Xi’s Kitchen Cabinet (2): Li Qiang

The following is a translation of a report that toes a fine line between coming across as a moderately modest local hero, giving credit to your great sponsor, and still make people aware of your personal rise through the ranks. Li Qiang doesn’t visibly dominate the article and leaves a lot of space to Xi Jinping’s role in “Shanghai’s story”.

The article was published by Xinhua, in June 2021.

Apart from that, readers may get an idea of some of the key words in the megacity’s projects, and not least about the world according to Beijing.

Surveys about other nation’s attitudes towards China, certainly when published by Western media, often focus on OECD countries’ attitudes. At least when it comes to third-world countries’ “elites”, the picture can be different, and given the many failures of development projects in the past of the “global South”, the Chinese model does often sell there – especially when it comes with grants and scholarships.

This is the second part of a series about Xi’s kitchen cabinet, the 20th Politburo’s Standing Commission.

Previously posted:

Xi’s Kitchen Cabinet: (1): For what we are about to receive

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^{Top left: Li Qiang; top right: Song Tao}

Main Link:

The China Communist Party’s Story – the Practice of Xi Jinping Thought on New Era Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Shanghai

Xinhua, Shanghai, June 16, report by Wu Yu.
Jointly organized by the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Communist Party of China Shanghai Municipal Committee, a dialogue under the name “China Communist Party’s Story – the Practice of Xi Jinping Thought on New Era Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in Shanghai” was carried out in Shanghai on June 16. Titled “Set out for the Dream, Witness the Wonders”, the world was shown the Communist Party of China’s glorious course through the century, and especially the party’s great achievements since its 18th National Congress, [illustrated by] the great changes from Shanghai as the party’s birthplace to the forefront of reform and opening up. 126 political parties and friendly organizatons with more than 740 representatives took part through video link, and ambassadors from more than 40 countries were present at the meeting.
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新华社上海6月16日电（记者吴宇）由中共中央对外联络部和中共上海市委共同主办的“中国共产党的故事——习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想在上海的实践”特别对话会16日在上海举行。对话会以“启航梦想，见证奇迹”为主题，通过上海从中国共产党的诞生地到中国改革开放前沿阵地的沧桑巨变，向世界展现中国共产党百年光辉历程，特别是党的十八大以来以习近平同志为核心的党中央带领中国取得的伟大成就。来自近100个国家、126个政党和友好组织的740多名代表通过视频连线参加对话会，40多个国家驻华大使现场出席会议。
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Li Qiang, member of the CPC Central Committee’s Politburo and Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, said in his address that Shanghai is the birthplace of the CPC, the place from where the CPC’s dream set out, a window for the world on China, a hub that connects China with the world, and a main carrier for major national strategies. Since the CPC’s 19th National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has personally visited Shanghai in four consecutive years, issued strategic arrangements for Shanghai’s development, poured in great momentum, Shanghai became more radiant by the day, an even more dazzling pearl of the Orient.
Binding together the vivid stories of the rise of Luziazui Financial City‘s rise, the Huangpu and Suzhou Rivers’ shoreline linkup, the “two networks” in step with the municipality (integrated online government services, “management on one website”), [Li Qiang] described Shanghai’s concrete practice in Pudong’s development and opening up, in people’s city building and megacity administration. He said that under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s Socialism with Chinese Characteristics Thought, Shanghai will unswervingly follow the road of liberating thought, deepening reform, orientation towards the world, and of broadening openness, of smashing routine, creating new breakthroughs, and of constantly producing extraordinary achievements that are worthy of the party’s place of origin.
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中共中央政治局委员、上海市委书记李强在致辞中表示，上海是中国共产党的诞生地，是中国共产党梦想启航的地方，也是世界观察中国的窗口、中国链接世界的枢纽、国家重大战略的重要承载地。中共十九大以来，习近平总书记连续四年亲临上海，为上海发展作出战略擘画、注入强大动力，上海正日益焕发出更加璀璨的光彩，成为更加耀眼的东方明珠。李强结合陆家嘴金融城兴起、黄浦江苏州河“一江一河”岸线贯通、政务服务“一网通办”和城市运行“一网统管”“两张网”建设等生动故事，讲述了上海在浦东开发开放、人民城市建设、超大城市治理方面的具体实践，表示上海将在习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想指引下，坚定走解放思想、深化改革之路，面向世界、扩大开放之路，打破常规、创新突破之路，不断创造无愧于党的诞生地的不凡业绩。
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Song Tao, director of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party, said that Shanghai, as the place where the dream of the Communist Party of China had set out from, had witnessed the beginnings of the great cause of the CPC’s founding, witnessed the quantum leap of China standing up, prospering and its rise to become a strong country. Over the past century, the CPC had persisted in following the goal of the people’s happiness, in the struggle towards the goal of the nations’s great rejuvenation, and especially since the party’s 18th national congress, under the strong leadership of the party’s central committee with Xi Jinping as the core, all the party’s and the state’s undertakings had achieved historic successes. The masses’ sense of gain, feeling of happiness and sense of security had been enormously improved, and so had China’s international status and influence. The Communist Party had also always striven for the cause of mankind’s progress. As for the future, the CPC wants to work with political parties from all the countries of the world to strengthen friendly contacts, to bring together the majestic power of building the Community of common destiny for mankind, and to make new and greater contributions global peaceful development and the progress of mankind.
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中共中央对外联络部部长宋涛表示，上海作为中国共产党梦想启航地方，见证了中国共产党成立这一开天辟地的大事，见证了中国从站起来到富起来、强起来的伟大飞跃。一百年来，中国共产党坚持把为人民谋幸福、为民族谋复兴作为奋斗目标，特别是党的十八大以来，在以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导下，党和国家的各项事业取得历史性成就，人民群众的获得感、幸福感和安全感极大提升，中国的国际地位和影响力极大提升。中国共产党也一直为人类进步事业而奋斗。展望未来，中国共产党愿同世界各国政党加强友好往来，凝聚构建人类命运共同体的磅礴力量，为世界和平发展和人类进步事业作出新的更大贡献。
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The representatives of political parties etc. participating in the meeting earnestly listened to the story of Shanghai’s economic and social development and the people’s improved standard of living, narrated by representatives from all walks of life in Shanghai. Chairman of the Socialist Party of Serbia and President of Parliament Ivica Dačić, Cambodian People’s Party Central Committee’s Standing Committee and Second Vice President of Cambodia’s National Assembly Khuon Sodary, the Party of the European Left‘s first vice chairperson Mola, Gabonese Democratic Party‘s General Secretary¹⁾ Bounguendza, Panama Democratic Revolutionary Party General Secretary González, People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan vice chairman²⁾ Yousufei etc. warmly congratulated on the CPC’s 100th founding anniversary and its successes that had caught the attention of the world. They said that the CPC’s foundation had not only greatly changed China’s development process, but also contributed significantly to world peace and global development, having become a model for study by the world’s political parties, and an example to learn from. Following the CPC’s 18th national congress, the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core had proposed the “Belt and Road” initiative, helping developing countries to achieve greater development, vividly adding to the concept of a Community of common destiny for mankind. They hoped to strengthen exchanges with the CPC about government experience, and to advance pragmatic cooperation in all fields so as to benefit all countries and peoples even better.
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与会政党代表等认真听取了上海各界人士代表讲述上海经济社会发展和人民生活水平提升的故事。塞尔维亚社会党主席、议长达契奇，柬埔寨人民党中央常委、国会第二副主席昆索达莉，欧洲左翼党第一副主席莫拉，加蓬民主党总书记本根扎，巴拿马民主革命党总书记冈萨雷斯，塔吉克斯坦人民民主党副主席尤苏菲等在发言中热烈祝贺中国共产党百年华诞和取得的举世瞩目成就，表示中国共产党的成立不仅极大改变了中国的发展进程，也为世界和平、发展与进步作出了重大贡献，成为世界政党研究、借鉴和学习的榜样。中共十八大以来，以习近平同志为核心的中共中央提出“一带一路”倡议、助力发展中国家实现更大发展，生动诠释了人类命运共同体理念。愿同中国共产党加强治国理政经验交流，促进各领域务实合作，更多造福各国和各国人民。
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Notes

