Xi-Zelensky Phonecall: “China didn’t create the Ukraine Crisis”

The following is my translation of a CCTV / CPBS account of the telephone conversation between Chinese party and state leader Xi Jinping and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday. Links within blockquotes added during translation.

CCTV Xinwen Lianbo, April 26, 2023

The phone conversation ranked second in Central People’s Broadcasting Station’s “News and Press Review” (新闻和报纸摘要) on Thursday morning, and also second in CCTV’s evening news (新闻联播) on Wednesday evening. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the news itself was of greate importance in China, but Xi-related news always comes at the top of China’s news broadcasts.

Main Link: Xi Jinping has phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky (习近平同乌克兰总统泽连斯基通电话)

Xi Jinping has phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky
April 26, 2023, 19:35:09
Source: CCTV newsreader
习近平同乌克兰总统泽连斯基通电话
2023-04-26 19:35:09
来源：央视新闻客户端

On the afternoon of April 26, State Chairman Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Zelensky on the latter’s invitation. The two sides exchanged views about Chinese-Ukrainian relations and the Ukraine crisis.
4月26日下午，国家主席习近平应约同乌克兰总统泽连斯基通电话。双方就中乌关系和乌克兰危机交换了意见。

Xi Jinping pointed out that Chinese-Ukrainian relations have passed the milestone of 31 years and reached the level of strategic partnership, which had been helpful in the development and revitalization of both countries. I appreciate President Zelensky’s repeated statements that he attaches importance to Chinese-Ukrainian relations and to cooperation with China, and I thank Ukraine for its great support in the evacuation of Chinese citizens last year. Mutual support for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is the political foundation for Chinese-Ukrainian relations. The two sides should have their focus on the future, be persistent in regarding and mapping¹ the two countries’ relations from a long-term perspective, with lasting mutual respect, in the tradition of treating each other sincerely, and promote the further development of the Chinese-Ukrainian strategic partnership. China’s wish to develop Chinese-Ukrainian relations is consistent and clear. No matter what changes there may be in the unstable international situation, China wants to carry the mutually beneficial cooperation with Ukraine forward.
习近平指出，中乌关系走过31年发展历程，达到战略伙伴关系水平，为两国各自发展振兴提供了助力。我赞赏泽连斯基总统多次表示重视发展中乌关系和对华合作，感谢乌方去年为中国公民撤离提供大力协助。相互尊重主权和领土完整是中乌关系的政治基础。双方要着眼未来，坚持从长远角度看待和谋划两国关系，延续双方相互尊重、真诚相待的传统，推动中乌战略伙伴关系向前发展。中方发展中乌关系的意愿是一贯的、明确的。无论国际风云如何变幻，中方愿同乌方一道，把两国互利合作向前推进。

Xi Jinping pointed out that the complex development of the Ukraine crisis had a major impact on the international situation. Concerning the problem of the Ukraine crisis, China had always stood on the side of peace, with the core position being to urge peace and to promote talks. I put forward a series of “four shoulds”², “four common denominators”³, and “three reflections”⁴. Also on this basis, China issued the document “China’s Position concerning the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis”. China didn’t create the Ukraine crisis, and isn’t a party involved in it. Being a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a responsible major power, we will neither [passively] watch the fires burning across the river, nor will we add fuel to it – let alone exploit the situation. China’s conduct and deeds are honorable and aboveboard. Dialogue and talks are the only feasible way out. There are no winners in a nuclear war. In dealing with the nuclear issue, all parties involved should maintain cool heads and restraint, focus on the real prospects and destiny of themselves and mankind, and manage the crisis well together. As the thoughts and voices of reason are gaining ground among all parties, we should seize the opportunity to gather conditions that are favorable for a political solution to the crisis. We hope that all parties will reflect deeply on the Ukraine crisis, and jointly seek a path to lasting peace in Europe. China will persist in encouraging peace and promoting talks, to resume individual efforts for peace to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible. The Chinese government will send its special Euro-Asian affairs representative to Ukraine and other countries to communicate thoroughly with all parties for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis. China has sent several humanitarian consignments to Ukraine before and is willing to provide all help that is in its power.
习近平指出，乌克兰危机复杂演变，对国际形势产生重大影响。在乌克兰危机问题上，中方始终站在和平一边，核心立场就是劝和促谈。我相继提出了“四个应该”、“四个共同”和“三点思考”。中方还在此基础上发布了《关于政治解决乌克兰危机的中国立场》文件。中国不是乌克兰危机的制造者，也不是当事方。作为联合国安理会常任理事国和负责任大国，我们既不会隔岸观火，也不会拱火浇油，更不干趁机牟利的事。中方所作所为光明正大。对话谈判是唯一可行的出路。核战争没有赢家。对待核问题，有关各方都应该保持冷静克制，真正从自身和全人类的前途命运着眼，共同管控好危机。现在各方理性的思考和声音在增加，应该抓住契机，为危机的政治解决积累有利条件。希望各方从乌克兰危机中深刻反思，通过对话，共同寻求欧洲长治久安之道。中方将坚持劝和促谈，为尽快止战停火、恢复和平作出自己的努力。中方将派中国政府欧亚事务特别代表赴乌克兰等国访问，就政治解决乌克兰危机同各方进行深入沟通。中方已向乌方提供了多批人道主义援助，愿继续提供力所能及的帮助。

