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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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.
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This is part 3 of my translation. Part two is there.
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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。

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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。

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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。

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.
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This is part 2 of my translation. Part one is there.
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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。

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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。

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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。

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Part 3 is there.
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Note

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

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“National People’s Congress” Standing Committee Chairpersons’ Meeting

The scheduled meeting late in April should not be confused with the “National People’s Congress” plenary session. There are reports however that the standing committee’s meeting from April 26 – 29 may decide when to hold the NPC plenary session, and the “Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference”.

Both bodies’ sessions usually take place annually in March, but were postponed this year, because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Links within blockquote added during translation.

Xinwen Lianbo coverage,
click photo for video

Main Link: Li Zhanshu presided over the convention of the standing committee’s vice persons’ meeting, …

Li Zhanshu presided over the convention of the standing committee’s vice chairpersons‘ meeting, 13th NPC standing committee to meet from April 26 to 29

栗战书主持召开十三届全国人大常委会第五十次委员长会议 决定十三届全国人大常委会第十七次会议4月26日至29日在京举行

Xinhua, Beijing, April 17 — the 13th National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s 15th chairpersons’ meeting was held in Beijing in the morning of April 17 in the Great Hall of the People. [NPC chairman] Li Zhanshu presided over the meeting. The meeting decided that the 13th National People’s Congress’ Standing Committee’s 17th meeting will be held in Beijing from April 26 to April 29.

新华社北京4月17日电 十三届全国人大常委会第五十次委员长会议17日上午在北京人民大会堂举行，栗战书委员长主持。会议决定，十三届全国人大常委会第十七次会议4月26日至29日在北京举行。

The chairpersons’ meeting suggested that the 13th National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s 17th meeting should deliberate solid-wastes pollution prevention law revision amendment drafts, the National People’s Congress Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee’s proposed animal disease prevention law revision draft, the State Council’s proposed copyright amendment draft, and the Central Military Commission’s proposed People’s Military Police Law revision draft.

委员长会议建议，十三届全国人大常委会第十七次会议审议固体废物污染环境防治法修订草案、公职人员政务处分法草案、生物安全法草案；审议全国人大农业与农村委员会关于提请审议动物防疫法修订草案的议案；审议国务院关于提请审议著作权法修正案草案的议案；审议中央军事委员会关于提请审议人民武装警察法修订草案的议案。

The chairpersons’ meeting suggested that the Standing Committee’s 17th meeting should deliberate authorization of the State Council’s China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone temporary adjustment and implementation legislation and regulations draft, deliberate and pass the “PRC and Islamic Republic of Pakistan treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons” proposal, the State Council’s 2019 environment situation and environment protection goals complete situation, handling of water pollution prevention and law enforcement and inspection report, the report on rural collective property rights institutional reform, the [National People’s Congress’] Standing Committee’s Legal Systems and Institutions working committee’s report on strengthening public health legal safeguarding legislation work report, the report on the qualifications of National People’s Congress Standing Committee members’ qualification to examine individual representatives’ qualifications, to deliberate and pass the Central Military Commissions’ proposal to add People’s Liberation Army Election Committee Members, to deliberate related appointments and dismissals, etc..

委员长会议建议，常委会第十七次会议审议国务院关于提请审议关于授权国务院在中国（海南）自由贸易试验区暂时调整实施有关法律规定的决定草案的议案、关于提请审议批准《中华人民共和国和巴基斯坦伊斯兰共和国关于移管被判刑人的条约》的议案；审议国务院关于2019年度环境状况和环境保护目标完成情况与研究处理水污染防治法执法检查报告及审议意见情况的报告、关于农村集体产权制度改革情况的报告；审议全国人大常委会法制工作委员会关于强化公共卫生法治保障立法修法工作有关情况和工作计划的报告；审议全国人大常委会代表资格审查委员会关于个别代表的代表资格的报告；审议中央军事委员会关于提请审议批准增补人民解放军选举委员会成员的议案；审议有关任免案等。

At the chairpersons’ meeting, National People’s Congress Standing Committee secretary-general Yang Zhenwu gave a summary report on the 17th Standing Committee meeting’s agenda draft and schedule arrangements. National People’s Congress Standing Committee relevant deputy secretary-generals, National People’s Congress relevant special committees and people in charge of the Standing committee’s relevant working committees gave summary reports on topics relevant for the 17th Standing Committee’s meeting.