1)	the title might look revolutionary, but Wikipedia suggests that his party is center-right
2)	supposing this is a man

To be continued.

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Related

Many Miracles, “China Daily”, June 18, 2021
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Xi’s Kitchen Cabinet (1): For what we are about to receive

In an effort to better understand China, let’s take a look at the six men who are going to complement the People’s Leader during the coming five years (if none of them turns out to be Lin Biao II). A lot may have been written about them already, and a lot is going to be written, but let’s listen to the members of the Politburo Standing Committee themselves. 

No interviews, I suppose, but we can turn to their publications, or to what they had China’s “reporters” publish about themselves. 

Obviously, I don’t know yet if all of Xi’s six men have provided the masses with spritual nourishment, or if some of them rather qualified by mowing the people’s lawns and darning their socks. In either case, this series shall amount to seven instalments (this introduction being the first). 

Stay tuned …

CPC’s 20th National Congress: “The Party will never degenerate”

2,300 delegates were supposed to attend in February, more precisely, according to Li Keqiang (main link) on Saturday morning, the number was 2,296, plus particular invitees (特邀代表), that would be 2,379 delegates, minus 39 delegates having asked for leave because of illness, i. e. 2,340 delegates present there.

“Major-power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics to be unfolded in a comprehensive way” was unfolded by Xi Jinping himself in his work report. You should be forgiven if you think that this is about Chinese consuls-general tweeting about how America bombs and China helps Africa, or how their tummies bulged with pride when Xi Jinping told the party’s national congress that Taiwaners had no right to be free when 1.4 million Chinese were not.

But major-power diplomacy with Chinese characteristics isn’t a diplomatic market-economy product – it was produced at home in Beijing, by the 19th Central Committee’s Sixth Plenary Session (according to their communiqué in November 2021).

Condensed self-flattery concerning the party’s “zero-Covid” policy (which probably didn’t go down as well with the audience outside the “Great Hall of the People” as other parts of Xi’s speech), and this.

