Xi's Message to Political & Legal Front - Tax Policies to Support Innovation & Manufacturing - Wang Yi on Taiwan Election - China's Diplomatic Push on Gaza War - Li Qiang in Switzerland
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Monday, January 15, 2024.
Page 1: The top of the page is dedicated to Xi Jinping’s instructions (English report) to the political and legal work institutions, calling on them to serve the Chinese-style modernization. The instruction was conveyed by Chen Wenqing, secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, at a televised two-day national conference.
Xi said that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, “the political and legal front should fully implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, adhere to the absolute leadership of the Party, faithfully perform their duties and take responsibility, support and serve Chinese-style modernization through the modernization of political and legal work, and provide a strong security guarantee for comprehensively promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation.” 政法战线要全面贯彻落实党的二十大和二十届二中全会精神，坚持党的绝对领导，忠诚履职、担当作为，以政法工作现代化支撑和服务中国式现代化，为全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强安全保障.
He called on them to “resolutely safeguard national security, enhance political acuity and discernment, and prevent and resolve major security risks. Resolutely safeguard social stability, adhere to and develop the ‘Fengqiao Experience’ in the new era, correctly handle contradictions among the people, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people. Guarantee and promote social fairness and justice, uphold the unity of the country’s legal system, comprehensively promote scientific legislation, strict law enforcement, judicial fairness, and nationwide compliance with the law, deepen comprehensive reform of the judicial system, and fully and accurately implement the system of judicial responsibility. Guarantee high-level security for high-quality development, uphold the socialist market economic order in accordance with the law, and enhance the level of building a lawful business environment. Strengthen the political construction of the Party across political and legal organs, and forge a new era political and legal force that is loyal, clean, and responsible.” 要坚决维护国家安全，提高政治敏锐性和政治鉴别力，防范化解重大安全风险。要坚决维护社会稳定，坚持和发展新时代“枫桥经验”，正确处理人民内部矛盾，维护群众合法权益。要保障和促进社会公平正义，维护国家法治统一，全面推进科学立法、严格执法、公正司法、全民守法，深化司法体制综合配套改革，全面准确落实司法责任制。要以高水平安全保障高质量发展，依法维护社会主义市场经济秩序，提升法治化营商环境建设水平。要加强政法机关党的政治建设，锻造忠诚干净担当的新时代政法铁军.
In his comments, Chen Wenqing called on everyone to “adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply understand the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, and strengthen the ‘four consciousness’, strengthen the ‘four self-confidences’, and achieve the ‘two safeguards’. He also called on them to adhere to the Party’s absolute leadership over political and legal work, and forge a strong political and legal work iron army.” 中央政法工作会议13日至14日在北京召开。中共中央政治局委员、中央政法委书记陈文清在会上传达习近平重要指示并讲话，表示要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，深刻领悟“两个确立”的决定性意义，增强“四个意识”、坚定“四个自信”、做到“两个维护”，坚持党对政法工作的绝对领导，锻造过硬政法铁军.
Next, there’s a report on Li Qiang arriving in Zurich. Li said that “China is willing to work with Sweden to follow the important strategic guidance of the two heads of state, further deepen political mutual trust between the two sides, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and deepen people-to-people friendship. China has always attached great importance to Switzerland’s unique role in Europe and the international arena, and is willing to maintain close communication and collaboration with Switzerland in jointly responding to global challenges.” 李强指出，中方愿同瑞方一道，遵循两国元首重要战略引领，进一步深化双方政治互信，扩大互利合作，厚植民间情谊。中方始终高度重视瑞士在欧洲和国际舞台上发挥的独特作用，愿同瑞方在共同应对全球性挑战等方面保持密切沟通和协作。
Li then took the train from Zurich to Bern, while engaging “in candid exchanges with President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere,” as per Xinhua. This bit is on Page 3. He praised Swiss “innovation capability” and “high-quality ‘Made in Switzerland’ products”. The report adds:
“The friendship between countries lies in the affinity between the people. China is willing to seize the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025 as an opportunity to enhance local level and people-to-people exchanges and promote friendly relations between the two countries and their people, Li said. He further noted that Swiss enterprises have deeply participated in China's reform and opening-up process in the past 40 more years, contributing to the economic and social development of China while achieving substantial benefits for themselves. China will only open its door wider and wider to the outside world, welcoming more Swiss companies to invest in the country, he added…The two sides also exchanged views on scientific and technological innovation, green development, cultural tourism, winter sports, among others, and agreed to promote cooperation in related fields.”
