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NPC ISSUE 4 · 2018 《中国人大》对外版 National People’s Congress of China China’s RefoRm and opening-up A great revolution that has changed the destiny of the Chinese nation and influenced the world President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Com- mission, visits a major exhibition to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the National Museum of China in Beijing on November 13, 2018.
Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan also vis- ited the exhibition.
Xie Huanchi 6 Forty years of China’s reform and opening-up Contents Reform and Opening-up 8 Xi Jinping: The man who leads China’s reform into a new era 4 14 China marks 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up with greater resolve 28 Chairman Li Zhanshu stresses accelerating legislation on people’s health care 16 Passing on the baton 20 Reform, opening-up leading China to bright future Supervision 30 Top legislature holds first judicial work special inquiry Special Report Legislation 26 Safeguarding Constitution, socialist rule of law 32 China introduces default judgment to revised Criminal Procedure Law Special RepoRtNatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNa 28 Chairman Li Zhanshu stresses accelerating legislation on people’s health care 36 A year of expectations 33 Law to facilitate international judicial cooperation adopted Focus 36 34 China mulls unified foreign investment law ISSUE 4 · 2018 34 China mulls unified foreign invest- ment law A year of expectations Interview 42 Xinjiang’s vocational and training centers improve life chances for trainees, families 46 An effort: Back to society and family COVER: China holds a grand gathering on De- cember 18, 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country’s reform and opening-up, a great revolution that has changed the destiny of the Chinese nation and influenced the world.
1TU NPC General Editorial Office Address: 23 Xijiaominxiang, Xicheng District Beijing 100805,P.R.China Tel: (86-10)6309-8540 (86-10)8308-3891 E-mail: zgrd@npc.gov.cn ISSN 1674-3008 CN 11-5683/D Price:RMB35 Edited by The People’s Congresses Journal Published by The People’s Congresses Journal Printed by Beijing Zhong Ke Printing Co., Ltd. in China 5 NPCISSUE 4 · 2018 Forty years of China’s reform and opening-up The year of 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of Chi- na’s reform and opening-up.
Over the past 40 years, the country has transformed itself from a largely agricultur- al nation into the second largest economy in the world.

China held a grand gathering on December 18, 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country’s reform and opening-up, a great revolution that has changed the destiny of the Chinese nation and influenced the world.
6 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up Forty years of China’s reform and opening-up Picture taken on December 29, 2018 shows a themed sculpture to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up, which is opposite to the Civil Center Square in Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province.
VCG 7 ISSUE 4 · 2018 Xi Jinping: The man who leads China’s reform into a new era President Xi Jinping visits the Ganlan Township in Zhoushan City, East China’s Zhejiang Province, May 25, 2015.

Xi had an inspection tour in Zhejiang Province from May 25 to 27.

Xie Huanchi 8 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up the book “A Study of Xi Jinping Thought on Reform and Opening-Up.” Wang Jun is a deputy editor and main author of Paper and documents pile up in his office.
These are what his team has collected for research in writing the book.

“Xi Jinping is a man whole-heartedly devoted to reform and opening-up,” said Wang, president of the Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences.

In 2018, China celebrates the 40th anniversary of the re- form and opening-up, a cause started by Deng Xiaoping and is now being carried forward by Xi.

In late October, Xi came to Guangdong Province.


He visited a reform-themed exhibition at the foot of the Lotus Mountain in Shenzhen, spending more than an hour inside the museum halls.

Xi paused in front of a large painting.

It was a morning rush hour scene of the city in the 1980s.

A giant poster stood tall before the Shekou industrial zone to constantly remind the city’s early builders to seize the mo- ment and strive for economic miracles.
It was not the first time Xi visited Shenzhen, a prominent test-bed of China’s reform and opening-up.

“Coming to Shenzhen, Guangdong again (because) we want to declare to the world that China will never drag its feet on reform and opening-up!

China is certain to show the world impressive new achievements in the next 40 years!” Xi said.

Six years ago, when Xi was elected general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, reform entered what many people call a “deep-water” zone.
The CPC faced arduous challenges in reform, some foreign media claimed.

Xi has withstood the pressure and led China to achieve so much, Wang said.

The Chinese economy is being transformed from fast growth to high-quality development.

In 2017, the growth picked up for the first time in six years, reaching 6.9 percent, way above the 3.7-percent global economic growth.

Over the past six years, more than 70 million new jobs have been created, more than the population of Britain.
The size of the Chinese middle-income group has swelled to 400 million, constituting a huge consumer market in the world.

Overseas media called Xi “a far-sighted reformer” and “a serious reformer who built a unique path for China’s future” whose clear vision for reform “has inspired the nation.” Determined to reform When China began the reform and opening-up in 1978, Xi was studying chemical engineering at Tsinghua University.

His father, Xi Zhongxun, was then the Party chief of Guang- dong Province.
The elder Xi had high hopes for reform.

He sought Deng’s permission for “taking the first step” to set up a special eco- nomic zone that would break the new ground for reform.

The father’s courage and sense of mission left a deep im- pression on the son.

In the early 1980s, as Xi senior was promoted to Beijing, Xi Jinping was sent down to work in the county of Zheng- ding, Hebei Province.
He began his reform experiments there, starting with the rural land contract trial, being the first in Hebei to adopt this practice already tested in southern provinces.

As the county Party chief, Xi already knew how hard it was to press ahead with reforms.

He was critical of the “mid- dle-level obstruction” issue and solved it by appointing will- ing and competent cadres to push forward reforms.

Xi’s reputation as a reformer was reinforced as he ad- vanced his political career.
In Ningde, Xiamen and Fuzhou of Fujian Province, Zhejiang Province and Shanghai Munic- ipality, he kick-started innovative reform strategies to tackle different sorts of challenges.

9 ISSUE 4 · 2018 “In a real sense, Xi comes from a reformer family.
More important, Xi is deeply committed to reform,” said Robert Kuhn, a leading US expert on China and chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, adding that when they met in 2005 and 2006, Xi spoke a lot on the importance of “reform in all fac- ets.” “Xi’s reform is derived from his experience,” said Shi Zhi- hong, a former deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee.
“He knew that the rigid old paths would lead nowhere, and reform was a must.” In 2012, reflecting on China’s reform cause, Xi spoke highly of Deng.

“If there were no Deng who guided our Par- ty to make the historic decision to reform and open up, we couldn’t have achieved this much,” Xi said.

“The reform and opening-up is a great awakening of our Party, and it gave rise to great theoretical and practical inno- vations,” he added.
Xi’s thinking and practices of reform in provinces have been compiled into books, from which observers say one can trace the roots of China’s comprehensive deepening reform that is being rolled out in the new era.

‘Fifth Modernization’ On November 15, 2012, Xi met the press right after being elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
He spoke of the need to adhere to reform and opening-up to continue liberating social productive forces, resolve people’s difficulties in life and work and stay committed to the path of common prosperity.

At the moment, Xi’s resolve to carry on the reform could not be more obvious.

But Xi knew how hard it would be.

All low-lying fruits have been picked, what is left are hard bones, he said.
People following Xi in his reforms need to be brave enough to cross hurdles in thinking and break through the blockade of vested interest.

Xi came to Guangdong in his first domestic inspection tour after assuming the Party’s top post.

It was not by coincidence that in 1992 Deng visited Guangdong in his now well-known “southern tour.” Deng’s talks during the tour were instru- mental in advancing the reform and opening-up.

In his 2012 visit, Xi paid tribute to Deng’s bronze statue.
“Reform and opening-up is a make-or-break move that de- cides China’s destiny,” Xi said.

“There is no pause or back- track.” The overall goal of deepening reform is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese character- istics and modernize China’s system and capacity for governance.

People visit a major exhibition to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the National Museum of China in Beijing on November 21, 2018.
Shi Kuihua 10 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up The Financial Times said, “Mr.

Xi is hardly the first Chi- nese leader to talk about the need for reform.

But the tone of the pronouncements emerging from his weekend trip has been more forceful than those employed by past leaders.” For Xi, reform must be carried on along the path of social- ism with Chinese characteristics.

Neither the old path nor the detour could work.


Xi insisted that reform shall suit China’s own needs for change, and China would not reform to make others happy.

“Only the wearer knows whether the shoes fit or not,” he said.

The overall goal of deepening reform is to improve and develop the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernize China’s system and capacity for governance.

This overarching objective is described by observers as China’s “Fifth Modernization” drive.
According to Xi, the reform must balance several pairs of relations: between mind emancipation and truth-seek- ing; overall advancement and breakthroughs in key areas; top-level design and crossing the river by feeling the stones.

He Yiting, vice president of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said Xi’s thought on reform has enriched and developed the theory of socialism with Chinese charac- teristics.
Zheng Yongnian, director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore, said Xi answered the ques- tions related to what to change, how to change in the new round of reform and who will implement it.

In November 2013, Xi presided over the Third Plenary Ses- sion of the 18th CPC Central Committee that issued an exten- sive reform plan and a seven-year implementation timetable.

China’s deepening reform in all areas has caught the world’s attention.
Some overseas media said the reform gave a big impetus to China’s lasting and inspiring rise.

Since then, the succeeding Party plenums have all stressed deepening reform, which constitutes a prominent fixture in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteris- tics for a New Era.

Xi has become the leader in China’s new round of reform and opening-up.
Lead by action After the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, Xi served as the head of a leading group on deep- ening overall reform.

When it was changed to a committee, he remained as the chair.

In the meantime, he also chairs a number of high-level committees and commissions on areas such as law-based governance, foreign affairs, cyber-security and informatiza- tion.
By heading these groups, Xi can have face-to-face discus- sions with people working in different areas and better learn about actual situations.

Xi went through each version of major reform documents, added his personal insights and pushed for major progress.

Take the market’s role as an example.

In 2013, the Party decided to let the market play a “decisive” role in allocating resources.
It sent a strong signal of policy adjustment as the original wording -- “basic” -- had remained unchanged since 1992. early to make such a big leap.

It was Xi who decided to make the change.

“Many of the major reforms would not have been possible if it weren’t Xi,” said an academic who was involved in draft- ing the document.
Xi led reform on multiple fronts to achieve breakthroughs: the gaps between urban and rural populations have been narrowed, the two-child policy initiated and pushed to yield results, splurge on government bills curbed, and vested inter- ests broken up.

He constantly called on officials to have the perseverance to hammer away at obstacles until a task is done and make concrete, meticulous and effective efforts in reform.
Between late 2012 and late 2017, Xi took 50 domestic inspection tours, in which he researched and pushed for re- form.

The reform progress encompasses an expansive scope of fields.

In the economy, he made the judgment of new normal, initiated the supply-side structural reform and drew a clear line between the government and the market.

In science, he set the goal of turning China into one of the world’s science centers and an innovation high ground.
He led the anti-corruption fight to form a crushing tide and has won a sweeping victory.

He launched a major institutional reform to reshape Party and State organs, including the establishment of the National Supervisory Commission and the Commission for Law-based Governance of the CPC Central Committee.

Reform progress is reported on other fronts: people have stronger cultural confidence and sense of fulfillment; envi- ronmental protection systems are improved; and the armed forces have been reshaped.
In the five years since late 2012, more than 1,500 reform measures were issued.

Reform picked up pace after the 19th CPC National Congress in late 2017.

In his 2018 New Year speech, Xi called on the Chinese people to “cut paths through mountains and build bridges across rivers” to advance reform.

