China Politics Weekly

China Politics Weekly aims to keep business leaders, investors, diplomats, scholars and other China hands up to date on important trends in China. It is produced by Trey McArver, a London-based consultant providing advice and intelligence to firms and investors engaged in China and the region. You can find out more about Trey and CPW in this interview.

Issue No. 50 – April 20, 2015

Dear friends and colleagues,

I am back from Beijing. Thanks to all of you who took time to meet and share your thoughts on current developments. I’ll publish some impressions from the trip next week.

CPW is proud to be publishing its 50th issue this week- when I started the newsletter in early 2014 there was no guarantee that we would make it to issue 5, much less 50. Over that time readership has grown from eight close friends to 1,200 dedicated China watchers. I thank all of you for your support.

While happy with the progress that has been made, there is much more that I would like to do. First and foremost, I would like to create a database whereby users would be able to search leaders’ activities by person, place, issue area and date. I have already worked with a designer and the interface is beautiful and easy-to-use. I think it would be a great contribution to all interested in China’s policymaking. However, to build, populate and maintain the database will take time and money, both of which are in short supply at CPW HQ. If you or your organization would be interested in sponsoring or collaborating on this project, please get in touch.

There are plenty of other ways that readers can help CPW, including:

  • Spread the word. If you like CPW, please tell your friends.
  • Intern at CPW. There are several projects that we would like to undertake in the coming months that will require more manpower. If you or somebody you know would be interested in working with CPW, let us know.
  • Help me monetize this, if only indirectly. For multiple reasons, I have no plans to charge for CPW, but I do need to make a living. If you or your company needs any China-related counsel, research or investment support, don’t hesitate to get in touch. My network of associates and I have experience across a broad range of sectors and disciplines.

 

Sound and fury

Official Q1 growth, announced Wednesday, may have come in right on target at 7%, but the economy looks increasingly shaky as other indicators point to significant weakness. Of particular worry was nominal GDP, reported to have grown at only 5.8%. That nominal GDP came in so much lower than real GDP signals that China may be entering into deflation or that the real GDP number was manipuated. There is a good chance both are true.

As growth slows, Premier Li seems increasingly frustrated. For the second week in a row he berated officials for failing to carry out reforms in an efficient and timely manner. Li called ministries’ efforts to carry out reforms a “joke” and asked why policies approved at by the central government are not implemented.

The Premier’s comments were reported in official media and are meant to send a message to officials in Beijing and around the country. Li’s tough words and acidic tone are supposed to convey his seriousness and determination. Unfortunately for the Premier, the effect- at least to my ears- is to show a government in dysfunction and a leader powerless to rectify the situation.

 

PBSC Week in Review
Xi Jinping  Apr 17 Xi spoke with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud by telephone. 
  Apr 14 Xi received credentials from nine new ambassadors to China.Including from South Korea, United Kingdom, South Africa, Kazakhstan and Thailand. 
Li Keqiang  Apr 17 Li inspected China Development Bank and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China.
  Apr 15 Li chaired an executive meeting of the State Council.Meeting reviewed an NDRC report outlining economic reform priorities for the year. Focused on five points:

  1. To properly handle the relationship between the government and the market. Efforts need to be stepped up to streamline administration and delegate power, cancel more administrative approvals, and deepen reform of the commercial system. The government needs to provide more opportunities for mass entrepreneurship and innovation, and increase public products and services. The government also needs to continue to boost employment and improve the quality and effectiveness of economic growth.
  2. To focus on the current problems of the economic slowdown, and take reform measures to stimulate market vitality, including attracting social investment by promoting public-private partnerships in the public sphere to better unleash consumption potential.
  3. To better utilize the market mechanism by increasing basic public services in fields such as education, health and culture to promote social equality and improve people’s lives.
  4. To strictly implement reform policies and measures. Duties and responsibilities should be made clear; inspections and evaluations should be conducted; and reforms should be based on laws and regulations.
  5. To pool efforts of all regions and departments, and boost economic growth and employment with new reform measures.