Page 2: There is a report with information from officials from the State Administration of Taxation on tax reforms and implementing tax and fee reduction policies.
Dai Shiyou, director general of the Tax Policy and Legislation Department of the State Taxation Administration, informed that from January to November 2023, new tax cuts and fee reductions and tax rebates and fee deferrals exceeded 1.8 trillion yuan…In the new year, the tax department will implement structural tax and fee reduction policies, focus on supporting technological innovation and manufacturing development, enhance policy accuracy and pertinence, support enterprises to increase R&D investment, and guide various factor resources to invest in the real economy.” 2023年1月到11月，新增减税降费及退税缓费超1.8万亿元，切实减轻经营主体负担，有力促进经济回升向好。新的一年，税务部门将落实好结构性减税降费政策，重点聚焦支持科技创新和制造业发展，增强政策精准性和针对性，支持企业增加研发投入，引导各类要素资源投向实体经济.
Wang Shiyu, Director of the Income Tax Department of the State Administration of Taxation, said that “in the first three quarters of 2023, a total of 403,000 enterprises nationwide enjoyed the policy of upfront deduction of research and development expenses, effectively enhancing the confidence of enterprises in R&D investment and injecting stronger momentum into the promotion of industrial scientific and technological innovation.” 2023年前三季度，全国共有40.3万户企业提前享受研发费用加计扣除政策，有效增强企业研发投入的底气，为推进产业科技创新注入更强动能.
Wang said that the next step will be to “conscientiously implement tax incentives that support technological innovation, smooth the chain of ‘policy dividend guidance—increased R&D investment—improved product quality—increased corporate benefits,’ strengthen the position of enterprises as the main body of technological innovation, and help accelerate the achievement of high-level technological self-reliance.” 王世宇说，下一步将认真落实支持科技创新的税费优惠政策，畅通“政策红利引导—研发投入增加—产品质量提升—企业效益增加”的链条，强化企业科技创新主体地位，助力加快实现高水平科技自立自强.
Specifically, this translates to the following:
First continue to strengthen the implementation of preferential tax policies to support scientific and technological research and development, adhere to the policy of increasing the pre-tax deduction ratio of research and development expenses to 100% as an institutional arrangement for a long time, and enhance the certainty of tax incentives for scientific and technological research and development.
Second, continuously stimulate the enthusiasm and initiative of enterprises as the main body of technological innovation, guide enterprises to take the road of independent innovation with preferential tax and fee policies, and gradually form a tax and fee policy support system covering the whole life cycle of enterprise growth and innovation.
Third, continue to optimise the policy environment for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, explore and enrich preferential tax policies for the income from R&D achievements, encourage the in-depth integration of industry, academia and research and the transformation of innovative scientific and technological achievements, guide the improvement of the ‘soft power’ of scientific research, and deeply connect with the ‘new track’ of industry.”
具体而言，一是要持续加大支持科技研发税费优惠政策落实力度，坚持把研发费用税前加计扣除比例提高至100%的政策作为制度性安排长期实施，增强科技研发税收优惠的确定性；二是要持续激发企业科技创新主体的积极性、主动性，以税费优惠政策引导企业走自主创新之路，逐步形成覆盖企业成长和创新全生命周期的税费政策支持体系；三是要持续优化科技成果转化的政策环境，探索丰富针对研发成果收益的税费优惠政策，鼓励产学研深度融合和创新科技成果转化，引导提升科研“软实力”，深度对接产业“新赛道”.
On manufacturing the report informs that “from January to November 2023, China’s manufacturing and related wholesale and retail enterprises have received around 760 billion yuan in new tax cuts, fee reductions, tax rebates and deferrals, accounting for more than 40% of the total.” Xie Wen, Director of the Goods and Service Taxation Department of the State Administration of Taxation, said that “scientific planning and precise implementation of policies will continue in order to help manufacturing enterprises solve difficulties, enhance confidence and help the real economy develop steadily.” 税收大数据显示，2023年1月到11月，全国制造业及与之相关的批发零售业企业累计新增减税降费及退税缓费7600亿元左右，占比超四成。税费‘红包’为实体经济的发展提供了重要动力。”国家税务总局货物和劳务税司司长谢文表示，将科学谋划、精准施策，持续为制造业企业纾困解难、增强信心，助力实体经济稳步发展.
