https://www.scmp.com/rss/269729/feed 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. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Frank Chen Frank Chen The chief of China’s top economic planner has outlined strategies and priorities to safeguard economic security, as Beijing reassesses its preparedness and vulnerabilities amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Israeli war on Iran. Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), warned external risks were mounting and said China had to reinforce its strategic reserves and response capabilities. “The evolution of the international situation is... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350753/hormuz-crisis-exposes-fragile-global-supply-chains-how-will-china-respond?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350753/hormuz-crisis-exposes-fragile-global-supply-chains-how-will-china-respond?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As the US-Israeli war on Iran continues, China’s top legislator, Zhao Leji, has told the Boao Forum for Asia – a high-level gathering of governments and business leaders – that power politics should be rejected in favour of economic development and conflicts should be resolved through negotiations. “The people of Asia, having endured the scourge of war and chaos, deeply understand the value of peace and stability,” said Zhao, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, China’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347963/iran-war-rages-china-links-peace-economic-growth-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3347963/iran-war-rages-china-links-peace-economic-growth-boao-forum?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 06:39:36 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen China will develop a new financial law and a dedicated financial stability law this year, as Beijing works to defuse risks and prevent new ones as part of its ambition to become a financial superpower. In its work report delivered on Monday, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, the country’s top legislative body, said it would also amend existing laws, including the People’s Bank of China Law and the Banking Supervision and Management Law. The work report outlined a broad... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345973/chinas-financial-superpower-ambitions-get-legal-backing-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345973/chinas-financial-superpower-ambitions-get-legal-backing-two-sessions?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:00:10 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Carol Yang Sylvia Ma,Carol Yang Beijing has pledged to expand imports and use its vast market to help other countries boost exports to the world’s second-largest economy – a move that could help balance global trade at a time when China’s export machine faces growing scrutiny. Beijing also planned to diversify markets and nurture new trade drivers such as artificial intelligence, seeking to stabilise trade as global supply chains come under mounting pressure from geopolitical conflicts, officials said. Commerce Minister Wang... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345772/beijing-vows-expand-imports-amid-china-shock-fears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345772/beijing-vows-expand-imports-amid-china-shock-fears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:10:26 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China will allocate more of its fiscal spending this year towards human capital and social safety nets, as Beijing seeks to boost domestic demand and unlock new growth through “investing in people”. “Efforts must be sustained to optimise the expenditure structure, with greater emphasis on supporting the boosting of consumption, investing in people, and safeguarding people’s livelihoods,” Premier Li Qiang said in his annual work report, delivered during the opening session of the National... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345615/china-pivots-investing-people-strategy-growth-engine-switches-gears?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345615/china-pivots-investing-people-strategy-growth-engine-switches-gears?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi With local governments in China struggling to replenish their treasuries while facing growing public service obligations, Beijing is setting its sights on securing more tax revenue as a major reform goal for 2026 and the four years beyond. Compared with the previous five-year plan period’s emphasis on “tax and fee cuts”, the language in the draft of the full 15th five-year plan – released on Thursday – emphasised “maintaining a reasonable macro tax burden”. The document also pledged to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345619/chinas-new-5-year-plan-targets-tax-reform-local-governments-face-fiscal-strain?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345619/chinas-new-5-year-plan-targets-tax-reform-local-governments-face-fiscal-strain?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:00:13 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang As the United States grapples with mounting debt, China is doubling down on efforts to clean up its own balance sheet, vowing to tackle risks with “iron discipline”. The pledge came as the world’s second-largest economy weathers a years-long real estate slump and cooling domestic demand. Beijing faces growing pressure to balance short-term growth targets with longer-term deleveraging, as it seeks to transition to a more sustainable economy. In the government work report delivered on Thursday to... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345587/china-pledges-iron-discipline-tackle-debt-risks-us-borrowing-under-trump-surges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345587/china-pledges-iron-discipline-tackle-debt-risks-us-borrowing-under-trump-surges?