、构建人类卫生健康共同体作出了积极贡献。中俄坚定捍卫国际公平正义，坚决反对披着“规则”“民主”外衣的冷战思维和霸权行径，成为践行真正的多边主义、维护国际公平正义的中流砥柱.
Finally, a report about the first meeting of the BRICS coordinators this year.
Page 3: First, we have a report about a new Xi Jinping Economic Thought Research Center established in the National Development and Reform Commission. Second, there’s a story about (English report) the Supreme People’s Court issuing a guideline to promote the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Xinhua reports:
“The guideline has 20 measures in six aspects, such as developing the market based on fair competition and honesty, and strengthening judicial protection of property rights of MSMEs. Cases of monopolies or unfair competition should be adjudicated in accordance with laws, said the document, adding that courts should deal with acts that eliminate or restrict competition and guard against unregulated expansion of capital in order to better protect MSMEs. It stresses the importance of strictly distinguishing between legitimate financing and illegal fund-raising, as well as between contract disputes and contract fraud. Economic disputes must not be identified as criminal crimes, and civil liabilities not as criminal responsibilities, read the guideline.
Page 4: Just one report to note. Last week, CMC Vice Chair Zhang Youxia’s engagement with newly-elected academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) in Beijing. He told them that science and technology workers must “vigorously promote national defense science and technology innovation” and make new and greater contributions to realizing the goal of building a world-class armed forces.
He added that “it is necessary to set a new level of absolute loyalty and reliability, firmly and consciously support the ‘two establishments,’ and earnestly put into practice Xi Jinping’s thoughts of strengthening the armed forces. It is necessary to make new breakthroughs in key areas, closely monitor changes in science and technology, wars and adversaries, strengthen innovation, strive for self-reliance and self-reliance in science and technology, and promote high-quality development of national defense and the armed forces.” 张又侠指出，要在绝对忠诚可靠上立起新标高，坚定自觉拥护“两个确立”，切实把习近平强军思想在头脑中立牢扎深、在行动中坚决落实。要在关键领域攻坚上实现新突破，紧盯科技之变、战争之变、对手之变加强创新，奋力推进科技自立自强，助推国防和军队建设高质量发展.
Page 5: The second commentary in the series on historical confidence. This one basically makes the point that historical confidence is not only about confidence in the Party’s achievements but also confidence in the spirit of the struggle. So while the Party is more confident in achieving the second-century goal, this will not be an easy task. This is not, therefore, the time for slacking off. It is important to maintain the spirit of indomitable struggle. Basically, don’t forget that the Party’s history is one of struggle and draw inspiration from those successes and struggles as one goes ahead.
Page 9: On the theory page, the lead piece is by Wang Yongchang from the Party School of the Hangzhou Municipal Committee. Wang talks about the history resolution, focussing on the two establishments, historical confidence, keeping in touch with the masses and promoting self-revolution.
I thought the bit below was the most noteworthy aspect. From the piece.
The history resolution has put forward the “two establishments.” These, it added, are the “common aspirations of the whole Party, the whole army and the people of all ethnic groups, and are of decisive significance to the development of the Party and the country in the new era and the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” The ‘two establishments’ are the common, solemn and inevitable choice of the times, history and the people. We must have a deep understanding of the decisive significance of the ‘two establishments’, adhere to and safeguard the ‘two establishments’, and imbibe the ‘two establishments’ into our blood and put it into action.” 两个确立”是时代、历史和人民的共同选择、郑重选择、必然选择。奋力走好新的赶考之路，必须深刻认识“两个确立”的决定性意义，坚持好、维护好“两个确立”，把“两个确立”融入血脉、付诸行动.