委员长会议上，全国人大常委会秘书长杨振武就常委会第十七次会议议程草案和日程安排等作了汇报。全国人大常委会有关副秘书长，全国人大有关专门委员会、常委会有关工作委员会负责人就常委会第十七次会议有关议题作了汇报。

The chairpersons also deliberated the 2019 National People’s Congress Standing Committee organization staff’s report on contacting the National People’s Congress delegates.

委员长会议还审议了2019年全国人大常委会组成人员联系全国人大代表工作情况的报告。

National People’s Congress Standing Committee vice chairpersons Wang Chen, Cao Jianming, Zhang Chunxian, Shen Yueyue, Ji Bingxuan, Arken Imirbaki, Wan Exiang, Chen Zhu, Wang Dongming, Padma Choling, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng and Wu Weihua attended the meeting.

全国人大常委会副委员长王晨、曹建明、张春贤、沈跃跃、吉炳轩、艾力更·依明巴海、万鄂湘、陈竺、王东明、白玛赤林、丁仲礼、郝明金、蔡达峰、武维华出席会议。

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Related

Non-party members (dangwai), Jan 31, 2011
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Stun grenades on Zeman’s Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier: Prague and Taipei establish sister-city relations

The following is Taiwanese coverage of city-sister relations between Prague and Taipei. Links within blockquotes added during translation.

Red star over Radio Prague: a pre-1989 QSL card,
confirming reception of a broadcast
on December 30, 1985

Radio Taiwan International (RTI), December 12, 2019

The Prague city hall assembly unanimously passed a proposal today (December 12) to conclude a sister city agreement with Taipei. Mayor Zdeněk Hřib is likely to sign the agreement with Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je next month.

布拉格市議會今天(12日)無異議通過與台北市締結為姐妹市的提案，市長賀瑞普(Zdeněk Hřib)預計將在下個月與台北市長柯文哲簽署。

Prague city council discussed the proposal today, and because of a consensus between all governing coalition parties, a vote was taken right after a short explanation by mayor Hřib, with 39 votes in favor of the proposal, zero opposing it, and two abstentions.

布拉格市議會今天討論與台北市締結為姐妹市的提案，由於在聯合政府執政的各黨有共識，市長賀瑞普簡短說明後即直接進行表決，結果以39票贊成、零票反對、2票棄權的壓倒性高票通過。

Hřib had said after a city government meeting last week that he would officially sign a sister city agreement with Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je in January next year, to strengthen Prague’s cooperation and relations with Taipei in economics and trade, culture, tourism, education and in other fields. Besides, Prague’s Zoological Garden was hopeful to get a pangolin as a gift from Taipei.

賀瑞普上週在市政會議後曾表示，將在明年1月與來訪的台北市長柯文哲正式簽署姐妹市協議，加強布拉格與台北在經貿、文化、觀光、教育等領域的合作關係，此外，布拉格動物園可望獲得台北贈送的穿山甲。

Central News Agency (CNA), December 13, 2019

Zdeněk Hřib only took office last year. In January this year he said that he wanted to remove the clause concerning the one-China policy, and Taiwan being an inseparable part of [China’s] territory, from the sister city agreement with Beijing. He also met with Tibetan exile government leader Lobsang Sangay on his own initiative, openly challenging [Czech] president Miloš Zeman’s pro-China policies with a stun grenade at Czech-Chinese relations.

賀瑞普（Zdeněk Hřib）去年底才上任，今年1月即宣布要廢除前任市長與北京締結的姐妹市協議當中有關一個中國政策和台灣是中國不可分割領土的條款，並在市府主動接見西藏流亡政府首長洛桑森格，公然挑戰總統齊曼（Miloš Zeman）的親中政策，為捷克和中國關係投下震撼彈。

According to Hřib, he had done an internship in Taiwan as a student and got a good impression of Taiwan, referring to himself as a “Taiwan fan”. He also visited Taiwan in March, had a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, and tested the water for concluding a sister-city status.

