Henan’s “100-Day Action Plan” to combat Youth Unemployment

China’s Henan province has unveiled a 100-day plan to “dynamically clear” youth unemployment as concern grows over record levels of joblessness among young adults, Reuters reported on June 1, adding that there were millions more students due to graduate this year. Also according to Reuters,  youth unemployment was at a record high nationwide in April. Economists expected youth unemployment to become “increasingly common in coming years as graduates enter the job market”.

Full of joy: the Henan provincial graduates’ employment guide

According to a “Red Star” article, among the sixteen to 24 years-old, the unemployment rate nationwide was at 18.2 percent in April this year, and rose further to 18.4 percent by May. That was four times the overall unemployment rate, and a record high ever since this statistic had been introduced in 2018.

The “Red Star” reporters go further into the provincial “action plan” details. Basically, the universities are assigned with the task to “guide students” into work, mostly by counselling and by finding out about what inhibits them personally, things such as “being in a hesitant rather than a pioneering state of mind” (求稳思维) or being “slow to work” (慢就业), i. e. just not in a hurry – travelling, tutoring or staying with their parents. Studying abroad, too, is counted into “slow to work”.

The universities get the hot potato from the provincial government: they are apparently supposed to “clear” long-term unemployed graduates and graduates from families with a history of unemployment (零就业家庭 ) by August 31.

A CASS professor, Cai Fang (蔡昉), appears to be one of the ecoomists referred to by Reuters. In September 2022, “Interpreter”, a public-domain project run by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Cai wrote that

According to UN population projections, the share of the relatively young (16-24 years old) in China’s total working-age (16-64 years old) population is expected to increase from 14.8 percent in 2022 to 17.0 percent in 2035. At the ame time, the share of the older population (46-64 years old) will increase from 40.4 percent to 43.1 percent, and the share of the population between 25 and 45 years old will fall from 44.7 percent to 39.9 percent.
根据联合国人口预测，在中国全部16~64岁劳动年龄人口中，相对年轻的16~24岁人口占比，预计从2022年的14.8%提高到2035年的17.0%；与此同时，46~64岁人口占比从40.4%提高到43.1%，25~45岁人口占比从44.7%降低到39.9%

(See figure 1 there.)
While

China no longer faces total employment pressure. However, China will also be in the most dramatic period of development in terms of the progress and application of technology, and of structural change in industry.
[…..] 总体而言中国不再面临就业总量的压力。然而，中国也将处于科技进步与运用，以及产业结构变化最急剧的发展时期。

Cai points to the experience of other countries in the past:

International experience shows that when there is a shock to economic growth, if the policy response
is not timely and appropriate, the shock will leave a “scar” that affects subsequent development, producing a so-called “hysteresis effect” that makes the post-recovery norm in economic growth less favorable than before. Similarly, if the response to cyclical unemployment is not timely, comprehensive, and appropriate, or if it relies only on macroeconomic stimulus without simultaneously addressing the structural and frictional contradictions^*) in the labor market, it may leave a “scar” on the employment issue, such that the post-recovery labor market operates with a higher natural rate of unemployment. Although the fundamentals of China’s economy have not changed due to the temporary macroeconomic downturn, the labor market landscape may indeed change as the population enters an era of negative growth
and economic growth faces new challenges.
国际经验表明，在经济增长遭遇周期性冲击的情况下，如果政策应对不及时、不恰当，便会留下影响后续发展的“伤痕”（Scar），产生所谓的“磁滞效应”（Hysteresis），使复苏之后的经济增长处于一个较前更为不利的常态下。与此类似，如果应对周期性失业的举措不及时、不全面和不对症，或者仅仅依靠宏观经济刺激作用，而不能同时解决劳动力市场的结构性和摩擦性矛盾，那么可能在就业问题上会留下“伤痕”，使经济复苏后的劳动力市场在更高的自然失业率下运行。虽然中国经济的基本面未因暂时的宏观经济下行而改变，但是随着人口进入负增长时代，经济增长面临崭新挑战，劳动力市场格局确有可能发生变化。

The whole paper by Cai is available at “Interpret” in both English and Chinese. You can even compare the texts, paragraph-on-paragraph.