In terms of taxation reform, the comments are really vague. But they highlight:
the need to further clarify the relationship between the government and the market, and further streamline the fiscal relationship between the central and local governments
better leveraging the decisive role of the market in resource allocation should be and better utilisation of the role of the government
the need to promote green and low-carbon development and the improvement of the green tax system
improve the tax management cooperation mechanism for BRI
Page 3: There is a report on Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Egypt. The report discusses Wang’s meeting with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi. Xinhua says:
Wang “said that Xi and Sisi have established a solid mutual trust and deep friendship, which is ‘the strongest strategic guarantee for the China-Egypt relations’. China and Egypt have been consolidating their political mutual trust, yielding fruitful results from pragmatic cooperation, acting as responsible major countries in international and regional affairs, and have brought their bilateral relations to ‘the fast lane’ and levitated to the ‘best level’ in history, under the guidance and care of their leaders, said the Chinese top diplomat. Wang also congratulated Sisi on his re-election by a high vote, expressing the belief that Egypt will achieve new and greater achievements on the road to national development and national rejuvenation.”
Sisi praised Xi and BRI. “He congratulated China on its great development achievements under the leadership of President Xi and its increasingly important role in international affairs. China is a great country, and no country or force can stop China's progress, the Egyptian leader said, reiterating that Egypt will always adhere to the one-China principle and oppose any interference in China's internal affairs…Egypt attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and is willing to establish a closer partnership with China and expand cooperation in various fields…Sisi also thanked Chinese enterprises for their ‘important contribution’ to Egypt's national construction and economic development and welcomed more Chinese investments in Egypt.”
“Wang Yi said that China is grateful to Egypt for supporting China’s legitimate position. He added that China firmly supports the president’s leadership in guiding Egypt to choose a development path that suits its own conditions, oppose external meddling in its internal affairs, safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests, pursue an independent foreign policy, and play a more important role in international and regional affairs.” He also talked about more development cooperation, without any specific commitment. And he congratulated Egypt on joining BRICS, saying that “Egypt is an important Arab, African, Islamic and developing country.”
“China is willing to work with Egypt to promote a more equal and orderly multi-polarization as well as universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and jointly build a community of shared future for mankind…On the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip, the two sides agreed that a ceasefire and an end to violence should be achieved as soon as possible to prevent the conflict from further spilling over."
Wang also met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry during his time in Cairo. Two key issues were brought up during their press conference that the two men held.
First, the two sides issued a joint statement on the Palestinian issue. The document says:
There should be an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, ending all acts of violence and killing, halting attacks on civilians and civilian facilities. The two sides oppose and condemn all violations of international humanitarian law, international human rights law and other international laws, including individual and collective forced transfer and relocation of Palestinian people from their land, and emphasise the call for the release of hostages and detainees from both sides.
The two sides express deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing suffering of the people of Gaza, and emphasise that humanitarian assistance should enter the Gaza Strip in an adequate, rapid, safe, barrier-free, and sustainable manner; relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council resolution 2720 on the establishment of necessary humanitarian mechanisms in Gaza, should be implemented.
Both sides call on the international community and international donors to provide all forms of support to the Palestinian National Authority to help it fully perform its assigned responsibilities throughout the occupied Palestinian territories.
Both sides are paying close attention to the development of the situation in the Red Sea, which should be viewed in connection with the situation in Gaza. The two sides expressed concern about the expansion of the conflict in the region, and stressed that the international community and regional countries should make joint efforts to immediately stop the violations against Gaza, alleviate regional tensions and turmoil, and prioritise ensuring the safety of navigation in the Red Sea.
The next point talks about the international community shouldering its responsibility to implement the vision of the two-state solution. Under this, the document calls for “convening an international peace conference, ending the occupation, establishing an independent Palestinian state based on the borders of June 4, 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital and supporting Palestine to become a full member of the United Nations.”
The next point says “China and Egypt appreciate each other’s efforts to cool the regional situation, alleviate the impact of the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza, strive to end the war in Gaza and support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
The final point is about maintaining communication on the issue.
