Xi's Thought Now Priority for New Party Recruits - Li Focuses on AI & Intelligent Robots - Ding Stresses Strengthening Computing Power - China Awards Foreign Envoys with Outstanding Diplomat Medal

Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

Page 1: The full text of the “Detailed Rules for the CPC’s Work on Developing Party Members” have been published in the paper today. These first came into effect in May 2014 and were subsequently amended on April 2, 2026, by the Politburo Standing Committee before being promulgated on May 11, 2026. This is basically a guideline of the process by which the Party accepts new members.

Let me compare the two documents to get a sense of what’s changed.

Article 1: The 2014 document said that these rules were aimed at “standardising the work of developing Party members”; the 2026 document talks about “standardising” and “strengthening” that work.

Article 2 has big changes: In 2014, it said that the new recruits by grassroots organisations must have “Marxist beliefs, communist consciousness, and convictions of socialism with Chinese characteristics” and they must “consciously practice core socialist values”. 第二条 党的基层组织应当把吸收具有马克思主义信仰、共产主义觉悟和中国特色社会主义信念，自觉践行社会主义核心价值观的先进分子入党，作为一项经常性重要工作. The 2026 document says that the Party’s members are “the vanguard of the Chinese working class possessing communist consciousness” and those who get in must have “faith in Marxism, communist consciousness, and belief in socialism with Chinese characteristics…deeply comprehend the decisive significance of the ‘Two Establishments’, strengthen the four consciousnesses, enhance the four self-confidences, and achieve the Two Safeguards” and “consciously practice the core socialist values”. 第二条 中国共产党党员是中国工人阶级的有共产主义觉悟的先锋战士。党的基层组织应当把吸收具有马克思主义信仰、共产主义觉悟和中国特色社会主义信念，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”，自觉践行社会主义核心价值观的先进分子入党，作为一项经常性重要工作.

Article 3 in the 2026 document inserts all the ideological contributions of the top leaders of the Party; so Xi Jinping’s thought gets inserted by name too. It further calls for adhering to “strict procedures, strict gate-keeping/screening, and strict discipline” and developing “Party members of pure political character”.

The next section of the document deals with the application and interview process. In this regard, the change in Article 7 is interesting. The 2014 version said:

“After receiving an application, the Party organisation shall, within one month, dispatch someone to speak with the applicant and understand basic circumstances.” 第七条 党组织收到入党申请书后，应当在一个月内派人同入党申请人谈话，了解基本情况.

The 2026 version says: “After receiving an application, the Party organisation shall, within one month, dispatch someone to speak with the applicant, understand study and work experience, understanding of the Party, motivation for joining, observance of law and discipline, family circumstances, and other basic circumstances, and introduce to them basic Party knowledge and the standards and conditions for Party members.” 第七条 党组织收到入党申请书后，应当在一个月内派人同入党申请人谈话，了解学习工作经历、对党的认识、入党动机、遵纪守法以及家庭情况等基本情况，并向其介绍党的基本知识、党员的标准和条件.

Likewise, changes to Articles 9 and 10 are important.

Article 9 in 2014 said: Party organisations shall designate one or two formal Party members as cultivation liaisons for the applicants. Main tasks: (1) introduce basic Party knowledge to the applicant; (2) understand the applicant’s political consciousness, moral character, real-world performance, and family circumstances; (3) report in a timely manner to the Party branch; (4) submit an opinion on whether the applicant can be listed as a development object. 第九条 党组织应当指定一至两名正式党员作入党积极分子的培养联系人。培养联系人的主要任务是:（一）向入党积极分子介绍党的基本知识;（二）了解入党积极分子的政治觉悟、道德品质、现实表现和家庭情况等，做好培养教育工作，引导入党积极分子端正入党动机;（三）及时向党支部汇报入党积极分子情况;（四）向党支部提出能否将入党积极分子列为发展对象的意见.