按照賀瑞普自己的說法，學生時代曾到台灣實習的他對台灣留下好印象，自稱是「台灣迷」。3月他還親訪台灣，晉見總統蔡英文，為締結姊妹市一事試水溫。

In fact, Hřib’s friendly conduct towards Taiwan also reflects, to a certain degree, dissatisfaction among Czech society with China.

事實上，賀瑞普的友台作為，也一定程度反映了捷克社會近年對中國的不滿。

In 2016, Chinese state chairman Xi Jinping visited Prague for the first time and pledged large-scale investment. [Czech president] Zeman replied that he hoped the Czech Republic, as an unsinkable aircraft carrier, could “help China expand its investment in Europe”, standing out in Europe’s world of politics by its friendship with China.

2016年，中國國家主席習近平首次訪問布拉格，承諾為捷克帶來大筆投資，齊曼還呼應說希望捷克成為「協助中國在歐洲擴張投資永不沉沒的航空母艦」，對中國的友好在歐洲政壇獨樹一幟。

But several years later, many of China’s investment pledges have not materialized, and Ye Jianming, a mysterious businessman and svengali between the two countries, has suddenly disappeared. Hřib’s plan to remove the one-China clause grabbed the opportunity provided by the misgivings among Czech society, concerning China.

然而，幾年過去了，中國的許多投資承諾都沒兌現，在兩國之間牽線的神秘商人葉簡明還突然消失。賀瑞普打算廢除一中條款，正好抓住捷克社會對中國質疑聲四起的時機。

Also, the Czech Republic which overthrew the communist dictatorship thirty years ago, originally attached importance to the values of democracy and human rights. But in recent years, the Czech Republic has suffered a lot from right-wing populist policies. President Miloš Zeman and prime minister Andrej Babiš have no intention of continuing the spiritual heritage left behind by the Velvet Revolution [of 1989], departing from Vaclav Havel‘s line of humanism and pro-Europeanness.

其次，30年前曾推翻共黨獨裁統治的捷克，原本就特別重視民主和人權的價值。不過，近年來，捷克深受右翼民粹政治所苦，總統齊曼和總理巴比斯（Andrej Babiš）都無意延續絲絨革命留下的精神遺產，背離前總統哈維爾（Vaclav Havel）的人道主義和親歐路線。

[…]

As expected, Hřib’s actions were answered with Chinese retaliation. In April this year, at an annual meeting at the Czech trade and industry ministry, Taiwan’s representative to the Czech Republic was, for the first time, forced to leave the venue under pressure from China’s ambassador.

一如預料，賀瑞普的舉動遭到中方報復。今年4月，捷克貿易工業部為外國使節舉辦年度會議，由於中國大使施壓，我國駐捷克代表首度被迫離席。

Following that, Beijing cancelled Czech Philharmonia’s and another three important Czech ensembles tours of China. And Zeman publicly threatened that China could discontinue direct flights between Chinese cities and Prague, and cut financial assistance for soccer club Slavia Praha.

隨後，中國又一連取消布拉格愛樂（Prague Philharmonia）等4個捷克重要表演團隊在中國的巡迴演出行程。齊曼還公開威脅，中國將中斷中國城市和布拉格的直航和切斷布拉格斯拉維亞足球俱樂部（Slavia Praha）的金援。

Interestingly, China’s retaliation proved counterproductive. After having been forced out of the meeting at the Czech trade and industry ministry, [Taiwan’s] representative Wang Chung-I was interviewed by a big newspaper, thus greatly improving Taiwan’s visibility. And cultural minister Lubomir Zaoralek has rarely met with China’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, criticizing China’s unilateral cancellation of Czech ensembles’ performances which had “seriously harmed China’s image”.

