Premier Wen Jiabao, who is entering his final years as the principal manager of the world's third-largest economy, gave an annual report to the National People's Congress on Friday mostly noted for its heavy dose of populist measures aimed at promoting social equity and spreading wealth.
But what is missing from the 36-page statistics-laden report is equally notable.
Although Wen mentioned the word 'reform' more than 60 times in the report and even 'political reform' a couple of times, it contained no major or fresh initiatives.
Indeed, as the current generation of leadership - including President Hu Jintao and Wen - are expected to leave their party posts in late 2012 and their government jobs in early 2013, it is not difficult to surmise that any major economic or political initiatives will likely be left to the next generation of leaders, including Vice-President Xi Jinping and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang. That is a great pity. The success of all the populist measures Wen is pushing in his report will largely hinge on further economic and political reforms.
They call for reducing the pervasively meddlesome role of the government, allowing more press freedom to monitor the government and fight rampant corruption, and breaking up state monopolies in hugely profitable industries to enable development of the private sector to create jobs and sustain economic growth.
Nonetheless, Wen's populist report has touched a responsive chord among state media, NPC deputies and ordinary mainlanders.