The 2026 version says:

“Party organisations shall designate one to two full Party members to serve as cultivation liaisons for applicants. Liaisons shall be members who have undergone a certain period of Party-life training, can strictly apply Party-member standards to themselves, whose vanguard and model role is relatively well demonstrated, who are good at thought and political work, and who have a strong sense of responsibility. Main tasks: (1) introduce and explain communist faith and conviction, basic Party knowledge, and guide the applicant to deeply study and comprehend Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; (2) frequently engage in heart-to-heart conversations to understand the applicant’s political consciousness, moral character, real-world performance, and family circumstances, and guide them to correct their motivation; (3) report in a timely manner and fill in opinions on the Applicant Cultivation Examination Registration Form; (4) submit opinion on listing as a development object. Where a liaison can no longer perform duties due to a change in work post or other reasons, the Party organisation shall promptly make a replacement.” 第九条 党组织应当指定一至两名正式党员作入党积极分子的培养联系人。培养联系人由经过一定时间党内生活的锻炼、能够用党员标准严格要求自己、先锋模范作用发挥比较好、善于做思想政治工作、责任心强的党员担任，主要任务是： （一）向入党积极分子介绍和阐释共产党人的信仰信念，介绍党的基本知识，引导其深入学习领会习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想； （二）经常谈心谈话，了解入党积极分子的政治觉悟、道德品质、现实表现和家庭情况等，做好培养教育工作，引导入党积极分子端正入党动机； （三）及时向党支部汇报入党积极分子情况，在《入党积极分子培养考察登记表》上认真填写自己的意见； （四）向党支部提出能否将入党积极分子列为发展对象的意见。 对因工作岗位发生变动无法正常履行职责，以及其他原因不适宜担任培养联系人的，党组织应当及时予以调整.

Article 10 deals with the educational content for applicants.

The 2026 version of the document expands this from: Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics; the Party’s line, policies, and basic Party knowledge; Party history and fine traditions, and work style; and socialist core values” (第十条 党组织应当采取吸收入党积极分子听党课、参加党内有关活动，给他们分配一定的社会工作以及集中培训等方法，对入党积极分子进行马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想和中国特色社会主义理论体系教育，党的路线、方针、政策和党的基本知识教育，党的历史和优良传统、作风教育以及社会主义核心价值观教育，使他们懂得党的性质、纲领、宗旨、组织原则和纪律，懂得党员的义务和权利，帮助他们端正入党动机，确立为共产主义事业奋斗终身的信念.) to include “Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents, the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; the Party’s line, policies, and basic Party knowledge; Party history and fine traditions and work style; Party discipline education; and socialist core values.” 第十条 党组织应当采取吸收入党积极分子听党课、参加党内有关活动，给他们分配一定的社会工作以及集中培训等方法，对入党积极分子进行马克思列宁主义、毛泽东思想、邓小平理论、“三个代表”重要思想、科学发展观、习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想教育，党的路线、方针、政策和党章、党的基本知识教育，党的历史和优良传统、作风教育，党的纪律教育，社会主义核心价值观教育，使他们懂得党的性质、纲领、宗旨、组织原则和纪律，懂得党员的义务和权利，帮助他们端正入党动机，确立为共产主义事业奋斗终身的信念.

Article 14 requires every applicant to have two sponsors, with stricter quality control over who can be sponsors. Article 16 details the criteria for political vetting of applicants, which has been significantly altered from 2014 to strengthen support for Xi.

“Article 16: Party organisations must conduct political review of development objects, deeply understanding their motivation for joining the Party, political quality, and real-world performance, and other circumstances. The main contents of political review are:

• the situation of firmness in Marxist faith, communist consciousness, and faith in socialism with Chinese characteristics;

• the real-world performance of deeply comprehending the decisive significance of the Two Establishments, strengthening the four consciousnesses, enhancing the four self-confidences, and achieving the Two Safeguards;

• attitude toward the Party’s theory and line, principles, and policies; political history and performance in major political struggles and in urgent, difficult, dangerous, and arduous tasks;

• the situation of observing discipline and abiding by law, observing social morality and family virtue, as well as online conduct;

• the political situation of main family members and important social relations.

第十六条 党组织必须对发展对象进行政治审查，深入了解其入党动机、政治素质和现实表现等情况。 政治审查的主要内容是：坚定马克思主义信仰、共产主义觉悟和中国特色社会主义信念的情况；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”的现实表现；对党的理论和路线、方针、政策的态度；政治历史和在重大政治斗争、急难险重任务中的表现；遵纪守法和遵守社会公德、家庭美德以及网络行为表现的情况；家庭主要成员和重要社会关系的政治情况.