有趣的是，中國的報復反而造成反效果。駐捷克代表汪忠一被迫離席後，立刻接受大報專訪，大幅提升台灣能見度。文化部長左拉列克（Lubomir Zaoralek）罕見接見中國駐捷克大使，批評中國片面取消樂團演出「嚴重傷害中國形象」。

[…]

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Related

Interview with mayor Hřib, Radio Prague, Aug 16, 2019

Prague committed betrayal, but it was us, because we were faster

According to Guanchazhe, an online news portal in Shanghai quoting from a press conference at China’s embassy in Prague, it was Prague’s city council.

Prague unilaterally ended city friendship agreement¹⁾ with Beijing, our embassy’s reaction

布拉格单方面终止同北京市友城协议，我大使馆回应

Question: on October 7, the Prague municipal committee²⁾ decided to end the city friendship agreement it had signed with Beijing. Could you please tell us if the Chinese embassy to the Czech Republic has a comment about this?

问：10月7日，布拉格市委会决定终止布拉格市同北京市签署的友城协议。请问中国驻捷克大使馆对此有何评论？

Answer: We have taken note of Prague’s municipal committee’s decision to unilaterally end the city friendship agreement it had signed with Beijing and to pass this on to the the city assembly for consideration. This kind of behavior can even be called treachery, desctruction of Sino-Czech relations and of the atmosphere of the two countries’ local exchange and cooperation. Beijing city has already filed solemn protest to Prague.

答：我们注意到，布拉格市委会日前决定单方面终止该市同北京市签署的友城协议并提交市议会审议。这种行为可谓背信弃义，破坏中捷关系和两国地方交流合作氛围。北京市已就此向布拉格市提出严正抗议。

Concerning this, I would like to emphasize that the one-China principle is a matter of Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, touches upon China’s core interests, is the foundation and a prerequisite for all of China’s external exchange and cooperation, and also an accepted international relations’ norm and the international community’s general consensus. The Czech government has consistently supported the one-China principle. China wants to continue the work with the Czech government and all walks of life, for the promotion of exchange and cooperation on all levels between China and the Czech Republic, including the strengthening of the two countries’ local friendly exchange and cooperation.

在此我要强调，一个中国原则事关中国主权和领土完整，涉及中方核心利益，是中方开展一切对外交流合作的基础和前提，也是公认的国际关系准则和国际社会普遍共识。捷克政府一贯坚持一个中国原则。中方愿同捷克政府和社会各界一道，持续推进中捷各层级各领域交流合作，包括加强两国地方友好交流合作。

We urge the Prague municipal authorities to correct their course soon, in tune with the great trend of the era and the advancing tide of history, and to get back onto the correct track of promoting the development of bilateral relations. Otherwise, their own interests will be harmed in the end.

我们敦促布拉格市政当局早日改弦更张，顺应时代发展大势和历史进步潮流，回到促进双方关系发展的正确轨道上来，否则最终损害的将是他们自己的利益。

Guanchazhe published the above Q and A on Wednesday.

But according to Beijing News (新京报), a paper from Beijing, republished here by sina.com on Thursday, it was Beijing’s foreign affair’s office (waiban) that took the decision.

Ever since November 2018, the new Prague authorities’ main officials and others, in disregard of accepted international relations’ norm and the international community’s general consensus, despite China’s solemn position and strong opposition, has again and again taken wrong measures and made improper remarks concerning Taiwan, Tibet and other Chinese core interests.

2018年11月以来，捷克布拉格市新一届市政当局主要官员等人，无视国际关系基本准则和国际社会共识，不顾中方严正立场和强烈反对，屡屡在台湾、涉藏等涉及中方核心利益的重大问题上采取错误行动并发表不当言论。

According to Beijing News, Beijing city’s waiban published its statement on October 9, suggesting that it was Beijing that ended the sister partnership.

We hope that the related personnel²⁾ will soon become aware of the mistake and remove the negative effects by practical actions.

希望布拉格市有关人员早日认识错误，以实际行动消除负面影响。

The paper also notes that the two cities had signed the agreement in March 2016. China Radio International quoted then Prague mayor, Adriana Krnacova, as referring to the partnership as a big opportunity to make educational exchanges, for students to travel back and forth and learn from each other.