 

  Apr 14 Li chaired a seminar on China’s economy with economists and corporate leaders.Sale of Piraeus Port to COSCO looks likely to proceed despite Economy Minister George Stathakis’s statement in February that the port would “remain permanently under state majority holding…as we made clear from the first day.” 
    Li met with a trade delegation from Japan led by former chief cabinet secretary Yohei Kono.“It goes without saying that over the past two years Sino-Japanese ties have faced difficulties, and both sides wish to improve things,” Li said. 
    Li spoke with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras by telephone. 
  Apr 13 Li attended and gave the keynote address at the 54th Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization. 
    Li met with United States Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker.Pritzker led trade delegation that was first to be labeled as “presidential mission”. 
Zhang Dejiang Apr 12-15 Zhang went on inspection tour to Henan. 
Yu Zhengsheng Apr 17 Yu met with King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia. 
  Apr 16 Yu chaired a CPPCC chairmen’s meeting. 
Liu Yunshan Apr 11-13 Liu went on inspection tour to Guangxi. 
Wang Qishan  Apr 19 Wang addressed a training session for new CDIC accreditation agencies.
Zhang Gaoli Apr 14 Attended seminar on the economy.You can see from pictures that Zhang was there, but strangely he is not listed as an attendee in any of the official reports of the meeting, even though other vice premiers are reported as attending…. 
  Apr 13 Zhang met with Belarusian deputy director of the Presidential Office Nikolay Snopkov. 

Issue No. 51 – April 27, 2015

Dear friends and colleagues,

A busy week this week, so limited commentary. Thanks to all of those who responded to last week with offers of assistance; apologies that I have not replied to many of you- climbing out from under a mountain of work and admin, so you should hear from me soon.

One step closer to common destiny.

Xi made a state visit to Pakistan, where he upgraded the bilateral relationship to an “all-weather strategic partnership of cooperation”. He then headed to Jakarta, Indonesia to attend the 2015 Asian-African Summit and commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. The visits come as China reorients its foreign affairs to give priority to regional diplomacy. China lavished money on Pakistan and promised in Jakarta to support developing countries with no political strings attached. The visits served to reinforce the perception that China is increasingly becoming the center of gravity for the region.

Tiny thaw

In Jakarta, Xi met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Optics from the meeting looked a lot better than the famously frosty handshake in Beijing last November. Hopefully this means relations are thawing. 2015 could still be an explosive year as WWII commemorations to be held in both countries have the potential to stoke nationalist passions and further strain the relationship.

State Council

Monday’s State Council meeting stated that there is “growing pressure on employment” and announced several measures to address the issue. These include: tax benefits for companies hiring people who have been jobless for more than six months; easing location restrictions for new businesses; raising the maximum amount of guaranteed loans for startups; and other measures.

The meeting marks a distinctive shift in tone. Previously, Premier Li has touted the fact that employment grew by 13 million last year, well above the government target of 10 million. That the official line is now that there is “growing pressure” points to further weakening of the economy- and increasing anxiety in Beijing.

Allow the people to buy with confidence

China’s legislature held its bimonthly Standing Committee meeting this week. They passed new versions of the Food Safety Law and Advertising Law. The general thrust of revisions is towards enhancing consumer protection.

Free trade with the rebel province

After Monday’s State Council meeting, Li Keqiang headed to Fujian for a three-day inspection tour in Fujian. The purpose of the trip was to give support and momentum to the newly inaugurated Fujian Xiamen Free Trade Zone. The new FTZ is focused on promoting cross-straits trade and investment. During the trip Li was explicit in telling Taiwanese businessmen that new regulations limiting the ability of local governments to offer tax breaks and other investment incentives would not affect already existing agreements with Taiwanese firms. Yu Zhengsheng delivered the same message during his inspection tour to Nanjing.

Cross-strait relations don’t get much press these days, but they still constitute perhaps the greatest risk to regional stability. Despite increased economic integration, Taiwanese identity continues to develop in a way that makes reunification with a CCP-led mainland increasingly unpopular on the island. Presidential elections in January 2016 could very well see a return of the DPP to power; this would almost certainly complicate cross-strait relations. Beijing is right to make sure that it continues to court favor with Taiwanese businessmen as they provide an important pro-Beijing voice in Taipei.