He adds that establishing a “leading core and guiding ideology” is a basic requirement of Marxist party building theory and is an important sign of the maturity of a Marxist political party. “The Party's century-long struggle shows that resolutely upholding the core of the CPC Central Committee and the entire Party is the key for the Party to build consensus and make decisive decisions at major moments, and an important guarantee for the Party's solidarity, unity, and successful progress.” 确立和维护马克思主义政党的领导核心和指导思想，是马克思主义建党学说的一个基本观点，也是马克思主义政党走向成熟的重要标志。党的百年奋斗史深刻表明，坚决维护党中央的核心、全党的核心，是党在重大时刻凝聚共识、果断抉择的关键，是党团结统一、胜利前进的重要保证.
He adds then that “the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and China is at a crucial stage of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Our Party is leading the people in a great struggle with many new historical features. The complexity and gravity of the situation and the onerous and arduous tasks the Party faces are rarely seen in this world or in history. With the courage of a Marxist statesman and strategist, General Secretary Xi Jinping has planned keeping in mind the overall situation both at home and abroad, furthered reform, development and stability, internal affairs, diplomacy and national defense, and the governance of the Party, the country and the armed forces, led the whole Party and people of all ethnic groups to seize opportunities and overcome difficulties, solved many difficult problems that we had wanted to be solved for a long time, and achieved many major outcomes that had been attempted but not achieved in the past. The most fundamental reason for the historic achievements and changes in the cause of the Party and the country in the new era is that General Secretary Xi Jinping is at the helm of the CPC Central Committee and the core of the whole Party, and the scientific guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. The ‘two establishments’ are needed for the great struggle, the development of great projects, the promotion of great undertakings and the realisation of great dreams….” 当今世界正经历百年未有之大变局，我国正处于实现中华民族伟大复兴关键时期，我们党正带领人民进行具有许多新的历史特点的伟大斗争，党面临形势环境的复杂性和严峻性、肩负任务的繁重性和艰巨性世所罕见、史所罕见。习近平总书记以马克思主义政治家、战略家的胆略，谋划国内外大局，推进改革发展稳定、内政外交国防、治党治国治军工作，领导全党全国各族人民抓住机遇、攻坚克难，解决了许多长期想解决而没有解决的难题，办成了许多过去想办而没有办成的大事。新时代党和国家事业取得历史性成就、发生历史性变革，最根本的原因在于有习近平总书记作为党中央的核心、全党的核心掌舵领航，在于有习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引。“两个确立”为进行伟大斗争、建设伟大工程、推进伟大事业、实现伟大梦想培根铸魂、凝心聚力，充分体现我们党对共产党执政规律、社会主义建设规律、人类社会发展规律的深刻把握，对新时代党和国家事业发展、对推进中华民族伟大复兴历史进程具有决定性意义.
Next, there are two articles on the page, which focus on the theme of common prosperity. My colleague Swayamsiddha Samal worked out the translations of these. I’m drawing on her work to outline the arguments made below.
In the first piece, Xie Jingrong, Vice Chair Central Committee of the Democratic League, writes that “to solidly develop common prosperity in the new era and stage, we must rely on the combined efforts of all people, promote high-quality development, construct and build the institutional structure, and distribute the benefits of development to all people.”
He later argues that in achieving common prosperity, it is important to keep in mind that “struggle is required for happiness; hard effort is required for affluence. On this new path, the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation and common prosperity can only be realised by relying on the dedication and knowledge of all workers, as well as the strength of more than 1.4 billion Chinese people's joint endeavor. Enterprises are the main body of the market and the organisers of production. Enterprise development has a significant impact on economic and social development. The united endeavours of entrepreneurs and workers are inextricably linked to the efficient development of enterprises. This success requires not only a significant number of entrepreneurs with global vision, patriotism, creativity, integrity, and adherence to the law, but also a large number of dedicated workers and skilled craftsmen with the spirit of striving for perfection. Only by sharing the pleasures and sorrows of business owners and employees can the company develop effectively and for a lot longer…”幸福靠奋斗、兴邦靠实干。新的征程上，只有依靠全体劳动者的勤劳智慧、凝聚14亿多中国人民共同奋斗的力量，才能实现中华民族伟大复兴，实现共同富裕。企业是市场的主体和生产的组织者，企业发展得好不好对经济社会发展具有重要影响。企业健康发展离不开企业家与劳动者共同奋斗，不但需要一大批具有国际视野、爱国情怀、勇于创新、诚信守法的企业家，也需要一大批敬业、奉献、专注的劳动者和精益求精、富有工匠精神的能工巧匠。企业经营者和劳动者同甘苦，企业才能发展好、发展长久；企业与国家同呼吸，才能找准位置和方向，实现健康发展.
