Xi's New BRI Book - Li-Musk Meeting & Comments on Auto Sector - The Significance of Ren Bishi's 120 Birth Anniversary - New Law Vows Reciprocal Tariff Measures
Here are the key reports and articles that I found noteworthy from the People's Daily’s edition on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Page 1: It’s a slow news day today. There’s a report on a new book on Xi Jinping’s speeches related to the Belt and Road Initiative. The book includes 78 discourses on the BRI from 2013 to 2023. Xinhua says that “the publication is expected to help foreign readers better understand the concept, measures, goals and achievements of the BRI and play a significant role in boosting international cooperation under the BRI.”
There is perhaps no better cue for me to plug Friday’s conversation with CSIS’ Interpret China initiative - The Belt and Road Initiative at 10: Challenges and Opportunities - which I was part of.
Next, there’s a report on Li Qiang’s comments during a visit to the 2024 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition.
“He emphasized that it is necessary to thoroughly implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on promoting high-quality development of the automobile industry, vigorously develop intelligent connected new energy vehicles, persist in leading industrial innovation with technological innovation, deepen and expand open cooperation, promote the high-end, intelligent, and green upgrading of the automobile industry, better meeting and creating market demand.” 他强调，要深入落实习近平总书记关于推动汽车产业高质量发展的重要指示精神，大力发展智能网联新能源汽车，坚持以科技创新引领产业创新，深化拓展开放合作，促进汽车产业高端化、智能化、绿色化升级，更好满足和创造市场需求.
Li Qiang said that China’s “intelligent connected new energy vehicles have strong development momentum, especially owing to a complete industrial system and continuous investment in innovation, which have allowed them to establish a leading advantage in market competition and open cooperation. It is necessary to continue efforts to maintain and further develop this advantage. Li pointed out that today's automobile products are very different from those in the past. They are no longer a simple means of transportation, but a composite system that uses various technologies comprehensively. Intelligent networked new energy vehicles can be called ‘large terminals’ that integrate machinery, electronics, computing, perception, audio-visual, energy storage and other technologies. They have become the main direction of the transformation and upgrading of the automobile industry and have very broad development prospects. It is hoped that the majority of car companies will use innovation as the driving force, demand as the guide, and quality as the basis to speed up key core technology research, strengthen industrial chain collaboration, improve the level of intelligent manufacturing, and simultaneously strengthen forward-looking technological research and development. This will promote continuous quality improvement and upgrading in the automotive industry and make positive contributions to global green and low-carbon transformation.” 李强表示，看了车展感到很受鼓舞，我国的智能网联新能源汽车发展势头强劲，特别是依托完备的产业体系、持续的创新投入，在市场竞争、开放合作中形成了领先优势，要继续努力，把这一优势保持住、发展好。他指出，当今的汽车产品与过去已大不一样，已经不是一个单纯的交通工具，而是各种技术综合运用的复合系统。智能网联新能源汽车堪称是集机械、电子、计算、感知、视听、储能等多项技术为一体的“大号终端”，成为汽车产业转型升级的主要方向，有十分广阔的发展前景。希望广大车企以创新为动力、以需求为导向、以品质为根本，加快关键核心技术攻关，强化产业链协同，提升智能制造水平，同时加强前瞻性技术研发布局，推动汽车产业不断提质升级，为全球绿色低碳转型作出积极贡献. (Comment: If you thought that bit about being guided by demand was a remark that suggested that the “overcapacity” narrative has had an impact, then the next paragraph should amend that line of thinking.)
“Li Qiang emphasized that both the Chinese and global new energy vehicle markets are experiencing continuous growth, with significant demand space. Intelligent connected new energy vehicles, to some extent, are also products of global industrial cooperation. In the future, their development will require all parties to leverage their strengths and deepen division of labor and cooperation. China will further advance the construction of a unified national market, expand high-level opening-up to the outside world, continue to relax market access, promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, treat domestic and foreign enterprises equally, and promote broader exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign automobile companies in terms of capital, technology, management, and talent. The aim is to share opportunities in the Chinese market and achieve mutual development and win-win outcomes in the technological revolution and industrial transformation.” 李强强调，当前中国和全球新能源汽车市场都在持续增长，具有巨大的需求空间。智能网联新能源汽车一定程度上也是全球产业合作的产物，未来发展更加需要各方发挥优势、深化分工协作。中国将进一步推进全国统一大市场建设，扩大高水平对外开放，继续放宽市场准入，推进贸易投资自由化便利化，一视同仁对待内外资企业，促进中外车企在资本、技术、管理、人才等方面开展更广泛交流合作，共享中国市场机遇，在科技革命和产业变革中共同发展、互利共赢.
