The report of the 12th Shanghai Party Congress presented by Party Secretary Li Qiang was
published on June 25. The report included 23 references to Xi Jinping. Li Qiang said that "since
the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping
has visited Shanghai in person for four consecutive years to inspect and guide the work, made important instructions, assigned major tasks, and assigned major missions, which pointed out
the direction for Shanghai's development and ushered in a new era of Shanghai's succession.
Li Qiang said that "in the past five years, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central
Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on
Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era", we have fully implemented the spirit
of the 19th National Congress of the CPC and all previous plenary sessions of the 19th Party
Congress, and "insisted on learning and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi
Jinping's important Shanghai speech". He said Xi Jinping had "united and led the city's party
members, cadres and the masses to forge ahead, keep upright and innovate, and withstood the
test of the intertwined and superimposed changes of the century and the epidemic of the century,
and successfully completed." He added that "Since 2020, under the strong leadership of
General Secretary Xi Jinping and the CPC Central Committee, we have resolutely implemented
the general strategy of "foreign defense against imports and internal defense against rebound"
and the general policy of "dynamic clearing", and adhered to the "national gate" with a strong
sense of mission and responsibility. Since March this year, in the face of the unprecedented
severe and complex new wave of epidemics, we have resolutely implemented the important
instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping and the decisions and deployments of the CPC
Central Committee. We made arduous efforts to contain the exponential rise of the epidemic
at a very critical juncture, broke the stalemate and repeated situation of the epidemic at the
stage of tackling the crisis, and achieved and consolidated the results of dynamic social clearing,
winning the great Shanghai. defense. The practice of fighting against the epidemic over the
past two years, especially the battle to defend the Greater Shanghai, has made us more deeply
aware that the decision-making and deployment of the Party Central Committee on epidemic
prevention and control is completely correct, and that socialism with Chinese characteristics
has unparalleled institutional advantages." "As long as we keep in mind the general secretary's
entrustment and forge ahead in the direction guided by the general secretary, we will surely be
able to overcome all kinds of difficulties and challenges on the way forward, and continue to
move from victory to victory". In the report, Li Qiang said that "accelerating the construction
of a socialist modern international metropolis with world influence is the clear positioning of
General Secretary Xi Jinping for Shanghai. In the next five years, we will adhere to the
guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important
thought of "Three Represents", the Scientific Outlook on Development, and Xi Jinping
Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and thoroughly implement
General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech on his visit to Shanghai. Spirit, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "two establishments", strengthen the "four
consciousnesses", strengthen the "four self-confidences", resolutely achieve the "two
maintenances", carry forward the great spirit of party building". Li Qiang also exhorted "Party
members and cadres in the city to always maintain the political character of communists,
strengthen their ideals and beliefs, cultivate people's feelings, temper their responsibilities,
stimulate their enthusiasm for struggle, and always maintain a blood and blood connection with
the people. Facing up to difficulties, catching up with learning, forging ahead in a new journey
and making contributions to a new era". He concluded by urging all to "unite more closely
around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, follow the guidance
of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly
implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech on his inspection of
Shanghai, vigorously carry forward the great spirit of party building, and consciously practice
it. People's city concept, forge ahead, forge ahead bravely, meet the victory of the party's 20th
National Congress with practical actions, and make unremitting efforts to accelerate the
construction of a socialist modern international metropolis with world influence and to realize
the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation". The Provincial Congress
re-elected Li Qiang as Secretary of the Shanghai Municipality Party Committee.
(Comment: Shanghai Party Secretary Li Qiang has been widely regarded as a frontrunner for
elevation to the PBSC but the public outcry against the 'zero Covid' policy could affect his
chances. This would explain the frequent mention of Xi Jinping in his work report to the 12th
Shanghai Congress.)
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