What are the goals of Henan’s provnincial government? One objective goal may be to keep the impact from “structural and frictional contradictions” as small as possible. Another goal probably is to satisfy the CPC’s central committee in Beijing, or to have plans to show when having to justify themselves for slow progress in bringing youth unemployment down. Henan is one of the provinces geographically closest to Beijing, and people have probably lost count of the number of visits Xi Jinping and other leading cadres have paid there.

There’s no reason for doom-and-gloom forecasts about China’s economy. There is, however, reason to believe that many young Chinese people will suffer the downsides of the “era-of-high-quality development” that has been heralded by Xi Jinping since October 2017.

That said, no matter if “Chinese-style modernization” or “four modernizations” or what have you, international experience suggests that every developed economy and society has to go through these kinds of unemployment issues.

Then what is “Chinese-style modernization” about? What makes it different from modernization elsewhere Maybe Reuters June-1 article provides an answer:

Heavy-handed tactics to stamp out COVID saw students confined to campuses for long stretches, adding to frustration that led to rare student protests against COVID policies in late 2022.
Industries popular among new graduates in China, such as tech, education, real estate and finance, have all faced regulatory crackdowns in recent years.

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Notes

*)

According to Cai Fang’s paper, the definition would be this: structural unemployment + frictional unemployment = natural unemployment 结构性失业、摩擦性失业（两者合并为自然失业）. Structural unemployment (摩擦性失业) is “a form of involuntary unemployment caused by a mismatch between the skills that workers in the economy can offer, and the skills” (Wikipedia). Frictional unemployment is “a form of unemployment reflecting the gap between someone voluntarily leaving a job and finding another. As such, it is sometimes called search unemployment, though it also includes gaps in employment when transferring from one job to another” (Wikipedia).

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Related

全职儿女, BBC, June 20, 2023
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Old Folk at the Sun Gate: “China Sincerely Invites Central Asian States into its Development Express Train”

This is a summary of how CCTV’s main evening news “Xinwen Lianbo” presented the Xi’an Summit in its May 19, 19 hours local time, edition. Analysis might follow in another blogpost.

Let’s focus on newsitems #1 and #3.¹⁾

1. Banquet and Show, Thursday, May 18

Chronologically, Xinwen Lianbo’s coverage starts with newsitem #3, giving an account of the welcome banquet in the evening of May 18 in Xi’an, and a silk-road resonating happy-peoples show after that.

In his banquet speech, Xi says that “we sincerely welcome the east-Asian states to get onto China’s development express train” (我们诚挚欢迎中亚国家搭乘中国发展快车).

Newsitem #3 then continues with the First-Ladies’ program of the following day (May 19). Only two central Asian First Ladies are mentioned who joined China’s Peng Liyuan there, Aigul Japarova from Kyrgyzstan and Ziroatkhon Hoshimova (short form: Ziroat Mirziyoyeva) from Uzbekistan.

Tokayev’s arrival, May 18

2. The Summit, Friday, May 19

Newsitem #1 starts with the actual summit.

The five Presidents’ arrivals, “one by one” (中亚五国元首相继抵达, not from the plane, as they have attended the welcome banquet the night before).

Xi Jinping’s keynote speech at the May 19 summit is titled “Joining hands to build a Chinese-Central Asian community of common destiny²⁾, by mutual support, joint development, universal security and friendship of many generations” (携手建设守望相助、共同发展、普遍安全、世代友好的中国－中亚命运共同体).

Back to the actual summit on May 19. Right after a referral to the historic “Silk Road”, a topic that also featured prominently in the post-dinner opera the night before, Xi comes back to his proposal ten years earlier of “jointly establishing a comprehensive revival of the Silk road”. It probably matters that he doesn’t refer to China’s proposal here, but to his, Xi’s, in-person advocacy back in 2013.

He then describes Central Asia he wants to see, or, in his now more modest words, the kind of Central Asia that “the world needs”. That’s
• a stable central Asia, i. e. sovereign and independent states with territorial integrity
• a prosperous central Asia
• a harmonious central Asia and
• a connective central Asia.