In the final paragraph, Li says:
“China is currently carrying out a new round of large-scale equipment upgrades and trade-in of consumer goods. It is necessary to better leverage the leading role of the automobile industry in expanding investment and promoting consumption, so that more high-quality automobile products can enter people’s lives. It is necessary to implement policies that support purchase and use, accelerate the construction of charging infrastructure network systems, take multiple measures to optimize the consumption environment, stimulate consumer enthusiasm, and release the consumption potential of bulk commodities such as cars to a greater extent.” 李强指出，当前我国正在开展新一轮大规模设备更新和消费品以旧换新。要更好发挥汽车产业在扩投资、促消费方面的带动作用，让更多优质汽车产品进入居民生活。要落实好支持购买使用政策，加快构建充电基础设施网络体系，多措并举优化消费环境、激发消费热情，更大程度释放汽车等大宗商品消费潜力.
On Page 2, there’s a report on Li’s meeting with Elon Musk at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
“Li Qiang said that the economies of China and the United States are deeply integrated, and each other can benefit from the other's development. Tesla’s development in China can be regarded as a successful example of Sino-US economic and trade cooperation. Facts have shown that equal cooperation and mutual benefit are in the best interest of both countries and are the common aspiration of the two peoples. It is hoped that the United States and China will meet each other halfway, follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, promote the sustained and stable development of Sino-US relations, and better benefit the two countries and the people of the world.” 李强表示，中美两国经济深度融合，你中有我、我中有你，彼此都可以从对方发展中获益。特斯拉在中国的发展堪称中美经贸合作的成功范例。事实表明，平等合作、互利共赢才最符合两国的根本利益，也是两国人民的共同期盼。希望美方同中方更多相向而行，遵照两国元首的战略引领，推动中美关系持续稳定发展，更好惠及两国和世界人民.
“Li Qiang pointed out that foreign-funded enterprises are indispensable and important participants and contributors to China's development, and China's super-large-scale market will always be open to them. China will fulfill its commitments and continue to make efforts in expanding market access, strengthening service guarantees, and providing foreign-funded enterprises with a better business environment and comprehensive support. This will allow enterprises from all countries to invest in China with peace of mind and confidence, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. Musk said that Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory is Tesla’s best-performing factory, thanks to the hard work and wisdom of the Chinese team. Tesla is willing to further deepen cooperation with China and achieve more win-win results.” 李强指出，外资企业是中国发展不可或缺的重要的参与者、贡献者，中国的超大规模市场将始终向外资企业敞开。中方言出必行，将在扩大市场准入、强化服务保障等方面继续下功夫，为外资企业提供更优的营商环境、更有力的综合支持，让各国企业安心、放心地投资中国，更好实现互利共赢。马斯克表示，特斯拉上海超级工厂是特斯拉表现最好的工厂，这得益于中国团队的勤劳智慧。特斯拉愿同中方进一步深化合作，取得更多共赢成果.
CNBC reports that just as Musk landed in the country “local Chinese authorities have removed restrictions on Tesla cars after the company’s China-made vehicles passed the country’s data security requirements.” The report adds:
“Although Tesla’s electric cars are some of the most popular vehicles in China, they have reportedly been banned from some government-related properties due to concerns about what data the U.S.-based automaker can collect. Tesla’s press release did not specify which local authorities had removed restrictions on the cars. The Biden administration earlier this year announced a probe into whether imported cars from China pose national security risks due to their ability to potentially collect data about the U.S. and send it back to China. Tesla’s vehicles were not the only ones that passed the data security rules. In addition to Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y, several new energy vehicles from BYD, Lotus, Nezha, Li Auto and Nio passed China’s data security requirements, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers and the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China said Sunday.”