Zelensky congratulated Chairman Xi on his re-election, praised China’s extraordinary accomplishments, expressed his belief that under the leadership of Chairman Xi Jinping, China would successfully answer to all challenges, and develop further. China upheld the United Nation’s guidance and principles in international affairs and was hugely influential in the international arena. Ukraine scrupulously abided by the one-China policy, hoped to unfold comprehensive cooperation with China, to open a new chapter in Ukrainian-Chinese relations, and jointly make efforts for the protection of global peace and stability. Zelensky presented his views on the Ukraine crisis, thanked China for the humanitarian aid it had provided, and welcomed its important impact in restoring peace and crisis-solving by diplomatic means.
泽连斯基祝贺习近平主席再次当选，赞赏中国取得的非凡成就，相信在习近平主席领导下，中国将成功应对各种挑战，持续向前发展。中方在国际事务中秉持联合国宪章宗旨和原则，在国际舞台上发挥着巨大影响力。乌方恪守一个中国政策，希望同中方开展全面合作，开启乌中关系的新篇章，共同致力于维护世界和平与稳定。泽连斯基介绍了对当前乌克兰危机的看法，感谢中方为乌克兰提供的人道主义援助，欢迎中方为恢复和平、通过外交手段解决危机发挥重要作用。

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Notes

1)	“Scheming”, actually, but that’s probably not the intended meaning.
2)	This refers to a “video conference” between Macron (France), Scholz (Germany) and Xi (China) on March 8, 2022. In a referral to that conference more than a month later, the China Institute of International Studies wrote that Xi Jinping pointed out in a video summit with the French and German leaders that all countries’ sovereignty, that territorial integrity should be respected, that the United Nations Charter’s guidance and principles should be complied with, that the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and that all efforts that were beneficial for a peaceful solution of the crisis should get support.
3)	According to “Qiushi”: Four common denominators (四个共同), i. e. (1) jointly maintaining global peace and stability, (2) jointly advance global sustainable development, (3) jointly achieve mutually beneficial cooperation, and (4) jointly expand openness and harmonization.
4)	No idea what they are about.

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Related

“Now there is an Opportunity”, Zelensky video address, April 26, 2023
“We did not start this war”, President Zelensky, April 26
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Xi Jinping’s Rabbit of the Year

The following are translated excerpts of China’s main evening TV news, Xinwen Lianbo, on January 20th, 2023.
Links within blockquotes added during translation.
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CCTV News (Xinwen Lianbo): The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council held a Spring Festival meeting in the Great Hall of the People in the morning of December 20th. Communist Party of China Secretary General, State Chairman and Central Military Commissions Chairman Xi Jinping gave a speech on behalf of the Central Committee and the State Council, wishing a happy new year to the entire nation’s and the entire people’s nationalities, to the compatriots in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, to the compatriots in Macau Special Administrative Region, and to the Taiwanese and overseas Chinese compatriots.
央视网消息（新闻联播）：中共中央、国务院20日上午在人民大会堂举行2023年春节团拜会。中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平发表讲话，代表党中央和国务院，向全国各族人民，向香港特别行政区同胞、澳门特别行政区同胞、台湾同胞和海外侨胞拜年。