Article 17 talks about potentially putting applicants through short-term intensive training. Guess what’s the core content of this training as per the 2026 document? It is Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Party Constitution and relevant intra-Party regulations, and Party history. 第十七条 基层党委或者县级党委组织部门应当对发展对象进行短期集中培训，一般采取线下方式，根据需要也可以采取视频方式。培训时间一般不少于三天或者不少于二十四个学时。培训时主要学习习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，学习党章和有关党内法规，学习党的历史。中央组织部组织编写的《入党教材》，可以作为学习辅导材料.

Beyond this, there are further procedural and process changes that the 2026 document brings in; but the big shift is in further strengthening Xi Jinping’s ideological and political dominance over the system.

There’s also a commentary on the page discussing these revisions. The article makes three big points:

Persist in placing political standards first. Members of the Communist Party of China are vanguard fighters of the Chinese working class with communist consciousness. In recruiting Party members, political standards are the primary standard; if one fails this test, all others fail too. The Detailed Rules prominently emphasise the requirement to firmly uphold the Two Establishments and resolutely achieve the Two Safeguards, and clearly and unambiguously put forward the recruitment of Party members of pure political character. They emphasise ideological admission into the Party, persisting unrelentingly in using Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to gather hearts and cast souls, carrying the arming with the Party’s innovative theory throughout the entire process and all links of cultivation, education, and inspection, incorporating the Party Constitution, Party regulations, Party discipline, Party history into cultivation and education content, and introducing and explaining communist faith and conviction to Party applicants. They emphasise strict political review, deeply examining the development object’s motivation for joining the Party, political quality, and real-world performance, and requiring county-level Party committee organisation departments and discipline-enforcement, law-enforcement, and other related departments to establish a joint political-review system. The purpose of these new stipulations and new requirements is to strictly guard the entry gate, always upholding the Party-member standards stipulated by the Party Constitution, preventing the replacement of political standards with standards of being a ‘good person’ or a ‘capable person,’ and resolutely barring at the door those who are politically unqualified and who wish to slip into the Party to grab benefits. 坚持把政治标准放在首位。中国共产党党员是中国工人阶级的有共产主义觉悟的先锋战士。发展党员，政治标准是首要标准，这一条不过关，其他都不过关。《细则》突出强调坚定拥护“两个确立”、坚决做到“两个维护”的要求，旗帜鲜明提出发展政治品质纯洁的党员；强调思想入党，坚持不懈用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想凝心铸魂，将党的创新理论武装贯穿培养教育考察全过程各环节，将党章、党规、党纪、党史等纳入培养教育内容，向入党积极分子介绍和阐释共产党人的信仰信念；强调严格政治审查，深入考察发展对象的入党动机、政治素质和现实表现等情况，要求县级党委组织部门和执纪执法等相关部门建立政审联审制度。这些新规定新要求，目的就在于严把入口关，始终坚持党章规定的党员标准，防止以好人标准、能人标准代替政治标准，坚决把那些政治上不合格、想混入党内捞好处的人挡在门外.

Focus efforts on improving the quality of newly-developed Party members. Party members are the cells of the Party organism. The quality of newly developed Party members concerns the health and vitality of the Party organism, and concerns the Party’s image and prestige among the masses. The newly revised Detailed Rules further optimise the procedural steps for developing Party members, and put forward new specific requirements for the determination and cultivation education of Party applicants, the determination and investigation of development objects, and the reception, educational investigation, and regularisation of probationary Party members. They categorically clarify which Party organizations may receive Party admission applications, clarify the standard qualifications for cultivation liaisons and Party admission sponsors, clarify the filing procedures for Party applicants and development objects, and require public announcement of candidate development objects. These provisions and requirements are a regularized summary of the successful practice of Party member development over a long period of time, especially since the Party’s 18th National Congress, and are important institutional mechanisms for guaranteeing the quality of newly-developed Party members. They must be implemented well, executed well, and absolutely must not be discounted or worked around, much less reduced to formalism or going through the motions. 着力提高新发展党员质量。党员是党的肌体的细胞，新发展党员质量怎么样，关系党的肌体健康和生机活力，关系党在人民群众中的形象和威望。新修订的《细则》进一步优化发展党员程序步骤，对入党积极分子的确定和培养教育，发展对象的确定和考察，预备党员的接收、教育考察和转正等提出新的具体要求，分类明确可以递交入党申请的党组织，明确培养联系人和入党介绍人的标准条件，明确入党积极分子和发展对象备案程序，要求对发展对象人选进行公示等。这些规定要求是长期以来特别是党的十八大以来发展党员成功实践的规律性总结，是保证新发展党员质量的重要制度机制，必须落实好、执行好，绝不能打折扣、搞变通，更不能搞形式主义、走过场.