He then talks about promoting common prosperity through high-quality development, which entails making the cake bigger and distributing it better. In this regard, he says that “encouraging high-quality growth is a means of addressing the issue of imbalanced and inadequate growth. It is essential to strengthen balance, coordination, and inclusivity of development, as well as to continue to close the development gap between urban and rural areas and between territories, and to establish a solid foundation for common prosperity. Conform to the people-centred development ideology, ensuring that people have equal access to development opportunities, laws, and rights, as well as the opportunity to collaboratively build social wealth and enjoy the benefits of development. Companies must "perform their own business well" in order to promote common prosperity. We can only enhance the competitiveness and profitability of businesses, as well as create more wealth and jobs, by consistently improving their innovative ability and improving their level of industrial modernization.” 推动高质量发展的过程，就是解决发展不平衡不充分问题的过程。要提高发展的平衡性、协调性、包容性，持续缩小城乡、区域发展差距，打好共同富裕的基础。坚持以人民为中心的发展思想，保障人民在参与发展中机会公平、规则公平、权利公平，共同创造社会财富，共同分享发展成果。促进共同富裕，需要企业“办好自己的事”。只有不断增强企业创新能力、提高产业现代化水平，才能提高企业盈利能力和竞争力，为社会创造更多财富和就业机会，让劳动者更多更好分享企业发展成果.
In the final paragraph he talks about the distribution mechanisms. He argues that it is important to establish the “fundamental governance frameworks for primary distribution, redistribution, and synchronisation of the three distributions, so that income distribution is adjusted in a way that not only represents efficiency but also promotes equality. For primary distribution, distribution according to work should be the main body, and multiple forms of distribution should coexist, so as to encourage and guide members of society to grow wealthy through honest work, innovation and creativity. The adjusting function of financial and taxation on the distribution disparity should be given more weight in redistribution. Low-income groups are critical supporters and protectors of common prosperity. It is necessary to improve taxation, social security, transfer payments, and other public services in backward and remote areas, as well as increase support for infrastructure, education, health, and other public services; improve retirement benefits and medical security systems, and steadily reduce the number of employees. Increase the basic pension level of urban and rural inhabitants progressively; strengthen the primary assistance system, reduce the gap between urban and rural social assistance standards, and gradually raise the minimum living security level between urban and rural areas. Give full play give to the role of tertiary distribution, enhance the uniform management of public welfare and charity organisations, enhance preferential tax policies, and promote high-income groups and businesses to give back more to society. Enterprises must operate lawfully and ethically, pay taxes in accordance with legislation, perform social duties, handle employees and customers with respect, and defend workers' and consumers' legitimate rights and interests. Simultaneously, the state promotes and supports businesses and entrepreneurs to actively engage in public welfare and charitable endeavours if they are able and willing, and to enhance common prosperity through these activities.” 这需要构建初次分配、再分配、三次分配协调配套的基础性制度安排，使收入分配调节既体现效率又促进公平。初次分配坚持按劳分配为主体、多种分配方式并存，激励引导社会成员通过诚实劳动和创新创业富裕起来。再分配要更好发挥财政税收对分配差距的调节功能。低收入群体是促进共同富裕的重点帮扶保障人群。要加大税收、社保、转移支付等调节力度并提高精准性，加大对落后地区、边远地区基础设施、教育、卫生等公共服务方面的支持力度；完善养老和医疗保障体系，逐步缩小职工与居民、城市与农村的筹资和保障待遇差距，逐步提高城乡居民基本养老金水平；完善兜底救助体系，加快缩小社会救助的城乡标准差异，逐步提高城乡最低生活保障水平，兜住基本生活底线。发挥第三次分配作用，加强公益慈善事业规范管理、完善税收优惠政策，鼓励高收入人群和企业更多回报社会。企业要合法诚信经营，照章纳税，履行社会责任，善待员工和客户，保护劳动者和消费者合法权益。同时，国家鼓励支持企业和企业家在有意愿、有能力的情况下积极参与公益慈善事业，通过公益慈善促进共同富裕。
