In July, the long-awaited Third Plenum will set Beijing's reform course for the coming years. But a look at history shows that the leadership's understanding of reform has changed radically under Xi.
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Deng Xiaoping, China's state and party leader from 1979 to 1997, was the only Chinese leader to admit mistakes publicly. Xi Jinping has never done so. But shortly before the Third Plenum, where the leadership sets the future course, it would be imperative to do so. It is the only way to pull the economy out of the pit of stagnation.
By Experts Table.Briefings
30 years after the proclamation of the "socialist market economy", the People's Republic under Xi Jinping seems to be relying much more on a centralized economy. But this impression is deceiving. In fact, the private sector has grown faster than state entrepreneurship, even since the beginning of Xi's term in office. China's new Premier Li Qiang also emphasizes how important private enterprises are to him.
By Felix Lee
For four decades, rapid economic growth was the prime imperative of China's communist leaders. President Xi Jinping, by contrast, is prepared to forego growth in the interest of cementing the Party's political power and pursuing his Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
By Experts Table.Briefings
For years, economic cooperation with China was motivated by the idea of "change through trade". The noble hope behind it: The People's Republic would open up by integrating deeper into the international community and increasingly adapt democratic elements in its political system. The former Vice President of the European Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, Stefan Sack, draws a sobering conclusion. "Change through trade" has worked out, he says, but not at all in the way Germany and Europe had hoped. Instead, we are the ones who have adapted our behavior to Chinese preferences due to the "dependencies of our supply chains and the greed for new growth markets.
By Marcel Grzanna
Due to shortages, ration stamps for commodities were part of daily life for 40 years. Beijing also used them as an instrument of power. Times have improved, and the ration stamps have become collector's items. Today, Xi Jinping would rather forget about this chapter in the history of the CP. Yet it could offer valuable lessons. In the meantime, he has turned to AI to monitor the population.
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Where the People's Republic's journey in world history will lead is not decided in Beijing alone – geopolitical developments, economic competition, and disruptive fires such as pandemics weave the coordinate network of the future global balance of power. But who is at the helm in Beijing when it comes to the direction of policy in the years ahead is no longer in doubt since the 6th Plenum. How is Xi's expansion of power viewed in the West?
By Marcel Grzanna
The 6th plenum of the current Central Committee will convene in Beijing next week. Under normal circumstances of the post-reform era, this would herald the end of Xi Jinping's term in office. But the latter dares to break with Deng Xiaoping and wants to anchor himself even more firmly as the "core of the CP". He also wants to lift himself even further up the all-time list of the historic party hierarchy: above Deng, next to Mao.
By Michael Radunski
