Despite reformist credentials, party boss could face resistance in Shanghai
Shanghai's new party chief is expected to stay the course with the policies that have made the city the mainland's financial centre, but his very appointment raised questions over the stature of the brash metropolis, analysts said yesterday.
Xi Jinping, previously party secretary of Zhejiang province, took up the helm as the city's top leader on Saturday after Chen Liangyu was sacked for corruption six months ago. He is the first outsider - one who has not risen through the city's ranks - to hold the post in 16 years, since Zhu Rongji, who later became premier.
His appointment is seen as a move by the central government to bring under control a city that previously defied orders to slow its economy and curb property speculation, and to foster greater co-operation in the Yangtze River Delta area.
But Shanghai's contribution to the mainland's economy was too great for the central government to completely stifle its growth, analysts said.
'I don't foresee much influence by this new party secretary on the future policies of Shanghai. It is now quite a mature city in a stable stage of development and not, say, at a crossroad. Both citizens and officials have a rather coherent view of the track the city is running on,' said Cheng Yuan, a professor at Fudan University's School of Social Development and Public Policy.
However, Professor Cheng said the new leader would certainly have different priorities than his predecessor, which could affect the implementation of policies.