“Eight Persistences” (四个坚持)
To establish the envisaged Chinese-Central Asian community of common destiny, Xi sees a need for “four persistences”:
• Persistence in keeping watch and defending one another (守望相助), or, in some more detail, to deepen mutual strategic trust, and supporting one another when it comes to matters of core interests, such as sovereignty, independence, national dignity, and long-term development
• Persistence in joint development and marching in the first line of building the “one-belt-one-road”, in advocacy of global development, in unleashing the traditional potential for cooperation, poverty reduction, green and low-carbon growth, etc.
• Persistence in “universal security” (a term that has already been mentioned in the title of Xi’s speech), advocacy of global security, resolute opposition against “external forces'” interference in regional domestic politics (坚决反对外部势力干涉地区国家内政), so as to build a community that stays far away from conflict and always enjoys peace
• Persistence in friendship of many generations, implementation of the global civilization advocacy, exchange of governance experience, intercivilisational reflection, etc..

Trade, “anti-terrorism” measures and the D Pipeline

Xi’s keynote numerology continues with eight proposals.

Xi Jinping emphasized that this summit had built a new platform for China and central Asia and opened new perspectives for cooperation between China and central Asia. China would like to hold this summit as an opportunity to work closely with all parties, and to plan, build and develop cooperation between China and central Asia well.
习近平强调，这次峰会为中国同中亚合作搭建了新平台，开辟了新前景。中方愿以举办这次峰会为契机，同各方密切配合，将中国－中亚合作规划好、建设好、发展好。

Firstly, we will strengthen the building of mechanisms. China has initiated the establishment of conferences and dialog mechanisms in the fields of industry and investment, agriculture, transportation, emergency management, education and political parties etc., so as to create a broad platform for comprehensive and for all sides beneficial cooperation.
一是加强机制建设。中方倡议成立产业与投资、农业、交通、应急管理、教育、政党等领域会晤和对话机制，为各国开展全方位互利合作搭建广泛平台。

Secondly, we will broaden economic and trade relations. China will launch more initiatives to facilitate trade, to improve bilateral investment agreements, to make full use of the “green channel” for smooth bilateral customs clearance of agricultural products and by-products, hold live-stream get-together activities³⁾ between China and central Asia on the topic of central-Asian products.
二是拓展经贸关系。中方将出台更多贸易便利化举措，升级双边投资协定，实现双方边境口岸农副产品快速通关“绿色通道”全覆盖，举办“聚合中亚云品”主题活动，打造大宗商品交易中心。

Thirdly, deepening connectivity. China will upgrade cross-border transport capacities, support construction of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, promote the liberalization of the airfreight market, and develop regional logistical networks. It will strengthen the construction of train-consolidation centers within Trans-Eurasia Logistics, encourage superior businesses to establish overseas warehouses and build comprehensive digital service platforms.
三是深化互联互通。中方将全面提升跨境运输过货量，支持跨里海国际运输走廊建设，推进航空运输市场开放，发展地区物流网络。加强中欧班列集结中心建设，鼓励优势企业在中亚国家建设海外仓，构建综合数字服务平台。

Fourthly, expanding energy cooperation. China has initiated the China-central Asia energy partnership, accelerated the China-central Asia D-pipeline consgtruction, expanded the scale of bilateral oil and gas trade, developed cooperation on the complete energy value chain, and strengthened cooperation in the field of new energy and peaceful use of nucelar energy.
四是扩大能源合作。中方倡议建立中国－中亚能源发展伙伴关系，加快推进中国－中亚天然气管道D线建设，扩大双方油气贸易规模，发展能源全产业链合作，加强新能源与和平利用核能合作。

Five, six and seven are about promoting green energy, improving development capabilities, and dialog between civilizations. Item six may be interesting in terms of Chinese financial support for the central Asian states, partly non-repayable (无偿援助). this seems to spell preferential treatment for central Asia, as China has become known as a rather unforgiving creditor worldwide.

And item eight is mostly about East Turkestan. Obviously, neither that name, nor China’s preferred handle for it, “Xinjiang”, appear here, but that’s what it is mostly about. Cyber security and reconstruction of Afghanistan are also mentioned.

China-style modernization (中国式现代化)

Then Xi describes recent political events in China, and issues an invitation again.