The only other report to note is about an event marking the 120th birth anniversary of Ren Bishi. Cai Qi attended and spoke at the event; his speech is on Page 3. He said:
“Ren Bishi was a great Marxist, an outstanding proletarian revolutionary, politician, and organizer. He was an outstanding leader of the Communist Party of China and the People's Liberation Army. He was an important member of the first generation of the central collective leadership of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Mao Zedong at its core.” 任弼时同志是伟大的马克思主义者，杰出的无产阶级革命家、政治家、组织家，中国共产党和中国人民解放军的卓越领导人，是以毛泽东同志为核心的中国共产党第一代中央领导集体的重要成员.
Cai praised Ren, saying that he “established revolutionary ideals of saving the country and the people in his youth and always stood at the forefront of the revolutionary struggle, dedicating his life to the cause of national independence and the liberation of the Chinese people. Comrade Ren Bishi was one of the main leaders of the party during the period of the New Democratic Revolution. His revolutionary career was closely linked to the establishment, development, and growth of the Communist Party of China and the entire history of the victory of China’s New Democratic Revolution.” 蔡奇在讲话中回顾了任弼时同志的生平业绩和卓越贡献。他说，任弼时同志在青年时代就树立起救国救民的革命理想，始终站在革命斗争最前沿，为中华民族独立和中国人民解放事业奋斗了一生，奉献了一生。任弼时同志是新民主主义革命时期党的主要领导人之一，他的革命生涯同中国共产党的建立、发展、壮大，同中国新民主主义革命胜利的全部历史紧密地联系在一起.
Comrade Ren Bishi courageously promoted theoretical exploration and made profound explanations on issues related to the Sinicization of Marxism; he attached great importance to party building and put forward many insightful views on maintaining and strengthening the Party's leadership; he was politically farsighted and engaged in forward-looking thinking on leading and carrying out economic construction; and he emphasized the cultivation of new leadership methods and work styles and made unremitting efforts to enrich and develop the Party's mass line. The lofty spiritual character displayed by Comrade Ren Bishi in his lifelong struggle has set a shining example for the entire party and is vividly praised as the ‘Camel Spirit’ by everyone, nourishing and inspiring generations of Chinese Communists.” 蔡奇指出，任弼时同志勇于推进理论探索，对马克思主义中国化相关问题作出了深刻阐述；高度重视党的建设，对维护和加强党的领导提出了许多真知灼见；富有政治远见，对领导和开展经济建设工作进行了前瞻性思考；注重培养新的领导方法和工作作风，对丰富和发展党的群众路线进行了不懈努力。任弼时同志在毕生奋斗中展现出来的崇高精神品德，为全党树立了光辉典范，被大家形象地誉为“骆驼精神”，滋养和激励了一代代中国共产党人.
Let me elaborate on these points based on Cai’s speech:
“Comrade Ren Bishi courageously advanced theoretical exploration and made profound explanations on issues related to the Sinicization of Marxism. He emphasized that Marxism must be treated with ‘infinite loyalty and steadfastness’, ‘one shouldn't be an imitator regardless of the environment’, ‘don't become a formalist, a dogmatist, a subjectivist’, and we must learn to use Marxist positions, viewpoints and methods to solve practical problems in the revolution’. He clarified that the goal of Sinicization of Marxism is to systematically summarize the rich experiences in the Party’s struggle practice and ‘create new principles to replace outdated ones’. He insisted on integrating theory with practice and proposed to ‘make the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism truly and closely integrated with China's specific revolutionary practice’. These important expositions made positive contributions to breaking the shackles of dogmatism, establishing a scientific attitude towards Marxism, and establishing the guiding position of Mao Zedong Thought.” 任弼时同志勇于推进理论探索，对马克思主义中国化相关问题作出了深刻阐述。他强调对待马克思主义既“得有无限的忠实性和坚定性”，又“不应做一个不顾环境的模仿主义者”，“不要变成公式主义者、教条主义者、主观主义者”，“要学会用它的立场、观点和方法去解决革命中的实际问题”。他阐明马克思主义中国化的目标是系统总结党的斗争实践中的丰富经验，“创造新原理代替过时的原理”。他坚持理论联系实际，提出要“使马列主义的普遍真理真实地密切地能够与中国具体的革命实践结合起来”。这些重要阐述，为打破教条主义束缚，树立对待马克思主义的科学态度，确立毛泽东思想的指导地位，作出了积极贡献.