We have kept nailing the nails, thus correcting and punishing the “four winds”, opposed the idea and phenomenon of privileges, stopped some unhealthy trends that hadn’t been brought to a halt for a long time, and investigated and punished obstinate chronic diseases which hadn’t been eliminated for many years. We have fought an unprecedented fight against corruption, and by “offending thousands, and living up to the 1.4 billion” [Chinese people], we have fulfilled our mission to dispel the disease and disorder. The multi-pronged struggle against corruption, by beating the tigers, swatting the flies and hunting the foxes, has achieved an overwhelming victory and overall consolidation, eliminating the serious hidden dangers within the party, the state, and the military. By uncompromising efforts, the party found self-revolution, thus escaping the historical cycle of order and chaos, of rise and fall, for a second time. This has made sure that the party will never degenerate, never change color, never change smell.
我们以钉钉子精神纠治“四风”，反对特权思想和特权现象，刹住了一些长期没有刹住的歪风，纠治了一些多年未除的顽瘴痼疾。我们开展了史无前例的反腐败斗争，以“得罪千百人、不负十四亿”的使命担当祛疴治乱，“打虎”、“拍蝇”、“猎狐”多管齐下，反腐败斗争取得压倒性胜利并全面巩固，消除了党、国家、军队内部存在的严重隐患。经过不懈努力，党找到了自我革命这一跳出治乱兴衰历史周期率的第二个答案，确保党永远不变质、不变色、不变味。

^{No offense meant, miserable failure}

If Bo Xilai had said that, it would have struck people as populism – but then, Bo never made it into the top ranks.
China’s “Communists” have announced many victories in the past. If this one is as decisive as Xi has claimed will be hard to prove or disprove as long as he remains in control of the narrative.

Just these few sidenotes for now.

Xi Jinping’s “Inspiring New Year Address” in the Tibetan Media

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The following is a translation of a Chinese-language piece by “Tibet Daily”, the CPC’s party organ published in Tibet. It was also broadcast by PBS Tibet, even as late as on January 3.

Links within blockquotes added during translation.

The 2019 enthusiasm routine (Google search result)

