Pro-market economist excluded from China’s reform and opening up honours list
- ‘Spiritual leader’ of pro-market reforms ignored in 40th anniversary top 100 of contributors to China’s economic transformation
- Critics charge his absence is political and signals an end to market-led era
One of China’s most prominent economists has been left off the government’s list of “outstanding contributors” to the country’s transformational economic reforms, reigniting concerns over the direction of the Chinese economy.
Wu Jinglian, the 88-year-old “spiritual leader” of the pro-market reformist camp, was not on the preliminary list published by People’s Daily on Monday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up policy, which set the country on a path of unprecedented growth.
The list was dominated by Communist cadres, top scientists, Mao Thought researchers, red capitalists from Hong Kong, private entrepreneurs and former NBA basketball star Yao Ming.
The list, which is open for public feedback until the end of November, has been published at a time when both China’s development model and future direction are in question amid the trade war with the United States.
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Li Yining and Justin Yifu Lin, both professors at Peking University, are the only two Chinese economists on the honours list.