According to the South China Morning Post, Prague’s city council had voted to end the agreement after current mayor Zdenek Hrib’s unsuccessful efforts to get Beijing to remove a “one China” pledge from the agreement.

Hrib had never been in Beijing’s good books. Probably, the bid to remove the “one-China” clause from the agreement, and a visit to Taiwan, including a meeting with the country’s president Tsai Ing-wen, were major acts of wrong measures and improper remarks by that piece of personnel from Prague.

Either way, a sinologist from Prague, commenting on Radio Prague International on Thursday, didn’t come across as terribly worried about the consequences, while foreign minister Tomáš Petříček was quoted as saying that said threats had no place in diplomacy.

____________

¹⁾ usually referred to as a sister city relationship in Western media
²⁾ What is referred to as “municipal committee” by Beijing News (in accordance with Chinese local government structures) is actually Prague’s city council
³⁾ 有关人员

____________

Persevere with religions’ sinicization, Wang Yang tells “zhong zong he”

The following is a news item from “Xinwen Lianbo” evening news on July 3. Links within blockquote added during translation into English.

CCTV / Xinwen Lianbo — The first session of the fifth China Committee on Religion and Peace [CCRP, zhōngguó zōngjiào jiè hépíng wěiyuánhuì] was held in Beijing on July 3. Member of the CCP politburo’s standing committee and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference [CPPCC] chairman Wang Yang met with participants and gave a speech.

中国宗教界和平委员会第五届委员会第一次会议3日在北京举行。中共中央政治局常委、全国政协主席汪洋会见与会人员并讲话。

Wang Yang offered his congratulations on the successful convening and elections of a new leadership for the new “zhōng zōng hé” leading body. He pointed out that during the past five years, “zhōng zōng hé” had adhered to the party’s fundamental principle for religious work, fitted into the national diplomacy’s general working situation, complied with the objectives of “friendship, peace, development and cooperation”, actively and on its own initiative publicly proclaimed the true situation of religious freedom to the world and made active contributions to the building of an external environment that would be beneficial to our country’s development. The “zhōng zōng hé” has become an important window for the proclamation of China’s religious policies, and an important platform for the CPPCC’s foreign exchanges.

汪洋对会议的成功召开和选举产生的“中宗和”新一届领导班子表示祝贺。他指出，过去五年来，“中宗和”坚持党的宗教工作基本方针，配合国家外交工作大局，遵循“友好、和平、发展、合作”的宗旨，积极主动宣介我国宗教信仰自由的真实状况，为营造有利于我国发展的良好外部环境作出了积极贡献。“中宗和”已经成为宣介我国宗教政策的重要窗口，成为全国政协开展对外交往的重要平台。

Wang Yang emphasized that the new [i. e. fifth] “zhōng zōng hé” needed to have the new atmosphere of the new era, uphold the leadership of the CCP, conscientiously study and carry out the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, persevere with the direction of our country’s religions’ sinicization, and actively guide religion to better fit into socialist society. [“zhōng zōng hé”] needed to persevere with telling China’s story internationally, master religious policies, improve scholarly knowledge and self-cultivation, to tell China’s story in a language that foreigners understood and in a manner that was easy to accept. [There was a need to] improve China’s religious communities’ right to speak,¹⁾ and  a need to persist in strengthened self-building, in accordance with requirements of political reliability, religious attainment, moral character convincing to the masses and playing a role at the critical moment²⁾,to cultivate and to bring up a strong team of religious talents, in order to contribute to boosting world peace and to promoting the building of a community of shared future for mankind.

汪洋强调，新一届“中宗和”在新时代要有新气象，要坚持中国共产党的领导，认真学习贯彻习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想，坚持我国宗教中国化方向，积极引导宗教更好与社会主义社会相适应。要坚持在国际上讲好宗教的中国故事，掌握宗教政策，提高学识素养，以外国人听得懂的语言、容易接受的方式讲好中国故事，提高中国宗教界在国际上的话语权。要坚持加强自身建设，按照“政治上靠得住、宗教上有造诣、品德上能服众、关键时起作用”的要求，培养造就一支过硬的宗教界人才队伍，为促进世界和平，推动构建人类命运共同体作出应有贡献。

Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China and Central Committee’s United Front Work Department director You Quan, CPPCC deputy chairman and secretary general Xia Baolong, and CPPCC deputy chairman Bagatur took part in the meeting.