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:00:11 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma In the run-up to this year’s ‘two sessions’ – the annual meetings of China’s top legislature and political advisory body – high-level policymakers have reiterated the need to defuse financial risks and root out political corruption, two of President Xi Jinping’s long-term priorities. In this series, we take stock of how those efforts have progressed, and what remains to be done. The iron ore trade between Australian miners and Chinese buyers has long followed a familiar, bruising pattern. Tense... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345155/can-chinas-roaring-trade-engine-power-yuans-challenge-us-dollar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3345155/can-chinas-roaring-trade-engine-power-yuans-challenge-us-dollar?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 22:00:09 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the second entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises. Beijing’s campaign to purge the bureaucracy of a growth-at-all-costs mindset has caught some local officials off guard, triggering a mix of confusion and contradictory... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344887/chinas-pivot-gdp-obsession-sparks-cadre-confusion-testing-local-governance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3344887/chinas-pivot-gdp-obsession-sparks-cadre-confusion-testing-local-governance?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 02:00:49 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Chinese lawmakers gather next week for the annual “two sessions” legislative meetings, where they will approve the 15th five-year plan and likely see a shift towards less emphasis on economic growth. Premier Li Qiang will summarise the new five-year plan and announce the 2026 GDP target on March 5, the first day of meetings for the National People’s Congress, the country’s legislature. Lawmakers will likely give near-unanimous support to the plan, which runs through 2030, when the meeting... https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3344851/two-sessions-trump-tariffs-jdcom-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/politics/article/3344851/two-sessions-trump-tariffs-jdcom-earnings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:00:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei China’s anti-corruption watchdogs have again put cadres on notice, ordering tighter discipline and greater scrutiny of Communist Party officials in the countdown to next year’s leadership reshuffle. Among the fresh warnings on Thursday was a caution against associating with “political swindlers”, people who fraudulently claim to have links to senior officials so they can peddle promotions for cash. The orders were issued jointly by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343527/beware-political-swindlers-chinas-cadres-warned-ahead-leadership-change?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3343527/beware-political-swindlers-chinas-cadres-warned-ahead-leadership-change?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 12:10:31 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo China will “deeply participate” in agricultural trade and expand imports of products in short domestic supply, a senior official said on Wednesday, signalling strong and sustained demand for overseas soybeans – a long-standing food security concern and a flashpoint in its ties with the United States. Despite a tight balance between production and demand, China would diversify import sources and make full use of international markets, said Han Wenxiu, head of the office of the Communist Party’s... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342390/china-signals-strong-demand-soybean-imports-2026-rural-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3342390/china-signals-strong-demand-soybean-imports-2026-rural-blueprint?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Feb 2026 11:02:46 +0000 Kandy Wong,Alice Li Kandy Wong,Alice Li China’s youth unemployment rate fell slightly in December for the fourth consecutive month, though competition for jobs remains intense as policymakers confront deflationary pressures and a labour market marked by a growing mismatch between skills and vacancies. The jobless rate for those aged 16 to 24, excluding students, fell to 16.5 per cent last month from 16.9 per cent in November, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on Thursday. That figure has eased since... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3340807/chinas-youth-unemployment-rate-falls-slightly-december-beijing-pledges-more-support?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3340807/chinas-youth-unemployment-rate-falls-slightly-december-beijing-pledges-more-support?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 07:09:20 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen President Xi Jinping has ordered a thorough implementation of central government strategies and policies at local levels, as the world’s second-largest economy rallies efforts to achieve a strong start to its five-year plan amid formidable external challenges and domestic headwinds. The instruction on Tuesday arrived at a delicate time, as Beijing enforces some overriding strategies, such as a whole-of-nation approach to break technological bottlenecks, a campaign to fight vicious price... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3340602/chinas-xi-pushes-holistic-execution-local-cadres-5-year-plan-warns-disparity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3340602/chinas-xi-pushes-holistic-execution-local-cadres-5-year-plan-warns-disparity?