Chinese Communist Party Begins Full-Scale Promotion of Xi Jinping's Achievements... Efforts to Secure President Xi's Third Term

Ministry of Finance Publishes Fiscal Statistics Since 2012, Indirectly Supporting Xi Jinping
Ministry of Education: 240 Million Chinese College Graduates... Defends Xi Jinping's Education Policies Targeting Youth

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] China's Ministry of Finance announced in an official briefing that China's fiscal revenue has increased by an average of 6.9% annually over the past 10 years. The Ministry of Education revealed 10 years of education statistics in China, stating that as of last year, the enrollment rate of young people in universities and other higher education institutions reached 57.8%, which is an increase of 27.8 percentage points compared to 10 years ago.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The reference year used by the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the economy, and the Ministry of Education, which leads education, is 2012. The year 2012 is when Chinese President Xi Jinping rose to the positions of General Secretary of the Communist Party, President of the country, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission through the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (18th Party Congress).

According to Chinese media including the state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 18th, the Ministry of Finance announced at a press briefing held under the theme "China's 10 Years" that last year's national public budget revenue was 20.25 trillion yuan (approximately 3,785 trillion Korean won). The Ministry added that this was an increase of 8.52 trillion yuan compared to the 11.73 trillion yuan public budget revenue in 2012.

The Ministry of Finance also explained that the cumulative revenue over the past 10 years was 163.5 trillion yuan, with an average annual growth rate of 6.9%. During the same period, public budget expenditure nearly doubled from 12.6 trillion yuan to 24.63 trillion yuan. It emphasized that the cumulative expenditure over 10 years was 193.64 trillion yuan, with an average annual increase of 8.5%.

Vice Minister of Finance Xu Hongcai said, "This is the first time data from the past 10 years has been disclosed," adding, "China's finances have grown in line with the country's high-quality development." He further stated, "To better carry out the country's major strategic tasks, we plan to actively allocate resources within the scope that does not undermine fiscal stability."

The Ministry of Education also released 10 years of statistics related to higher education in China on the same day. The Ministry explained that China has built the world's largest higher education system with 240 million university graduates and currently has more than 44.3 million students enrolled in higher education institutions.

The Ministry of Education stated that since the 18th Party Congress in 2012, China's higher education has been on a path of high-quality development, with the enrollment rate in higher education institutions reaching 57.8% as of last year. It added that this represents an increase of 27.8 percentage points from the 30% enrollment rate in 2012, marking the entry of Chinese higher education into the stage of massification.

She Weihua, Vice President of Tsinghua University, said at the briefing, "Chinese universities undertake more than 60% of the country's basic research projects and over 80% of the National Natural Science Foundation projects," and self-assessed that "the quality of China's higher education has reached the highest level in history." He added that Chinese universities are directly involved in high-speed rail, nuclear power, supercomputers, vaccines, Beidou satellite navigation, Shenzhou spacecraft, and core technologies related to national defense.

Xiong Bingqi, Deputy Director of the Shanghai 21st Century Education Research Institute, said, "Blind pursuit of higher education can lead to academic regression," and added, "It is time for China to establish a new higher education system that cultivates students oriented toward creative experimentation."

Chinese media such as Global Times evaluated that over the past 10 years, Chinese higher education institutions have led talent innovation and become a stepping stone for China's growth.

The emphasis of the 10-year data disclosure by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education is on the phrase "since the 18th Party Congress." It indirectly reflects the achievements of President Xi Jinping's 10 years in power, who is expected to serve a third term.

Accordingly, ahead of the 20th Party Congress expected to be held at the end of October or early November, there is analysis that the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education have started promoting President Xi's achievements to support his third term. Due to concerns that dissatisfaction with President Xi might grow as the economy worsens under the 'zero COVID' policy caused by the resurgence of COVID-19, it is also interpreted that major Chinese ministries have hurried to package President Xi's accomplishments.

It is expected that the Central Propaganda Department of the Communist Party of China will promote the legitimacy of President Xi's third term by having various ministries highlight China's growth and development since the 18th Party Congress.