Xi takes helm of 'deepening reform' team

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Xi takes helm of 'deepening reform' team

Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2014-1-15 14:45:00

Latest News

Top reform group sets up 6 task forces

The central authority's leading group aimed at steering China's overall reform on Wednesday held its first meeting.

According to the report, the six task forces will champion reforms to the economic and ecological civilization systems, democracy and the rule of law, culture, social systems, Party building systems as well as in the disciplinary inspection system.

The report also revealed that Premier Li Keqiang, Liu Yunshan, secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli were appointed deputy heads of the leading group.

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Basic facts

Six demands

Six demands for the "comprehensively deepening reform": President Xi

No.1: Persevere in improving and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics and continue the modernization efforts of the country's governing system and capabilities.
In order to better bring the superiority of socialism with Chinese characteristics into play, we must continue the modernization of the country's governing system and capabilities in each field. Modernization of the country's governing system dictates that we adapt to the changing times. To achieve this, we must reform the systems and laws that are no longer suited to the new requirements of development, while continuing to build new and scientific systems and laws.
No.2: We should further free our minds, further emancipate and develop social productive forces, and further liberate and enhance social vitality.
No.3: Focus on economic system reform and let it guide reform of other fields.
During comprehensively deepening reform, our focus should be on economic system reform. We should endeavor to make new breakthroughs in key fields, and coordinate reforms in different fields to join forces.
No 4: We must persist in building a socialist market economy.
Economic reform is key, the core solution to which is a proper relationship between government and market. We must let the market play the decisive role in allocation of resources, while better utilizing the function of government.
No. 5: The ultimate objective of reform is enhancing social justice and improving people's livelihood.
Realizing social justice is determined by multiple factors, the most decisive of which is economic and social development. We must provide the public with a solid economic foundation in order to protect social fairness and justice. Systems guarantee social fairness and justice at all levels of development. In order to better prevent behavior that hinders social fairness and justice, we must start with innovation from within the system.
No.6: We must trust and rely on the people to push reform forward.
Before implementing any reform, we must consider all issues from the public’s perspective and draw up reforms and measures with the interests of the people in mind.

Source: Agencies-Globaltimes.cn

Commentary

China's media
	Global Times: Xi chairs key reform team Xu Yaotong, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Governance, told the Global Times that as 2014 will be a year of reform, the establishment of the group ahead of the New Year demonstrates the central leadership's resolve in pushing reform and serves as a boost to people's confidence in the change. Zhou Tianyong, a senior economist at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, told the Global Times that because Xi is the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, his chairing the group ensures the Party's firm grip on the new round of reform.
	Xinhua: New leadership's first year, a good beginning of Chinese dream Analysts believed such an institution that exercises core leadership is essential for reform on such a large scale as it will involve not only government but also the Party, legislature and judiciary. It will also help to break entrenched vested interests and boost confidence. A dedicated institution shows the importance the top leadership has given to reforms and their sense of urgency. Furthermore, the leading team will provide an organizational guarantee for reforms, and implement reform policies more effectively.
	Caixin: Plenum insight: Party sets up 'leading group' dedicated to reform Wang Zhanyang, a professor at the Central Institute of Socialism, a school that trains party cadres and government officials, told Caixin that the establishment of the leading group will provide institutional support for reforms. The decision to set up the body at the highest level sent a signal that concrete steps will be taken after years of the public calling for change, he added.
	Qilu Evening News: Mao Shoulong, a public administration professor at Renmin University of China Previous reforms pushed by lower-level departments were revealed to be driven by departmental interests and lacked thorough implementation. In order to capitalize on their self-interests, some departments charged with pushing the reform also drew up the legislation, leaving opportunities for corruption. The team could overcome resistance from different departments and push through overall reforms. Success is possible if our president leads such a team.
	The Beijing Times: The central leading team has many missions to fulfill, the most important of which is to break up the deeply entrenched vested interests of different groups. As many parties involved may have something to lose, there should be one powerful leader pushing reforms that are in line with the majority's interests. Xi, as the State leader has a better pool of resources to coordinate the overall reform, which always demands cooperation between departments.
	chinanews.com: Zhao Zhenhua, professor at the Central Party School President Xi Jinping’s appointment as the leader of the central leading team for "comprehensively deepening reform" reflects that China highly values and supports the reforms. This is also an important part of top-level design. This is an efficient way to "reduce cost and resistance to a minimum, while maximizing effects of the reform."

Foreign media
	Admittedly, China has moved well beyond the massive economic mismanagement and social disorder of the post-Cultural Revolution period. However, the inevitable loss of the demographic advantages that sustained the country’s economic miracle, combined with the prevailing social inequality and regional disparities as well as the rising political awareness of the middle class, mean the new leadership is facing even greater challenges to preserve its legitimacy. Doing so requires a constant commitment by political leaders to respond to China’s changing internal and external environments. It also requires a path toward reform that meets public expectations while overcoming anti-reform elements.
	Mr Xi has also taken the step of creating a new team that will report directly to the top leadership, rather than to the government, in order to push policies past a bureaucracy that looks increasingly ossified and resistant to change. While there were no further details on the make-up of the team, it could provide Mr Xi with a vehicle to drive his vision of the future past the traditionally consensus-led bureaucracy.
	These institutions, analysts say, will allow Xi and his team to supervise the complex and often conflicting bureaucracies -- the Communist Party, the government, the military and police in a top-down authoritarian way.

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