Communist Party plenum's pledges aimed at reformers and conservatives

The broad-brush policy document issued last week following a key Communist Party meeting is aimed at appeasing various interest groups and addressing major public discontent. If the ambitious agenda is not implemented, that will raise the political stakes for the party, analysts say.

In its blueprint for the coming nine years, the party's Central Committee listed a range of reforms covering the economy, finance, law, rural life and human rights, but avoided mention of political change.

The broad nature of the language used by the party's third plenum has led some observers to wonder whether President Xi Jinping is trying to please too wide a swathe of supporters.

Professor Zhang Ming, a political scientist at Beijing's Renmin University, said he found the plenum document outlining the reforms contained contradictions.

"For example, the document said farmers will be allowed to transfer and mortgage their land-use rights, but it failed to define whether farmers have land ownership," Zhang said.

"Also, if the central government still wants to protect the benefits of state-owned enterprises, how can it also take care of the interests of private companies and set up an open market system? … It seems like Xi wants to please both reformers and conservatives with the proposals."

Beijing-based political commentator Zhang Lifan said the party had deliberately steered clear of political issues.