Concluding, Xi Jinping pointed out that the CPC’s 20th National Congress has specified the central tasks of comprehensively building a socialist, modern and strong country, to achieve the second centenary goal, to comprehensively carry forward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation by means of Chinese-style modernization. We want to strengthen theoretical and practical exchange with central Asian countries about modernization, promote connections of development, and create still more opportunities for cooperation, and joint efforts of our six countries in their modernization processes. Let us work hand in hand, struggle collectively, actively promote common development, common prosperity, and welcome a better future for our six countries together!
习近平最后指出，中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会明确了全面建成社会主义现代化强国、实现第二个百年奋斗目标、以中国式现代化全面推进中华民族伟大复兴的中心任务。我们愿同中亚国家加强现代化理念和实践交流，推进发展战略对接，为合作创造更多机遇，协力推动六国现代化进程。让我们携手并肩，团结奋斗，积极推进共同发展、共同富裕、共同繁荣，共同迎接六国更加美好的明天！

Replies

Then it is the turn of the visiting five.

The five central Asian heads of state, one after another, thanked China for initiating and successfully holding the first China-central Asia summit, and they evaluated the fruitful results of the comprehensive cooperation positively. they said that the central-Asian countries shared a millenium of profound friendship with China, had always helped each other, trusted each other as good neighbors, good friends, and good partners, and the most sincere old friends at the Yang Pass⁴⁾ in China’s West. Currently, China has become a key force in ensuring global security and stability, and the promotion of technological and economic development. Cooperation with China is an important and essential factor for all countries to achieve sustainable development. Further deepening relations with China is in line with the hopes of the five central Asian countries peoples, and each country’s fundamental and long-term interests. The China-Central Asia Summit will provide a new platform for cooperation between the central Asian countries with China and show the way into the new era of the two sides’ relations. All sides welcome and appreciate china’s policy of friendly cooperation with central Asia, wish to continue to give full play to the heads of states’ diplomatically leading strategic roles, make the mechanisms from the summit bigger and stronger, strengthen top-level design and overall planning, deepen central Asian countries’ comprehensive pragmatic cooperation with China, to bring about more benefits for all the peoples of every country, to help with all countries achieving common development and prosperity, and to make contributions to the promotion of regional security and stability.
中亚五国元首先后发言，感谢中方倡议并成功主办首届中国－中亚峰会，积极评价中亚国家同中国全方位合作取得的丰硕成果。他们表示，中亚国家同中国拥有千年友好和深厚情谊，始终是相互支持、相互信赖的好邻居、好朋友、好伙伴，是中国西出阳关最真挚的故人。当前，中国已经成为保障全球安全稳定和促进科技经济发展的关键力量，同中国合作是各国实现可持续发展不可或缺的重要因素，进一步深化中亚五国同中国的关系符合各国人民共同愿望，符合各国根本和长远利益。中国－中亚峰会为中亚国家同中国合作提供了新平台，引领双方关系进入了新时代。各方欢迎并赞赏中国对中亚友好合作政策，愿继续充分发挥元首外交战略引领作用，做大做强中国－中亚峰会机制，加强顶层设计和统筹规划，深化中亚国家同中国全方位务实合作，为各国人民带来更多福祉，助力各国实现共同发展繁荣，并为促进地区安全稳定作出应有贡献。

The five heads of state said that they firmly supported each others’ choices in line with their own countries national conditions and development paths, firmly defended all countries’ sovereignty, independence, security, territorial integrity and other core interests, and firmly opposed interference in other countries’ domestic politics. They rated highly Chairman Xi Jinping’s concept of a community of common destiny of mankind and global security initiative, global development initiative, global civilizations initiative, and said they would conscientiouyly implement the important consensus and results achieved at this summit. By using the opportunity of the “one-belt-one-road” initiative ten years ago, they would strengthen their respective countries’ develop strategies to the joint building of “one belt one road”, promote regional online communications, deepen trade and investment, agricultural, energy, technological, security etc. pragmatic cooperation, strengthen civilizational exchange, jointly react to challenges, achieve cooperation and win-win, and build a still closer chinese-central Asian community.
五国元首表示，坚定支持彼此选择符合本国国情的发展道路，坚定维护各国主权、独立、安全、领土完整等核心利益，坚决反对干涉他国内政。他们高度评价习近平主席提出的构建人类命运共同体理念以及全球安全倡议、全球发展倡议、全球文明倡议，表示将认真落实此次峰会达成的重要共识和成果，以共建“一带一路”倡议提出十周年为契机，加强各自国家发展战略同共建“一带一路”对接，推进地区互联互通，深化贸易投资、农业、能源、科技、安全等领域务实合作，加强人文交流，共同应对挑战，实现合作共赢，构建更加紧密的中国－中亚命运共同体。