Wang, the book author, said Xi has made breakthroughs in a number of tough and stalemated issues.
“Xi has been and is a remarkably comprehensive reformer, whose reforms are broader in scope than those of prior gen- erations,” Kuhn said.

For the people In April, Xi told visiting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that “everything we do is for people’s happiness and national rejuvenation and to seek common ground for the world.” Xi has been stressing that reform should focus on what the people care about and expect the most.

The aim, he says, is to give the people a stronger sense of fulfillment.
That may be felt more directly from the rise of earnings.

The average income of Chinese grew by 7.4 percent annually over the past six years, eclipsing the GDP growth.

In October, wage-earners hailed a personal income tax reform which exempts those who earn less than 5,000 yuan ($725) a month.

When drafting the change, some people said it was still too Many migrant workers also made it to the country’s ex- 11 ISSUE 4 · 2018 panding middle-income group.

Zou Bin is one of them who benefit from the reform.
He rose from laying bricks at construction sites to heading a team in the Fortune 500 firm China Construction Group as a project manager.

This year, Zou started serving as a deputy to the National People’s Congress, the top legislature.

His first legislative proposal was, not surprisingly, about deepening construction labor reforms.

Poverty reduction is another milestone.

In the past six years, about 70 million rural people had been lifted over the poverty line.
William Jones, Washington bureau chief of the Executive Intelligence Review news magazine, said ending poverty had long been regarded a major task for humanity but until re- cently, was seen as a Utopian dream.

“With China, that dream is now becoming a reality,” he said.

Under Xi’s lead, China’s social security network has ex- panded, with the basic medical insurance covering 1.3 billion people and the social old-age insurance covering more than 900 million.
This summer, a domestic film shot up to box office star- dom.

“Dying to Survive” tells a fictional story of a shopkeeper who illegally imports cheap Indian drugs and sells them to cancer patients in China.

The blockbuster touched a public sore point of costly drugs.

But fortunately, the issue is being addressed.

Policies have been introduced to exempt import tariffs on many cancer drugs, and efforts are on-going to bring more life-saving medicines into the medical insurance program.
Xi’s reform also aims to nurture a great environment to conduct business.

The World Bank Group said in its annual “Doing Business Report” that China advanced to a global ranking of the 46th this year, up from the 78th last year, as the country imple- mented the largest number of reforms in the East Asia and Pacific region.
The “2018 China Business Report” by the American Cham- ber of Commerce in Shanghai also found that 83 percent of respondents in manufacturing sector and 81 percent in retail achieved profit, while 61.6 percent of companies expected to increase their China investment in 2018.

Private sectors in China have entered a new phase of de- velopment.

In 2018, a total of 28 Chinese private companies were en- listed in the Fortune 500, compared with a lone company in 2010.
Connecting the world China’s reform has benefited the world.

China contributed to global growth by an annual average of 18.4 percent in the past 40 years, second only to the US, according to the Na- tional Bureau of Statistics.

In 2017, China accounted for 27.8 percent of global eco- nomic growth, more than that of the United States and Japan combined.

China’s reform has inspired the world: developing countries can walk a new path to modernization that is different from the West.
ture and brought jobs to more than 100 countries and regions since it was founded three years ago.

“President Xi visited our workshop in 2015, asking us to speed up innovation and create a brand for ‘made-in-China’ products, which has promoted our modern enterprise system reform and CRRC’s integration with the global economy,” said a CRRC executive.
Facing mounting protectionism and a stagnant world economy, Xi proposed to foster a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and follow the prin- ciple of achieving shared growth through discussion and col- laboration in engaging in global governance.

An important feature of Xi’s reform is the integration of promoting domestic reform with the participation of global governance reform, said Shi.
Xi’s proposition of building a community with a shared fu- ture for humanity reflects the pursuit of common values, Shi added.

When Xi was governor of east China’s Fujian Province 18 years ago, he pushed for a demonstration project to help the Eastern Highland Province of Papua New Guinea with Jun- cao and dry-land rice planting.

The Juncao technology cultivates edible and medicinal mushroom from special wild grass so that trees do not need to be cut for mushroom growing.
The technology has brought the hope of poverty eradication across the globe.

The success of Juncao is an epitome of the advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi to promote a shared prosperity of humanity by cooperation on trade and infrastructure.

So far, more than 140 countries and interna- tional organizations have signed agreements with China to jointly build the Belt and Road.

Ecological degradation is a key global challenge.


Xi attend- ed the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in November 2015.

China is one of the first countries to sign the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Xi personally handed over China’s instruments of joining the Paris Agreement to then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September 2016.
In the past six years, China has kept its promise to protect the Earth through deepening domestic reforms, including the implementation of 10 air pollution prevention and control measures, the promotion of a river chief system and intro- duction of a national park mechanism.

Many of the reforms were initiated by Xi.

Xi brought China’s opening-up to a new level.

He designed and pushed forward the opening of the world’s first im- port-themed national-level expo.
At the China International Import Expo, he reiterated opposition to trade protectionism and commitment to an open world economy.
CRRC Corporation Limited (CRRC), the world’s leading supplier of rail transit equipment, has improved infrastruc- The expo, held in Shanghai in November 2018, was at- tended by over 3,600 companies, including nearly 180 Amer- 12 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up Tourists take photos at The Place, where a light show themed “I Love You, China” was held to welcome the National Day in Beijing on September 29, 2018.

VCG ican companies.
VCG ican companies.

Agreements on intended one-year purchases of goods and services were valued at $57.83 billion.

China announced a series of measures to further open up its economy, including broadening market access, easing for- eign equity restrictions, lowering automobile import tariffs and increasing imports.

The number of free trade zones has risen to 12 in five years.

“Openness brings progress while seclusion leads to back- wardness,” Xi said.
Xi led China to be more involved in international econom- ic cooperation, turning the country into a more mature mod- ern market economy, said Wang.

On the way “Xi has transformed China at an astonishing pace,” Geoff Raby said in his column in the Australian Financial Review.

“At over $8,000 per capita, China is now at the higher end of the World Bank’s middle-income economy range, and some 40 percent of that was added during Xi’s tenure.” “This is the new order in Asia.
It is no longer emerging, it has arrived,” he said.

The People’s Republic of China will celebrate its 70th an- niversary in the year of 2019.

The Chinese nation with a his- tory of humiliation has stood up, grown rich and is becoming strong.

Xi’s reform has laid a firm foundation for the Chinese na- tion’s rejuvenation.

It will be the first time in human history that a country of more than 1 billion people march into mod- ernization as a whole.
China’s reform has inspired the world: developing coun- tries can walk a new path to modernization that is different from the West.

It breaks the “end of history” and “West- ern-centered” mentalities.

The year 2018 also marks the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’s birth.

China’s successful practice has injected new vi- tality into the classic theory named after him.

What Xi aims to develop is a model of how a rising country can avoid confrontation with an established one.
It will show that different civilizations can enrich exchanges and co-exist peacefully.

The reform is still on the way.

It is no easy task to change the world’s biggest developing country.

China’s per capita GDP has surpassed $8,000, yet far from $57,000 of the US.

China is still facing an unbalanced industrial structure, weak innovation and financial risks.

Xi has many challenges ahead.

With great courage, he is ready to lead the Party and the country to forge ahead with the reform.
“A lot of progress has been made over the past few years,” Xi said.

“But much can still be achieved as we embark on the new journey.” (Xinhua) 13 ISSUE 4 · 2018 China marks 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up with greater resolve China held a grand gathering on December 18, 2018 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country’s reform and opening-up, a great revolution that has changed the destiny of the Chinese nation and influenced the world.
Addressing the meeting, President Xi Jinping described the reform and opening-up as “a great reawakening” of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

“Chinese Communists accomplished the most profound and the greatest social transformation in China’s history and created the fundamental political conditions and the institutional foundation for all development and progress in China today,” said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Premier Li Keqiang presided over the meeting at the Great 14 Hall of the People in Beijing.

The celebration started with all participants rising to sing the national anthem.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, read a de- cision to award personnel for their outstanding contributions to the reform and opening-up.

The award recipients were 100 Chinese and 10 foreigners.
Chinese leaders presented the medals to those who were present at this meeting.

Quantum leap Describing the reform and opening-up as “a great revo- lution in the history of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation,” Xi said a quantum leap has been made in the cause NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up 1.8 percent to 15.2 percent, generating more than 30 percent of global growth for years.
“The great spirit of reform and opening-up... has signifi- cantly enriched our national character and become the most prominent hallmark of the Chinese people in the modern day,” Xi said.

Dawn Nakagawa, executive vice president of the Los Ange- les-based Berggruen Institute, said China’s reform and open- ing-up is an amazing course to celebrate and a miracle.
“The reform and opening-up has made great contributions to turning China into a powerful country,” said Yohei Kono, president of the Japanese Association for the Promotion of International Trade.
Great path Xi said that the past 40 years eloquently prove the correct- ness of the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics, noting the reform and opening-up is a game-changing move not only in making China what it is today, but also for the Chinese people to achieve the country’s two centenary goals and its great national rejuvenation.
Tu Xinquan, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said the most important reason behind China’s economic and social marvels is the strong leadership of the CPC.

On the way forward, Xi said the country must see the CPC exercises leadership over all work, as the leadership of the CPC is the most essential attribute of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the greatest strength of this system.
Xi also emphasized the need to adhere to the people-ori- ented approach to keep delivering on the aspirations of the people for a better life.

Chinese Communists are duty-bound to develop Marxism in the 21st century and adapt it to the Chinese context, he said.

“There is no textbook of golden rules to follow for reform and development in China, a country with over 5,000 years of civilization and more than 1.3 billion people,” he said.
“No one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done.” Xi stressed that the decisive role of the market in resource allocation should be put into full play while the role of the government will be better leveraged, and the vitality of vari- ous market entities will be stimulated.
He said China has stayed committed to the fundamental national policy of opening-up, noting China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world, and the world needs China for global prosperity.

“A major country like China cannot afford any disruptive mistake on fundamental issues,” Xi said when elaborating on the need to strike a balance between reform, development and stability.

“We must show full tenacity and persistence to see all ma- jor reform measures through,” Xi said.
By staying committed to advancing reform and opening-up and seeing that Chinese people realize their aspirations for a better life, Xi said that new and even greater wonders of the Chinese nation would be made in the new era.
“We will create new and even greater wonders that will Xi Jinping (4th L), Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attend a grand gathering to cele- brate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 18, 2018.

Ju Peng of socialism with Chinese characteristics.


Xi hailed the birth of the CPC, the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the pursuit of reform and opening-up and socialism with Chinese characteristics as “the three mile- stones” on the way toward national rejuvenation in modern times.

“What we have achieved in the past 40 years was not a windfall, nor was it given in charity by others.
It comes from the hard work, wisdom and courage of all members of the Party and the people of all ethnic groups in China,” Xi said.

In 40 years, China lifted 740 million people out of pover- ty.

China has built the world’s largest social security system, with the basic old-age pension covering more than 900 mil- lion people and medical insurance covering over 1.3 billion people.

China’s share of global gross domestic product rose from truly impress the world,” he said.
(Xinhua) 15 ISSUE 4 · 2018 Passing on the baton Four decades of reform and opening-up have influenced China’s past and will continue to impact its future By Lu Yan Although legendary e-commerce entrepreneur Jack Ma this year announced his plan to retire as ex- ecutive chairman of the Alibaba Group by 2019, what he and his company have achieved will con- tinue to impact China, and indeed, the rest of the world.
In 1999, with just 17 people, Ma founded Alibaba in his hometown Hangzhou, capital of East China’s Zhejiang Prov- ince.