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Keep in mind what the leadership entrusted you with. Put into practice the originally intended mission. — Chairman Xi Jinping’s new year’s message evokes wide-spread strong reactions among cadres and masses
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牢记领袖嘱托 践行初心使命——习近平主席新年贺词在西藏广大干部群众中引发强烈反响
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Published on Jan 2, 2022, 09:50:57. Source: Tibet Daily. Authors: Zhang Meng/Shi Jinru/Zhou Tingting
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发布时间：2022-01-02 09:50:57来源：西藏日报 作者：张猛 史金茹 周婷婷
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“What we experiencing in these flying times is an indomitable and prospering China. You find people here who inspire affection and respect, every day sees new development, and a cause passed on through the generations.” Once Chairman Xi Jinping’s new year’s eve greeting had been published on New Year’s Eve, it immediately evoked enthusiastic reactions among the broad cadreship and the masses. Everyone, one after another, said that Chairman Xi Jinping’s speech had been heartwarming and activating. In the new year, they will unite even more closely around the Party’s Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, keep in mind what the leadership entrusted them with, put into practice the originally intended mission, struggle for the construction of a united, well-off, civilized, harmonious and beautiful socialist and modern Tibet, so as to welcome the victorious 20th CPC National Congress with exceptional achievements.
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“在飞逝的时光里，我们看到的、感悟到的中国，是一个坚韧不拔、欣欣向荣的中国。这里有可亲可敬的人民，有日新月异的发展，有赓续传承的事业。”新年前夕，习近平主席的新年贺词一经发表，立即在我区广大干部群众中引发热烈反响。大家纷纷表示，习近平主席的话语温暖人心、催人奋进。在新的一年里将更加紧密地团结在以习近平同志为核心的党中央周围，牢记领袖嘱托、践行初心使命，为建设团结富裕文明和谐美丽的社会主义现代化新西藏而努力奋斗，以优异成绩迎接党的二十大胜利召开。
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“2021 was a special year, with the 100th anniversary of the CPC’s foundation. It was also the second year for me as a teacher.” After graduating from Shaanxi Normal University, “post-95er”¹ Huang Jiapei came to Linzhi City 2nd Primary School as a music teacher. He says: “Xi Jinping mentioned that we must not forget the originally intended mission, so that it will carry us through². We can only succeed with an energetic mind and vigoroous action, by being sincere and conscientious. That’s the only way for us not to betray history, not to betray the era, and not to betray the people. As an educational worker who is both someone who “pursues his dream” and someone who pursues his dream by helping children, I deeply feel the responsibility I’ve taken. In the future, I will work with an energetic mind and vigorous action, sincerely and conscientiously, continuously improve myself, be dedicated and devoted to my work, to be someone who contributes to a beautiful and happy Linzhi and who educates ever more outstanding heirs of socialism.”
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“2021年是特殊的一年，是中国共产党成立100周年，也是我正式成为一名老师的第二个年头。”从陕西师范大学毕业就来到林芝市第二小学担任音乐老师的“95后”黄嘉佩说，“习近平主席在新年贺词中提到，不忘初心，方得始终。我们唯有踔厉奋发、笃行不怠，方能不负历史、不负时代、不负人民。作为一名教育工作者，我既是一名‘追梦人’，也是助力孩子们追梦的人，深感肩负重任。未来，我将踔厉奋发、笃行不怠，不断提升自己，敬业奉献，为建设美丽幸福林芝贡献力量，努力培养更多优秀的社会主义接班人。”
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“Chairman Xi Jinping said in his New Year’s Eve greeting that comprehensive moderate prosperity and casting off poverty is what the party owes the people. It is also a contribution to the world. To let everyone lead a better life, we can’t be satisfied with the successes we see so far. We still have a long road to go.” Huang Jiabin, first secretary at the Linzhi City rural task force at Beibeng Township‘s Gelin Village says: “To keep up ambition and wisdom is vital to prevent large-scale relapse into poverty. We will combine our advantages in a solid and practical way and do our utmost to help Gelin Village’s development.”
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“习近平主席在新年贺词中提到，全面小康、摆脱贫困是我们党给人民的交代，也是对世界的贡献。让大家过上更好生活，我们不能满足于眼前的成绩，还有很长的路要走。”林芝市公安局驻墨脱县背崩乡格林村第一书记、驻村工作队队长黄家斌表示，“扶志扶智是防止规模性返贫及助力乡村振兴的关键因素，接下来他将结合自身优势，扎扎实实、尽心尽力为格林村发展添砖加瓦。”
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“Chairman Xi Jinping’s New Year’s Eve message is full of power, inspiring the will of the people, and strengthening our confidence and determination to go forward.” Zhao Wei of a science popularization unit with Tibet Autonomous Region Science and Technology Association says: “During the past year, we have operated mobile science and technology shops in Shigatse, Naqu, Lhasa, Shannan and in other places. The science and technology truck gives basic rural farmers and shephard masses as well as young people an opportunity to experience the fascination of science in a nearby place, providing them with scientific knowledge to help citizens to improve their scientific qualities. Although some villages and townships are far above sea-level and have an adverse climate, we feel that it’s worth our efforts and our hard work when we see the curiousity and happiness in the faces of the masses and the children as they experience the basics of science. We are reviewing the past year and we are looking to the future. In the new year, we will take root in Tibet even more firmly, we won’t betray the era’s determination, we will dauntlessly advance, bravely climb the summits and constantly make new contributions to science and technology popularization in the new era’s Tibet.”
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“习近平主席的新年贺词充满力量，激荡人心，坚定了我们砥砺前行的信心与决心。”西藏自治区科学技术协会科普工作队赵伟说，“过去一年，我们在日喀则、那曲、拉萨、山南等地开展流动科技馆、科普大篷车巡展工作，为基层农牧民群众和青少年送去近距离体验科学魅力的机会，为他们送去科学知识，助力公民科学素质提升。虽然有些乡镇海拔高、气候恶劣，可是，每当看到群众和孩子们充满好奇的眼神，以及动手体验科学原理时脸上洋溢着快乐的表情时，就觉得所有的艰苦与付出都是值得的。回顾过去，展望未来。新的一年里，我将更加坚定扎根西藏、不负时代的决心，奋勇向前，勇攀高峰，不断为新时代西藏科普工作作出新的贡献。”
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“As we entered the new year, Chairman Xi Jinping’s New Year’s Eve address was most heartwarming. I felt even more inspired after listening to it. Here at Dekang Community, the residents also experienced a boost in their morale, being delighted and excited.” Song Yahang, resident work team member in Dekang Community, Lhorong County in Chamdo City, says: “In a blink of an eye, almost an entire year’s stay in Dekang Community passed by for me. Time and again I have experienced the vivid struggle of the residents by the things I have seen and heard as they were unearthed. I think they are models for the whole Dekang Community. It takes exactly hard-working construction workers like them to make Dekang Community’s future even better.” Song Yahang says that in the next step, it is planned to actively carry out activities to promote investment in the community, to let residents and business people filled with ideas, with the ability and willingness to work, take along those who want to help, to work hard to create a brand-new Dekang Community.
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“跨年夜，习近平主席的新年贺词最暖心，聆听之后倍感振奋。我们德康社区居民也备受鼓舞，欢喜雀跃。”昌都市洛隆县德康社区驻村工作队队员宋亚航说，“一转眼，我到德康社区驻村将近一年，我一次次把自己所看到的、听到的、经历过的一个个鲜活的居民奋斗史挖掘出来，我觉得他们是整个德康社区的榜样。正是有了像他们这样勤奋努力的建设者，德康社区的未来和明天才会更加美好。”宋亚航表示，下一步，打算通过优惠的政策积极开展招商引资活动，让真正有想法、能干事、想干事的居民和商人引进社区，实现一人带动一帮人，以点带面的发展模式，为营造一个崭新的德康社区而努力奋斗。
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Editor in charge: Li Xia

责任编辑：李霞

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Notes

1

born after 1995

2

While the CPC has put a comprehensive claim on being “the faithful inheritor and advocate of the outstanding traditional Chinese culture” rather recently, traditional sayings have always been part of CPC speech, though probably with varying emphasis through the decades. 不忘初心，方得始终 originally refers to Buddhism – the idea that the original intention is inseparable from the final fruit if the practice continues obliviously (according to “People’s Daily”, anyway).