Comrade Ren Bishi attached great importance to party building and put forward many insightful views on maintaining and strengthening the Party's leadership. He made important judgments, such as ‘it is of special significance to guarantee the absolute leadership of the Party’, and ‘it is extremely urgent to ensure internal unity within the Party and establish an absolutely unified and centralized supreme leadership’. He profoundly pointed out that only by adhering to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee can the party become a ‘solid whole’ and shoulder the great historical mission. He unequivocally safeguarded the core leadership position of Comrade Mao Zedong and called on the whole Party to ‘especially study the Sinicization of Marxism-Leninism, Comrade Mao Zedong’s works and the Party’s decisions’ and consciously apply them in work. These insights played an important role in establishing and maintaining Comrade Mao Zedong's core leadership position and enabling the whole Party to achieve new unity, and unity under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Mao Zedong at the core.” 任弼时同志高度重视党的建设，对维护和加强党的领导提出了许多真知灼见。他提出“保障党的绝对领导有特殊意义”、“党内团结一致、建立绝对统一集中的最高领导是万分迫切需要”等重大论断。他深刻指出只有坚持党中央集中统一领导，党才能成为“坚固的整体”，才能担负起伟大历史任务。他旗帜鲜明地维护毛泽东同志的领导核心地位，号召全党“特别要去学习中国化的马列主义，学习毛泽东同志的著作及党的决定”，并自觉地运用到工作中。这些真知灼见，为确立和维护毛泽东同志的领导核心地位，使全党在以毛泽东同志为核心的党中央领导下达到新的团结统一，发挥了重要作用.
“Comrade Ren Bishi was politically farsighted and engaged in forward-looking thinking on leading and carrying out economic construction. The key message in this context that Cai leveraged is: “He proposed that the Party’s unified leadership over economic work must be strengthened, requiring that ‘the whole Party must carry out ideological education on economic construction’ and thereby ‘enable many capable cadres in the Party to join the front line of economic construction and struggle’. These profound thoughts have provided theoretical exploration for the party to scientifically analyze the situation at a turning point in history and correctly formulate basic policies after the victory of the national revolution.” 他提出必须加强党对经济工作的统一领导，要求“全党必须进行经济建设的思想教育”，“使党内许多有能力的干部转入经济建设和斗争的战线上去”。这些深邃思考，为党在历史转折之际科学研判形势，正确制定全国革命胜利后的基本政策，作了理论探索.
Finally, “Cai Qi pointed out that on the new journey, we must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress, and deeply understand the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments,’ enhance the ‘four consciousnesses and ‘four self-confidences’, and achieve ‘two safeguards,’ vigorously carry forward the Party’s glorious traditions and excellent style, strengthen confidence, forge ahead, and make unremitting efforts to comprehensively promote the construction of a powerful country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.” 蔡奇指出，新征程上，我们要更加紧密团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，全面贯彻党的二十大精神，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”，大力弘扬党的光荣传统和优良作风，坚定信心、开拓进取，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业而不懈奋斗.
(Comment: I thought this was a very interesting speech. History, of course, is instrumental for discussing present-day politics in China. If you read between the lines, Cai is basically telling us that the process of strengthening Party leadership across all aspects of work in China is the requirement of the times and must continue. He casts the changes to Chinese politics and economics as necessary, arguing that given the circumstances one needs to “create new principles to replace outdated ones”. That paragraph along with the one on Party-building essentially underscore the need for strong central/core leadership (of Xi, of course) and to adhere to a particular Chinese way of doing things, without imitating others. And the pathway for this is to adapt Marxist viewpoints and methods to China’s circumstances. The paragraph making the point about the need for “ideological education on economic construction” is significant. It reminds us that the Party leadership is committed to the current path of economic development. It believes that however painful they may be in the short run, it is taking steps that are necessary to create a new development model. And it needs to do better education and guidance to get people to fall in line. Another takeaway is that this is an issue of ideological significance, so there are likely to be serious consequences for those who do not fall in line.)
If you are interested, speeches by Qu Qingshan and Shen Xiaoming are published on Page 10.
Page 2: There’s a report on Wang Yi’s meeting with Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda in Beijing on Sunday. Xinhua says:
“The year 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bolivia. China is willing to work with the Bolivian side to take this opportunity to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and promote China-Bolivia strategic partnership to a new level. Wang said that both sides should continue to strengthen political mutual trust; enhance exchanges and cooperation between the governments, legislatures and political parties of the two countries; strengthen exchange of governance experience; synergize development strategies; and tap into the potential for cooperation in new areas such as digital economy, plateau agriculture, information and communication, and green development. China and Bolivia should enhance coordination on multilateral strategies, jointly safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and firmly safeguard the common interests of the Global South, said Wang, adding that China is willing to work together with Bolivia and other Latin American and Caribbean countries to promote the building of a China-Latin America community with a shared future.”