Strengthen leadership over Party-member recruitment work. Party-member recruitment work is an important foundational project of Party building, and a regular task of Party organizations. The Detailed Rules focus on the major political responsibility of doing Party-member recruitment work well, further clarifying the leadership duties of Party committees at all levels and refining the duties and tasks of organisation departments. Party Organisation secretaries at all levels must strengthen their sense of responsibility and earnestly shoulder the duties of the first responsible person. They must correctly handle the relationship between quantity and quality, uphold quality-above-all, and place the focus of Party-member recruitment on foundational work such as strengthening cultivation and education, correcting motivation for joining the Party, and strengthening ideological admission. They must continuously optimise the structure of the Party-member ranks, emphasise recruiting Party members from among young and industrial workers, farmers, and intellectuals, do well in recruiting Party members in emerging fields, continuously absorb advanced elements from all sectors into the Party, further consolidate the class foundation and mass foundation of the Party, and continuously enhance the Party’s appeal, cohesion, and influence. They must seriously investigate and handle violations of regulations and discipline and unhealthy tendencies in Party-member recruitment work, dealing with them in accordance with regulations and discipline; for those recruited into the Party in violation of regulations and who do not meet Party-member conditions, their Party-member identity shall in no case be recognised, resolutely safeguarding the political nature and seriousness of Party-member recruitment work. 加强对发展党员工作的领导。发展党员工作是党的建设一项重要的基础性工程，是党组织的一项经常性任务。《细则》聚焦抓好发展党员工作的重大政治责任，进一步明确各级党委的领导职责，细化组织部门的职责任务。各级党组织书记要强化责任意识，切实担负起第一责任人职责。要正确处理数量和质量的关系，坚持质量至上，把发展党员工作重心放在加强培养教育、端正入党动机、强化思想入党等基础性工作上。要不断优化党员队伍结构，注重从青年和产业工人、农民、知识分子中发展党员，做好在新兴领域中发展党员工作，源源不断把各方面先进分子吸收到党内来，进一步夯实党的阶级基础和群众基础，不断增强党的号召力凝聚力影响力。要严肃查处发展党员工作中的违规违纪问题和不正之风，依规依纪作出处理；对违反规定吸收入党、不符合党员条件的，一律不予承认党员身份，坚决维护发展党员工作的政治性严肃性.

Party member development work concerns the passing on of the Party’s cause from generation to generation and ensuring successors. Party organisations at all levels must raise their political standing; fully recognise from the height of the overall situation and strategy the major significance of Party member development work in the new era and new journey; properly study, publicise, implement, and carry out the Detailed Rules; prioritise political standards; strictly follow procedures, strictly exercise screening, strictly enforce discipline; improve the quality of newly-developed Party members; continuously exert effort to build a strong Party member ranks; and provide a strong organizational guarantee for comprehensively advancing the building of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernisation. 发展党员工作事关党的事业薪火相传、后继有人。各级党组织要提高政治站位，从全局和战略的高度，充分认识新时代新征程发展党员工作的重大意义，学习宣传好、贯彻落实好《细则》，突出政治标准，严格程序、严格把关、严肃纪律，更好地提高新发展党员质量，持续用力建强党员队伍，为以中国式现代化全面推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业提供坚强组织保证.

If you are further interested, on Page 4, there’s a Q&A with someone from the Organization Department talking about these new rules.