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Xi Jinping’s Heroes (1): the Blood of countless Martyrs

Every once in a while, a topic or text looks too big (or too much of a tasteless nuisance) to me to be processed in a blog, although I still want to translate it. When it’s too much in one go, I might opt for a serial.

Update, Dec 12, 2020: Part 2 is there.

This blog is meant to be more than just a public waste book, but it certainly fulfills a waste book’s tasks, too, and helps to tidy up my mind.

The following are excerpts from an article published by “People’s Daily” (the CPC’s central party organ), and republished, probably among many others, by “The Paper” (澎湃新闻), Shanghai.

Note the frequent references to movies – Xi Jinping (or his advisors, or both) appear to have been impressed by Ronald Reagan’s use of cinema, or cinema-worty, propaganda during the 1980s.¹⁾

Main Link: “The Secretary General has talked about Heroes like these”, by Wen Hongyan and Song Jingsi, published on Sept 29
Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Jiangxi inspection tour 2019, background left:
Red Army Long March Starting Point Monument,
Yudu County

“A nation with hope cannot be without heroes, a country cannot be without pioneers.”
“一个有希望的民族不能没有英雄，一个有前途的国家不能没有先锋。”

Ever since the 18th National Congress, Secretary General Xi Jinping has attached great importance to praising heroic models, carrying forward the heroic spirit, looking for heroes, commemorated the heroes’ footprints north and south of the Yangtse River, told moving stories about heroes on many occasions, expressed his veneration for heroes, called on the whole party and the whole country to hold the heroes in high esteem, to defend them, to learn about them, and to show concern and care for them. The Secretary General emphasized: only high esteem for heroes can bring about heroes, and only the strife to become heroes can make heroes come forth in large numbers.
党的十八大以来，习近平总书记高度重视褒奖英雄模范、弘扬英雄精神，踏寻英雄、缅怀英烈的足迹遍布大江南北，在多个场合讲述英雄感人故事，表达对英雄的崇敬之情，号召全党全国崇尚英雄、捍卫英雄、学习英雄、关爱英雄。总书记强调：“崇尚英雄才会产生英雄，争做英雄才能英雄辈出。”

[…..]

Never to be forgotten
永志不忘——

“The republic is red, and can’t weaken this color. The blood of countless martyrs gave our flag its color. There is no way that we would not build the republic well that they hoped, fought and sacrificed for.”
“共和国是红色的，不能淡化这个颜色。无数的先烈鲜血染红了我们的旗帜，我们不建设好他们所盼望向往、为之奋斗、为之牺牲的共和国，是绝对不行的。”

On the median of Tian An Men Square, the Monument to the People’s Heroes stands tall and towering.
On November 29, 2012, not long after the party’s 18th national congress, Secretary General Xi Jinping entered the National Museum east of the Monument to the People’s Heroes, visiting the “Road to National Rejuvenation” exhibit. The Secretary General pointed out: “During modernity²⁾, the scale to which the Chinese nation has suffered and made sacrifices is something rarely seen in the history of the world.
天安门广场的南北中轴线上，人民英雄纪念碑巍然耸立。
2012年11月29日，党的十八大闭幕不久，习近平总书记走进人民英雄纪念碑东侧的国家博物馆，参观《复兴之路》展览。总书记指出：“近代以后，中华民族遭受的苦难之重、付出的牺牲之大，在世界历史上都是罕见的。”

The October revolution’s momentous events gave China Marxism-Leninism. Marxism-Leninism’s dissemination in China advanced the great awakening of the Chinese people, drove the birth of the Communist Party of China, and ignited the light of the Chinese nation’s rejuvenation.
十月革命一声炮响，给中国送来了马克思列宁主义。马克思列宁主义在中国的传播，促进了中国人民的伟大觉醒，催生了中国共产党，点亮了中华民族的复兴之光。

“China surely has an admirably bright future.” During that grim era, Fang Zhimin and countless other people all had lofty ideals, with their hearts full of hope and expectations.
“中国一定有个可赞美的光明前途。”在那个风雨如晦的年代，方志敏等无数仁人志士都如此满心期待、满怀憧憬。

[…..]

On May 22, 2019, Secretary General Xi Jinping, while ending an inspection tour in Jiangxi, pointed out: “‘The enemy can only chop off our heads, but he can’t shake our faith’ – this was Comrade Fang Zhimin’s resounding promise before sacrificing his life.”
2019年5月22日，习近平总书记在江西考察工作结束时的重要讲话中指出：“‘敌人只能砍下我们的头颅，决不能动摇我们的信仰’，这是方志敏同志牺牲前留下的铮铮誓言。”

“The light of ideals can’t be extinguished, and the light of faith can’t be extinguished.” Secretary General Xi Jinping told many moving stories about the revolutionary martyrs’ selfless pursuit of the light of ideals, and how they gave their lives to protect the revolutionary faith.
“理想之光不灭，信念之光不灭。”习近平总书记曾在不同场合讲述许多革命先烈忘我追寻理想之光、舍身保护信仰火种的感人故事。