“Sosa noted that China is an important strategic partner for Bolivia, saying Bolivia hopes to upgrade cooperation with China in various fields such as economy and trade. Bolivia welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in the country. Bolivia firmly supports the one-China principle, and the global initiatives proposed by China. Bolivia is willing to promote Latin America-China relations, Sosa said. After their talks, the two foreign ministers witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the foreign affairs academies of the two countries.”
Another report on the page informs that ILD chief Liu Jianchao met with a Cambodian National Assembly delegation on Sunday.
Page 4: A report informing that in March, there were a total of 7,859 cases of violation of the 8-point regulation that were investigated and dealt with. A total of 10,855 people (including 94 prefecture-level cadres and 702 county-level cadres) were criticized, educated and punished. Around 7,450 people were given disciplinary sanctions.
Page 10: A report (English report) informing that the Cyberspace Administration of China has launched a two-month nationwide special operation to combat illegal information links.
Page 13: The newly-cleared Tariff Law is published in its entirety on the page. This law was passed by the NPCSC after three rounds of deliberations going back to 2022. The law will take effect from December 1, 2024. It has seven chapters and 72 articles. The explanation provided by an official from the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPCSC helps understand what’s key in this.
“Since reform and opening up, the construction of the legal system related to tariffs in China has been continuously strengthened and improved. In recent years, there have been new situations and changes in the tariff field. It is, therefore, necessary to formulate a tariff law based on the experience gained from implementing import and export tariff regulations. First, Legislation Law clearly stipulates that the establishment of tax types, determination of tax rates, and tax collection and management, among other basic tax systems, require legislation. Second, in order to actively and effectively respond to changes in the domestic and international situation, it is necessary to strengthen the role of tariffs as a domestic and international dual-cycle regulator while improving the tariff system, and enrich legal countermeasures. Third, in accordance with the relevant requirements of proactively aligning with international high-standard economic and trade rules, it is necessary to promptly upgrade relevant mature experience and practices in tariff collection management into a legal system.” 改革开放以来，我国关税法律制度建设持续加强和完善。近年来，关税领域出现了新情况新变化，有必要在总结进出口关税条例实施经验的基础上制定关税法。一是立法法明确要求税种的设立、税率的确定和税收征收管理等税收基本制度需要制定法律。二是为积极有效应对国内国际形势变化，需要在完善关税制度的同时，强化关税作为国内国际双循环调节器的作用，丰富法律应对措施。三是按照主动对接国际高标准经贸规则有关要求，需要及时将关税征收管理有关成熟经验做法上升为法律制度.
In terms of what’s new in the law, the official mentions 6 points. I am only covering the 6th one.
It is necessary to coordinate development and security and enrich tariff-related countermeasures.
“While maintaining existing tariff measures such as anti-dumping, countervailing, and safeguard measures, as well as imposing retaliatory tariff measures, measures have been added to include countries and regions that fail to fulfill the most favored nation treatment clauses or tariff concession clauses in international treaties or agreements concluded with or jointly participated in by China. In this case, China can take corresponding measures in accordance with the principle of reciprocity. Relevant measures will be implemented in a manner consistent with China’s obligations under relevant international treaties. At the same time, to ensure the effectiveness of the relevant measures, it is specified that in order to prevent the avoidance of the provisions of Chapters 2 and 3 of this Law, behaviours that reduce the amount of tax payable without reasonable commercial purposes, the state can take anti-circumvention measures such as adjusting tariffs.” 六是统筹发展和安全，充实关税应对措施。在维持现行的反倾销、反补贴和保障措施等关税措施、征收报复性关税措施的同时，增加规定对不履行与我国缔结或者共同参加的国际条约、协定中的最惠国待遇条款或者关税优惠条款的国家和地区，可以按照对等原则采取相应措施。相关措施将以符合我国在有关国际条约项下义务的方式实施。同时，为确保相关措施的实施效果，明确对规避本法第二章、第三章有关规定，不具有合理商业目的而减少应纳税额的行为，国家可以采取调整关税等反规避措施.