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:18:57 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Alice Li Sylvia Ma,Alice Li China’s economy has successfully weathered mounting shocks, including US tariffs and technology curbs, and continues to innovate despite a challenging environment, according to the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party. “Practice has fully demonstrated that China’s economic fundamentals are solid and its resilience strong, and that it is fully capable of withstanding rough waters and even stormy waves,” the People’s Daily said in an editorial on Thursday, published at the start of the first... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339170/china-says-us-trade-war-tech-curbs-have-spurred-independent-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3339170/china-says-us-trade-war-tech-curbs-have-spurred-independent-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:08:27 +0000 Wang Xiangwei Wang Xiangwei As 2026 dawns, China has signalled a renewed crusade: persuading its citizens to spend more, for their own benefit and for the country’s. Yet history offers a cautionary tale. China’s leaders have long harboured an ambivalent relationship with consumption as a growth engine, instead favouring production and investment. This time, though, the signals suggest a deeper resolve. The gravity of this pivot is underscored by Qiushi, the Communist Party’s flagship publication, which last month published... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338496/why-china-still-struggling-invest-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3338496/why-china-still-struggling-invest-people?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Xinyi Wu Xinyi Wu President Xi Jinping has issued a mandate to expand grain production as China moves to shield its food supply from global volatility, calling for renewed efforts to modernise agriculture and rural areas over the coming year. Speaking at a two-day work conference in Beijing that ended on Tuesday, Xi urged a “no-relaxation” approach to grain output and called for higher overall production capacity and efficiency by integrating high-quality land, seeds, machinery and farming techniques. “We must... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3338186/xi-renews-call-boost-grain-output-after-trade-war-sharpens-chinas-food-security-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3338186/xi-renews-call-boost-grain-output-after-trade-war-sharpens-chinas-food-security-push?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 01:00:20 +0000 Jianlu Bi Jianlu Bi The recently concluded Politburo meeting in Beijing marked a profound strategic recalibration of China’s economic compass. Moving decisively past the crisis response narrative that defined 2024, Beijing has signalled an evolution towards equal emphasis on quality and efficiency and a careful balance of short and long-term goals for 2026. This pivot, timed for the threshold of the 15th five-year plan, confirms that the era of aggressive, blunt-force stimulus is yielding to one of high-precision,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3335852/chinas-politburo-swaps-emergency-economic-surgery-preventive-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3335852/chinas-politburo-swaps-emergency-economic-surgery-preventive-care?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:30:09 +0000 SCMP Reporters SCMP Reporters This document was translated from Chinese into English using Alibaba’s Qwen3 and edited for accuracy by a Post journalist. It is for reference only and is not the official English version. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post. The official English translation published by Xinhua can be viewed here. https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3336247/chinas-central-economic-work-conference-cheat-sheet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3336247/chinas-central-economic-work-conference-cheat-sheet?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 10:06:28 +0000 Raymond Ma Raymond Ma China’s top leadership highlighted the need to boost domestic consumption as a counter to global trade uncertainties at a key annual gathering that outlines economic policies for the year ahead. The country must “better coordinate domestic economic work with international economic and trade struggles” and work to “continuously expand domestic demand”, the leadership was quoted as saying by Xinhua following the two-day central economic work conference. Excess industrial capacity, price wars,... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3336204/chinas-economic-road-map-macron-tariff-threat-november-data-dump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3336204/chinas-economic-road-map-macron-tariff-threat-november-data-dump?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:00:12 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Chinese leaders gather for a key year-end economic conference this week against a backdrop of easing deflation concerns, booming exports and lingering trade-war threats. Policymakers will consider the direction of next year’s economic policy at the closed-door central economic work conference in Beijing as the nation moves to cool profit-sapping price wars and boost domestic demand amid a prolonged real-estate slump. The country also faces the risk of overseas trade tensions after generating a... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3335890/chinas-economy-can-probably-ride-out-storms-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3335890/chinas-economy-can-probably-ride-out-storms-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Dec 2025 09:00:45 +0000 Sylvia Ma,Ji Siqi Sylvia Ma,Ji Siqi China has pledged to better coordinate its domestic economic work to account for international trade turbulence next year, with a high-level decision-making body calling for the promotion of “effective qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth” in the country’s economy. After a meeting of the ruling Communist Party’s Politburo on Monday, the 24-member body said China would “seek progress while maintaining stability” in next year’s economic work, and continue to exert a “more... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3335563/chinas-politburo-says-more-proactive-fiscal-policy-come-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3335563/chinas-politburo-says-more-proactive-fiscal-policy-come-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 05:34:14 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma As the Chinese leadership prepares to set the economic agenda for the year ahead, analysts expect Beijing to mostly maintain this year’s policy tone but say it could tolerate a slightly lower growth target. Chinese leaders will hold a closed-door meeting to discuss next year’s main policy goals during the central economic work conference, which usually takes place in early or mid-December. “To address the demand slump, we expect Beijing to maintain its proactive fiscal policy stance, with a... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335356/china-keep-economic-strategy-2026-slightly-lower-gdp-target-possible-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3335356/china-keep-economic-strategy-2026-slightly-lower-gdp-target-possible-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:15:13 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s finance minister has called for a more proactive fiscal policy to boost domestic demand, strengthen industrial security and advance technological self-reliance while mitigating debt risks, as Beijing prepares for one of its most important economic planning meetings of the year. Finance Minister Lan Foan outlined the country’s top fiscal priorities on Tuesday in an editorial published in the People’s Daily, the ruling Communist Party’s flagship newspaper. He stressed the need to support... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3334924/chinas-finance-minister-calls-more-fiscal-firepower-beijing-weighs-2026-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3334924/chinas-finance-minister-calls-more-fiscal-firepower-beijing-weighs-2026-agenda?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 12:30:18 +0000 Cui Jianchun Cui Jianchun The most important outcome of the Communist Party of China’s fourth plenum, held last month in Beijing, was the review and adoption of the “Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development”. Leading the drafting team in person, Communist Party General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping played a decisive role in formulating the recommendations by setting the overall vision and providing guidance throughout the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332731/15th-five-year-plan-charts-course-chinas-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3332731/15th-five-year-plan-charts-course-chinas-modernisation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:30:09 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi As Beijing vows a stronger fiscal role to buttress an economy facing mounting risks, policymakers face a core dilemma in optimising China’s national development blueprint for the next half-decade: how to raise sufficient tax revenue without imposing an excessive burden on businesses. A detailed explanatory guide on China’s 15th five-year plan proposals for 2026 to 2030 said the period presents “new and higher demands for enhancing fiscal sustainability”, and the book warned of revenue growth... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332512/chinas-fiscal-pivot-tax-reform-5-year-plan-protect-budgets-without-crushing-firms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3332512/chinas-fiscal-pivot-tax-reform-5-year-plan-protect-budgets-without-crushing-firms?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 12:00:10 +0000 Sylvia Ma Sylvia Ma Several major banks forecast stronger economic growth for China this year, buoyed by third-quarter data showing slightly better-than-expected expansion despite domestic and external headwinds. Investment bank Goldman Sachs raised its full-year gross domestic product forecast for 2025 from 4.8 per cent to 4.9 per cent, noting that the government’s target of “around 5 per cent” remains “largely on track”. The bank also revised its estimate for 2026, up slightly from 4.2 per cent to 4.3 per cent,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329776/foreign-banks-raise-china-gdp-forecast-goldman-sachs-says-annual-target-largely-track?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329776/foreign-banks-raise-china-gdp-forecast-goldman-sachs-says-annual-target-largely-track?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Oct 2025 08:01:45 +0000 Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow Raymond Ma,Neil Denslow China’s top policymakers will head to a key five-year plan meeting next week with more bad news about the property slump that has hobbled the country’s economy for years. Nationwide primary property sales are set to fall 8 per cent this year, and as much as 7 per cent in 2026, S&P Global Ratings said on Thursday, extending a slowdown that has pushed developers into default and destroyed value for homeowners. New-home prices in 70 cities fell 0.3 per cent in August, extending a slide that began... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3329343/five-year-plan-meeting-trade-war-heats-economic-data?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3329343/five-year-plan-meeting-trade-war-heats-economic-data?