Xi Party School speech; John Kerry and Wang Yi have a video chat; 6th Plenum; Spavor and Kovrig

Today’s Essential Eight items:

1. Xi makes annual address to Fall Party School training session

2. Kerry flies to Tianjin, Wang Yi meets him over video link

3. Ambassador Qin Gang’s speech

4. More on the Li Guangman post and the 6th Plenum

5. New school year starts

6. War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea and patriotic education

7. More official details on Spavor and Kovrig cases

8. Official labor unions are OK, labor activism is not

Thanks for reading.