Concluding events

Newsitem #1 ends with a note that a “Xi’an Declaration of the China-Central Asia Sumiit” was signed, and that a “List of Outcomes of the China-central Asian Summit” was adopted. The second summit is scheduled for 2025, in Kazakhstan, and a permanent secretariat to be established in China.

The newsitem ends with Xi and the five visiting heads of state “meeting journalists” and their planting of six pomeganate trees.

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Notes

¹⁾  Evening newsitems, May 19

#1	Xi Jinping hosts first Chinese-central Asian summit
#2	Xi Jinping and the five heads of state meet journalists
#3	May 18 banquet, May 19 first-ladies’ program
#4	Short reference to a CCTV editorial on summit
#5	Li Qiang holds regular state-council meeting
#6	Li Qiang meets with President of Kyrgyzstan
#7	Wang Huning meets with delegates from a symposium commemorating the 70th anniversary of founding of the “Islamic Association of China”
#8	Wang Huning meets with President of Kyrgyzstan
#9	Li Xi visits places in Fujian for inspection and research
#10	News in brief

²⁾ also known as “community of shared future”

3)	I wouldn’t have found this translation myself; it’s taken from the official English translation of Xi’s keynote speech, and “live-streaming sales event to further promote Central Asian products” appears to be the translation for ““聚合中亚云品”主题活动” (if it isn’t an earlier or more recent transation)

4)	English: “Sun Gate”, as described here by Wikipedia. The Yangguan or Sun Gate also plays a role in Tang poetry.

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Ray Cordeiro, 1924 – 2023

If the “DJ Mag” has it right, EMI in London lent him a tape recorder when he spontaneously interviewed the Beatles in the record company’s offices. Ray Cordeiro, a radio trainee from Hong Kong, had shown up at EMI some day in 1964 – unannounced, but the managers apparently saw his arrival as an opportunity to cultivate the Hong Kong market in a nutshell. It wasn’t the only interview he did during his three-months stay in London, and when he arrived back at Radio Hong Kong (now RTHK) with his achievments, he was rapidly promoted there.

He wasn’t really a newbie. He was in his forties, and he had hosted a number of programs before being sent to London.

Cordeiro was a musician (a drummer), a promotor and a journalist, but best known as a DJ. He started running the nightly show “All the Way with Ray” in 1970, every weekday evening from two hours before until two hours after midnight. Some time this century, he reduced those four hours by one, but he only retired in 2021.

His durability was probably one of his greatest assets. Another was the rapport he created with his audience, both in Hong Kong and in closely neighboring regions of Guangdong Province. One of his biggest fans rembered how Cordeiro’s shows helped him to improve his English at job as a front-desk employee at the airport.

“To become a famous DJ, you definitely need a distinct voice,” he said in an RTHK production in 2012, “to build your image”.

What he would never do was part of his image, too. “During all my career as a disk jockey, I concentrate only on music. No politics. Not even a word,” he told a BBC reporter in 2009. According to the same interview, he didn’t keep completely out of either. In 1967, during the cultural revolution, he played his “Hot Hundred” from Radio Hong Kong’s roof in Central, on his boss’s request, to drown out the propaganda speakers from the neighboring Bank of China building. “So I was on the roof spinning my Hot Hundred and was blasting from Queens Road Central all the way to Star Ferry, and the Bank of China’s [little loudspeaker system] couldn’t be heard, so they just shut down and called it a day.”

“No matter how bad I feel,” the New York Times quoted from a book of his in February this year, “once I walk into the studio, I’m full of energy — and ready to go”.

When he left his best-known program after all, over half a decade after it had first aired, he said that he could still go on, but wanted “to retire a bit earlier”.

Ray Cordeiro died on January 13, 2023.