“Before martyr Liu Renkan was killed for the righteous cause, the enemy mercilessly cut off his tongue. Still, he used his foot and his spilling blood to write ‘Long live the revolution’.”
“刘仁堪烈士在就义前，敌人残忍地割下了他的舌头，他仍然用脚蘸着流下的鲜血写下‘革命成功万岁’。”

“Martyr Jiang Shanzhong left a letter behind, written with his own blood, ‘Death to the underworld will not turn back water, and protect the Communist Party for thousands of years’.”³⁾
“江善忠烈士留下血书，‘死到阴间不反水，保护共产党万万年’。”

“Xia Minghan went to prison, faithful and unchanging. In a letter to his wife, he sent the heroic oath of ‘persist in our aspirations, vow to spread the truth to the earthly world’.”
“夏明翰身陷牢狱坚贞不屈，在给妻子的家书中发出‘坚持革命继吾志，誓将真理传人寰’的豪迈誓言。”

“In the Battle of Xiangjiang River, martyr Chen Shuxiang‘s feats, ‘heartbreakingly showing his sincere convictions’, touch people, it really is ‘a thousand drops of blood from the Red Army on every inch of the ground, and an honorable hero’s body on every step’.”
“在湘江战役中，陈树湘烈士‘断肠明志’的事迹十分感人，真是‘寸土千滴红军血，一步一尊英雄躯’。”

Continued there.
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Notes

Stuff like this:

1)	1/11/84 Lars‑Erik Nelson suggests another source for the Medal of Honor story: an apocryphal item in the April 1944 issue of Reader’s Digest, a magazine known to be a life‑long Reagan favorite. “The bomber had been almost ripped apart by German cannon,” it read. “The ball turret gunner was badly wounded and stuck in the blister on the underside of the fuselage. Crewmen worked frantically to extricate the youngster, but there was nothing they could do. They began to jump. The terror‑stricken lad screamed in fear as he saw what was happening. The last man to jump heard the remaining crewman, a gunner, say, ‘Take it easy, kid. We’ll take this ride together.’”
2)	Seems this could be translated as after modernity, but that wouldn’t make sense to me because 近代 – among Chinese, and not among Americans or Taiwanese – usually refers to the times from around 1912 and 1949. Among the latter, it would be from the late Ming dynasty to 1912 (according to Wikipedia as of Oct 20).
3)	Not necessarily a correct translation; found online, on a site full of commercials and reroutings

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Ethnic Work, enthusiastic Reactions (2)

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 2 of my translation. Part one is there.
–

Link 1, 05′ 14”, Zhao Wulin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee:

Guangxi is the province or region with the most ethnic-minority inhabitants. During the 14th five-year plan we will establish and forge a model region of Chinese national sense of community, refine institutions under which all ethnic minorities live, work, learn and are happy together, promote the high-quality development of the new-era party’s ethnic work.
广西壮族自治区民族宗教事务委员会政策法规处处长赵武林
广西是全国少数民族人口最多的省区，「十四五」期间我们将创建铸牢中华民族共同体意识示范区，完善有利于各民族共居共学共事共乐的体制机制，推动新时代党的民族工作高质量发展。

–

Link 2, 05′ 32”, Li Xiangsheng, deputy director of Lincang City’s Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, Yunnan province:

Here in Lincang, we have quite a number of ethnic minorities, such as the Yi, the Wa, the Dai and the Lahu Nationality. As a next step, we must build a platform for all ethnicities to associate, communicate and blend with each other, tell the story of the Chinese dream being built together by united ethnicities, and promote all ethnicities embracing each other like pomegranate seeds.
云南临沧市民族宗教事务委员会主任李祥生
我们临沧有彝族，佤族，傣族，拉祜族等十几个少数民族。下一步我们要搭建各民族交往，交流，交融的平台，讲好新时代各民族「同心共筑中国梦」的民族团结故事，促进各民族象石榴籽一样紧紧地拥抱在一起。

–

Link 3, 05′ 54”

Zhu Li, an aid-for-Tibet English teacher at Lhasa Naqu Middle School^*):

Secretary-General Xi has emphasized that to forge a national Chinese sense of community means to guide all ethnicities people to solidly establish an idea of community where happiness, sorrow and public wealth as well as life, death, fate and destiny are shared by all. Our school is the main base to forge the Chinese national sense of community, and I am an aid-for-Tibet English teacher. While teaching cultural knowledge, I need to pay great attention to cultivating a correct national concept, historical concept and ethnic concept, internalize the forging of Chinese national sense of community in teaching people, so as to let the flowers of national unity bloom everywhere on the now plateau.
援藏教师拉萨那曲高级中学英语教师朱丽
习总书记强调铸牢中华民族共同体意识就是要引导各族人民牢固树立，休戚与共荣辱与共生死与共命运与共的共同体理念。我学校是铸牢中华民族共同体意识的主陈地，作为一名援藏教师。我在传授文化知识的同时更要注重培养学生正确的国家观，历史观，民族观，把铸牢中华民族共同体意识内化在教书育人里让民族团结之花开遍雪域高原。

____________
Part 3 is there.
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Note

^*) Probably refers to a student age of 15 to 19

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Xi Jinping’s Reply Letter to “Global Young Leaders Dialogue”

An organization named “Global Young Leaders Dialogue” has made it into the number-one headline¹⁾ of China People’s Broadcasting Station‘s morning news on Thursday.²⁾ The “Global Young Leaders Dialogue” is, by self-description, a “unique communication, education, and professional development platform for young achievers under the age of 45 with diverse regional, cultural, disciplinary, sectorial, and professional backgrounds across the globe”, “jointly initiated by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS)”.