Nearly two decades later, the e-commerce startup has grown into a hi-tech conglomerate with over 80,000 employ- ees and a market value of around $400 billion.

There are countless reasons for Alibaba’s success.


But per- achievements of reform and opening-up, calling it “a great revolution in the history of the Chinese people and the Chi- nese nation.” When the drive began in 1978, the outside world was mostly developing fast along with technological advance- ment.

But in China, following the end of the “cultural revo- lution” (1966-76), the economy was on the verge of collapse and the nation was in urgent need of rebuilding.
Confronted with the dire question of how China’s socialist cause would advance after so many setbacks, then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping underlined the need for reform.

haps the most prominent factor is reform and opening-up China embarked on in 1978 and the economic and social progress it brought.

“Without the reform and opening-up pol- icy, we wouldn’t be who we are today,” Ma acknowledged at the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia held in Hainan in south China in April 2018.
The relationship has been mutually bene- ficial.

The success of enterprising and innova- tive companies like Alibaba in turn serves as the engine driving China’s development.

At the celebration of the 40th anniversa- ry of reform and opening-up in Beijing on December 18, 2018, Ma was among the 100 Chinese receiving the Reform Pioneer medal.
The others included entrepreneurs like Pony Ma, founder and CEO of Chinese tech giant Tencent, Baidu founder Robin Li, Nobel lau- reate scientist Tu Youyou, military personnel, economists, model workers, athletes, writers and artists.

An evolving roadmap Honoring those who contributed to reform and opening-up, the event, broadcast live on television and the Internet, was a signpost where the Chinese people can look back at the past and feel proud.
President Xi Jinping summed up the 16 The personnel awarded for their outstanding contributions to the reform and opening-up accept bouquets presented by young pioneers during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Bei- jing on December 18, 2018.
Wang Yuguo NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up President Xi Jinping (2nd L), also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chi- nese leaders present the China reform friendship medals for the prize winners during a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 18, 2018.
Ju Peng President Xi Jinping summed up the achievements of reform and opening-up, calling it ‘a great revo- lution in the history of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation.’ “Our modernization program and socialist cause will be doomed if we don’t reform now,” he said.
“Unless we perse- vere in reform and opening-up, we shall have no way out and no hope of modernizing the country.” Deng said modernization was the “most important thing to set things right” and a “great cause which will determine our country’s destiny for generations to come.” “The fundamental task for the socialist stage is to develop productive forces,” he said.
Accordingly, the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), held in December 1978, saw the Party shift its focus toward socialist modernization.

It was a significant turning point in the CPC’s history.

The plenary session marked the beginning of the historic reform and opening-up journey.

At that time, China had a weak economy and a large population.

The Central Govern- ment decided to conquer the challenges step by step.
Deng proposed a three-step strategy in 1987 which was endorsed by the 13th National Congress of the CPC the same year.

The first step was to double the GNP and meet the basic living needs of the people.

The second was to double the GNP again during the 1990s and achieve a moderately prosperous standard of living.

The third step was to raise the economy to the level of a moderately developed country and modernize in another 30 to 50 years.
Today, China is pursuing the two Centenary Goals: to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2021, when the CPC celebrates its centenary; and to transform China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, demo- cratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by 2049, when the People’s Republic of China celebrates its centenary.

Scenes of change Wu Guosuan from Xi’ao Village in East China’s Zhejiang Province has participated in the transformation.
Xi’ao used to be under the poverty line.

But as reform and opening-up saw China’s market economy develop, over 200 private toy facto- ries sprang up in the village during the 1980s.

The emergence of e-commerce boosted the industry.

Wu, as the pioneer entrepreneur in his village, opened his first online store on Tmall, Alibaba’s online business-to-con- 17 ISSUE 4 · 2018 sumer marketplace, in 2012.

That year, the store’s sales reached 3 million yuan ($436,700).
Business grew fast, and Wu opened three more online stores.

The sales in 2017 were over 60 million yuan ($8.74 million).

Currently, over three fourths of the 200-plus households in the village own more than 600 online stores with sales over 200 million yuan ($29.11 million) in 2018.

The store owners are now seeking cooperation with multinational brands and tapping the international market to usher in the next development phase.

“I feel very happy.

I now have money to buy my own house and car,” Wu said.
Such stories of transformation from poverty to prosperity can be found in many villages across the country.

According to Liu Yongfu, director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, over the past 40 years, 740 million people in China have worked their way out of poverty and made a major contribution to global poverty alleviation.

China aims to eliminate rural poverty by 2020.


The rise of the Internet and entrepreneurship has helped rural areas like Xi’ao transform.

The mass innovation and en- trepreneurship initiative, proposed by Premier Li Keqiang at the Summer Davos Forum in 2014, embodies China’s effort to seek innovation-driven development.

In 2016, Wu Hengkui founded SuperSymmetry Technol- ogies, a startup specializing in financial research systems based on artificial intelligence, in Beijing.
“We are the product of reform and opening-up.

Without it, startups like us wouldn’t even exist,” Gabriel Morris, the company’s co-founder, said.

The 32-year-old American left Goldman Sachs to become the Chinese company’s chief oper- ating officer.

Wu said the Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Devel- opment Plan issued by the State Council, China’s cabinet, in July 2017 offers opportunities for startups like theirs to be part of the national strategy.
Entrepreneurship and innovation play a positive role in stimulating market vitality and creating jobs, Li said at the China’s development provides suc- cessful experience and offers a bright prospect for other developing coun- tries as they strive for modernization, representing China’s contribution to the progress of human civilization.
An Israeli visitor visits a major exhibition to commemorate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up at the National Museum of China in Beijing on December 6, 2018.

Pan Xu 18 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up opening of the national mass entrepreneurship and innova- tion week in Chengdu, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on October 9, 2018.
He said more efforts are required to bet- ter implement the innovation-driven development strategy and realize quality development.

An open market, strong and targeted policy support, suc- cessful poverty reduction strategy, people’s entrepreneurial enthusiasm and a vibrant society have all contributed to China’s economic growth.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), China’s GDP rose 33.5 times from 1978 to 2017, with an average annual growth of 9.5 percent, much higher than the world average of about 2.9 percent during the same period.

The gross national income per capita in 2017 ranked 95th among 217 countries and regions, according to the World Bank, an impressive achievement for a country that start- ed low and has a large population base.
At the end of 2017, China’s foreign exchange reserves reached $3.14 trillion, the highest worldwide.

Progress is also evident in literacy, the education struc- ture, public cultural undertakings, health and sports.

China has built the world’s largest social security system, with basic old-age pension covering more than 900 million people and medical insurance covering over 1.3 billion people, Xi said at the celebration in December 2018.
“China has maintained its social stability over a long pe- riod, making it one of the countries that provide the greatest sense of safety in the world,” he said.

“China’s reform movement is one of the most significant global developments of the last century—perhaps in all of history.

No nation anywhere has ever grown its economy so large so quickly,” Bruce Pickering, senior advisor at Asia So- ciety, a New York-based non-profit organization, said.
Sharing development In the 40 years, China has also pursued common develop- ment with other countries.

At the beginning of reform and opening-up, only a few Chinese companies had business overseas.

But from 1980 to 1988, with the establishment of five special economic zones in Shenzhen, Zhuhai and Shantou in Guangdong Province, Xiamen in Fujian Province, and the entire Hainan Province, business interactions with foreign enterprises became fre- quent.
In 1984, 14 coastal cities opened their doors to over- seas investors.

With China’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, Chinese companies accelerated their pace of going out.

Since 2003, China has established free trade zones in several countries and regions, boosting global imports and exports.

In 2017, Chinese investors spent $120 billion in 6,236 enterprises in 174 countries and regions, 40 times more than in 2003, according to the Ministry of Com- merce and the NBS.
In 2013, Xi proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, a global vision aiming to promote shared prosperity of humanity by cooperation on trade and infrastructure.

In 2017, non-finan- cial outbound direct investment (ODI) in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative totaled $14.4 billion, 12 per- cent of the total ODI.

China has also advanced economic globalization and global governance reform, contributing Chinese wisdom and ap- proaches to resolving global issues.
In recent years, it has host- ed a number of international conventions such as the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, the G20 Summit and the an- nual Boao Forum for Asia conferences, where it has shared its experience with people from all around the world.
China’s development provides successful experience and offers a bright prospect for other developing countries as they strive for modernization, representing China’s contribution to the progress of human civilization, Xi said in December 2018.

“China has shown African countries… that we should come up with our own development plans based on our own histo- ry, national conditions and characteristics.
It’s obvious that [the Chinese] method works,” Ibrahima Niang, Executive Di- rector of the Institute of Asian and African Studies of Sahel, Senegal, said.

China has joined over 100 inter-governmental organiza- tions and signed more than 300 international treaties, taking part in global cooperation ranging from anti-terrorism work to the battle against global warming.
“An important factor which enabled China to reach its eco- nomic heights has been the favorable global trading environ- ment—one whose rules have been in place since the end of World War II.

These rules, primarily initiated by the US and Great Britain, have been underpinned by a range of economic and financial institutions and agreements.
The IMF, the UN, the World Bank (including the International Bank for Recon- struction and Development), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and various free trade agree- ments are all part of a system designed to bind the participat- ing nations into a rules-based order,” Pickering said.
“China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world, and the world needs China for global prosperity,” Xi said at the December 18 celebration, underlining the commitment to opening up wider and promoting joint efforts to build a com- munity with a shared future for humanity.

What the future holds The past 40 years were the beginning.

In the future, re- form and opening-up will continue.
What has been achieved in economic, political, cultural, social and ecological fields must be shared among all, according to Xi.

“The people-oriented approach must be adhered to and efforts should be made to keep delivering on the people’s as- pirations for a better life,” he said.
“Bearing in mind China’s internal and international situa- tions, we have stayed committed to the fundamental national policy of opening-up, followed a proactive approach to open- ing-up, and entered a new stage of comprehensive, multi-lev- el and wide-ranging opening-up, thus creating a sound in- ternational environment and broader development space for China,” Xi said at the December 18 gathering.

The president likened realizing socialist modernization and national rejuvenation to a relay race.
“The baton should be passed on for generations and each generation should achieve a good result for the next generation,” he said.

(Beijing Review) 19 ISSUE 4 · 2018 China holds a grand gathering to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country’s reform and opening-up at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 18, 2018.
VCG Reform, opening-up leading China to bright future In the year marking its 40th anniversary, China’s re- form and opening-up has continued to make great achievements, continuously leading the country to a brighter future.

In 1978, the Communist Party of China (CPC) made the historic decision of going for reform and opening-up.
Based on a profound grasp of the future of the Party and the country as well as deep understanding of the people’s aspi- rations and needs, it was destined to be a major turning point that led China to the path of rejuvenation from the crossroads.

In 2018, a key year for China to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the reform and opening-up, a unique pathway discovered and developed by the country, is again proved a success.
Facing various uncertainties around the world and heavy work at home, China has achieved an overall stable perfor- mance and progress in its economic development with the people enjoying an increasingly improved life by upholding a new vision for development and focusing on the supply-side structural reform.
Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee, joint efforts have been made all over the country to forestall and 20 defuse major risks, carry out targeted poverty alleviation, as well as prevent and control pollution.