一、应立即全面停火，停止一切暴力和杀戮行为，停止袭击平民和民用设施，反对并谴责一切违反国际人道法、国际人权法等国际法的行为，其中包括对巴勒斯坦民众从其土地上进行个人及集体强迫转移和强制迁移，强调呼吁释放双方人质和被扣押人员。二、对加沙地带日益恶化的人道局势和加沙民众正在遭受的苦难深表忧虑，强调人道援助应充足、快速、安全、无障碍、可持续地进入加沙地带；应落实联合国有关决议，其中包括安理会关于在加沙地带设立必要人道机制的2720号决议。三、呼吁国际社会和国际捐助方向巴勒斯坦民族权力机构提供一切形式的支持，帮助其在全部巴勒斯坦被占领土上全面行使被赋予的职责。四、双方密切关注红海局势发展，应将其同加沙局势这一主要诱因联系看待。双方对冲突在地区扩大表示担忧，强调国际社会和地区国家应共同努力，立即制止对加沙的侵犯，缓和地区局势紧张和动荡，优先保障红海航行安全。五、国际社会应担负起责任，根据联合国决议着手落实“两国方案”愿景，并以此为实现巴以和平和巴以两国人民和平共处开辟政治前景。应通过召开国际和会、结束占领、建立以1967年6月4日边界为基础、以东耶路撒冷为首都、领土连贯的独立巴勒斯坦国，并支持巴勒斯坦成为联合国正式会员国，从而实现巴勒斯坦问题的全面、公正、持久解决。六、中埃双方赞赏彼此为推动地区局势降温、缓解当前加沙地带人道危机影响、努力推动结束加沙战事和支持巴勒斯坦人民合法权利所作的努力。支持埃方为实现和解所作的努力。七、中埃双方同意就根据有关国际准则实现巴勒斯坦问题的全面、公正、持久解决继续保持沟通协调。
During the press briefing with the Egyptian FM, Wang also put forward four points:
“Firstly, the overriding priority now is to end the Gaza conflict as soon as possible. The international community must take immediate action and focus all efforts on achieving a ceasefire, protecting the safety of civilians, and avoiding the loss of more lives.”
The second point is about humanitarian aid. In this, he said that “China has decided to provide the third batch of humanitarian aid to Gaza.”
“Thirdly, the will of the Palestinian people must be fully respected regarding the future arrangements of Gaza. Ceasefire and cessation of war are the fundamental prerequisites for the governance of Gaza. ‘The Palestinians governing Palestine’ is the basic principle for discussing the future of Gaza. Strengthening the power of the Palestinian Authority and supporting Palestine's internal reconciliation is the realistic approach to ensuring ‘the Palestinians governing Palestine’. The international community should listen carefully to the legitimate concerns of regional countries, and the future governance of the Gaza Strip should be an important step toward the two-state solution.”
“China calls for the convening of a larger, more authoritative and more effective international peace conference to set a specific timetable and formulate a road map for implementing the two-state solution, resuming the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as soon as possible, and ultimately realizing Israeli-Palestinian peaceful coexistence and harmonious coexistence of the Arab and Jewish nations.”
China and the Secretariat General of the Arab League also issued a joint statement on the Gaza issue. This too called for an “immediate and comprehensive ceasefire”, implementation of UN resolutions, provision of humanitarian aid, early release of all detainees and opposed the forceful relocation of Palestinians. It adds:
“The international community should take active actions to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible and achieve a ceasefire. In particular, influential countries should play an objective, fair and constructive role in this regard. The United Nations Security Council should listen to the voices of Arab, Islamic countries, and other nations opposing Israel’s continued war on civilians in Gaza, effectively shoulder the responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, and take binding measures to this end.” 二、国际社会应积极行动起来，推动局势尽快降温并实现停火。有影响力的国家尤其要为此发挥客观公正的建设性作用。联合国安理会应该倾听阿拉伯、伊斯兰国家以及其它反对以色列继续对加沙平民发动战争国家的呼声，切实承担维护国际安全与和平的责任，为此采取有约束力的举措.
The statement stresses on the “two-state solution” and support for Palestine to become a full member of the United Nations, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The two sides expressed deep concern over the recent escalation of the situation in the Red Sea and emphasised that Yemen’s sovereignty and territorial integrity should be respected while ensuring the safety of international commercial routes in the Red Sea. Risks that threaten the safety of shipping lanes should be countered as a priority for international peace and security. We call on all parties to cool down the situation, especially to quell the war in Gaza as soon as possible, prevent further spillover effects, and effectively maintain regional peace and stability. 双方对近期红海局势升温深表关切，强调应尊重也门国家主权和领土完整，同时确保红海国际商业航线安全。应抵御威胁航运通道安全的风险，这是关乎国际和平与安全的优先事项。呼吁各方推动局势降温，特别是尽快平息加沙战火，防止外溢影响进一步扩大，切实维护地区和平与稳定.
