Xi says at Central Economic Work Conference he "consistently supports private enterprises."
Xi says at Central Economic Work Conference he "consistently supports private enterprises."
And the first known words directly attributed to Xi on China's new phase of COVID prevention and control: "find a balance" and "believe that the dawn is ahead."
China concluded its annual Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) on Friday. The readout has been published by Xinhua. Pekingnology, part of CCG’s newsletter offerings, on early Saturday morning presented a full translation of the readout and some relevant context.
On Sunday, Dec. 18, the People’s Daily published an article directly from the CEWC that offers additional factual information, with direct quotes of President Xi Jinping at the CEWC. Some useful - and otherwise unavailable - information can be extracted from the article, titled
“关键是提振信心”（微镜头·习近平总书记在中央经济工作会议上）
"The key is to boost confidence" (Micro shot - General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Central Economic Work Conference)
On 2022, the article said
梳理这一年“我们做的事情”，发展质量稳步提升，就业稳、物价稳、粮仓稳，经济社会大局保持稳定，成绩殊为不易，值得倍加珍惜。习近平总书记语重心长：“遇到的困难很多，有的困难是空前的，但是我们做到了。”
Combing "what we did" this year, the quality of development has steadily improved, employment was stable, prices were stable, food supply was stable, and the general situation of the economy and society maintained stability. The achievements were not easy to get and, therefore, worth cherishing. General Secretary Xi Jinping said, "We encountered many difficulties. Some of them were unprecedented. But we did it."
On the confidence in the Chinese economy, the article said
回望历史，习近平总书记感慨：“什么时候没有困难？一个一个过，年年过、年年好，中华民族5000多年来都是这样。爬坡过坎，关键是提振信心。”
信心源自哪里？
……
“明年经济运行有望总体回升”的战略判断，着眼于我国经济发展的体制、需求、供给、人力等多项优势，加上政策效果持续显现。“我们要坚定做好经济工作的信心。”
Looking back at history, General Secretary Xi Jinping said: "When were there no difficulties? We overcame them one by one and year after year, and we got better year after year. The Chinese nation, for more than 5,000 years, has always been like this [overcoming difficulties]. To surmount obstacles, the key is to boost confidence."
Confidence from where?
……
The strategic judgment that "the economy next year is expected to generally rebound" is in view of the system, demand, supply, and human resources of our country’s economic development, coupled with policy effects that continue to appear. "We should be firm in our confidence to do a good job in the economy."
On the priorities in the “economic work” for 2023
习近平总书记在会上着重谈到了明年经济工作的几个重大问题，也是国内外瞩目的政策取向——着力扩大国内需求、加快建设现代化产业体系、切实落实“两个毫不动摇”、更大力度吸引和利用外资、有效防范化解重大经济金融风险。
措施务实，政策鲜明有力。比如，当前住房、汽车、服务性消费等领域存在一些限制性措施，妨碍了消费需求释放。总书记的讲话直击要害：“要增强消费能力，改善消费条件，创新消费场景，使消费潜力充分释放出来。”
At the meeting, General Secretary Xi Jinping focused on a few major issues for next year's economic work, which are also policy orientations of interest at home and abroad - focusing on expanding domestic demand, accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system, effectively implementing the "two unwavering," making greater efforts to attract and utilization of foreign capital, and effectively prevent and resolve major economic and financial risks.
The measures are pragmatic and the policies are clear and strong. For example, there are currently some restrictive measures in housing, automobiles, and service consumption, which hinder the release of consumer demand. The general secretary's speech hits the nail on the head: "We should enhance consumption capacity, improve consumption conditions, and innovate consumption scenarios so that the consumption potential can be fully released."
Comment: if the framing of the quotes is correct - and there is no evidence to the contrary since this is perhaps the only direct account available of the CEWC, except the official readout - then it can be expected that the existing restrictions on buying apartments and automobiles will be lifted.
（Xi at the Central Economic Work Conference in Beijing from Dec. 15 to 16. Xinhua/Ju Peng)
On the private economy:
再比如，是否坚持“两个毫不动摇”，一段时间以来有些不正确的议论。
“必须亮明态度，毫不含糊，始终坚持社会主义市场经济改革方向，坚持‘两个毫不动摇’。”习近平总书记语气坚定：“党的二十大报告鲜明提出‘促进民营经济发展壮大’，这是长久之策，不是权宜之计。”
“民营企业是在党的领导下，依靠党的政策和自身努力发展起来的。我是一贯支持民营企业的，也是在民营经济比较发达的地方干过来的。”……到中央工作后，2018年主持召开民营企业座谈会，总书记专门强调：“民营企业和民营企业家是我们自己人”。
会上，党中央释放的政策信号十分清晰：“要从制度和法律上把对国企民企平等对待的要求落下来，从政策和舆论上鼓励支持民营经济和民营企业发展壮大。”“依法保护民营企业产权和企业家权益。”“各级领导干部要为民营企业解难题、办实事，构建亲清政商关系。”
In another example, on whether to adhere to the "Two Unswervings," for a period of time, there are some incorrect discussions (in society).
"We must show our attitude clearly and be unambiguous: always adhere to the direction of the socialist market economy reform, adhere to the 'Two Unswervings".'" General Secretary Xi Jinping's tone is firm: "The 20th Party Congress report distinctly put forward 'to promote the development and growth of the private economy'’, which is a long-term policy, not a stopgap measure."
"Private enterprises have developed under the leadership of the Party, relying on the Party's policies, and relying on their own efforts. I consistently support private enterprises, and I worked in places where the private economy is more developed."……After going to work at the central level, when chairing a symposium on private enterprises in 2018, the General Secretary specifically stressed that "private enterprises and private entrepreneurs are our own people."
At the CEWC, the policy signals released by the Party Central Committee were very clear: "The requirement for equal treatment of state-owned and private enterprises should be put into practice in terms of systems and laws, and the development and growth of the private economy and private enterprises should be encouraged and supported in terms of policies and public opinion." "Protect the property rights of private enterprises and the rights and interests of entrepreneurs in accordance with the law." "Leading officials at all levels must solve problems and do practical things for private enterprises and build a close but uncorrupted government-business relationship."
Context: The "Two Unswervings" 两个“毫不动摇” refers to unswervingly consolidating and developing the public sector and unswervingly encouraging, supporting and guiding development of the non-public sector. This is the term the Communist Party of China uses to say it supports the private economy.
And on COVID-19
在疫情防控进入新阶段之际，如何更好统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，“这是这几年最关键的一件事情”。总书记在会上叮嘱：“要统一思想、科学防控、提振信心，找到杠杆的平衡点，因时因势优化疫情防控措施。”“相信曙光就在前面。”
As the epidemic prevention and control enters a new phase, how to better coordinate epidemic prevention & control and economic & social development, "This is the most critical thing in the past few years." The General Secretary said at the meeting, "We should unify our thoughts, conduct scientific prevention and control, boost confidence, find a balance, and optimize the epidemic prevention and control measures according to the time and situation." "Believe that the dawn is ahead."
Read the full translation of the CEWC readout and relevant context on Pekingnology