The people have en- joyed a greater sense of fulfillment, happiness and security.

In 2018, a string of financial regulatory policies have been introduced, with the current financial risks generally retreat- ing.
More than 10 million people have been lifted out of pov- erty as estimated.

The density of PM2.5, a key indicator of air pollution, dropped by 7.5 percent in Chinese cities in the first 10 months in 2018 compared with the year before.
With the principle of “one country, two systems” imple- mented, Hong Kong and Macao have integrated their own development more into the overall development of the coun- try, and the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the process toward the peaceful reunification of China has been promoted.

With a clear direction, China has been dealing with the challenges in different areas, remaining calm and so- ber-minded, and continues to contribute to the development of the world.
As China opens up wider, it has provided more of its pro- posals and wisdom to the world on different occasions in the past year, including the Boao Forum for Asia annual confer- NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up ence, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Sum- mit, the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the first China International Import Expo, all of which were held in China and participated in by coun- tries around the globe.
While celebrating the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up this year, the Chinese people are showing the world that they are closer than ever to their goal of national rejuvenation, with unprecedented confidence and capability.
Over the past four decades, the reform and opening-up has brought China from the brink of economic collapse to world’s second-largest economy, with about 740 million peo- ple lifted out of poverty and the total trade volume of import and export goods rising by more than $3 trillion.

On its way forward, China has also made where it is going and how to reach its goals more clear during its deepened reform and opening-up, which will allow China to enjoy more promising prospects.
(Xinhua) 10 foreigners given medals for their roles in reform, opening-up By An Baijie and Cao Desheng Ten foreigners received China Reform Friendship Medals on December 18 for their outstanding contributions to the country’s reform and opening-up over the past 40 years.
Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab was given a medal by President Xi Jinping, together with other recipients at a grand gathering in Beijing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up.

President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s commitment to open- ing up wider to the world during the gathering.

exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world and were deeply involved in China’s reform and opening-up process.
“They have made outstanding contributions to the country’s reform and opening-up,” he said.

Among the medal winners, Panasonic founder Konosuke Matsushita made great contributions to China’s modernization in electronics through trade and investment.

Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first prime minister and one of the “The practice of reform and opening-up over the past 40 years has shown that openness brings progress, while seclusion leads to backwardness,” Xi said.
most influential Asian politicians, made contributions by sharing Singapore’s successful governance experience with China.

Juan Antonio Samaranch, former president of the Internation- The president pledged to support the building of an open, transparent, inclusive and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, facilitate trade and investment, and promote more open- ness amid ongoing economic globalization.
The high-profile conference was attended by Xi and the six other members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee as well as Vice-President Wang Qishan.

Premier Li Keqiang presided over the meeting.


Over the past 40 years, China has recorded an average annual GDP growth rate of around 9.5 percent, contributed over 30 percent to global economic growth and lifted more than 740 million people out of poverty, Xi said, calling the four decades “a glorious process”.
The country will focus on jointly building the Belt and Road with other countries and establish a new platform for international cooperation, Xi said, and will continue measures to boost open- ing-up.

China will never seek self-development at the cost of other countries’ interests, nor will it give up its justified interests, Xi said, adding that China’s development will pose no threat to any other nation, and it will never seek hegemony no matter how developed it becomes.
China’s development provides successful experience and of- fers bright prospects for other developing countries as they strive for modernization, and it represents China’s great contribution to the progress of human civilization, Xi said.
Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Com- mittee, lauded the medal recipients as “old friends of the Chinese people” while reading a statement from the CPC Central Commit- tee and the State Council.

Wang said the 10 foreigners significantly helped promote al Olympic Committee, was remembered by many Chinese for his great contributions to China’s return to the IOC.
In the foreword to The Sleeping Giant Awakes, a book com- piled by China Watch — China Daily’s think tank — Schwab said the World Economic Forum has witnessed China’s great devel- opment process.

“The change brought about by reform and opening-up has been incredible,” he said in the foreword.
“In 40 years, China has shifted from a largely agricultural na- tion with a planned economy to one that is poised to be a leader in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.” Kuhn, a leading Chinese expert and chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, said it’s a great honor to receive the medal.

“As I look at my participation among the 10 foreigners who have received the China Reform Friendship Medal, I see my role as representing the importance of international communication.
It’s not so much personal as it is representing the importance that China places on communication with the world so as to learn about the world and tell the world the true story of China,” Kuhn said in a live report by China Global Television Network.
Conferring the China Reform Friendship Medal on foreign- ers demonstrates again that China’s reform and opening-up are closely connected with the international community, Ruan Zongze, executive vice-president and senior fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said in an interview with China Daily.

China’s reform and opening-up drive has won support from the international community, and in the meantime, global peace and development have benefitted from China’s growth, Ruan said.
Ruan added that the 10 medal winners are only a representa- tive sampling of millions of foreigners who have made contribu- tions to the country’s reform and opening-up.

(China Daily) 21 ISSUE 4 · 2018 Lai Meisong (2nd R), founder and chairman of Chi- na’s ZTO Express, poses after ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in New York, the US, on October 27, 2016.
Liao Pan UN Secretary-General Anto- nio Guterres addresses at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for Interna- tional Cooperation in Beijing on May 14, 2017.

VCG The picture shows the Exhibi- tion Hall of Galanz Electrical Ap- pliance at the 94th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) on October 16, 2003.

VCG Th e ph oto sh ows a view of Yangshan Free Trade Port Area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Shanghai on July 20, 2017.
VCG 22 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up The first China International Import Expo (CIIE) kicks off in Shanghai on November 5, 2018.

Wang Xiao/VCG Carlos (1st R), a German professor who now works with the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducts a research with his colleagues on November 29, 2018.

Born in Germany in 1982, Carlos was invited by the Institute of Physics in 2017 after studying and doing research in France and Germany.
Shen Bohan 23 ISSUE 4 · 2018 A c o n s u m e r p a y s t h e bill at a supermarket by u s i n g a s m a r t m o b i l e phone in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, on December 1, 2016.

Zhang Yun A foreign passenger (R) goes through the proce- dure of 144-hour visa-free transit at an airport in Qin- gdao, East China’s Shan- dong Province on January 1, 2019.

Xie Hao A bullet train runs on the Yangxian section of Xi’an-Chengdu high-speed railway line in Northwest China’s Shaanxi Province on March 21, 2018.
Tang Zhenjiang 24 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaRefoRm and opening-Up Students from China and Be- larus pose for a group photo in Children’s Palace of Dongcheng District in Beijing on August 12, 2014.

A total of 213 Belarusian youngsters from the Chernobyl nuclear zone learn to paint moon- shaped fans, do paper-cutting and Chinese calligraphy with their Chi- nese peers.
Yan Min Students of the Confucius In- stitute of University of Grana- da take the Chinese lesson in Granada, Spain, November 13, 2018.

Guo Qiuda 25 ISSUE 4 · 2018 Safeguarding Constitution, socialist rule of law Books of the Constitution are sold at the Wangfujing Bookstore in Beijing.

VCG President Xi Jinping has stressed promoting the spirit of the Constitution and upholding the Con- stitution’s authority in an instruction on the coun- try’s fifth Constitution Day, which falls on Decem- ber 4, 2018.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of Chi- na (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called for making efforts to guide all people to loyally uphold, willingly comply with and firmly safeguard the socialist rule of law.

The priority of upholding law-based governance is to stick to Constitution-based governance, Xi stressed.
It’s necessary to develop effective and comprehensive institutions to ensure compliance with the Constitution, strengthen constitutional oversight and safeguard its au- thority, so as to elevate constitutional enforcement to a new level, he said.

Educational campaigns should be launched within the entirety of the Party and society to promote the spirit of the Constitution and establish its authority, said Xi.
The General Office of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee jointly held a symposium in Beijing on December 4 with the Publicity Department of the 26 CPC Central Committee and Ministry of Justice on how to thoroughly study and implement the Constitution and un- swervingly advance reform and opening-up.
At the meeting, Li Zhanshu, a member of the Stand- ing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, stressed it was important to thoroughly study and implement Xi’s important speech and instruction on the Constitution, promote the spirit of the Constitution and safeguard its au- thority under the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core.
Li said the current Constitution is a good law that fits in China’s reality and meets the development demand of the times, which must be resolutely safeguarded, adhered to on a long-term basis, and implemented in a comprehensive way.

Li also stressed the importance of taking Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the guide and improving the Chinese socialist system of laws, at the heart of which is the Constitution.
Wang Chen, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the symposium and conveyed Xi’s instruction.
(Xinhua) Special RepoRtNatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNa Li Zhanshu (C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, speaks at a symposium on how to thoroughly study and implement the Constitution and unswervingly advance reform and opening-up in Beijing on December 4, 2018.
Liu Weibing Community volunteers answer Constitution-related que- ries raised by passersby during an activity marking Chi- na’s fifth national Constitution Day in Luogang Street, He- fei, Anhui Province, on December 4, 2018.

Zhong Yanming Meng Weishun, a lawyer, explains the knowledge of the Con- stitution to students from Minshengjie Primary School in Xinle, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, on December 3, 2018.
VCG 27 NPCISSUE 4 · 2018 Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, visits a villager’s home at Huyu Village of Ruili City, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, November 30, 2018.
Shen Hong Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, makes an on-the-spot investigation of Yunnan Baiyao Group on November 29, 2018.

Shen Hong Chairman Li Zhanshu stresses accelerating legislation on people’s health care Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Li Zhanshu has underlined the need to expedite legislation on health care.
Li made the remarks during a four-day research tour in southwestern province of Yunnan that ended on De- cember 1, 2018.

“It is imperative to safeguard people’s rights and interests and improve people’s wellbeing with a well-conceived rule of law,” Li said during the research on how to better make a law on basic medical care and health promotion.

The draft of the law has been deliberated twice by the NPC and made public for comments.
Li spoke with 10 deputies to people’s congresses at various levels on their opinions about the law draft.

Their discussions focused on ensuring a balanced, rational and scientific alloca- tion and distribution of medical resources.

“Medical resources of all levels and all types should be used and shared, serving as a legal guarantee for maintaining people’s lifecycle health,” Li said.

Li also visited community healthcare centers, pharmaceu- tical company, and rural clinics.
(Xinhua) 28 Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, makes a research on local legislation at the Standing Committee of Yunnan Provincial People’s Congress in Kunming, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, November 28, 2018.
Shen Hong Special RepoRtNatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNa Chairman Li Zhanshu stresses accelerating legislation on people’s health care Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, talks with doc- tors and patients in a healthcare center in Qianwei community of Xishan District of Kunming, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, November 29, 2018.
Shen Hong Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Na- tional People’s Congress Standing Committee, speaks with deputies to people’s congresses at various levels and grass-roots officials on their opin- ions about the law draft at Huyu Village of Ruili City, Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, November 30, 2018.
Shen Hong 29 NPCISSUE 4 · 2018 Top legislature holds first judicial work special inquiry The NPC Standing Committee holds a special inquiry on two work reports submitted by the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP), respectively, during the 6th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, in Beijing, on October 25, 2018.
The two reports were on the court efforts in enforcing judgments, and procuratorates’ supervision of civil lawsuits and judgment enforcement, respectively.

Li Zhanshu (5th L, back), chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the inquiry and deliberation.