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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Press Review, Thursday, June 9, 2022

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1. Guanchazhe headline at 08:50 GMT / 16:50 Beijing standard time /

He Qinghua, first-level inspector at the Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control of the National Health Commission, on Thursday morning’s press conference at the health commission’s press conference center, Xizhimen office quarters

Q (“China Daily”):
We have seen that after cluster outbreaks in sections of the city, requirements to nucleic acid test certificates concerning time spans, entering and leaving places have differed from each other. I would like to ask under what specific circumstances is there a need for a test certificate from within 24, 48 or 72 hours? On what basis are the certificate duration limits determined? Will certificate controls on entry and departure from different locations become the normality in the future? Thanks.
中国日报记者：我们看到部分城市发生聚集性疫情后，不同的时间段、出入不同的场所，对于核酸阴性证明的要求都不一样。请问，具体在哪些情形下要提供24小时、48小时和72小时内的核酸阴性证明？确定这些核酸证明有效时长的依据是什么？今后出入不同场所查验核酸证明是否会成为常态？谢谢。
A (He Qinghua):
Thank you for your question. After a disease-cluster outbreak, there is a need to determine and formulate the nucleic acid test strategy in accordance with the requirements of epidemic control and prevention, a need to delimit scope and frequency of testing, to avoid blindly expanding the scope to mass nucleic acid tests, and to [rather] carry out nucleic testing people in accordance with risk levels, from high to low risk. The first nucleic acid screening in a closed area should be completed within 24 hours, and a mass nucleic acid screening in the control area should be completed within 48 hours. In other words, when an outbreak occurs, comprehensive arrangements concerning people to be tested, scope and frequency of tests must be established in accordance with epidemic prevention and control requirements. The closed area definitely completes a mass test within 24 hours and the control area completes the first mass testing within 48 hours. In medium- and high-risk areas’ closed and control areas, people must not leave the area, but if you absolutely have to travel in areas with a low risk of outbreaks, a 48-hours nucleic acid test certificate is required. Any region can adjustments in accordance with the needs arising for epidemic prevention and control.
谢谢你的提问。聚集性疫情发生以后，要根据疫情防控的需要，科学确定制定核酸检测策略，划定核酸检测的范围和频次，避免盲目地扩大开展全员核酸检测的范围，将受检的人员按照风险等级由高到低依次开展核酸检测。封控区应该在24小时内完成首次核酸筛查，管控区要在48小时完成首次的全员核酸筛查。就是说在疫情发生以后，一定是根据疫情防控的需要，把核酸检测的人员、范围、频次统筹安排。封控区一定是在24小时内完成首次全员核酸检测，管控区在48小时内要完成第一次的全员核酸检测。中、高风险地区和封控区、管控区这些人员不得外出，但是疫情发生地的低风险地区和防范区确需出行的，需要持48小时的核酸检测阴性证明。各地可以根据疫情防控的需要进行调整。
Also, in areas with no epidemic outbreaks and no risk of importing [coronaviruses], nucleic acid tests on entry and departure should not become kind of a norm. Beijing has ways of handling this, and we would like to ask director Li Ang for a presentation.
还有一个，没有发生疫情，也没有输入风险的，查验核酸不应该成为一种常态。北京在这方面有些做法，我们想请李昂主任给大家作个介绍。
[…]

2. Where does the Economy go?

“Seize the opportunity, deepen structural reform”

That’s what Professor Zhang Jun, Dean at Fudan School of Economics and an economic researcher, discusses in an interview addressing the “three pressures” of shrinking demand, supply shocks and weaker expectations (需求收缩, 供给冲击, 预期转弱).
After a detailed discussion of options to revive the economy, reducing youth unemployment etc., Zhang says that

I am more and more worried that our country’s economy is entering a vicious circle. In my opinion, the only way to break from this cycle is to seize the opportunity and to promote deeper structural reform, to thoroughly organize government-market relations. Just as Secretary General Xi Jinping emphasized at the Central Comprehensively Deepening Reforms Commission‘s twenty-third meeting on December 17, 2021, the development of a socialist market economy is a great creation of our party. The key is to handle the government-market relationship well, to let the market have a decisive role in the allocation of resources, and to play a better role as a government.
我现在越来越担心我们国家的经济进入一个恶性循环，而唯一能够打破这个循环的，我认为就是要抓住时机，推进更深层次的结构改革，彻底理顺政府与市场关系。正如习近平总书记2021年12月17日召开中央全面深化改革委员会第二十三次会议时所强调，发展社会主义市场经济是我们党的一个伟大创造，关键是处理好政府和市场的关系，使市场在资源配置中起决定性作用，更好发挥政府作用。

3. Biden stumbles

But there’s good news, too: U.S. President Biden nearly falls, an animated gif informs the exhilarated reader.