Next, there’s a report on Li Qiang’s inspection tour in Beijing, where he focussed on AI. The report says:

Li emphasised that “it is necessary to thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions and instructions on developing new-quality productive forces and building a modern industrial system, push for deep integration of AI with advanced manufacturing, uphold innovation-driven development, prominently emphasise application-orientation, actively promote the iteration and upgrading of intelligent robots, vigorously advance the all-dimensional and deep-level empowerment of manufacturing through AI, and accelerate the cultivation and shaping of new drivers and new advantages for economic development.” 他强调，要深入贯彻落实习近平总书记关于发展新质生产力、建设现代化产业体系的重要论述和指示精神，推动人工智能与先进制造业深度融合，坚持创新发展，突出应用导向，积极促进智能机器人迭代升级，大力推进人工智能全方位、深层次赋能制造业，加快培育塑造经济发展新动能新优势.

Li Qiang visited the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center and Xiaomi Automobile Technology Co., Ltd. The report says:

“Li Qiang pointed out that intelligent robots comprehensively integrate new technologies such as large models, high-end manufacturing, and new materials, and are an important carrier for the integrated development of artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. In recent years, China’s intelligent-robot technology has been accelerating its iteration and upgrading, and is increasingly being widely applied across all sectors and fields of the economy and society. It is necessary to continuously strengthen basic research, breakthroughs in key and core technologies, and exploration of frontier technologies; build platforms for technological innovation and industrial services; construct high-level data training grounds; and accelerate innovative breakthroughs in complete-machine products, key components, and intelligent decision-making and control systems, providing strong support for the high-quality development of the intelligent-robot industry.” 李强指出，智能机器人综合集成大模型、高端制造、新材料等新技术，是人工智能和先进制造业融合发展的重要载体。近年来，我国智能机器人技术加速迭代升级，在经济社会各行业各领域日益得到广泛应用。要持续强化基础研究、关键核心技术攻关和前沿技术探索，打造技术创新和产业服务平台，高水平建设数据训练场，加快整机产品、关键零部件、智能决策与控制系统等创新突破，为智能机器人产业高质量发展提供有力支撑.

“Li Qiang emphasised that the vitality of science and technology lies in application. The intelligent-robot industry has a broad development space. It is necessary to leverage China’s advantages of ultra-large market scale, complete industrial chains, and rich application scenarios, to make good use of supporting policies such as large-scale equipment renewal and first-set equipment, encourage government departments and state-owned enterprises to open up scenarios, promote pilot testing and verification of new technologies and new products, support intelligent robots in accelerating large-scale application on the premise of ensuring safety, and continuously discover problems, solve problems, and make improvements through practice.” 李强强调，科技的生命力在于应用。智能机器人产业发展空间广阔，要发挥我国市场规模超大、产业链条完整、应用场景丰富等优势，用好大规模设备更新、首台套装备等支持政策，鼓励政府部门、国有企业等开放场景，促进新技术新产品中试验证，支持智能机器人在确保安全前提下加快规模应用，在实践中不断发现问题、解决问题、改进提升.

Li Qiang pointed out that, at present, AI is accelerating its deep integration with advanced manufacturing, and is profoundly transforming production and manufacturing modes and industrial forms. It is necessary to deeply implement the AI+ action in the manufacturing sector, transform and upgrade traditional industries, continuously strengthen emerging industries, and strive to cultivate industries of the future. It is necessary to accelerate the development of new-generation intelligent manufacturing, strengthen standards leadership, talent support, and security safeguards; support the development and application of industry-specific large models and AI agents; encourage R&D of new-generation intelligent equipment and products; strengthen software-hardware adaptation; push forward in categorized fashion the digital and intelligent transformation of key industries; develop empowerment-application service providers; and promote the overall forward leap of the industrial system.” 李强指出，当前人工智能加速与先进制造业深度融合，正深刻改变生产制造模式和产业形态。要深入实施制造业领域“人工智能+”行动，改造提升传统产业，不断壮大新兴产业，努力培育未来产业。要加快发展新一代智能制造，强化标准引领、人才支撑、安全保障，支持行业大模型和智能体开发应用，鼓励研发新一代智能装备和产品，加强软硬件适配，分类推进重点行业数智化转型，发展赋能应用服务商，促进产业体系实现整体跃升.