The “Center for China and Globalization”, in turn, is a “think tank” devoted to the development of “a new narrative system” in track-II diplomacy (possibly not exactly the same, but similar to, “people-to-people diplomacy”.

The project appears to have formed a “partner” organization in Europe, too, the “Europe-Asia Center”, whose colors come across as somewhat EU-China-centered:

“Europe Asia Center” logo

Fittingly, former President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy sent them a “congratulatory letter”, too, dated August 5.

The project is probably some kind of “must-have”, not only among “people-to-people diplomacy” advocates, but in the view of the party leadership, too: cooptation stuff like this forms part of the imperial regalia. After all, the World Economic Forum runs a “Young Global  Leaders” project, too. German Green Party chancellor candidate, Annalena Baerbock, is among them.

But back to the Chinese copy of it.

The following is a translation from a letter reportedly sent by Xi Jinping, to the “Global Young Leaders Dialogue”.

Reply letter
回信

Delegates of the “Global Young Leaders’ Dialogue Project”:
“国际青年领袖对话”项目外籍青年代表：

Hello! I have received your letter. You all study, work, and live in China, and I am very glad that you now have the opportunity to deepen your knowledge and understanding of China through thorough travels and visits.
你们好！来信收悉。你们都在中国学习、工作、生活，这次有机会到各地深入走访，加深了对中国的认识和了解，我感到很高兴。

Just as you wrote in your letter, the Chinese people rely on their own wisdom and sweat to build a fertile and beautiful homeland on the earth of China, to create a civilization of many forms and colors, and to achieve the life of modest prosperity it has long yearned for. Happiness demands struggle. The most important thing is to be based on the national condition and to take one’s own road. Practice shows that the new Chinese-style road of modernization becomes ever broader and will help to develop better ourselves and thus benefit the world.
正如你们在来信中谈到的，中国人民依靠自己的智慧和汗水，在中华大地上建设富饶美丽的家园，创造多姿多彩的文化，实现了梦寐以求的小康生活。要幸福就要奋斗。中国幅员辽阔、人口众多，要想发展振兴，最重要的就是立足国情、走自己的路。实践表明，中国式现代化新道路越走越宽广，将更好发展自身、造福世界。

Youth is always accompanied by dreams. The Communist Party of China has passed the 100-years’ milestone, but our original intentions have only grown stronger as time has passed. After 100 years, you are just in your prime time. On our new journey, we will continue to make the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation happen in an indefatigable struggle, and indefatigably struggle to promote the progress of mankind’s development. We welcome more international young people to come to China for exchange, and hopefully, Chinese and foreign young people, as they learn from each other and set examples for each other, will improve understanding, earn friendship, grow together, and devote youthful power to contribute to the building of a community of common destiny for mankind.³⁾
青春总是同梦想相伴。中国共产党走过了百年奋斗历程，但我们的初心和梦想历久弥坚。百年恰是风华正茂。在新征程上，我们将继续为实现中华民族伟大复兴的中国梦而不懈奋斗，为促进人类发展进步而不懈奋斗。我们欢迎更多国际青年来华交流，希望中外青年在互学互鉴中增进了解、收获友谊、共同成长，为推动构建人类命运共同体贡献青春力量。

I wish you all the best in China!
祝愿你们在华一切顺利！

CPC Secretary General and State Chairman Xi Jinping, August 10, 2021 / Xinhua, August 11
中共中央总书记 国家主席 习近平 2021年8月10日 （新华社北京8月11日电）

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Notes

1) That’s no reason for the “young leaders” to get too exhilarated though. If Xi Jinping had opened a parrot-breeding station the day before, it might have been the number-one headline, too. In national news, it doesn’t matter what is done, but by who it is done.
²⁾ CPBS, August 11, 2021, 22:30 UTC
³⁾ More literally translated: a community of common destiny for mankind.
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Related

Center for China and Globalization’s New Narrative System, July 19, 2021
Enhancing Zhou Enlai’s Convivial Diplomacy, Febr 20, 2012 (re Oct 9, 2009)
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Updates / Related

Xi Jinping schrieb zurück, CRI, Aug 11, 2021
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CCTV News, Oct 12: High-Quality Employment

The following is a translation of a news item from CCTV‘s 19:00 h flagship newscast “Xinwen Lianbo”, titled Efforts in many fields for the steady realization of high-quality employment (多领域发力 稳步实现高质量就业, main link).

