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China leadership

China leadership
The Chinese Communist Party's 18th Congress, held in Beijing November 8-14, 2012, marked a key power transition in China. A new generation of leaders, headed by Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang, took over from the previous leadership headed by Hu Jintao. The Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee was reduced in number from nine to seven. Unlike his predecessor Jiang Zemin, Hu Jintao handed over both the Party General Secretary and Chairman of the Central Military Commission positions to Xi.
A vendor sits at the doorway to her store in Beijing on February 18. China’s leadership is pivoting towards people-centric, consumption-led economic growth. Photo: Getty Images
Two Sessions 2026

China’s pivot from GDP obsession sparks cadre confusion, tests local governance

Governors and mayors must reconcile Beijing’s people-centric mandates with traditional growth targets, navigating vague appraisal changes and performance concepts.

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Two Sessions 2026

‘Two sessions’, Trump tariffs, JD.com earnings

China’s Communist Party

Beware of ‘political swindlers’, China’s cadres warned ahead of leadership change

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China food security

China signals strong soybean imports – what does it mean for food security?

Beijing also vows broader agricultural opening while safeguarding domestic production and farmers.

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China has committed to buying at least 25 million tonnes of US soybeans annually through 2028, according to Washington. Photo: Reuters
China jobs

China’s youth jobless rate edges down – but labour market strains persist

Beijing vows to prioritise job market in 2026, the first year of new five-year plan.

China's economic recovery

China’s Xi pushes ‘holistic’ execution by local cadres for 5-year plan

Xi pushes need for full grasp of 2026-2030 goals, setting boundaries amid domestic malaise and external challenges to get the ball rolling.

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US-China trade war

China says US trade war, tech curbs have spurred ‘independent innovation’

In the first year of new five-year plan, party mouthpiece says list of ‘chokepoint technologies’ is narrowing.

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A Chinese flag is displayed next to a “Made in China” sign seen on a printed circuit board with semiconductor chips. Photo: Reuters
China economy

Opinion | Why China is still struggling to ‘invest in people’

To boost demand, Beijing must upend its long-held mantra of production over livelihoods and investment over consumption.

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China food security

Xi renews call to boost grain output after trade war sharpens food security push

Beijing renews push to fortify domestic crop supplies and modernise agriculture amid a tense geopolitical climate.

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China economy

Opinion | China’s Politburo swaps emergency economic surgery for preventive care

Last year’s meeting focused on survival, but now the emphasis is on unlocking factors to let the domestic economy thrive.

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People walk through a shopping area in Beijing, on February 18. By breaking down local barriers, China aims to unlock the latent potential of its domestic market. Photo: EPA-EFE
China economy

China’s central economic work conference: cheat sheet

SCMP Plus annotates the official readout from China’s annual economic policy gathering, where top leaders focused on efforts to boost domestic consumption amid concerns about external trade in 2026.

China’s central economic work conference: cheat sheet
China economy

China’s 2026 economic road map, Macron tariff threat, November data dump

This week: Chinese leaders prioritise domestic demand amid trade uncertainties at key year-end meeting, Mexico readies Asian tariffs, Macron threatens China levies and Trump greenlights exports of Nvidia H200 chips. Next week: November retail sales, Hainan expands duty-free shopping, China Vanke debt fight, “solar goddess” wedding and more.

China economy

China’s economy can probably ride out storms in 2026

Policymakers meeting in Beijing this week will probably see few reasons for new stimulus measures after China’s economy largely weathered the US trade war.

China's economic recovery

China’s Politburo pledges action to tackle trade ‘struggles’ in 2026

Analysts said the decision-making body’s phrasing on the international trade environment suggests a cautious stance next year despite US truce.

President Xi Jinping presided over a meeting of the Politburo of China’s Communist Party, held in advance of the annual central economic work conference. Photo: Xinhua
China GDP

China’s economic focus in 2026: what to expect as leaders prep for major meeting

Growth of ‘around 5 per cent’ may be revised to between 4.5 and 5 per cent, analysts say, as leadership gears up for tone-setting conference.

Chinese leaders will hold the central economic work conference in December, a closed-door meeting to discuss the top policy goals for 2026.
Banking & finance

China’s finance chief calls for fiscal firepower as Beijing weighs 2026 goals

This month’s central economic work conference will set the tone, while top finance official signals more assertive fiscal support.

China’s fourth plenum

Opinion | 15th five-year plan charts a course for China’s modernisation

By building on past successes and shoring up areas of weakness, China can lay firm foundations to achieve socialist modernisation.

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China's economic recovery

Tax reform in China’s 5-year plan aims to protect budgets without crushing firms

Officials propose boosting direct and local levies, curbing tax breaks and tapping new sectors to shore up local revenues and fund social spending.

Office workers walk near a construction site in Beijing. A prolonged property downturn has added to fiscal pressure on local-level governments in China. Photo: AFP
China GDP

Overseas banks raise China GDP forecasts, say Beijing ‘on track’ for 2025 target

Leading banks raise estimates after third-quarter data beats expectations, but some analysts caution more policy support needed.

China’s fourth plenum

Five-year plan meeting, trade war heats up, economic data

This week: China property forecast adds to woes ahead of five-year plan meeting; Trump threatens 100 per cent China tariff, Dutch seize Chinese chipmaker. Next week: Q3 economic data, iPhone Air debut, Trump-Albanese meeting, arts festival and more.

China’s fourth plenum

China readies five-year plan amid economic challenges

Policymakers will attend a key meeting about the 15th five-year plan next week amid a trade war with the US and deflation-fuelling overcapacity.

Photo: Reuters
China food security

‘Extremely dangerous’: why China’s 5-year plan will double down on food security

Beijing has made huge strides in its self-sufficiency push – but trade tensions, climate risks and supply-chain shocks keep fears alive.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
China’s fourth plenum

China’s top party journal urges action to boost confidence ahead of fourth plenum

Party journal calls for steps to improve policy predictability and support growth amid slowing demand and trade tensions.

China economy

Editorial | As China drafts another five-year plan, it must brace for challenges

Amid domestic and global headwinds, national development won’t be easy. Hong Kong can help serve Beijing’s development goals.

China's economic recovery

China expands regulatory arsenal in fight against solar industry price wars

Beijing vows more concrete measures to tackle aggressive competition after July meeting failed to stop falling prices.

Solar panels and wind turbines are seen at the Huaneng Binzhou new energy power generation project in Binzhou, in China’s eastern Shandong province, on June 11. Photo: AFP
China’s economic stimulus

What does the Beidaihe guest list tell us about China’s economic priorities?

The invitees to the Communist Party’s annual summer getaway offer clues about Beijing’s priorities ahead of a crucial October meeting.

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Cai Qi, a member of the Communist Party’s Politburo Standing Committee, hosts a group of scientists and entrepreneurs in Beidaihe, a seaside resort in China’s northern Hebei province, on August 3. Photo: Xinhua
China society

Opinion | Entrepreneur scandals reveal the limits of nationalism as a brand

Chinese don’t need their country’s business leaders to be icons of morality and national pride. But they would like some accountability.

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China consumption

China doubles down on consumer subsidies to spur household spending

The announcement came in the same week that Beijing’s top leadership called for greater efforts to unlock domestic demand.

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