中共中央书记处书记、中央统战部部长尤权，全国政协副主席兼秘书长夏宝龙、全国政协副主席巴特尔参加会见。

CPPCC deputy chairman and fourth [i. e. previous] “zhōng zōng hé” committee chairman Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai was re-elected as committee chairman and gave a written speech.

全国政协副主席、“中宗和”第四届委员会主席帕巴拉·格列朗杰继续当选为新一届委员会主席并发表了书面讲话。

Source: Chinese Central Television
来源：央视网
Revised on July 3, 2019, at 19:24 h
更新时间：2019年07月03 日 19:24

____________

Notes

¹⁾ Obviously, this “huayuquan” refers to an international right to speak
²⁾ My translation of “关键时起作用” differs from CMP’s (theirs is from a previous article – see [4] Tibetan monks, nuns and temples receive honours for demonstrated loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party

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Related

Uyghur and Muslim minorities, Aug 19, 2018
Military garden of growing imams, Sept 17, 2014
Once upon time in sunday school, March 29, 2012
Science in action, Dec 26, 2010
Tibetan delegates visit US, March 20, 2009

Reception Report: Radio Japan Weekly News in Simple Japanese / Iran Radio Bros’ compromised Farsi

 

— Japan

Radio Japan has reportedly carried a new program since April, “Weekly News in Simple Japanese”.

From their announcement on May 21:

The program summarizes Japan’s weekly news in easy-to-understand Japanese which is read slowly and clearly by the announcer. Through the program, listeners will be able to grasp what is going on in Japan today. Weekly News in Simple Japanese is ten minutes long. It is broadcast every Saturday from 02:50 UTC on 17.810 MHz in Southeast Asia, and 15.325 MHz in Southwest Asia. It is rebroadcast seven hours later from 09:50 UTC on 15.280 MHz in Southeast Asia and 15.290 MHz in West Africa.

The news broadcast recordings can also be found online, on the NHK World Japan website.

— Tibet

A recent QSL card from Tibet – frequencies are shown to the right

— Iran

On Thursday, Islamic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) has reported extensively on talks by the country’s unelected leader, Ayatollah Ali Chamenei, first on US policies on Iran, and later on a “didactic” and “instructive” function of poetry. IRIB also had to convey some supreme criticism of itself:

Notice that our people have beautiful dispositions. The way our people responded on the issue of the floods in the north and south was very beautiful. Those who are aware of the developments – including in Golestan, in Khuzestan, in Khorram Abad and in Ilam: these were the main areas which suffered from the recent floods – who are aware of the presence and sacrifices of the people, and the services they rendered.

Well you can describe this in your poetry. When you include such concepts in your poetry, it becomes in fact the flag of national identity. It becomes the flag of the identity of your nation no matter if you compose poems on Islamic, national revolutionary and revolutionary issues, or on moral values or about such events. And my dear ones, identity is very important to every nation. A nation that loses its identity is easily squeezed and crushed in the fists of foreigners. This was about poetry.

As for the language, the truth is that I am worried. In the area of poetry, the poems that you compose are fortunately good poems and they enjoy a solid language. However generally speaking, language is wearing down. One can witness this. Tonight, one of the brothers from the radio was present here and he spoke with me about a very good development. I have, however, a complaint about the IRIB because instead of promoting proper, standard, refined and correct language, it is promoting a kind of language that is devoid of any identity, that is sometimes wrong, that uses wrong terminology and that worse than all, uses a language stuffed with foreign and western terminology.

Fortunately, foreign media are so much worse, so IRIB could turn to a reading of this article just a few minutes after its own dressing-down.

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Related

Shortwave Log: Holy Tibet, January 2014