^{Absolutely rabbit: Kang Hui announces the happy gathering}

Xi Jinping emphasized that the outgoing year of the tiger’s thirty-ninth year I3 of the 60 year cycle [i. e. 2022] had been a year of utmost importance in the history of the party and the country. Facing an unusually stormy international environment and formidable duties of reform, development and stability at home, the entire party, the entire army and the entire country with all its nationalities rose to the challenges, fought unitedly, and based on the enthusiasm of the soaring tiger and the leaping dragon, dared to enter the tiger’s cave, and wrote, with fortitude and tenacity, a new chapter of socialist modernization.
习近平强调，即将过去的壬寅虎年，是党和国家发展史上极为重要的一年。面对风高浪急的国际环境和艰巨繁重的国内改革发展稳定任务，全党全军全国各族人民迎难而上、团结奋斗，凭着龙腾虎跃的干劲、敢入虎穴的闯劲、坚忍不拔的韧劲，书写了社会主义现代化建设的新篇章。

Li Keqiang presided over the meeting, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Wang Qishan attended the meeting.

李克强主持团拜会，栗战书、汪洋、李强、赵乐际、王沪宁、韩正、蔡奇、丁薛祥、李希、王岐山等出席。

[…]

Xi Jinping pointed out that in traditional Chinese culture, the Rabbit is referred to as the auspicious Jade Rabbit, standing for resourcefulness and nimbleness, honesty and kindness, serenity and beauty. The auspicious rabbit represents symbolizes the increasingly auspicious peace, abundant vitality and youthful energy of the Chinese lands. In the lunar year of the Rabbit, we hope that the entire people, and especially many young people, will leap ahead in the way of the Rabbit and exert themselves in all areas of life in a graceful manner.

习近平指出，在中华传统文化中，兔被称为瑞兔、玉兔，代表着机智敏捷、纯洁善良、平静美好。吉兔呈祥，象征中华大地愈发安宁祥和、生意盎然、朝气蓬勃。在农历兔年，希望全国人民特别是广大青年像动如脱兔般奋跃而上、飞速奔跑，在各行各业竞展风流、尽显风采。

Leading and old comrades from the Central Committee, the National People’s Congress’s Standing Committee, the State Council, theNational Supervision Commission,  the Supreme People’s Court, the People’s Republic of China Supreme People’s Procurate, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, attended the gathering.

中共中央、全国人大常委会、国务院、国家监委、最高人民法院、最高人民检察院、全国政协、中央军委领导同志和老同志出席团拜会。

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Related

“Open the Skies for the Young”, May 5, 2013

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Protests: Don’t stirr Trouble, Comrade Jiang

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The party leadership might be concerned that Jiang Zemin’s death could lead from public mourning to an idolization of the deceased leader, and to more protests from there (rhymes with “past leaders were better than you guys at the top”).

Also, the party may want to serve a reminder of what it can do if it considers its rule threatened (rhymes with June 4, 1989).

While the current protests are heavily censored, June 4, 1989 was mentioned in yesterday’s main evening news, in a read-out Jiang Zemin obituary, even if n ot as “liu-si”, but rather as ījiǔbājiǔ nián chūn xià zhī jiāo:

As mayor and as municipal party secretary of Shanghai, Comrade Jiang Zemin led the cadres and masses in Shanghai to raise their spirits and to daring exploration, promoting great breakthroughs in Shanghai’s opening-up and its socialist modernization. The development and opening-up of Pudong was taking shape, he promoted party-building, and the building of spiritual civilization and of society saw major progress. As spring passed into summer in 1989, serious political crisis occurred in our country. Comrade Jiang Zemin supported and carried out the Party Central Commission’s correct decision to take a clear-cut stand and to fight against turmoil, and the correct decision to defend socialist state power, to protect the fundamental interests of the people, and to closely rely on the numerous party members, cadres and masses to vigorously protect Shanghai’s stability.
一九八五年，江泽民同志任上海市市长、中共上海市委副书记。一九八七年，江泽民同志在党的十三届一中全会上当选为中共中央政治局委员，并任中共上海市委书记。担任上海市长、市委书记期间，江泽民同志带领上海广大干部群众振奋精神、勇于探索，推动上海改革开放和社会主义现代化建设取得重大突破，浦东开发开放蓄势谋篇，推动党的建设、精神文明建设、社会建设取得重大进步。一九八九年春夏之交我国发生严重政治风波，江泽民同志拥护和执行党中央关于旗帜鲜明反对动乱、捍卫社会主义国家政权、维护人民根本利益的正确决策，紧紧依靠广大党员、干部、群众，有力维护上海稳定。
In 1989, at the 13th Central Committee’s fourth plenary session, Comrade Jiang Zemin was elected into the politburo’s standing committee, and the central committee’s general secretary. The same year, the 13th central committee’s fifth plenary session made  Jiang Zemin should become chairman of the party’s central military commission.  In 1990, at the 7th National People’s Congress’ third session, he was elected chairman of the People’s Republic of China’s central military commission.
一九八九年，在党的十三届四中全会上，江泽民同志当选为中共中央政治局常委、中央委员会总书记。同年，党的十三届五中全会决定江泽民同志为中共中央军事委员会主席。一九九〇年，在七届全国人大三次会议上当选为中华人民共和国中央军事委员会主席。

