Exclusive | China’s former economic tsar Liu He still has a big seat at the table, quietly meets with Western delegations: sources
- Liu He, 71, is keeping it low-key in public, but President Xi Jinping wants his former right-hand man for economic affairs to stay in a position of influence
- Revelation shows how Xi has skirted traditions and customs by keeping a retired government official around as China navigates unfamiliar economic waters
A trusted aide to President Xi Jinping – retired vice-premier Liu He – has retained his position as office director for a key economic policymaking body headed by Xi, sources tell the Post.
And despite Liu’s absence from the public limelight, the 71-year-old remains the person to meet for high-ranking foreign delegations visiting Beijing. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and some European leaders are all said to have sought out meetings with him during their trips to China – meetings that Beijing did not publicise.
Although a new crop of senior officials has been put in charge of China’s economy, sources say there has been no sign that Liu intends to embrace full retirement.
Having been at the head of the most important economic and financial office during Xi’s second term, Liu has relinquished all government positions and stepped down from the powerful Politburo of the Communist Party. At 71, he is well past the unwritten retirement age for top party officials.
But unlike other retired government officials, Liu is said to have retained his previous oversight of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission.
The commission held its second meeting of the year on July 20 to discuss the protection of arable land and other agricultural-related issues, according to a statement from Xinhua. It is reported that the Central Rural Work Leading Group – another party organ responsible for rural and agricultural policies – has been incorporated into this commission, making it more powerful.