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Oct 2025 09:00:09 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma China’s leaders will gather next week to discuss the country’s next five-year plan, covering 2026 to 2030, against a bleak backdrop of global trade tensions, weak domestic demand and deflationary pressures. The 376 full and alternate members of the Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee will attend the closed-door meeting in Beijing, which runs from Monday to Thursday. The fourth plenum will discuss proposals for the 15th five-year plan across a broad swathe of areas including the economy,... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3329242/china-readies-five-year-plan-amid-economic-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3329242/china-readies-five-year-plan-amid-economic-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:00:57 +0000 Mandy Zuo Mandy Zuo As China drafts its 15th five-year plan – the next entry in a line of expansive blueprints that have set the tone for the country’s development over more than seven decades – we examine how these documents inform and reflect high-level policy priorities, what to expect in the coming iteration and why food security is set to remain a cornerstone in Beijing’s push for self-reliance. For more stories in this ongoing series, click here. To view SCMP Plus Factsheets on the 15th five-year plan and... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329086/why-chinas-next-5-year-plan-will-double-down-food-security?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3329086/why-chinas-next-5-year-plan-will-double-down-food-security?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 22:00:09 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat China’s ruling Communist Party’s leading theoretical journal has urged authorities to better manage market expectations, improve policy predictability and pay closer attention to public sentiment – ahead of a closed-door meeting of senior officials to discuss the next five-year plan and as trade tensions with the United States mount. In a Wednesday article, Qiushi – a leading platform for disseminating official policies and ideas – called on policymakers to better time policy implementation,... https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3329130/chinas-top-party-journal-urges-action-boost-confidence-ahead-fourth-plenum?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/policy/article/3329130/chinas-top-party-journal-urges-action-boost-confidence-ahead-fourth-plenum?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:00:11 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The Politburo has set the date for the fourth plenum, which will roll out China’s 15th five-year plan to meet its social and economic goals from 2026 to 2030. The Communist Party’s annual conclave will be held from October 20 to 23 in Beijing. The times have changed since China rolled out the 14th five-year plan, when it was fighting a trade war with the United States on one hand and the Covid-19 pandemic and economic contraction on the other. But the country once again faces a crossroads, amid... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327356/china-drafts-another-five-year-plan-it-must-brace-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3327356/china-drafts-another-five-year-plan-it-must-brace-challenges?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Ji Siqi Ji Siqi Beijing has signalled stronger action against price wars, convening a high-level symposium of enterprises and regulators – including many left out of previous meetings – to tackle cutthroat competition in the solar sector. Authorities vowed to tighten oversight of new project investments, phasing out outdated capacity through market-based and rule-of-law approaches, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), one of the meeting’s hosts. “Efforts will focus on... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3322512/china-expands-regulatory-arsenal-fight-against-solar-industry-price-wars?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3322512/china-expands-regulatory-arsenal-fight-against-solar-industry-price-wars?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:30:09 +0000 Alice Li Alice Li As China’s top leaders enjoy their summer retreat at the northern beach resort of Beihaihe, analysts are poring over the guest list for clues about Beijing’s priorities ahead of October’s crucial plenary meeting to agree on China’s next five-year plan. The list of invitees to the annual gathering, as reported by state media, suggests that China’s leaders are placing a heavy emphasis on science, innovation and entrepreneurship, as they seek to accelerate China’s development and application of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321721/what-does-beidaihe-guest-list-tell-us-about-chinas-economic-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3321721/what-does-beidaihe-guest-list-tell-us-about-chinas-economic-priorities?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:00:17 +0000 Audrey Jiajia Li Audrey Jiajia Li In early 2014, during China’s “two sessions”, I interviewed the late Zong Qinghou, the founder and chairman of Wahaha, in Beijing. He was 69 at the time, attending the National People’s Congress for the 12th time as a delegate. He appeared before my camera, travel-worn and wearing a pair of well-worn cloth shoes that cost just 20 yuan. During the interview, he was energetic and sharp-tongued, speaking frankly about the invisible barriers faced by private enterprises. He asserted that market... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3319984/chinas-titans-industry-nationalism-double-edged-sword?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3319984/chinas-titans-industry-nationalism-double-edged-sword?