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Related

王丹：就算江執政 中國也不會有民主, RTI, Dec 01, 2022
Popular History Reader, July 31, 2012
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Guizhou: Old Revolutionary Areas brimming with Happiness

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Main Link: Advance bravely on the new journey (奋进新征程), CCTV main evening news, May 22, 2022

Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Brimming with happiness: guess who
they are listening to

Advance bravely on the new journey, contribute feats to the new era, see the new face of the old revolutionary areas – Continue the red bloodline to write a flamboyant new Guizhou chapter by your actions
【奋进新征程 建功新时代·走进老区看新貌】赓续红色血脉 谱写多彩贵州新篇章
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Source: CCTV, May 22, 2022, 19:10 Beijing time
来源：央视网2022年05月22日 19:10
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CCTV news (Xinwen Lianbo): Guizhou was the province where the Red Army’s activity went on longest and with the broadest scope; Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing and Guizhou, [aka 湘鄂川黔] left and right of the Changjiang, the old revolutionary base area covered some 43 counties (cities and regions). Since the Communist Party of China’s 18th National Congress, under the strong leadership of the Party’s Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, the cadres and masses in Guizhou have made full use of revolutionary tradition, continued [gēng xù] the red bloodline, struggled collectively, and wrote a colorful chapter of Guizhou’s modernization and construction.
央视网消息（新闻联播）：贵州是长征时红军活动时间最长、活动范围最广的省份，湘鄂渝黔、左右江革命老区覆盖贵州43个县（市、区）。党的十八大以来，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，贵州广大干部群众发扬革命传统，赓续红色血脉，团结奋斗，谱写多彩贵州现代化建设新篇章。
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Guizhou’s Zunyi belongs to the old revolutionary area of Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing and Guizhou, and Huamao Village is located in the mountainous northwestern area of Zunyi City. In May, Huamao Village with its white walls and grey roof tiles is surrounded by crystal-clear water and green hills, the farming hotbeds are flourishing, and large numbers of tourists come to the village for sight-seeing and to experience the ancient ways of producing ceramic art. It is hard to imagine that this beautiful village with its flourishing industries and tourism was once called “the fields of desolate reeds” for being overwhelmed with poverty.
贵州遵义属于湘鄂渝黔革命老区，花茂村地处遵义市西部山区。五月的花茂村绿水青山环抱白墙灰瓦，农业产业园里采收正旺；大批游客来村里参观游览，体验古法陶艺。然而很难想象，现在这个产业兴、旅游旺的美丽村庄在多年前因为贫困荒芜被叫作“荒茅田”。
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Guizhou was once the whole country’s poorest province with the largest number of poor inhabitants and with most intense and widely-spread poverty, and more than half of these impoverished areas were part of the old revolutionary base territory.
贵州曾经是全国贫困人口最多、贫困程度最深、贫困面最广的省份，而这些贫困地区中又有一半以上属于革命老区。
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Secretary General Xi Jinping has shown concern [qiānguà] for the old area’s masses all along, and wanted to build the old revolutionary area better, so that the people of the old areas would lead better lives. After the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Secretary General Xi Jinping has visited Guizhou twice for inspection and research. Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that “good days come after hard work”, and that poverty needn’t be feared and every difficulty can be overcome as long as there is confidence and determination.
习近平总书记始终牵挂着老区群众，要把革命老区建设得更好，让老区人民过上更好生活。党的十八大以来，习近平总书记两次到贵州考察调研。在遵义花茂村，习近平总书记强调，好日子是干出来的，贫困并不可怕，只要有信心、有决心，就没有克服不了的困难。