Liu Weibing The National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee held a special inquiry on October 25, 2018, on two work reports submitted by the Su- preme People’s Court (SPC) and the Supreme Peo- ple’s Procuratorate (SPP), respectively.
It was the first NPC Standing Committee inquiry on judi- cial work ever held during a bimonthly session.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the in- quiry and deliberation.

Chief Justice Zhou Qiang, Procurator-General Zhang Jun and officials from the Ministry of Public Security, the Minis- try of Justice and the Finance Ministry answered lawmakers’ inquiries.
Li said the inquiry was an innovative exploration of NPC supervision over judicial work, reflecting the constitutional principle that “all power belongs to the people.” The move is also designed to support judicial reform and boost the judicial system’s credibility, according to Li.

The two reports were on the court efforts in enforcing judgments, and procuratorates’ supervision of civil lawsuits and judgment enforcement, respectively.
Li also called on the SPC and the SPP to summarize their experience, enhance coordination with other agencies and push for the settlement of the judgment enforcement issue.

During the inquiry, lawmakers inquired how to force de- faulters to pay debts as required in a court judgment, deal with unenforceable judgments, and curb the rise in false litigation.

Liu Guixiang, a full-time member of the SPC judicial com- mittee, answered questions at the meeting on December 25.
After the inquiry, he said that he had felt pressure in the 30 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaSuperviSion The NPC Standing Committee holds a special inquiry on two work reports submitted by the SPC and the SPP, respectively, during the 6th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, in Beijing, on October 25, 2018.

Chief Justice of the SPC Zhou Qiang (4th R) answers lawmakers’ inquiries.
Sheng Jiapeng face-to-face Q&A session, which gave motivation for improv- ing future court judgment enforcement work.

“We will push for the implementation in accordance with the opinions raised here,” said Liu, adding that the inquiry would make a difference.

An official with the SPP shared similar feelings, calling the inquiry “an exam of politics and law,” and a face-to-face test of the performance of duty.
Xu Hanming, a professor of law with the Zhongnan Uni- versity of Economics and Law, spoke highly of the inquiry on Decmber 25, saying that it would boost judicial justice and rule of law in China.

A total of 24 such supervisory inquiries had been organized by the NPC Standing Committee since June 2010, covering a wide-range of hot-button issues including grain security, healthcare reform, school bus safety, poverty and air pollution.
During those inquiries, senior officials from vice premiers to ministers answered questions from lawmakers.

(Xinhua) The NPC Standing Committee holds a special inquiry on two work reports submitted by the SPC and the SPP, respectively, during the 6th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, in Beijing, on October 25, 2018.

Li Wei (C), a member of the NPC Standing Committee, raises questions.
Sheng Jiapeng 31 ISSUE 4 · 2018 The 6th session of the 13th NPC Standing Committee adopts the Criminal Procedure Law on October 26, 2018.

Sheng Jiapeng China introduces default judgment to revised Criminal Procedure Law The NPC Standing Committee passed a resolution on October 26, 2018, to introduce “default judg- ment” in criminal trials to prosecute suspects who stay overseas and are involved in offenses of corruption, severely endangering State security or terrorist activities.
el, the revised law says.

To qualify a trial involving “default judgment” of the latter two types of crimes, there should be a time-sensitive urgency in handling the case and an approval from the Supreme Peo- ple’s Procuratorate, according to the revised Criminal Proce- dure Law.
In the meantime, the revision also imposes stringent rules, requiring the courts to examine whether a case is applicable to a “default judgment.” If a court decides to proceed with a trial in the absence of the defendant, a subpoena and indictment papers should be delivered through relevant channels, the revision says.

It also gives the defendant the right to an attorney, who could also be entrusted by the defendant’s close relatives, or assigned by legal aid agencies.
After the judgement is issued, the defendant and the close relatives could also appeal to the court of the next higher lev- 32 Later on October 26, Wang Aili, director of the Criminal Law Office under the Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, answered questions about the revision at a press conference.
Wang said the introduction of the “default judgment” could push the judicial authorities to perform their duties, enrich means to punish crimes and boost inter-jurisdiction anti-corruption efforts.

“By handling the cases and evidence in a timely manner, we might be able to avoid the risks of losing evidence,” Wang said.

“Moreover, issuing the default judgments in a timely man- ner also contributes to the authority of the rule of law, and safeguards the State and public interest.
“Actually, many countries have some sort of ‘criminal de- fault judgment’ under certain conditions, which is not ruled out by international conventions if conducted when the de- fendants’ rights are strictly safeguarded,” Wang said.

Besides “default judgment,” the revised law also includes arrangements on the duty of the national supervisory author- ities and experience from recent judicial reforms.
(Xinhua) NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaLegisLation Law to facilitate international judicial cooperation adopted The NPC Standing Committee voted to adopt a new law on international criminal judicial assistance on October 26, 2018, in an effort to combat cross-bor- der crimes and safeguard the national interest.

Lawmakers approved the legislation at the end of the 6th session of the 13th National People’s Congress Stand- ing Committee.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Zhang Xiao- ming, deputy head of the Ministry of Justice’s international cooperation department, said the legislation was aimed at strengthening international cooperation and combating orga- nized crime, including corruption.
The assistance refers to providing mutual support when China and other countries deal with criminal cases, including legal document delivery, investigation and evidence collec- tion, freezing, confiscating and recovering assets, as well as transfer and management of offenders, the law stipulated.

Such assistance should be made without harming China’s sovereignty, security and social interests and violating Chi- na’s laws.
According to the law, if an offender is a citizen of a receiv- ing country and if their acts constitute a crime in both coun- tries, they can be transferred home for criminal punishment.

Such a transfer can only be made with the permission of the two countries and the offender in question.
Without the authorization of Chinese authorities, no agen- cies, organizations or individuals within the Chinese territory are allowed to provide foreign countries with evidence, mate- rials and assistance as stipulated, it said.

(Xinhua) China’s international judicial cooperation and exchanges China’s courts have been promoting international judicial as- sistance through global exchanges and cooperatiaon in the past 40 years under the policy of reform and opening-up.
China is offering its solution to the reform of world governance and attempting to deepen judicial cooperation under the frame of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Over the past 40 years, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC) has sent 2,373 delegations for judicial exchanges to other countries and regions and received 283 international delegations.

China and France negotiated the Sino-French Civil and Commercial Judicial Assistance Treaty, the first of its kind by China.
To date, China has signed 145 in- ternational treaties and agreements with 74 countries and acceded to nearly 30 international treaties involving affairs such as judicial assistance and extradition.

The 6th Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific and the 14th Law Association for Asia and the Pacific Conference were held in Beijing.

The 4th Asia Pa- cific Judicial Reform Forum was held at the SPC in Beijing.
The Sanya Statement was signed to promote judicial cooperation at the BRICS Justice Forum which was held by the SPC in Sanya, Hainan Province.

The Silk Road (Dunhuang) Inter- national Forum on Judicial Cooperation was held by the SPC in Gansu Province.

1987 1995 2010 2015 2017 1990 2006 2014 2016 2018 The 14th Congress on International Law was held in Beijing, the first time it was held in China.
The first Conference of the Presidents of Supreme Courts of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States was hosted by the SPC.

The Nanning State- ment was approved at the 2nd China-ASEAN Justice Forum.

The first UK-China Judicial Roundtable was held in Beijing.

The Suzhou Consen- sus was adopted at the Conference of Presidents of Supreme Courts of China and Central and Eastern European Coun- tries held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province.
The Conference of Supreme Court Pres- idents between China and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries was held.

(Source: govt.chinadaily.com.cn) 33 ISSUE 4 · 2018 China mulls unified foreign investment law Nameplates of foreign investment institutions on the streets of Shanghai, China Yan Daming A draft law on foreign investment has been submit- ted to a bimonthly session of the National Peo- ple’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, which opened on December 23, 2018.
Once adopted, the unified law will replace three existing laws, namely the laws on Chinese-foreign equity joint ven- tures, non-equity joint ventures (or contractual joint ven- tures) and wholly foreign-owned enterprises.

The current laws can hardly catch up with the changing economic situation, as China strives to build new institutions and open its economy.

But the new law will guarantee China’s opening-up in the next phase and more effective utilization of 34 foreign investment, analysts said.
Necessary mechanisms on the facilitation, protection and management of foreign investment are written into the draft law, such as the pre-establishment national treatment and negative list management, equal supportive policies, and equal participation in government procurement.

China has adopted a foreign investment administration model of pre-establishment national treatment plus negative list.
The move marks an institutional reform in response to new developments in economic globalization and changes in international rules for investment, according to a white pa- per, entitled China and the World Trade Organization, pub- NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaLegisLation Lawmakers call for swift adoption of foreign investment law Chinese lawmakers have called for swift adoption of a uni- fied foreign investment law to further open the country.
The opinion won wide support at a panel deliberation on the draft foreign investment law on December 26, 2018, which was submitted to the 7th session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee for the first reading.

Xiong Qunli, a Committee member, spoke highly of the contribution of foreign investment to China’s development in the past 40 years.
He said the formulation of a unified basic law on foreign investment is “timely and necessary.” Xiong and many other lawmakers called for prompt delibera- tion of the draft law and put it to a vote as soon as possible.

Once adopted, the unified foreign investment law will re- place three existing laws, namely the laws on Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, non-equity joint ventures (or contractual joint ventures) and wholly foreign-owned enterprises.
When introducing the draft to lawmakers on December 23, Justice Minister Fu Zhenghua said the current laws can hard- ly catch up with the changing requirements in building a new system of open economy and there is an urgent need for such a unified law.
Li Fei, chairman of the NPC Constitution and Law Commit- tee, said the State Council (cabinet)’s submission of the draft for review demonstrated China’s resolution in deepening reform and further opening itself to the world, as 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of its reform and opening-up.

Noting that the existing three laws were adopted by the NPC, Li said the new law replacing them should also be put to a vote at an NPC plenary session.
He suggested that the NPC Standing Committee should further review the draft and then refer it to the upcoming NPC plenary session in 2019 for deliberation and a vote following the requirement of the legislation law.

Lawmakers also gave their specific suggestions on improv- ing the draft.

Committee member Jiang Xiaojuan called for the embed- ment of the principle of competitive neutrality or fair competition between domestic and foreign companies in the general provi- sions of the draft law.
The draft law highlighted the pre-establishment national treatment and negative list management, equal support policies and equal participation in government procurement.

It said conditions of technological cooperation concerning foreign investment should be decided by all parties of invest- ment through negotiation, and government departments and officials cannot use administrative means for forced technology transfers.
Cai Fang, another member, said there should be further clarifications on “forced technology transfers.” Chen Fengxiang, also a member of the NPC Standing Committee, called for an independent chapter on the admission review of foreign investment.

Also on December 26, the full text of the 39-article draft was published on the NPC website to solicit public opinion.

The public can upload their opinions online or send their suggestions by mail.

The deadline for submitting opinions is February 24, 2019.
(Xinhua) 35 Photo taken on October 11, 2018 shows guests attending the BMW Bril- liance Tiexi New Plant Ground Breaking Ceremony in Shenyang, capital of northeast China’s Liaoning Province.

Xinhua lished in June 2018.

As part of its efforts to further open up, the country un- veiled a shortened negative list for foreign investment in June, cutting the number of items down to 48 from 63 and removing access restrictions in various sectors.
China adheres to its basic national policy of opening-up and welcomes foreign investment, the draft said.