 

 

PBSC Week in Review
Xi Jinping  Apr 25 Xi sent a message of condolences to Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav over the earthquake in Nepal. 
  Apr 24 Xi took place in activities to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference. 
    Xi flew back to Beijing. 
  Apr 23 Xi met with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. 
    Xi met with President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe. 
    Xi met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. 
  Apr 22 Xi attended and spoke at the opening of the 2015 Asian-African Summit.Full text of the speech (in Chinese). 
    Xi Jinping met with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. 
    Xi met with Indonesian president Joko Widodo. 
    Xi met with President of Myanmar U Thein Sein. 
  Apr 21 Xi addressed the Pakistani parliament.Full text of the speech (in Chinese). 
    Xi met with Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain. 
    Xi met with Pakistani Senate Chairman Mian Raza Rabbani and National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. 
    Xi attended the inauguration ceremony project Green Parliament, designed to provide the Pakistani parliament house with solar energy. 
    Xi flew to Jakarta, Indonesia. 
  Apr 20 Xi held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. 
    Xi planted a China-Pakistan Friendship Tree with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on the lawn of the Prime Minister House in Islamabad. 
    Xi met with the Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Rashad Mahmood, and the chiefs of the army, navy and air forces. 
    Xi met with leaders of major Pakistani parties, including Asif Ali Zardari, former Pakistani president and co-Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party. 
    Xi conferred the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Friendship Award on several Pakistani groups and individuals. 
    Xi arrived in Islamabad, Pakistan. 
    Xi left for Pakistan. 
Li Keqiang Apr 24 Li went on inspection tour to Fujian.
  Apr 23 Li went on inspection tour to Fujian. 
  Apr 22 Li inspected the Fujian Xiamen Free Trade Zone. 
  Apr 21 Li chaired an executive meeting of the State Council. 
Zhang Dejiang Apr 25-27 Zhang led an inspection tour to Chongqing to check on implementation of the Vocational Education Law. 
  Apr 24 Zhang presided over the closing of the NPC Standing Committee meeting. 
    Zhang chaired an NPC Standing Committee special lecture on IT and information security.Lecture delivered by newly appointed MIIT Vice Minister Huai Jinpeng. 
  Apr 23 Zhang chaired and NPC Standing Committee chairmen’s meeting. 
  Apr 22 Zhang chaired a full meeting of the NPC Standing Committee. 
  Apr 21 Zhang participated in group discussions of various laws at the NPC Standing Committee meeting. 
  Apr 20 Zhang chaired an NPC Standing Committee meeting. 
    Zhang met with Jan Hamacek, president of the chamber of deputies of the Czech Republic. 
Yu Zhengsheng Apr 23-25 Yu went on inspection tour to Nanjing, Jiangsu. 
  Apr 22 Yu chaired a biweekly CPPCC symposium.Discussed controlling air pollution in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. 
  Apr 21 Yu met with leaders of the Buddhist Association of China.Yu told Buddhist leaders they should study the guidelines of President Xi Jinping’s important speeches and serve the greater interests of the Party and country. They should uphold patriotism, hold correct political views and firmly safeguard the interests of the country and people. 
Liu Yunshan Apr 23 Liu attended events to commemorate World Book Day. 
  Apr 21 Liu attended and spoke at a symposium to promote the “three stricts and three honests”.“Be strict in morals, power and disciplining oneself; be honest in decisions, business and behavior.” 
Wang Qishan     
Zhang Gaoli Apr 24 Zhang went to Wuhan, Hubei to inspect construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. 
  Apr 23 Zhang went to Nanyang, Henan to inspect the South-North Water Diversion Project. 
    Zhang went to Wuhan, Hubei to inspect construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. 
  Apr 22 Zhang went to Danjiangkou, Hubei to inspect the South-North Water Diversion Project. 
  Apr 21 Zhang met with Russian Vice Premier Arkady Dvorkovich. 
  Apr 20 Zhang attended a symposium to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Kang Shi’en, former vice premier and one of the founders of the country’s petroleum industry. 

 

 

Your comments and feedback are always welcome. Old issues are always available at www.chinapoliticsweekly.com. Sign up or unsubscribe by sending an email to info@chinapoliticsweekly.com.

China Politics Weekly – April 20-27, 2015
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