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Earnest and affectionate trust stirs people into action. After The CPC’s 18th National Congress, Guizhou launched an overall attack on absolute poverty, held poverty in check and pulled out the roots of poverty, and from infrastructure construction to relocation projects, the state has, in its central budget, arranged 124.22 billion Yuan RMB for key infrastruc-ture construction and relocation in the old revolutionary areas. Guizhou has dispatched nearly 100,000 cadres into the old areas to be stationed there for mutual help and support, to establish mechanisms with long-term effects, employment security, education and medical care, etc. continuously improving and continuously solidify the old-areas masses’ “two free-from-worries and three guarantees” foundations.
殷殷嘱托饱含深情，催人奋进。党的十八大以来，贵州向绝对贫困发起总攻，挪穷窝、拔穷根，从基础设施建设到易地搬迁项目，国家安排中央预算内资金1242.18亿元重点支持老区建设；贵州选派近10万名干部在老区驻点帮扶，建起对口帮扶长效机制；就业保障、教育医疗等体系逐步完善，全面夯实老区群众“两不愁、三保障”基础。
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In December 2019, Huamao village, based on special-interest tourism and agricultural development, got completely rid of poverty. In November 2020, Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing and Guizhou, in the old revolutionary areas left and right of the Changjiang, the 35 poor districts were cleared.
2019年12月，依靠特色旅游、现代农业发展起来的花茂村全部脱贫。2020年11月，湘鄂渝黔、左右江革命老区贵州境内的35个贫困县全部摘帽。
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The people’s lives become more prosperous with each passing day, and the landscape sees rapid development. During the past ten years, advantageous and characteristic trades of vegetables, edible mushrooms and tea leaves have taken shape in Guizhou’s old revolutionary areas. It used to be said that “the water won’t nourish the people next to it”¹⁾ in the mountains. Having relocated and become free from poverty, the masses have become new citizens of cities and towns. During the past ten years, in districts in Guizhou, one after another, the expressway has been extended and built through Zunyi and southwestern Guizhou. Airports have been built and expanded. At present, the Guiyang-Nanning High-speed Railway’s Guizhou section is being built, and train traffic is scheduled for next year. In the future, high-speed railways will link all old revolutionary areas in Guizhou with each other. Today, the old revolutionary areas’ masses are brimming with happiness.
人民生活蒸蒸日上，老区面貌日新月异。十年来，贵州革命老区形成蔬菜、食用菌、茶叶等特色优势产业；曾经“一方水土养不了一方人”的大山里，群众们通过易地扶贫搬迁成为城镇新市民。十年来，贵州革命老区县县通高速，遵义、黔西南等地新建、扩建机场。眼下，贵南高铁贵州段即将铺轨，明年建成通车。未来，高铁网将串联起贵州境内所有革命老区。如今，老区群众洋溢着满满的幸福感。
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Having kept to the bottomlines of development and ecology ever since the CPC’s 18th National Congress, a new landscape of green development has been painted on this red-colored homeland. Guizhou’s old revolutionary areas have fully implemented the river-chief system and developed industries typical for the mountainous areas. Next, Guizhou will focus on the old revolutionary areas’ high-quality development²⁾, accelerate the formation of newly emerging industrial clusters, promote new-type industrialization, new-type urbanization, agricultural modernization and tourism industrialization, sparing no effort on the new road of West development in the new era.
守住发展和生态两条底线，党的十八大以来，这片红色热土上还不断绘就绿色发展新图景。贵州革命老区全面落实河长制，发展山地特色产业。接下来，贵州聚焦革命老区高质量发展，加速培育新兴产业集群，推动新型工业化、新型城镇化、农业现代化和旅游产业化，奋力在新时代西部大开发上闯出新路。

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Notes

¹⁾ The original saying is that “each place has its water for its people”, and it’s changed here to suggest that there was no survival in the mountains in Guizhou
²⁾ In the CPC’s words, “high-quality development” is “the establishment and improvement of an economic system for green, low-carbon and circular development”, in accordance with a report by the CPC’s 19th national congress in 2017
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Cute Pandas and Lovely Tanks – CRI and CGTN cover Russia’s War in Ukraine

How is our motherland doing, comrades?
CRI Russian / CGTN Russian war coverage

I don’t speak Russian, but it seems that China Radio International’s (CRI) coverage leaves nothing to be desired when you want to be kept up to date with your country’s war in Ukraine (without too much disturbing news, I suppose). The first 25 minutes of CRI’s Russian program at 17:00 UTC on Sunday were all about Donbas, with a CGTN correspondent reporting from there.