The final two points are about calling for an international peace conference on the Palestinian issue and the Arab side appreciating China’s position and “extensive efforts to quell the conflict in Gaza, achieve a ceasefire, and support for the just cause of the Palestinian people.”
The second issue that Wang addressed during the presser was the election in Taiwan. Incumbent Vice President William Lai Ching-te from the DPP won the presidential race. No party won a majority in the 113-seat legislature. The DPP won 51 seats, the KMT bagged 52, and the Taiwan People's Party won 8 seats.
Speaking about the election’s outcome in Cairo, Wang said that:
The election “is a local matter for China. Regardless of the outcome of the election, it will not change the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. Nor will it change the general consensus of the international community to adhere to the one-China principle.” 不管选举结果如何，都改变不了世界上只有一个中国、台湾是中国一部分的基本事实，都改变不了国际社会坚持一个中国原则的普遍共识.
He talked about the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Declaration, saying that these documents “formed an integral part of the post-war international order, and also established the historical and legal foundation that Taiwan is an inalienable territory of China.” 这一系列具有国际法律效力的文件构成了战后国际秩序的组成部分，也奠定了台湾是中国不可分割领土的历史与法理根基.
Wang said that “Taiwan has never been an independent country, not in the past and certainly will not be in the future! ‘Taiwan independence’ has never been possible, wasn’t in the past, and will absolutely not be in the future! Anyone in Taiwan who attempts ‘Taiwan independence’ is attempting to split Chinese territory and will undoubtedly be severely punished by history and the law.” Internationally, anyone who violates the One-China principle is interfering in China's internal affairs and infringing upon Chinese sovereignty. They will face joint opposition from all Chinese people and even the international community. 王毅强调，台湾从来不是一个国家，过去不是，今后更不是！“台独”从来不可能成事，过去不能，今后更绝无可能！台湾岛内谁想搞“台独”，就是分裂中国国土，必将受到历史和法律的严惩。国际上谁要违反一个中国原则，就是干涉中国内政、侵犯中国主权，必将遭到全体中国人民乃至国际社会的共同反对.
He added “‘Taiwan independence’ seriously threatens the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, seriously damages the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation, and will also seriously undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It is a dead-end and a path to ruin. China will eventually achieve complete reunification and Taiwan Province will surely return to the embrace of the motherland. We believe that the international community will continue to support the Chinese people’s just cause of opposing ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities and striving for national reunification based on the one-China principle. 王毅表示，“台独”严重威胁台湾同胞的福祉，严重损害中华民族根本利益，也将严重破坏台海地区和平稳定，是一条绝路，更是一条死路。中国终将实现完全统一，台湾必将回归祖国怀抱。我们相信国际社会将继续根据一个中国原则，支持中国人民反对“台独”分裂活动、争取国家统一的正义事业.
One key development that is unfolding as I write is that the Pacific Island country of Nauru has just announced that it will sever diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognise the PRC. This leaves Taiwan with only 12 formal diplomatic allies.
This China Daily report contains more reactions from Beijing. One part of it is criticising countries for congratulating president-elect Lai. The US, UK, EU, Canada, Japan, Germany, and France offered their congratulations.
The China Daily report informs that:
“Chinese embassies issued statements expressing dissatisfaction with other countries for congratulating Lai, and urged them to honor the commitments made on the Taiwan question. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London urged the UK to adhere to its recognition of Taiwan as a province in China, handle the Taiwan question with caution in accordance with the one-China principle, and stop all actions that interfere with China's internal affairs. The Chinese embassy in Tokyo urged the Japanese government to deeply reflect on its history of invading Taiwan, and not to disrupt the peace and stability in the Taiwan region and upset China-Japan ties.”
It adds: “On Sunday, the Foreign Ministry firmly opposed the US State Department's statement on the Taiwan elections after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended his congratulations to Lai. A spokesperson for the ministry said the statement goes against the United States' own political commitment to maintaining only cultural, commercial and other unofficial relations with the Taiwan region. The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests and the first red line that should not be crossed in China-US relations, the spokesperson said, urging the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle.”