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 21:30:08 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang The Chinese government has pledged to tackle consumption bottlenecks with a series of support measures, including direct subsidies and efforts to raise incomes, as it seeks to bolster the domestic market amid global volatility. To stimulate household spending, Beijing will allocate 69 billion yuan (US$9.5 billion) in ultra-long special treasury bonds to its trade-in programme – which offers substantial discounts on a range of consumer goods – National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320426/china-doubles-down-consumer-subsidies-spur-household-spending?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3320426/china-doubles-down-consumer-subsidies-spur-household-spending?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 12:00:10 +0000 William Zheng William Zheng China must allow for more public and media oversight of the government and the Communist Party to ensure accountability and to uncover abuses of power, according to President Xi Jinping. Addressing a group study session of the 24-member Politburo on Monday, Xi said the country needed a “clear, transparent and traceable” process to oversee the national anti-corruption drive, according to state news agency Xinhua. “To fight corruption, [we must] regulate the exercise of power,” Xi said on the eve... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316478/chinese-president-xi-jinping-calls-regulate-exercise-power-fight-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3316478/chinese-president-xi-jinping-calls-regulate-exercise-power-fight-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:32:56 +0000 Dominik Mierzejewski Dominik Mierzejewski Chinese President Xi Jinping recently commemorated the 120th birth anniversary of Chen Yun, one of the foundational economic planners of the Communist Party of China. Amid the commemoration’s celebratory tone, Xi’s speech signals a rhetorical shift. The references to communist conviction so prominent in the 2015 address delivered for Chen’s 110th birthday were relatively sparse in Xi’s remarks from earlier this month. Instead, there was polished language relating to development planning and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3314615/facing-multiple-crises-china-stressing-resilient-governance-over-ideology?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3314615/facing-multiple-crises-china-stressing-resilient-governance-over-ideology?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 12:30:08 +0000 Frank Chen Frank Chen Premier Li Qiang’s remarks on further shoring up the property sector and escalating policy support are said to be indicative of Beijing’s lingering concerns over the sector – once an economic pillar for China – that remains a drag on growth and consumption, as seen in the latest statistics. Analysts say that while there is no quick fix to the woes, Beijing has grown more wary of the impact on overall sentiment and domestic demand, as the economy grapples with external turmoil. A State Council... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314568/china-stepping-property-concerns-mount-no-treading-old-path?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3314568/china-stepping-property-concerns-mount-no-treading-old-path?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jun 2025 05:43:19 +0000 Sylvie Zhuang Sylvie Zhuang One of China’s most senior generals, He Weidong, missed another top political gathering on Friday, adding to speculation about his whereabouts over the past few weeks. Beijing has not offered an official explanation, but He’s absence is not expected to affect China’s political stability, according to an analyst. He, the second-ranked vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) and one of the 24 members of the Communist Party’s Politburo, last appeared in public on March... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3308160/absence-chinas-top-general-he-weidong-politburo-study-session-fuels-speculation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3308160/absence-chinas-top-general-he-weidong-politburo-study-session-fuels-speculation?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Apr 2025 05:12:07 +0000 President Xi Jinping has called on the nation to “face difficulties head-on and strengthen confidence” amid mounting external challenges, while highlighting the crucial decision-making of the party’s Central Committee in steering the country’s economic work. His comments, included in the latest Communist Party magazine Qiushi to be issued on Saturday, came after the release of a readout from a meeting of the party’s Politburo, which has doubled down on economic stability and quality development... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3300507/two-sessions-chinas-politburo-reiterates-priorities-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3300507/two-sessions-chinas-politburo-reiterates-priorities-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Feb 2025 06:04:22 +0000 Hammering home the central government’s hope that tech breakthroughs will become a driving force for the Chinese economy and help pave a path of self-reliance, Premier Li Qiang has called on state-owned telecom giants to accelerate research and be more innovative. The urging came during visits by Li on Tuesday to companies and research centres affiliated with China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile – the three major state-owned telecom service providers. He underscored the importance of... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3300184/premier-li-makes-house-call-state-telecoms-beijing-dials-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3300184/premier-li-makes-house-call-state-telecoms-beijing-dials-innovation?