CRI might have dispatched its own correspondents a few years ago, when the station was actually an organization in its own right, and quite a fiefdom at that. CRI’s then director, Wang Gengnian, even delivered his own annual new-year address.

Some adjustments for synergy were called for, and the central committee delivered, early in 2018, by amalgamating CRI, CPBS (domestic radio) and television into a “Central Radio and Television Network” (中央广播电视总台).   Some three years later, many CRI language broadcasts on shortwave were replaced by mere music loops or endless repetitions of always-the-same cultural programs.

Taiwan’s government appeared to have similar plans for Radio Taiwan International (RTI) – not to take them off the airwaves, but to create an tri-medial organization, integrating RTI, Taiwan’s national newsagency CNA, and public television. Instead, RTI got a new director-general, and its Spanish, French and Korean services returned to shortwave from a mere online existence.

Now, questions are occasionally asked which plan for RTI was better – the one devised in 2018 or the one actually implemented in 2019 and onward. In my view, starting an international television channel on the one hand as is done with “Taiwan+” and keeping RTI as a station focused on audiences in different languages looks like a comparatively wise choice.

For one, RTI might provide a pool of foreign-language speakers for television if need be. Also, if I go by my own fondness for radio, “Taiwan+” isn’t for me, and never will be. In fact, it’s nice to be spoken to in my first language by RTI’s German department.

But above all, developments at Radio Japan and CRI aren’t looking really promising. At Radio Japan, English is only broadcast on shortwave three times a day, and as for the news, that’s only a soundtrack from NHK’s global  English-language television channel. (You won’t even know who’s speaking at times, because obviously, you are missing out on the subtitles.) And while I don’t know what they are talking about in Russian on China’s foreign media, I seem to notice that there is a similar problem with the CGTN correspondent’s contributions that are also used by CRI, i. e. by “Central Radio and Television Network” foreign-radio channel. The correspondent, Kirill Volkov, seems to interview a number of people for his video productions, but as a listener, you can only guess who he is talking to.

It is easy to think that CRI’s German service has lost some of its (not too numerous anyway) German listeners after leaving shortwave, along with many other CRI language services. The German editorial department’s current trimedial attempts at agitating their listeners in China’s favor may be good for a laugh every now and then, but contrary to CRI’s radio productions in the past, these days’ online content is useless.

“Some US politicians behave more and more like
dirty swines!” -CRI German’s
“sharp commentary” online, January 2022

In that regard, one has to wonder why RTI has recently been busy with grandstanding of this kind. Reportedly, what really happened is that the same half-hour Russian program in Russian already in existence for Europe has been rebroadcast for an additional 30-minutes time slot on another frequency.

Stunts like the above seem to suggest that RTI’s directors are worried that the government might cut RTI’s budget.

That shouldn’t happen. If Taiwan’s government wants to raise its country’s “international visibility”, it can’t do without RTI, and it can’t do without shortwave. At least, Taipei better wait how “Taiwan+” develops before making cuts to the foreign-radio budget.

SARS-Covid Outbreak: a Meeting with Experts and Entrepreneurs

While the Shanghai lockdown (which must not be called a lockdown) continued, China’s state council held a meeting “with experts and entrepreneurs” on Thursday, to “analyse economic conditions and hear ideas and suggestions about the next steps”, Xinhua news agency reported on Friday. Li Keqiang chaired the meeting in his capacities as member of the CPC politburo standing committee and as chief state councillor.

Main Link

Also attending were people representing China Railway Materials and Qingdao AInnovation  Technology company, stating their opinions about economic operation, company situations etc., and making suggestions about safeguarding logistics and rural capital provisions, and about promoting entrepreneurial innovation.