China implements high-standard investment liberalization and facilitation policies, builds and improves foreign invest- ment facilitation systems, and creates a stable, transparent and predictable environment, the draft said.
Analysts said the foreign investment law is meant to pro- mote and protect foreign investment, and ensure foreign businesses enjoy fair treatment, which will boost their confi- dence in the Chinese market.

Foreign investment has played a positive role in boosting China’s economic development and pushing reforms and will remain significant as the country seeks high-quality develop- ment, said associate professor Zhao Binghao with the China University of Political Science and Law.
The draft said local governments should rigorously fulfill their policy promises and all types of legal contracts with for- eign-funded companies; otherwise, foreign companies should be compensated for their losses.

It underlined protection of intellectual property rights of foreign investors and foreign companies, and encouraged voluntary technological cooperation based on business rules.
It said conditions of technological cooperation concerning foreign investment should be decided by all parties of invest- ment through negotiation, while government departments and officials cannot use administrative means for forced tech- nology transfers.

At the end of November, a total of 950,000 foreign-funded companies became registered in China in line with current laws and brought in more than $2 trillion, performing as a major driving force in China’s economic and social develop- ment.
(Xinhua) ISSUE 4 · 2018 A year of expectations Despite headwinds, national economic policy remains committed to development and opening-up By Li Xiaoyang One day after the celebration of the 40th anniver- sary of reform and opening-up, the Central Eco- nomic Work Conference, China’s annual meeting to set the agenda for the economy, was convened on December 19-21, 2018.

It reviewed the economic perfor- mance in 2018 and outlined major tasks for 2019.
The conference focused on ensuring stable growth and further reform and opening-up.

sure and mounting uncertainties, both at home and abroad, in 2018.

Other achievements included an initial victory in the three tough battles against financial risks, poverty and pollu- tion, as well as new progress in supply-side structural reform.
To turn the challenges into impetus for high-quality develop- ment, a proactive financial policy, a prudent monetary policy and countercyclical adjustments will be implemented in the new year, the statement promised.
A statement issued after the conference said economic growth remained steady despite increasing downward pres- In 2019, China will see a more open market with a fa- vorable business environment, more innovation-oriented 36 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaFocus A stronger market As the domestic market grows, consumption has become a key pillar of China’s economic growth.

In 1978, final consum- er expenditure contributed only 38.3 percent to economic growth.
But in 2017, the figure rose to 58.8 percent and to 78 percent in the first three quarters of 2018.

According to the conference, domestic demands need to be boosted by developing the service industry and increasing household disposable income.
As part of the government’s income-boosting efforts, special individual income tax de- ductions for expenditures including children’s education, continuing education, health treatment for serious diseases, housing loan interests, rent and elderly care took effect on January 1, 2019, following an increase in the threshold of personal tax from 3,500 yuan ($513) to 5,000 yuan ($725) per month in October 2018.
To meet people’s upgraded demands, industries need to embrace hi-tech innovation such as artificial intelligence, in- dustrial Internet and the Internet of Things, to edge toward the high end of the manufacturing chain.

As the digital revo- lution emerges around the globe, China is ready to tap more possibilities created by technologies such as 5G.
According to a plan issued in August 2018, the commercial use of 5G tech- nologies in China will take off in 2020 as the country moves faster to deploy the new-generation wireless networks.

2019 is a crucial year for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.

A wharf at Qinzhou port in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region VCG manufacturing, stronger domestic demands and higher liv- ing standards, it added.
Moreover, 2019 is a crucial year for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.

“As the statement suggests, China will combine macro, structural and social policies and continue with the three tough battles to ensure steady operation of the economy and financial system to serve the 2020 goal,” deputy chief econ- omist with the China Center for International Economic Ex- changes Xu Hongcai said.
Photo taken on December 11, 2018 shows a part of “Fudao” skywalk in Fuzhou, capital of Southeast China’s Fujian Province.

VCG 37 ISSUE 4 · 2018 In 2018, the Shanghai Stock Exchange launched a science and technology innovation board to spur innovation-oriented development.
“The move can introduce more private capital in the technological industry to promote innovation,” Chen Baoming, director of the Research Institute of Comprehen- sive Development of the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development, said.

Investment role Apart from consumption, investment is another driver of the economy.

The conference stressed that investment con- tributes to the upgrading of the manufacturing industry and should be consolidated.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, investment in the manufacturing industry saw a 9.5-percent year-on- year growth from January to November in 2018.

The growth rate increased 5.4 percentage points over the corresponding period in the previous year.

“More guidance should be introduced for targeted in- vestment in industries with great growth potential,” Shi Lei, director of the Public Economic Research Center at Fudan University in Shanghai, said.

Chen shares a similar point of view.


He calls for greater input into the research and development of core technologies and stricter industrial standards to ensure high-quality and innovation-oriented development of the manufacturing in- dustry.

To create more vitality in the market, the government has stepped up support for small and medium-sized enterprises, especially private businesses.
China will continue to boost imports and exports through easing market access, reducing import tariffs, sim- plifying administrative procedures and cutting institutional costs.

Customers visit a duty-free shopping center in Sanya, South China’s Hainan Province, November 30, 2018.
VCG 38 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaFocus As follow-up measures, the confer- ence said the monetary transmission mechanism and proportion of direct financing will be improved to make financing more affordable for small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to Xu, the central bank needs to launch countercyclical ad- justments by reducing the required reserve ratio for commercial banks and using monetary policy instru- ments more flexibly to maintain mar- ket liquidity at a reasonably ample level.
He also suggested deeper cuts in taxes and fees and the issuing of spe- cial-purpose local government bonds to expand investment in infrastruc- ture.

Improving well-being A workshop of SIASUN, a robot and automation company in Shenyang, Northeast China’s Liaoning Province.

VCG The conference signaled that employment will be promoted to en- hance people’s well-being.
The most important part of social policies is to ensure peoples’ basic living, so em- ployment should be given primary importance, Zhang Liqun, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council, said.

According to a blue paper released on December 25, 2018, the number of employed people in China reached a record high in 2018.

By the end of the third quarter of the year, the registered urban unemployment rate stood at 3.82 percent, a historical low.
In 2019, the government will continue to pro- mote employment for graduates, migrant workers and former military personnel.

Targeted poverty alleviation remains among the key tasks on the economic agenda in 2019 as well.

Steady efforts in 2018 have seen many examples of suc- cessful poverty alleviation mainly by developing tourism and agriculture.
Liu Yongfu, head of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, said at a news conference on December 13, 2018 that the number of rural residents considered impoverished under the current standards had been reduced by over 85 percent by the end of 2018.

Still, the government needs to boost the rural economy to ensure that people rescued from poverty do not slide back into it, the conference said.
Since many local authorities tightened regulation in 2018, the housing market across China gradually cooled down.

In 2019, the focus will be on developing a long-term mechanism to maintain sound development of the market and crack down on housing speculation.

Nevertheless, expectations of a possible adjustment emerged.
The housing policy may see a shift in the middle of 2019 as reducing taxes and boosting consumption may not effectively offset the effects of downward pressure, according to a research team of brokerage and wealth management company Huatai Securities.

However, it said the fundamen- tal principle of ensuring houses are used for living instead of speculation will remain unchanged.
Opening-up efforts The year 2018, marking the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up, saw the Chinese market open up further de- spite rising uncertainties caused by the China-US trade fric- tion and slow global economic growth.

A white paper, China and the World Trade Organization (WTO), released by the State Council Information Office in June 2018, highlighted China’s contribution to the world economy since its accession to the WTO.
It said the Chinese economy has become a major driver of global economic recovery, contributing 30 percent to global growth on average since 2002.

On July 28, 2018, a new negative list of exceptions for for- eign investment was released, marking a key effort to lower the market threshold and improve China’s business environ- ment.

The first China International Import Expo held in Shang- hai in November 2018 marked another Chinese initiative to boost global trade.
The success of the initiative can be gauged from the fact that the value of intended deals made at the event reached $57.8 billion.

China is also pushing ahead with the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, tapping the potential of the domestic market by improving both im- ports and exports.

The conference said all-round opening-up will be promot- ed in 2019.
China will continue to boost imports and exports through easing market access, reducing import tariffs, sim- plifying administrative procedures and cutting institutional costs.

The pre-establishment national treatment plus a neg- ative list management will be improved to protect the legiti- 39 ISSUE 4 · 2018 mate rights of foreign companies in China.

In addition, more efforts will be made to introduce inter- national standards into the domestic market, according to the conference.
Meeting challenges “While growth is moderating, China’s economy continues to perform well,” the World Bank said on December 20, 2018, in its new China Economic Update.

The report said China’s GDP growth slowed to 6.5 percent year on year in the third quarter of 2018 from 6.8 percent in the first half mainly due to weaker trade and investment.
According to Zhang, the impact of the China-US trade friction on China’s exports could become more prominent in 2019, leading to a decrease in the growth of overseas market demands.

The growth of the Chinese market is also seeing a slowdown with reduced purchasing power.

However, to stimulate the economy, China has room to shift government spending to health, education and social security, according to the World Bank report.
Xu said stable economic growth can still be ensured by combining a proactive fiscal policy, a prudent monetary policy and structural reform.

“The year 2019 is a new start, furthering the reform and opening-up, and deserves more confidence and expectations,” he said.
(Beijing Review) Highlights of China’s 2019 economic work plans The annual Central Economic Work Conference has decided the priorities for China’s economy in 2019 as the country is to embrace a key year towards building a moder- ately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.

The meeting from December 19 to 21, 2018, in Beijing was participated in by the Chinese leaders, during which this year’s economic performance was reviewed and plans were made for the next year.
Here is a list of key tasks on the top of the economic agenda: -- Fiscal and monetary policy: China will continue to implement proactive fiscal policy as well as prudent monetary policy, make pre-emptive adjustments and fine-tune policies at proper time, and ensure stable aggregate demand.
-- More tax cuts: Proactive fiscal policy should be implemented with more effectiveness, with a larger scale of tax and fee cuts and a relatively substantial increase in the issuance of spe- cial-purpose local government bonds.

-- Fewer zombie companies: China will speed up the clean- up of “zombie” enterprises, while fostering new technologies and new industrial clusters.
-- High-quality manufacturing sector: Technological innovation will be strengthened, with the establishment of an open, coordi- nated and effective platform for the research and development of generic technology.

-- Stronger domestic market: China will accelerate the devel- opment of the service industry, including education, childcare, elderly care, medicare, culture and tourism while improving con- sumption and boosting spending power.
-- Rural vitalization strategy: To improve the living environment in rural areas, the country should promote garbage and sewage water treatment, carry out the toilet revolution and continue deep- ening rural land system reform.

-- Capital market reform: China will speed up the launch of a science and technology innovation board on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and experiment with a registration system.

-- Further opening-up: Market access should be loosened.
40 VCG Pre-establishment national treatment and the negative list management should be fully implemented to protect legitimate interests of foreign companies in China, especially intellectual property rights.