Li Qiang emphasised that enterprises are the main force in driving industrial transformation. It is necessary to give full play to the role of enterprises as the principal agents of innovation, support more enterprises in increasing R&D investment, strengthen collaborative breakthrough efforts among industry, academia, and research, advance intelligent upgrading across the full process—R&D and design, production and manufacturing, operations and management, and after-sales service—and create new business forms and new models of intelligent products and intelligent services, thereby better leading industrial transformation and upgrading and meeting the people’s livelihood needs. 李强强调，企业是推动产业变革的主力军，要充分发挥企业创新主体作用，支持更多企业加大研发投入，加强产学研协同攻关，推进研发设计、生产制造、运营管理、售后服务等全流程智能化升级，打造智能产品、智能服务新业态新模式，更好引领产业转型升级、满足群众生活需要.

While Li spoke about AI, Ding Xuexiang was also out and about visiting Beijing, Hebei Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, where he talked about computing power. Ding said that:

“Computing power is an important manifestation of the country’s comprehensive national strength. It is necessary to plan its layout in a coordinated manner, construct it in an orderly manner, pay attention to matching supply and demand and coordinating computing and electricity, and accelerate the formation of a single nationwide network. It is necessary to strengthen the monitoring, dispatching, and coordination of computing power, enhance capabilities for computing-power access and precise matching, integrate and utilize dispersed resources, and effectively meet diversified computing-power demands. At present, various traditional and new risks are interwoven and superimposed upon one another. It is therefore necessary to strengthen bottom-line thinking, further improve the security protection capabilities of facilities, models, data, and networks, and enhance the overall resilience of the computing-power system.” 他表示，算力是国家综合国力的重要体现，要统筹布局、有序建设，注重供需适配、算电协同，加快形成全国一张网。加强算力监测调度，提升算力接入和精准匹配能力，把分散的资源整合利用起来，有效满足多元化算力需求。当前各种传统和新型风险交织叠加，要强化底线思维，进一步提高设施、模型、数据、网络安全防护能力，增强算力系统整体韧性.

While in Inner Mongolia, Ding talked about data and computing power. He said that “China possesses abundant data resources and broad application scenarios, and that these advantages should be well utilized to coordinately advance the construction of computing-power infrastructure, the development of model algorithms, and the supply of data resources, thereby consolidating the foundation for digital and intelligent development. He stressed the need to persist in self-reliance and self-strengthening, foster a favourable innovation ecosystem, strengthen coordinated joint research among industry, academia, research, and application sectors, accelerate breakthroughs on key technological bottlenecks, formulate and improve standards and norms, and push domestically-produced software and hardware as quickly as possible from being merely ‘usable’ to being ‘good to use’, firmly grasping the initiative in development. He also emphasised the need to persist in being oriented toward market demand, highlighting an application-oriented approach, innovating service models, and promoting the improvement of the quality and efficiency of computing power, as well as making it broadly accessible and easy to use.” 丁薛祥前往中国联通华北（廊坊）数据中心、中国移动呼和浩特智算中心和合肥智算呼和浩特基地，调研企业参与算力网建设使用情况。他指出，我国数据资源丰富、应用场景广阔，要用好这些优势，协调推进算力设施建设、模型算法发展和数据资源供给，筑牢数智化发展底座。坚持自立自强，营造良好创新生态，加强产学研用协同攻关，加快破解关键技术难题，制定完善标准规范，推动国产软硬件尽快从“可用”迈向“好用”，牢牢掌握发展主动权。坚持面向市场需求，突出应用导向，创新服务模式，促进算力提质增效、普惠易用.

Ding also talked about the need to “coordinate the allocation of energy resources with the construction of computing-power facilities, achieving ‘strengthening computing through electricity’ and ‘promoting electricity through computing’. It is necessary to use new-type power system models such as ‘source-grid-load-storage’, exploring and advancing direct green electricity connections, actively promoting energy-saving technologies, strengthening smart energy management, and deepening the green foundation of the development of an integrated computing power network. Since the beginning of this year, relatively large fluctuations have taken place in the international energy market. It is, therefore, necessary to solidly carry out domestic energy supply and price stabilization work, meet the energy demands of production and daily life, and ensure the stable operation of the economy and society.” 他强调，算力用电需求快速增长对能源供给提出了更高要求，要统筹能源资源配置与算力设施建设，做到以电强算、以算促电。支持利用“源网荷储”等新型电力系统模式，探索推进绿电直连，积极推广节能技术，加强智慧能源管理，厚植一体化算力网发展的绿色底色。今年以来国际能源市场出现较大波动，要扎实做好国内能源保供稳价工作，满足生产生活用能需求，确保经济社会平稳运行.