Mentioned as participants were deputy chief state councillor Han Zheng, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences researcher Yang Zhiyong, Bank of China researcher Guan Tao, and, as party of state officials, Hu Chunhua (politburo member and deputy chief state councillor), Liu He (same functions as Hu), Wang Yong (former SASAC chairman, now a member of the state council in charge of issues faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Xiao Jie (member of the state council and Secretary General of the State Council), Zhao Kezhi (Party Committee Secretary of the Ministry of Public Security and heading the ministry as member of the state council), and He Lifeng (member of the state council in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission, NDRC).

Xinwen Lianbo, April 8, 2022, evening broadcast

You can probably imagine the importance of Zhao Kezhi’s attendance in the context of the meeting’s hardly-mentioned real topic – but it makes sense to take note of every participant mentioned in communiqués like this one by Xinhua. Their tasks may speak greater volumes than the description of the agenda.

It needs to be said that the article doesn’t exactly emphasize China’s current SARS-Covid outbreak – it is only “casually” mentioned, as one of a number of suddenly emerging factors in international and domestic environment that are confronting the economy with greater uncertainties and challenges.

The obligatory reference to Comrade Xi Jinping is made at the beginning,  although it is technically meaningless. It may, however, indicate the limits of what participants may describe or suggest during such a meeting, and also, you have to mention Xi anyway. With reference to the “sudden domestic Covid outbreak situation” (国内疫情近期多发), a need both  to keep up the faith and to face up to the difficulties is emphasized. More generally, “high-quality development” is restated, and so is a need to deepen reform and individual initiative, and “a flexibility in accepting the challenges” (应变克难). Focus is also given to stable growth, stable employment and stable prices (稳就业, 稳物价).

Li pointed out problems faced particularly by SMEs and self-employed workers & business people. Help and support them pass through the crisis is mentioned, some concrete measures too, but without detailed outlines. Concrete measures are an utmost pace by which to handle VAT rebates, and to make funds arrive at the accounts of those in need.

The primary sector is required to provide ample harvests (farming) and advanced coal production capacities (energy), and “marketization, rule of law and internationalization” are also given a mention.

The meeting ranked fourth as a news item in China’s main evening news broadcast of Xinwen Lianbo” today, after an “important speech” given by Xi Jinping at the end of the Paralympics, a reference to an editorial about the “spirit of the Beijing Olympics”, and news about a telephone conversation between Xi Jinping and the president of the Philippines.

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Xi Jinping in the Evening News

If you wonder why a discussion of a book about Xi Jinping in Germany was cancelled by the relevant Confucius Institutes, here’s the most likely answer: the book simply didn’t mention Xi frequently enough.
Learn from Chinese televion. The following are the first seven headlines (out of a total of 18) from Tuesday’s main evening news in China.

Already full of confidence:
CCTV News anchor Kang Hui

Main Link: CCTV Network News – “Xi Jinping visits National “13th-Five-Year-Plan” Technical Innovation Achievements Exhibition, emphasizes …”

习近平在参观国家“十三五”科技创新成就展时强调 坚定创新自信紧抓创新机遇 加快实现高水平科技自立自强	Xi Jinping visits National “13th-Five-Year-Plan” Technical Innovation Achievements Exhibition, emphasizes need to staunchly innovate and confidently grasp innovation opportunities, and to accelerate the implementation of self reliance in high-level science and technology
习近平对全军装备工作会议作出重要指示强调 全面开创武器装备建设新局面 为实现建军一百年奋斗目标作出积极贡献	Xi Jinping gives the all-army equipment conference important instructions, emphasizing the need for active contributions in the new situation to a comprehensive start into the building of weapons and equipment, to reach the [second]*) two-centenary goal
习近平致信祝贺人民出版社成立100周年强调 赓续红色血脉为推动社会主义文化繁荣发展 建设社会主义文化强国作出新的更大的贡献	Xi Jinping sends a letter to People’s Publishing House at its 100th founding anniversary, emphasizing that continuation of the red blood will drive the development of socialist culture and prosperity, and make new and still greater contributions to the building of a socialist and culturally strong country.
习近平致电祝贺米尔济约耶夫当选乌兹别克斯坦总统	Xi Jinping sends telegram to Shavkat Mirziyoyev to congratulate him on his election as president
习近平同巴基斯坦总理通电话	Xi Jinping has a telephone conversation with Pakistan’s president
习近平同巴布亚新几内亚总理通电话	Xi Jinping has a telephone conversation with Papua New Guinea’s prime minister
携手实现世界永续和平发展——习近平主席在中华人民共和国恢复联合国合法席位50周年纪念会议上的重要讲话引发与会中外人士热烈反响	Joining hands to achieve global sustainable peaceful development – Chairman Xi Jinping’s important speech on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China’s legitimate seat at the United Nations meets with enthusiastic reactions among Chinese and foreign public figures