While reading this, do note that on Friday, Blinken met with ILD chief Liu Jianchao. The State Department’s readout said:
“The two sides had a constructive discussion on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including areas of potential cooperation and areas of difference. They reaffirmed the importance of continuing to implement the progress made on key issues in the Summit between President Biden and President Xi in Woodside, California, in November 2023, particularly counter-narcotics cooperation and military-to-military communications. The Secretary emphasized the importance of resolving the cases of American citizens who are wrongfully detained or subject to exit bans in China and raised U.S. concerns about PRC human rights abuses. The Secretary reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea. The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Middle East, and the Secretary noted the importance of upholding and defending navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and avoiding further escalation. Both sides recognized the importance of continuing to maintain open channels of communication between the U.S. and the PRC.”
The ILD’s readout says very little. Liu called on “both sides to meet each other halfway and promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of Sino-US relations. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues.”
Finally, on the page, there is a report on Propaganda chief Li Shulei leading a delegation to Cambodia. He said that “China is ready to work with Cambodia to strengthen communication and cultural cooperation to build an exemplary model for constructing a community with a shared future for mankind.” Xinhua’s report adds:
“Li and Cambodian senior officials also attended the launching ceremony of the 2024 China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year and the second China-Cambodia seminar on party theories, as well as witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the translation and publication of Chinese and Cambodian classics.”
Page 4: There is a report on the Communist Youth League organising “youth strike force/commandos” 青年突击队 from various industries to take the lead in shouldering heavy responsibilities. So for instance, in Beijing, under the Beijing Construction Engineering Group, the youth strike teams are assisting in urban construction tasks, “specifically technical research and engineering construction of major national projects.”
Another example is that Jiangsu organised strike teams to “shoulder the burden in major engineering projects such as the commissioning of Tianwan nuclear power units, large-scale distributed new energy access, and semiconductor development; they focussed on tackling the ‘choke point’ problem.” 江苏组织2185支青年突击队，在田湾核电机组投运、大规模分布式新能源接入、半导体建设等重大工程项目中勇挑重担，集中攻关“卡脖子”难题。
Page 6: There’s a report on the fourth meeting of the 11th National Committee of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles.
The meeting point out that “in 2024, the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles will continue to deepen ideological and political guidance, arm minds with Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, scientifically plan major thematic literary and artistic activities centred around the central tasks of the Party and the country, launch more outstanding literary and artistic works, carry forward the new wind and righteousness, tell Chinese stories with dedication and emotion, persist in deepening reforms, and stimulate organisational innovation and creativity.” 会议指出，2024年中国文联将持续深化思想政治引领，用习近平文化思想武装头脑，围绕党和国家中心任务，科学谋划重大主题文艺活动，推出更多文艺精品力作，弘扬新风正气，用心用情讲好中国故事，持续深化改革，激发文联组织创新创造活力.
Other Stories:
New Real Estate Financing Plan announced: Xinhua reports that
“Chinese authorities have announced a plan to establish a financing coordination mechanism for the real estate sector. The mechanism will aim to satisfy the legitimate financing needs of real estate projects precisely, while also supporting the stable and sound growth of the country's real estate market, according to the plan, which was released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the National Financial Regulatory Administration. Based on comprehensive assessments of real estate projects and their developers, the mechanism is expected to generate lists of projects eligible for financing assistance, according to the plan. Financing approval processes will be expedited for projects that are making smooth progress and have sufficient collateral, reasonable liabilities and guaranteed repayment sources, per the plan. For projects that are experiencing temporary difficulties but maintaining a basic fund balance, the mechanism will prevent the hasty withdrawal, suspension and withholding of loans. It will provide support by means of loan extensions, rescheduled repayments and the issuance of new loans. The plan also encourages real estate developers to enhance cash flows and utilize credit funds in compliance with regulatory requirements.”
Foreign trade for 2023 remains flat. Xinhua reports:
China’s total goods imports and exports expanded 0.2 percent year on year in yuan terms in 2023. Foreign trade stood at 41.76 trillion yuan (about 5.87 trillion U.S. dollars), according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC). Exports grew 0.6 percent year on year to 23.77 trillion yuan, while imports edged down 0.3 percent from one year earlier to 17.99 trillion yuan, the data showed…The export value of machinery and electronic products, accounting for 58.6 percent of total exports, increased 2.9 percent during the period, while that of ships hiked 35.4 percent from a year earlier.