Moving on, there are reports (English report) on Wang Huning and Zhao Leji meeting with Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili. Here’s an excerpt:

Zhao said: “China will, as always, support Georgia in following a development path independently chosen by its people and in line with its national conditions, and oppose external forces’ interference in Georgia’s internal affairs, Zhao said. He also stated that China stands ready to expand cooperation with Georgia in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and green energy, as well as encourage more capable Chinese enterprises to invest and start businesses in Georgia. The two sides should deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, enhance multilateral collaboration, and closely coordinate within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, Zhao added. The NPC of China is willing to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the Georgian Parliament, create a favorable legal environment for bilateral practical cooperation, and better support the development and revitalization of each country, Zhao noted. Papuashvili said that the Georgian side firmly adheres to the one-China principle, stands ready to work with China to promote the continuous development of the strategic partnership between the two countries, and is willing to make joint effort in safeguarding international law and the international order with China. The Georgian side is willing to participate in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative, Papuashvili added.”

Finally on the page is a report on Han Zheng’s speech at the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2026 in Beijing. As per the report, Han put forward four suggestions:

• First, jointly create an international economic environment of openness and cooperation, firmly safeguard multilateralism and open cooperation, and continuously promote the liberalisation and facilitation of global trade and investment.

• Second, jointly shape new advantages in innovation-driven development, give full play to the driving and empowering role of new technologies, and better enable the achievements of scientific and technological innovation to benefit the peoples of all countries.

• Third, jointly enhance the resilience of industrial chains and supply chains, and strengthen industrial coordination, technological exchanges, and standards alignment.

• Fourth, jointly promote reform of the global economic governance system, actively implement the Global Governance Initiative, adhere to extensive consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits, and firmly safeguard the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core and rules as its foundation.

韩正提出4点建议，一是共同营造开放合作的国际经济环境，坚定维护多边主义和开放合作，持续推动全球贸易投资自由化便利化。二是共同塑造创新发展新优势，充分发挥新技术的驱动和赋能作用，让科技创新成果更好造福各国人民。三是共同提升产业链供应链韧性，加强产业协同、技术交流和标准对接。四是共同推动全球经济治理体系改革，积极落实全球治理倡议，坚持共商共建共享，坚定维护以世贸组织为核心、以规则为基础的多边贸易体制。

Page 3: For those who were fretting over Trump not getting front-page treatment before his arrival in Beijing, do note that Putin’s profile and plans are also mentioned on Page 3. As I had said then, this is standard fare for Chinese media. The protagonist for Chinese outlets like the People’s Daily is not the visiting leader, but Xi Jinping.

Anyway, there’s a report (English report) on the page about Beijing conferring awards on former diplomats. The report informs that “the Chinese Foreign Ministry has established the Outstanding Diplomat Medal to honor ambassadors who have made important contributions to promoting friendship between China and other countries.”

“Wang Yi presented the Outstanding Diplomat Medal to eight award recipients or their representatives. They are former Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov, former Cambodian Ambassador to China Khek M Caimealy Sysoda, Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, Kazakh Ambassador to China Nuryshev Shakhrat, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to China Abdulrahman Ahmad Al-Harbi, former Ambassador of Chad to China Allamaye Halina, Colombian Ambassador to China Sergio Cabrera, and former Uruguayan Ambassador to China Fernando Lugris.”

Also on the page is a report (English report) on Wang Yi’s meeting with Seychelles Foreign Minister Barry Faure. Wang Yi told him that:

“China highly appreciates Seychelles, together with governments of many friendly countries, for lawfully and openly revoking the outbound flight permits for Lai Ching-te, a representative figure of the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces…It is believed that more and more countries will, like Seychelles, stand on the right side of international justice and history, Wang said. Noting this year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Seychelles diplomatic ties, Wang said China is ready to jointly promote bilateral cooperation in digital economy, the marine economy, island economy, green economy and other fields to push bilateral ties to a higher level. Wang said China is willing to take the full implementation of its zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African nations with which it has diplomatic relations as an opportunity to provide more development opportunities for African countries. He noted that China will continue to firmly support Seychelles in safeguarding its national sovereignty, independence and legitimate rights and interests.”