If this interests you, maybe that (24 hours later) interets you, too – CCTV News Network, Wed, Oct 27:

Xi Jinping has telephone conversation with French president / Xi Jinping has telephone conversation with Uzbek president / Xi Jinping has telephone call with president of Equatorial Guinea / Xi Jinping’s keynote speech, “Staying Connected with the World and Abreast with the Times And Making Big Strides on the Path of Sustainable Development”, held at the opening ceremony of the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference, now published as a single-volume edition / Under “Xi Jinping’s ideological guidance of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era”, organize the Winter Olympics well, ignite enthusiasm for winter sports, promote participation of three-hundred million people in winter sports / Secetary-general Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter to China Media Group on the launch of the CCTV Olympic Channel and the start of its digital platform meets with enthusiastic response.
(Only the first five, out of a total of 21 items.)
____________

Note

^*) I think that this must be the second “centenary goal”, because according to Xi, the first one has already been achieved.

____________

Ethnic Work, enthusiastic Reactions (3)

As reported by China Central Television’s (CCTV) main evening news on August 29, CPC secretary-general Xi Jinping’s speech on ethnic work at the Central Ethnic Work Conference in late August has met with an enthusiastic echo from the masses and cadres of all national ethnicities. The following are translations of some of that enthusiastic echo. Every quote is linked to the news program’s online video.
–
This is part 3 of my translation. Part two is there.
–

Link 1, 07′ 05”, Li Lin, deputy county secretary of nationwide-ethnic-unity-and-progress-model-collective Jiangyong County in Yongzhou City, Hunan Province:

History and practice have amply proven that the key for doing ethnic work well lies with the party. Our next steps will be to continue the promotion of the deployment and implementation of the “twelve musts”, pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping. into refined measures. Promoting the rejuvenation of Yaoxiang Village and accelerating the momentum in the realization of common prosperity, we will let the ordinary people live even happier and better lives.
全国民族团结进步模范集体 湖南永州市江永县委副书记李林
历史和实践充分证明做好民族工作关键在党。接下来我们将对习总书记指出的「十二个必须」一细化量化持续推动党中央决策部署落到实处。在推动瑶乡乡村振兴，加快实现共同富裕等方面持续发力，让老百姓过上更加幸福美好的生活。

–

Link 2, 07′ 29”, Zhang Jianming, Yidi poverty alleviation community village first secretary, Guizhou Province, Wangmo County:

Most people living in our neighborhood are ethnic minority masses [who are part of the] poverty alleviation and relocation [program]. Specifically, we have established volunteer teams for ethnic minorities service teams to develop industries of characteristic ethnic customs, so as to put the masses of relocated people into a position to develop in a stable manner and to continuously improve the masses’ sense of happiness and security.
贵州省望谟县易地扶贫搬迁小区住村第一书记 张建明
我们所在的这个社区居住的大多数是少数民族易地扶贫搬迁群众。我们专门成立少数民族群众志愿服务队，发展民俗特色产业，让广大搬迁群众稳得住能发展，不断提高群众的幸福感和安全感。

–

Link 3, 07′ 48”, Yun Guosheng, Inner Mongolia “autonomous region” ethnic affairs committee deputy director:

Inner Mongolia autonomous region is the first etnic autonomous region established under the party’s leadership, and it has a glorious tradition of ethnic unity. The next stop will continue to be an example of promoting ethnic unity, walk the new path of high-quality development with a priority for the ecology and green development as points of reference. We will promote the common prosperoous development of all ethnicities.
内蒙古自治区民族事务委员会副主任云国盛
内蒙古自治区是党领导下成立的第一个民族自治区，具有民族团结的光荣传统。下一步我们将继续在促进民族团结方面做好表率，走好以生态优先，绿色发展为导向的高质量发展新路子，努力促进各民族共同繁荣发展。