The other piece is by Yin Xiaoyuan, the vice president of Hunan University of Technology. Yin basically argues that common prosperity, or the pursuit of it, is what distinguishes the goals of socialism and capitalism. To make this point, he quotes Deng Xiaoping as having said that “socialism is not like capitalism, where a few people get rich and the rest of the people get destitute.” He adds that “the biggest benefit of socialism is common prosperity, which reflects the core of the socialist system.” That said, Yin does clarify that common prosperity will be achieved by “coordinating efficiency and fairness, dividing the cake while making the cake bigger, and promoting common prosperity while pursuing high-quality development.”
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A report about a new guideline to attract investment into Shanghai. There’s a detailed English report on this in China Daily. It says that:
“According to the guideline, digital transformation will be a focus of Shanghai's investment this year. A total of 100 billion yuan ($15.8 billion) will be in place in the form of loans with a favorable interest rate to support new infrastructure projects. Efficiency in loan usage is also underlined by the guideline…For these infrastructure projects, the three-year bank loan rate is set at 40 basis points lower than the one-year loan prime rate, while loans with a maturity from three to five years will have the rate set at 10 basis points lower than the one year LPR. The interest rate will be no more than 4 percent for bank loans longer than five years. The development of new types of hospitals, smart factories and smart transportation should be accelerated with the investment, said Hua Yuan, director of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission…More than 200 billion yuan is to be invested in Shanghai this year for a number of major projects, said Zhu Jianhao, deputy director of the Shanghai housing and urban-rural development committee. Over 100 billion yuan of investment in major projects will be made in the first half of this year, up 10 percent year-on-year. Up to 40 billion yuan of the investment is expected to be completed in the first quarter and the rest in the second quarter, Zhu said. Investment in major projects takes up more than one-fifth of Shanghai's annual fixed asset investment. Fixed asset investment grew by 10.3 percent year-on-year in Shanghai in 2020 thanks to enhanced investment environment, according to the commission.”
On the international page, we have this exchange (English report) from the MoFA’s press conference:
MASTV: According to reports, a recent informal EU foreign ministers’ meeting criticized China’s “coercive” behavior against Lithuania. I wonder if you have any comment?
Zhao Lijian: I noted relevant reports. The spokesperson of the Chinese Mission to the EU has responded to this. I would reiterate that China firmly opposes all forms of political and diplomatic coercion and never uses economic coercion against any country. If the relevant side truly stands in solidarity with Lithuania, then it should remind Lithuania that there is only one solution to the problem, namely, returning to the right path of adhering to the one-China principle. The ins and outs of the strained China-Lithuania relations are crystal clear with no room for misrepresentation or smearing. The Lithuanian side obstinately endorsed the establishment of the “Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania”, blatantly listing “Taiwan” alongside “China” and creating the false impression of “one China, one Taiwan”. This constitutes a grave violation of the one-China principle. Now the Lithuanian side, out of selfish calculation, attempts to hold China-EU relations hostage with its own mistakes. This is irresponsible and highly dangerous. The European side should be highly vigilant. It is hoped that the EU could tell right from wrong, abide by the one-China principle and the solemn commitment it made upon the establishment of China-EU diplomatic relations, uphold an objective and just position, and safeguard the sound and steady development of China-EU relations with concrete actions.