-- More exports and imports: The meeting called for greater efforts to increase imports and exports, push for a more diversi- fied export market, and cut institutional costs of importing proce- dures.
-- Healthy property market: The meeting called for construct- ing a long-term mechanism to keep the sound development of the real estate market and adhering to the principle that “housing is for living in, not speculation.” (Xinhua) NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaFocus China’s central economic work conferences in past 5 years The annual Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 19 to 21, 2018, as Chinese leaders reviewed the economic work in 2018 and made plans for the economy in 2019.
The following is a round-up of the key points of the con- ferences over the last five years.
December 18-20, 2017 Basic tone: making progress while maintaining stability, pushing for high-quality development Major tasks: China vowed to maintain a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent and neutral monetary policy; give better play to the role of structural policies; address problems related to people’s livelihood with social policies; accelerate the pace of economic reforms; open up wider and significantly ease market access; fight the “three tough battles” against risks, poverty and pollution in the coming three years; deepen the supply-side structural reform; stimulate the vitality of various market entities; implement the rural vitalization strategy and the coordinated regional development strategy; make new ground in pursuing opening-up on all fronts; improve people’s wellbeing; accelerate efforts to establish a housing system that ensures supply through multiple sources, provide housing support through multiple channels and encourages both hous- ing purchase and renting; move faster to promote ecological conservation.
December 14-16, 2016 Basic tone: making progress while maintaining stability, with continued efforts to propel sup- ply-side structural reforms and improve eco- nomic quality and efficiency Major tasks: China vowed to implement a prudent and neu- tral monetary policy and make its fiscal policy more proactive and effective in 2017; ensure stable liquidity and the yuan’s exchange rate; put more emphasis on preventing and con- trolling financial risks; continue to deepen supply-side structur- al reform, with progress in cutting industrial capacity, destock- ing, deleveraging, lowering costs and improving weak links; advance supply-side structural reform in agriculture; revive the real economy; ensure a healthy and stable property market; continue to push forward human-centered urbanization; make headway in reforms in key areas, including mixed ownership of State-owned enterprises (SOEs), property rights protection, fis- cal and finance systems, capital markets and banking, pensions and opening-up.
December 18-21, 2015 Basic tone: making progress while maintaining stability, with a priority on structural reform Major tasks: China vowed to stabilize growth, make structur- al adjustments, improve people’s livelihoods and guard against risks in 2016; ensure the economy operates within a reasonable range; appropriately expand aggregate demand while promoting supply-side structural reform; move ahead on five major tasks in- cluding excess capacity cutting and deleveraging; advance reform in key sectors, including SOEs, fiscal policy and taxation, finance, banking, pensions and health.
December 9-11, 2014 Basic tone: making progress while maintaining stability, centering on quality and efficiency of economic growth Major tasks: China vowed to keep economic growth and poli- cies steady in 2015; actively adapt to the economic “new normal” of slower but higher quality growth; continue targeted and struc- tured control policies to maintain medium-high growth; strengthen proactive fiscal policy; ensure prudent, balanced monetary policy; accelerate reform in administrative approval, investment, pricing, monopolies, franchising, government purchased services and outbound investment; improve the investment environment and market access in the service sector; further open up manufactur- ing sectors; promote the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ); stabilize inbound overseas investment and seek higher quality investment.
December 10-13, 2013 Basic tone: making progress while maintaining stability, pushing forward reform and innovation Major tasks: China vowed to push forward reform and innova- tion in economic and social development; make progress while maintaining stability; continue proactive fiscal and prudent mon- etary policy; enhance quality and efficiency of economic growth; stimulate market vitality; accelerate structural adjustment; push forward interest rate liberalization and exchange rate reform; keep reasonable growth of the money supply and social financing; ensure national food security; resolve industrial overcapacity and advance innovation; contain local government debt risks; promote regional coordinated development; improve people’s livelihoods; enhance a sound, transparent and fair environment to protect investors; strengthen the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
(Xinhua) 41 ISSUE 4 · 2018 Xinjiang’s vocational and training centers improve life chances for trainees, families Xinjiang law enforcement forces vow to fight terrorism in a mass gathering in Hetian (also known as Hotan), Xinjiang, Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb- ruary 27, 2017.

VCG Correspondents at Xinhua News Agency have re- cently interviewed Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on counterterrorism and the vocational education and training program in the region.
The following is the full transcript of the interview: Xinhua: Would you please brief us on the current situa- tion in Xinjiang, given that under the influence of international terrorism and religious extremism, the number of violent ter- rorist attacks had been on the rise in parts of the region over a period of time?
Shohrat Zakir: Since the 1990s, the “three evil forces” (terrorism, extremism and separatism) in China and abroad have plotted, organized and conducted thousands of violent terrorist attacks including bombings, assassinations, poison- 42 ing, arson, assaults, unrest and riots, causing the deaths of a large number of innocent people and hundreds of police offi- cers, as well as immeasurable property damage.
The horrific crimes of terrorists not only severely undermined the stable and peaceful order and the atmosphere of solidarity and progress of Xinjiang, but also trampled upon the essential human rights of people of all ethnic groups in the region, such as their rights to life, health, property and development.

People of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang were enraged and shared hatred toward the terrorist crimes.

A child of a Uygur police officer who died in the line of duty wrote me a letter.
In emotional words, the letter reads: “My father sacrificed his life on the counterterrorism frontline.

His upright personality will always inspire me.


I hope that the Party and government can unwaveringly root out ter- rorism so that no children grow up without their fathers.” NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaIntervIew Facing complex and grave circumstances as well as the pressing anti-terrorism desire of the people, the Chinese government has resolutely taken measures in preventing and combating violent terrorist crimes in accordance with the law.
In the past few years, under the firm leadership of the Com- munist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Com- rade Xi Jinping at the core, Xinjiang has thoroughly carried out the policies of the CPC Central Committee on governing Xinjiang, unswervingly worked for the general goal of ensur- ing social stability and long-term security and made major achievements in fighting against terrorism and safeguarding stability.

Now Xinjiang is generally stable, with the situation under control and improving.
In the past 21 months, no vio- lent terrorist attacks have occurred and the number of crim- inal cases, including those endangering public security, has dropped significantly.

Public security has notably improved with religious extremism effectively contained, while people are now feeling more secure.

We have laid a good foundation for completely solving the deeply-rooted problems that affect the region’s long-term stability.
Xinjiang has started to enjoy the dividend of effective counterterrorism efforts with its economy steadily growing, people’s livelihood improving, and overall progress being made in all respects.

In 2017, the region had a 7.6 percent growth in GDP while the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents increased by 8.1 percent and 8.5 per- cent, respectively.
Tourism boomed in 2017 when the region registered more than 100 million trips by do- mestic and international tourists, a year-on-year growth of 32.4 percent.

In the first nine months of 2018, Xinjiang has already recorded 132 million trips by tourists from home and abroad, a 40 percent year-on- year increase.

Many people who have visited Xinjiang used social media to extol the region’s progress: Today’s Xinjiang is not only beauti- ful but also safe and stable.
No mat- ter where they are or at what time of the day, people are no longer afraid of going out, shopping, dining and traveling.

Xinhua: It has been reported that Xinjiang has launched a vocational education and training program in a bid to facil- itate its efforts to counter terrorism and extremism.

What’s the thinking behind this move?

Shohrat Zakir: Terrorism and extremism go against human civilization and are the common enemy of the inter- national community.
Countering terrorism and eradicating extremism is a global issue as well as a global headache.

Over the years, many countries have pursued approaches to countering terrorism and extremism according to their own conditions and have made headway in this regard.

The in- ternational community has also realized that terrorism and extremism are very hard to root out and can easily resurge.
Drawing on the anti-terrorism experience of the international community, China has actively responded to the UN General Assembly’s resolution on Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, and has been committed to addressing conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, while preventing and combating terrorism.

Based on its realities, China has combined fighting and preventing terrorism with an emphasis on prevention.
China has been actively exploring and applying preventive measures in countering terrorism and extremism.

Based on its own realities, Xinjiang has given equal im- portance to fighting and preventing terrorism, and sought to combine the fight against violent terrorist crimes with the protection of human rights.
On one hand, Xinjiang has put emphasis on strictly countering a small number of violent terrorist crimes according to law, and spared no efforts in protecting the basic human rights of the citizens from the harm of terrorism and extremism.
On the other hand, Xinji- ang has also stressed addressing the root cause of terrorism, and moved to bring around, educate and save the majority of those who committed petty crimes, through assistance and education, to prevent them from becoming victims of terror- ism and extremism.

Today, despite the significant progress Xinjiang has made, countering terrorism and extremism is still a long-stand- ing, complicated and serious issue and calls for high alert.
In particular, the four prefectures in southern Xinjiang were threatened by terrorism and seriously influenced by the spread of religious extremism in the past.

Some residents there have a limited command of the country’s common language and a limited sense and knowledge of the law.

They often have difficulties in finding employment due to limited vocational skills.
This has led to a low material-basis for res- idents to live and work there, making them vulnerable to the instigation and coercion of terrorism and extrem- ism.

There is still a long way to go for southern Xinjiang to eradicate the environment and soil of terrorism and religious extremism.

Based on the above-mentioned sit- uation, Xinjiang has launched a voca- tional education and training program according to the law.
Its purpose is to get rid of the environment and soil that breeds terrorism and religious extremism and stop violent terrorist activities from happening.

Xinhua: Could you tell us more about the legal basis and relevant procedure of the vocational education and training program?

Shohrat Zakir: In recent years, the Chinese government has accelerated the legislation of its anti-terrorism efforts to strictly prevent and combat violent terrorist crimes according to law.
The National People’s Congress passed the Anti-Terrorism Law in 2015 and the Ninth Amendment to the Criminal Law, while the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, together with the Supreme People’s Court, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministry of Justice, in 2018 issued guidelines on the ap- plication of law in cases involving terrorism and extremism, which have improved and clarified the definitions of terrorist crimes, criteria for conviction, case handling procedures, and working mechanisms.
Together with the Criminal Procedure 43 Shohrat Zakir, chairman of the Government of Xinji- ang Uygur Autonomous Region Hou Yu ISSUE 4 · 2018 tremization education, as the main content, with achieving employment as the key direction.

The vocational training in- stitutions have set up departments of teaching, management, medical care, logistics and security, and allocated a corre- sponding number of faculty, class advisors, medical, catering, logistics and security staff.
In the process of learning and training, the trainees will advance from learning the country’s common language, to learning legal knowledge and vocational skills.

Firstly, the trainees will take learning the country’s common language as the basis to improve their communication abilities, gain modern science knowledge and enhance their understand- ing of Chinese history, culture and national conditions.

The teaching follows standardized plans, textbooks, materials and systems.
The trainees are taught in various methods suited to their literacy to raise their abilities to use the country’s common language as soon as possible.

Secondly, the learning of legal knowledge is taken as a key part of cultivating the trainees’ awareness of the nation, citizenship and rule of law.
Legal experts are hired to lecture on the Constitution, the criminal law and the civil law, etc., and judges, prosecutors and lawyers are invited to teach the criminal law, the law on public security administration, the anti-terrorism law, the marriage law, the education law and Xinjiang’s de-extremiza- tion regulations.

Thirdly, vocational learning is taken as a key way to help trainees find employment.
Courses on clothing and footwear making, food processing, electronic product assembly, typesetting and printing, hairdressing and e-com- merce have been set up to suit local social needs and job market.

Multi-skill training is provided to trainees who have the desire and capability to learn, so that they acquire one to two vocational skills upon graduation.

Businesses in garment making, mobile phone assembly and ethnic cuisine catering are arranged to offer trainees practical opportunities.
In the meantime, they are paid basic incomes and a bonus.