There’s also a report informing that the World Health Assembly has decided not to include in its agenda a proposal on Taiwan’s participation in the annual assembly as an observer. This marks the 10th consecutive year that the WHA has rejected such a Taiwan-related proposal.

Note these Taiwan-related exchanges from the MoFA presser yesterday:

“Reuters: There are media reports saying that Taiwan’s Lin Chia-lung is in Geneva to attend events that coincide with the World Health Assembly (WHA). Has China reached out to Switzerland about such participation by the Taiwan side around this WHA event?

Guo Jiakun: We have already made our position clear. There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. When handling issues related to the Taiwan region, WHO and other international organizations must follow the one-China principle, which is also a fundamental principle as demonstrated by the UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1. China firmly opposes any official exchanges in any forms between countries having diplomatic ties with China and the Taiwan region, and firmly opposes any attempts to offer platforms for ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities. The Taiwan authorities’ practice of sending representatives to various meetings to seek attention is nothing but political theatrics and doomed to fail.

Shenzhen TV: U.S. President Trump said in an exclusive interview aired on May 15 that the U.S. policy on Taiwan remains unchanged. He said, “I don’t like to see anybody going independent. I’m not looking to have somebody say, let’s go independent because the United States is backing us.” The United States has no intention of seeking war and he hopes both sides across the Taiwan Strait will remain calm, he added. The Taiwan authorities said on this subject that “the Republic of China” is a “sovereign, independent democratic country”, and its government will continue to deepen cooperation with the United States and ensure that the security and stability of the Taiwan Strait are not threatened or undermined. Do you have any comment on this? 

Guo Jiakun: We have noted President Trump’s remarks. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. It is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future. “Taiwan independence” and cross-Strait peace are as irreconcilable as fire and water. To seek “Taiwan independence” by soliciting external support is a dead end. Cross-Strait reunification is the only bright path forward. The DPP authorities should recognize the overwhelming trend, stop burying their heads in the sand, and stop going further down the wrong path.

AFP: Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te said on Sunday that Taiwan will never be traded away as he pressed the United States to keep selling weapons to them. He said arms sales from the United States to Taiwan were an element in maintaining regional peace and stability. What is the foreign ministry’s comment on this?

Guo Jiakun: China’s firm opposition to U.S. arms sales to China’s Taiwan region is consistent and clear. 

Phoenix TV: It is reported that, on the evening of May 17, in response to President Trump’s remarks that the U.S. is against “Taiwan independence” after his visit to China, Lai Ching-te posted on social media that Taiwan has always been a firm defender of the status quo on both sides of the Strait; Taiwan, the Republic of China, is a sovereign and independent democratic country; and there is no “Taiwan independence” issue. What’s your comment?

Guo Jiakun: Lai Ching-te’s latest act is just self-defeating, which once again lays bare his separatist stance and intent to advance “Taiwan independence.”

There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is never a country, not in the past, and never in the future. The Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China. This constitutes the real status quo in the Taiwan Strait. By colluding with external forces to seek independence and attempting to make the Taiwan question an international issue, the Lai Ching-te authorities are the biggest destroyer of the status quo and the biggest source of disruption to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

‘Taiwan independence’ and cross-Strait peace and stability are as irreconcilable as fire and water. To uphold the one-China principle, one must oppose ‘Taiwan independence’. Any attempts to seek independence with external forces’ backing or by force are delusional.”

Finally, there’s a report (English report) on He Lifeng meeting Lisa Su, chair and CEO of US chipmaker AMD, in Beijing.

He told her that “Chinese and US heads of state held an important meeting in Beijing last week, reaching a series of significant consensuses. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the economic and trade teams of both countries have reached outcomes that are generally balanced and positive, which will inject more certainty and stability into the next phase of China-US economic and trade cooperation as well as the global economy, He said. He welcomed multinationals, including AMD, to seize China’s development opportunities and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. Su spoke positively of the outcomes of the meeting between the two heads of state and expressed willingness to continue expanding operations in China and increasing investment in the country.”