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 07:00:19 +0000 On a number of counts, President Xi Jinping’s meeting with China’s leading entrepreneurs is the clearest indication yet that the private sector has the full support of the country’s leaders, and that they recognise its importance to Beijing’s overall strategy. It was the first such meeting since 2018. It was co-hosted by three other members of the Politburo Standing Committee, including Premier Li Qiang, and attended by all relevant officials. And most prominent business leaders were invited –... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3299203/xi-again-makes-clear-private-sector-has-leaderships-backing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3299203/xi-again-makes-clear-private-sector-has-leaderships-backing?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2025 22:15:11 +0000 After returning to the White House last month, US President Donald Trump is not simply doing the same things he did during his first term or undoing the policies of his predecessor. He is setting out to remake the US and the world order. In the name of efficiency, he allows Elon Musk and his acolytes to attack the federal bureaucracy. In the name of “making America great again”, he wants to unilaterally redraw boundaries, grab Greenland, make Canada the 51st state, control the Panama Canal, take... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3298997/china-could-be-steady-counterweight-trumps-pax-americana?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3298997/china-could-be-steady-counterweight-trumps-pax-americana?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:30:07 +0000 China’s consumption growth continued to disappoint in November, with retail sales growth falling below the 5 per cent level for a ninth consecutive month. The reading of 3.0 per cent missed the consensus forecast of economists polled by financial data provider Wind of 5.3 per cent, and it was below October’s retail sales growth of 4.8 per cent, the strongest pace of consumer spending growth since February’s 5.5 per cent. Consumption is in focus of late, as the government has acknowledged its... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3291004/chinas-consumers-stay-frugal-drumbeat-downbeat-data-continues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3291004/chinas-consumers-stay-frugal-drumbeat-downbeat-data-continues?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:01:55 +0000 China’s central economic work conference wrapped up Thursday, with leaders providing little in the way of details on the economic agenda for 2025 while pledging to reach next year’s target for growth and better support the country’s private sector while stimulating domestic consumption. President Xi Jinping presided over the two-day meeting, which is usually held at this time of year and sets the tone for the coming year. The Politburo on Monday provided clues to the direction of the economic... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3290636/china-economic-conference-november-data-dump-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3290636/china-economic-conference-november-data-dump-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Dec 2024 09:00:15 +0000 For China watchers who have been waiting for Beijing’s leaders to give a clear sign that they are ready to tackle persistently weak domestic consumption, the Xinhua readout from the Politburo meeting on Monday was about as much as they could have hoped for. The 24-man group of decision makers led by President Xi Jinping said they will more actively set policies to expand domestic demand in 2025 and agreed to shift the country’s monetary policy stance to “moderately loose” from the “prudent”... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3290103/chinas-politburo-signals-stronger-economic-measures?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3290103/chinas-politburo-signals-stronger-economic-measures?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:00:08 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao / https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3288161/us-china-relations-during-trump-biden-terms?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3288161/us-china-relations-during-trump-biden-terms?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Nov 2024 06:49:50 +0000 For most of the 103-year history of the Communist Party of China, the teachings of the philosopher Confucius were deemed relics of a backwards past, with its leaders looking to Marxism and socialism to modernise China. But under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, Confucianism has made a dramatic comeback as the bedrock of imperial Chinese ethics and governance, and other Chinese classics have become the pillars of Beijing’s efforts to shore up its intellectual foundation and governance... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3287846/how-xi-jinping-going-back-confucius-define-chinas-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3287846/how-xi-jinping-going-back-confucius-define-chinas-future?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Nov 2024 22:00:23 +0000 Back in 2022, when China was in the midst of strict zero-Covid controls, which involved frequent and sudden citywide lockdowns and stay-at-home notices, I met an overseas Chinese entrepreneur, whom I deeply respect, in Tianjin during one of the rare, blissful interludes. His conglomerate is one of China’s largest foreign investors, with businesses scattered across the country. During our conversation, he offered an observation that has stuck with me. Fresh from lengthy meetings with local... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3284893/how-can-chinas-reforms-succeed-when-officials-act-overbearing-parents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3284893/how-can-chinas-reforms-succeed-when-officials-act-overbearing-parents?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:30:07 +0000