____________

Complete picture of Guanchazhe’s main page this morning GMT:

Link 1 (top section)

Link 2 (section 2)

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Related / Updates

Whereever, you need a test result, BBC, June 9, 22
Inflation isn’t the problem, income is, SCMP, June 9, 22
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Press Review: Xi Jinping’s New Year’s Speech comforts the Bereaved

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Guanchazhe newsitems on home page today (Sunday):

1)	Tianjin is considerate — netizens, inasfar as their comments aren’t removed – praise the municipal authorities, including the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee Propaganda Department, for timely information,
2)	a woman whose brother lost his life in military service (in East Turkestan) got wet eyes when listening to Xi Jinping’s new year’s speech (清澈的爱、只为中国), and
3)	an academic currently in America who believes it’s in the Chinese genes to help each other.

Guanchazhe online, Shanghai, Jan 9, 2022–

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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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Great Matters of the State, Educational Tour

CCTV Xinwen Lianbo, June 5, 2021

The following is a newsitem from Xinwen Lianbo (CCTV evening news) on June 5. The term 国之大者 (guózhī dàzhě), coined in recent contexts by party secretary general Xi Jinping, appears to have led to some confusion, without anyone within the propaganda department or any CPC interface with the public to clarify the meaning.

The non-communist public figures, commonly referred to dangwai in Chinese politics, appear to be facing higher expectations to be faithful agents of the Communist Party of China in the pursuit of state affairs, or intensified worshippers of the CPC as it  commermorates its 100th founding anniversary.
The Upenn language blog has done some heroic explanatory work for the term guózhī dàzhě, and as I can’t find anything more convincing online, I’ve decided to translate it as great matters of the state.
Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Celebrating the 100th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China, officials of all non-communist parties’ central committee members and public figures and representatives with no party affiliations went to Shanghai and to Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, for visits and studies.

[视频]庆祝中国共产党成立100周年 各民主党派中央负责人和无党派人士代表赴上海 浙江嘉兴参观学习
来源：央视网2021年06月05日 19:18

CCTV online news (Xinwen Lianbo): with permission from the Communist Party of China’s central committee, the Central United Front organized a trip by members of all non-communist parties’ central committee officials and public figures and representatives with no party affiliations to Shanghai and Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, so as to admire the site of the Communist Party of China’s first congress, and the Nanhu Red Boat. A symposium was also held.

央视网消息（新闻联播）：经中共中央批准，中央统战部组织各民主党派中央负责人和无党派人士代表今天（6月5日）赴上海、浙江嘉兴，瞻仰中共一大会址和嘉兴南湖红船，并举行座谈会。

The one-hundred years of struggle have amply demonstrated that without the Communist Party there would be no New China, that without the Communist Party there would be no socialism with Chinese characteristics, the Chinese people wouldn’t have stood up, wouldn’t have prospered, wouldn’t have become stronger. It is hoped that non-communist democratic party public figure will always cherish “great matters of the state”, thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping’s ideology of New Era socialism with Chinese characteristics, firmly develop party history education, always faithfully maintain the leadership of the Communist Party of China, keep to the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, strengthen the joining of forces of party construction, and unite in the common effort of promoting the development of multi-party cooperation, so as to create a beautiful future for the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.

中国共产党百年奋斗历程充分表明，没有共产党就没有新中国，没有共产党就没有中国特色社会主义，中国人民就不可能站起来、富起来、强起来。希望各民主党派、无党派人士始终胸怀“国之大者”，深入学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，扎实开展中共党史学习教育，始终不渝坚持中国共产党的领导，走中国特色社会主义道路，加强中国特色社会主义参政党建设，协力推进多党合作事业发展，共同创造中国人民和中华民族的美好未来。

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Political parties in China, Wiki, last edited June 6

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