The mechanism has taken shape in which the trainees can “learn, practice and earn money.” In daily life, vocational institutions and schools strictly implement the spirit of laws and regulations, including the Constitution and religious affairs regulations, and respect and protect the customs and habits of various ethnic groups and their beliefs in diet and daily life.
Faculties of the insti- tutions and schools also try their best to ensure and meet the trainees’ needs in study, life, and entertainment on the basis of free education.

The cafeteria prepares nutritious free diets, and the dormitories are fully equipped with radio, TV, air conditioning, bathroom and shower.
Indoor and outdoor sports venues for basketball, volleyball and table tennis have been built, along with reading rooms, computer labs, film screening rooms, as well as performance venues such as small auditoriums and open-air stages.

Various activities such as contests on speech, writing, dancing, singing and sports are organized.
Many trainees have said that they were previously affected by extremist thought and had never participated in such kinds of art and sports activities, and now they have re- alized that life can be so colorful.

Moreover, the vocational institutions and schools pay high attention to the trainees’ mental health and helped them solve problems in life.
They not only provide profes- sional psychological counseling services, but also duly deal A teacher in the Teaching and Training Center of Hetian, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, instructs students in the reading room on October 7, 2018.

Hu Huhu Law, these laws and regulations have formed a relatively sound Chinese anti-terrorism legal framework.
While strictly following the Constitution, the law on regional ethnic au- tonomy and the legislation law, Xinjiang has taken its local conditions into consideration and formulated the region’s en- forcement measures of the anti-terrorism law, de-extremiza- tion regulations, among others.

These laws and regulations are subject to revisions to keep them up to date.
In practice, when dealing with those who have been insti- gated, coerced, or lured into terrorist or extremist activities, or people who only committed minor offenses when involved in terrorist and extremist activities, Xinjiang combines punish- ment with leniency and gives prominence to their rehabilita- tion and redemption in accordance with the Criminal Law, the Criminal Procedure Law, the Anti-Terrorism Law and other relevant laws and regulations.
As for most people who are influenced by terrorism and extremism, those suspected of mi- nor criminal offenses but do not have to be subject to penalties or can be exempted from criminal punishment, Xinjiang has provided them with free vocational training through vocational education institutions to improve their ability in commanding the country’s common language, acquiring legal knowledge and vocational skills, among others.
In that way, Xinjiang can better guard against the infiltration of terrorism and extrem- ism.

The detailed procedures include, on the premise that training goals, methods, program completion standards and testing methods are clearly identified, that vocational training institutions sign an agreement with the trainees.

The insti- tutions will then conduct the free programs through various forms such as collective courses, boarding schools and hands- on training.
The trainees will be issued certificates of comple- tion after they meet the required standards.

Xinhua: Could you please elaborate on the main content of the vocational training?
Shohrat Zakir: Currently, Xinjiang has established a training model with professional vocational training insti- tutions as the platform, learning the country’s common lan- guage, legal knowledge, vocational skills, along with de-ex- 44 NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaIntervIew with complaints from the trainees and their families.

All this shows that the management of the vocational institutions and schools are people-oriented.
Xinhua: Could you please elaborate on the progress of the vocational training?

Shohrat Zakir: Through vocational training, most train- ees have been able to reflect on their mistakes and see clearly the essence and harm of terrorism and religious extremism.

They have notably enhanced national consciousness, civil awareness, awareness of the rule of law and the sense of community of the Chinese nation.
They have also been able to better tell right from wrong and resist the infiltration of ex- tremist thought.

They have become more proactive in shak- ing off poverty, and becoming better off.

It has been a com- mon practice among them to expect and pursue a modern life.

They are confident about the future.

“I didn’t understand the country’s common language, nor did I know about the laws.

I wouldn’t even have known that I had made mistakes.

But the government didn’t give me up.


It has actively saved and assisted me, giving me free food, accommodation and education.

Now I have made great progress in many aspects.

I will cherish this opportunity and become a person useful to the country and society,” a trainee said.

On the whole, the following achievements have been made.

Firstly, the trainees have gained progress in mastering the country’s common language.

In the past, many of them had difficulties in listening, speaking and reading.
They now are able to basically understand and use it in communication, which has broadened their sources to acquire modern knowl- edge and information.

Many trainees said they were affected by religious extremism and failed to understand the signif- icance of bilingual education.

They said they had thought of merely sticking to their own ethnic language as the way to preserve their ethnic culture, so they refused to learn the country’s common language.
Now they have realized they should not only learn the common language well, but also foreign languages to follow modernization trends.

Secondly, the trainees have been increasing their aware- ness of the rule of law.

Affected or coerced by religious ex- tremist thought, many of the trainees acted under “religion discipline” or “family discipline” that was distorted or con- cocted by extremists.
Many trainees have now realized that they are firstly citizens of the nation, and their behavior is both protected and regulated by law.

They have truly under- stood what is legitimate and what is not.

They now also know how to turn to the law for help.

“As a divorced woman, I am raising a son and a daughter with the help of my parents, living in poverty.
I did not know that my ex-husband had the obligation to raise the children, too,” said a female trainee, who is now able to use the law to claim overdue alimony from her ex-husband.

Thirdly, the trainees’ vocational skills have been enhanced.

Many trainees had no vocational skills before.

Even though they wanted to get a job, it was hard for them to find one.
By learning vocational skills and knowledge, and participating in practical training, the trainees have now mastered pre- liminary practical skills.

It has gradually become realistic for them to increase their incomes, get rid of poverty and acquire wealth.

“Through practicing vocational skills, I can earn 1,500 yuan per month now.

My income has increased a lot and I have become the main support for my family.

I can stand tall and start receiving praise from my elders.
My wife has become more considerate.

My kids are proud of me.

I have regained respect and confidence,” a trainee said.

As a result of the vocational education and training, the social environment of Xinjiang has seen notable changes, with a healthy atmosphere on the rise and improper practices declining.
There has been a growing trend to pursue mod- ern scientific and technological knowledge and etiquette; the dissemination of religious extremism is resisted consciously; communication, exchanges and integration among various ethnic groups are closer; public support for countering terror- ism, maintaining stability and de-extremization is stronger; and people of all ethnic groups are full of hope for better lives.
Xinhua: After your introduction, we have got a clear and comprehensive understanding of the work of vocation- al education and training.

Would you please give us some information on the future plan of vocational education and training?

Shohrat Zakir: Facts have proven that vocational educa- tion and training fits the reality of current efforts in countering terrorism, maintaining stability and eradicating extremism in Xinjiang.
It is an effective measure of Xinjiang to explore ways to remove the environment and soil of terrorism and ex- tremism, and prevent violent terrorist crimes.

Since its launch, the work has won high recognition and sincere support from people of all ethnic groups across Xinjiang.
It has played an important role in achieving social stability and enduring peace and security in Xinjiang, and served as a positive exploration and constructive attempt for the international community in countering terrorism and eradicating extremism.

According to feedback from the vocational education and training institutions, some trainees have come close to or reached the completion standard agreed in the training agreements.

They are receiving course-completion tests in an orderly manner.
They are expected to complete their courses successfully by the end of this year.

We are busy with their employment arrangements.

Meanwhile, Xinjiang will carry out programs to invite investments that suit the vocational skills of trainees.

By bringing more businesses to Xinjiang, we will create jobs and alleviate poverty.
We will try to achieve a seamless connection between school teaching and social employment, so that after finishing their courses, the trainees will be able to find jobs and earn a well-off life.
Next, Xinjiang will further implement the strategies and policies on the region, set by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, adhere to the people-cen- tered philosophy of development, properly handle the rela- tions between stability and development, and concentrate on the three major tasks: construction of the core zone of the Silk Road Economic Belt, the implementation of the rural vi- talization strategy and the development of the tourism indus- try.
It will also take the four prefectures in southern Xinjiang as the main battlefield to fight against poverty with targeted measures to ensure that by 2020, all rural residents living below the poverty line are lifted out of poverty.

Xinjiang will also work to see that people of all ethnic groups have a stron- ger sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, and that the gains of development benefit people of all ethnic groups in a fair way.
(Xinhua) 45 ISSUE 4 · 2018 An effort: Back to society and family By Yu Zhigang fenders and criminals by adhering to the principle of rule of law.

China punishes and educates terrorism-related of- China adopts a two-track legislation model tar- geting respectively at offenses and crimes, while European countries and the US do not distinguish offenses from crimes.
Crime stipulated in the Criminal Law of China is the equiva- lent of felony in Western countries, while offense in China’s anti-terrorism law is the equivalent of misdemeanor or acts against police regulations in European countries.

China identifies terrorism-related offenders or criminals in accordance with law.

While dealing with offenders and criminals, China adopts a combined approach of both punishment and education.

Punishment itself is not the purpose.


Our goal is that, with vocational training and employment assistance after punish- ment, the offenders and criminals will repent and start anew, go back to their families and the society, and do not engage in offenses and crimes again.

We lay parallel emphasis on punishing the crimes and protecting human rights.

China sticks to the principle of combining punishment and education as well as avoiding long-term detention while deal- ing with terrorism-related criminals.
According to the principle of nulla poena sine lege, China convicts and measures crimes according to legal procedures regarding those who exercise terrorist crimes and extremism crimes.

As to those criminals who finish serving their sentences but are still highly risky of committing terrorist crimes again, China adopts the practice of resettlement education.

This is 46 VCG a kind of security measure which is in conformity with global established legal practices.
Meanwhile, resettlement educa- tion does not require serving sentences in jail, which is far lighter and gentler than the continuing detention system of Australia and the preventive dentention system of Norway, and is therefore more helpful for the criminals to return to the society and family.

The US considers terrorist criminals as enemies that is applicable to the military law, and there is no limit to the term of detention.
As to those offenders who have taken part in terrorist and extremism activities but the circumstances are minor and the offenders need not be given criminal punishment, a custody within 15 days will be given, and judicial organs will help and educate them so that they can return to the society and fami- lies.

Western countries adopt the one-track legislation model that does not distinguish offenses from crimes.

There are no offenses, but all crimes that are applicable to rigid criminal measures.
With regard to those terrorist suspects, the police, while investigating terrorist activities, could order the suspects to observe the measures of constraint instead of putting them in jail.

It is similar to the control order made by Australia, but Australia could adopt more rigid measures such as preventive detention.

The concept of China’s anti-terrorism laws and measures: light punishment and enable offenders and criminals to re- turn to the society and family.
(The author is a member of the NPC Standing Committee and member of the NPC Constitution and Law Committee.)
NatioNal PeoPle’s CoNgress of ChiNaIntervIew All 7,139 suggestions submitted at 2018 session handled All 7,139 suggestions submit- ted by deputies to the 13th National Peo- ple’s Congress (NPC) during the NPC annual session in March 2018 have been handled Replies to all suggestions have been sent to deputies, and 75.8 percent of the suggestions have been solved or will be solved A total of 4,402 suggestions were formed when deputies conducted inspections, research, seminars and interviews in local communities, making up 61.7 percent of the total suggestions submitted These suggestions were put forward by 2,546 deputies during the 1st session of the 13th NPC.
4,499 suggestions submitted by new deputies, making up 63 percent of the total suggestions submitted 126 suggestions submitted by the delegations, involving 18 delegations The suggestions focus on forestalling and defusing major risks carrying out targeted poverty alleviation preventing and controlling pollution pursuing the rural vitalization strategy promoting high-quality development of the economy ensuring and improving people’s wellbeing (Source: Xinhua) 47 ISSUE 4 · 2018