This week, the Communist Party outlines actions on economic reforms, solving the problems of the aging population and developing the armed forces.
BEIJING Policemen set up barriers on Chang’an Street. It’s time for the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
It will be held in the Mahtava kansa hall in the heart of the capital.
Located next to Beijing’s historic Forbidden City, the building is 336 meters long in the south-north direction and 206 meters wide in the east-west direction.
The plenary session of the Central Committee, which lasts from Monday to Thursday, is the most important decision-making body in Chinese politics.
The Chinese People’s Congress, which meets once a year, corresponds to the parliament, but in practice it does nothing but confirm the decisions already made by the plenary session and propose new issues to it.
This meeting is marked by uncertainty about China’s domestic political situation and concern about the country’s economic development.
The meeting is also closely watched abroad, as it is expected to make political guidelines for the next 5–10 years.
Decisions are expected from the meeting in at least these five topics:
1. Confirmation of Xi’s position of power and information about the missing ministers
Xi Jinping has been president and chairman of the Communist Party for more than a decade. In the past, there have been political power struggles at Central Committee plenary sessions, but today no one seems to be threatening Xi’s dominance.
During the meeting, new information is expected about the foreign minister who disappeared from the public last year From Qin Gang and the Minister of Defense About Li Shangfu.
Shangfu is suspected of corruption, but the reasons for Qin’s ouster and his current whereabouts are still shrouded in mystery.
2. Securing economic growth
China’s economy is expected to grow by around five percent this year. However, there are major uncertainties in the economy, such as the slump in the construction and real estate sectors. The sector accounts for an estimated fifth of China’s entire national economy.
China is fighting a trade war with the US and is currently trying to avoid another trade war with the EU.
The Xi administration has talked a lot about attracting foreign investment. It has offered foreign companies and employees coming to the country, among other things, tax breaks.
At the same time, however, it has increased regulation. In addition, foreigners complain that surveillance and outright spying are increasing in China all the time.
3. Science as a superpower by 2035
The meeting is expected to outline the official goal of China becoming the leading country in scientific research in the world by 2035.
4. Population aging
About 13 percent of China’s 1.4 billion inhabitants are 65 years old or older. If the development continues in the same way, in 2035 there will already be 30 percent of pensioners.
China currently does not have a comprehensive system to care for hundreds of millions of elderly people.
5. Reforming the Chinese People’s Army
Over the last 10–15 years, China has invested hundreds of billions of euros in the development of its armed forces.
The meeting of the Central Committee is expected to present the further development of all types of weapons. The party’s goal is to raise China to the top of the world also as a military power.
Sources: Reuters, AP, South China Morning Post