The statistics should be taken with some salt – there isn’t much reason to believe that Xi Jinping‘s “new era” (spelling higher pressure on regional and local officials to deliver victorious results) whould come with more accurate numbers than in the previous decade of collective leadership. However, the reports are probably not completely out of tune with daily lives either, because that would make for rather inefficient propaganda.

While CCTV apparently authored the news item, other websites have republished it, including that of the Chinese state council and Sina.com.

This news item came after coverage on Xi Jinping’s visit to India and his talks with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi (items 1 and 2), and Li Keqiang chairing a session of the national energy commission (item 3).

It was then followed (and ideologically complemented) by news about cultural activities in all regions to promote “patriotism” (item 5), young students striving to become “keepers of the dream of national rejuvenation” (item 6), and visiting students from Hong Kong experiencing the great era and merging into national development (item 7).

Familiar approach: “help companies’ rapid development – tax reductions set them free” – click photo for video

Xinwen Lianbo — Employment is the biggest livelihood of the people. From January to August this year, 9.84 million new jobs have been added at city and town levels, thus arriving at nearly ninety percent of the planned number this year. Behind the generally stable employment situation is increased employment quality and a richer development scene.

央视网消息（新闻联播）：就业是最大的民生。今年1至8月，我国城镇新增就业984万人，完成了全年计划的近九成，就业形势整体稳定的背后，是就业更高质量、更充分发展的新图景。

As night falls, tourists in Yichang, Hubei Province, prepare to board a pleasure boat for a night trip on the Yangtze River.

夜幕降临，在湖北宜昌，游客们准备登游轮夜游长江。

One of the Yangtze nighttime travelling project’s features is that it has added two-hundred new jobs. A mountain light show put up by Hengpocun village at Pingyao, Shanxi Province, has not only kept all villagers from idling, but has also brought more than three-hundred villagers from peripheral villages into employment, too. The number of entities taking part in the Jiangnan¹⁾ “evening economy” has reached ten-thousand households and has brought more than 11,000 people into work.

宜昌一个长江夜游项目的推出，就增加了近200个就业岗位；山西平遥横坡村布设的山间灯光展，不仅让全村无闲人，还带动周边村庄300多人就业；济南参与“夜间经济”的市场主体达到1万户，带动就业超过11,000人。

The newly developing economy’s vitality broadens the scale of employment. The emergence of new industries and the upgradings of traditional ones create more high-class and more high-quality employment opportunities.

新兴经济的活力源，扩大着就业规模。而新产业的出现和传统产业的升级，创造着更多高层次和更高质量就业机会。

In a warehouse at Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, mechanical arm operator Wang Feifei runs about a dozen mechanical arms as scheduled. Once a manual worker packing the warehouse’s outgoing goods, the company’s production line mechanization upgrades have helped him to discover job upgrading opportunities, too. By taking part in training courses, he didn’t only rise from a worker’s position to that of an engineer, but his payment has also risen by nearly 40 percent.

在浙江嘉兴1的一家物流仓库，机械臂操作师王飞飞操纵着十几台机械臂有序忙碌着。曾经作为人工出库打包员的他，企业生产线的机械化升级，让他也发现了职业升级的机会。通过参加培训，他不仅从普通工人升级为了工程师，工资也增长了近40%。

Nowadays, more manpower is moving from traditional industries to the internet and digital economy, as well as to other new industries. The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology‘s (CAICT) “2019 China Digital Economy Development and Employment White Paper” shows that in 2018, China’s digital economy’s job number was at 191 million, with an increase widely above that of the overall number of newly created jobs nation-wide. A list published by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social security this year includes thirteen new professions, supporting people who are looking for more valuable and more personalized professional development.

如今，更多的劳动力从传统产业中转移出来，向互联网、数字经济等新行业发展。中国信息通信研究院发布的《中国数字经济发展与就业白皮书（2019年）》3显示，2018年中国数字经济领域就业岗位为1.91亿个，增速大大高于同期全国总就业规模增速。人社部今年公布了一张包含13个新职业的榜单，支持人们寻求更高价值、个性化职业发展。

Since this year, the state, by implementing more ample and more high-quality employment policies, has sustained pressure and compacting. To strengthen technical skills, 100 billion Yuan have been taken from unemployment insurance fund surpluses, to carry out skills upgrades and vocational retraining with a focus on university students, migrant workers and other key communities. Accurate classification and assistance in finding jobs, job security, universally beneficial tax cuts and non-wage labor cost reductions as well as other “burden reduction” measures have helped enterprises in keeping up their strength in creating jobs.

今年以来国家把实现更加充分、更高质量就业的政策持续压紧压实。强技能，国家从失业保险基金结余中拿出1000亿元实施职工技能提升和转岗转业培训；瞄重点，聚焦大学生、农民工等重点群体，精准分类，帮扶就业；稳岗位，实行普惠性减税、社保费率降低等一系列 “减负”措施，让企业就业承载力强。

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Notes

¹⁾ The actual CCTV script says “Jinan” (济南), which would be Shandong Province’s capital. This is probably a typo and should spell “Jiangnan”, i. e. the region south of the Yangze under this name.

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Related

Li Keqiang’s consolation tour, Febr 4, 2017
Li Keqiang visiting the poor, Febr 14, 2015