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

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

China economy

China’s economy can probably ride out storms in 2026

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.

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.

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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.

Illustration: Craig Stephens
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.

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.

Photo: EPA
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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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.

Commuters wait at a bus stop during evening rush hour at the central business district in Beijing on March 2. The Politburo has set a date for the party’s fourth plenum, during which its leaders will introduce the 15th five-year plan. Photo: Reuters
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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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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A salesperson introduces products and government subsidies to a consumer at a Suning chain store, a leading home-appliance retailer, in Wenzhou city, east China’s Zhejiang province on November 11, 2024. Photo: Xinhua
China’s Communist Party

China’s Xi tells party ‘power is granted by people’ amid corruption crackdown

Xi urges party members and cadres to remember that ‘all power is granted by the people’.

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Xi Jinping

Opinion | China’s new weapon in rivalry with the US – effective governance under pressure

President Xi Jinping’s commemoration of a Communist Party elder points to how Beijing is redirecting its broader ideological narrative.

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China property

China ‘stepping in’ as property concerns mount, but no ‘treading the old path’

Premier Li Qiang’s recent remarks on shoring up real estate sector suggest what some analysts say is a rising wariness to address persistent economic pitfalls.

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Residential buildings are seen under construction last month in China’s Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
China’s Communist Party

Absence of Chinese general He Weidong from Politburo event raises questions

In one of He’s last public appearances on March 5 he called for improvements to military training and the advance of anti-corruption efforts.

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He Weidong has been missing from a series of key events at which top CMC leaders would generally be present, according to state media information and video. Photo: AFP
Two Sessions 2025

Critical moments, key junctures: Xi urges head-on approach amid external threats

Comments unveiled after high-level Politburo meeting focuses on reviewing government work report that Premier Li Qiang will deliver at next week’s NPC meeting.

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China's economic recovery

Premier Li makes house call to state telecoms as Beijing dials in on innovation

Message to nation’s state-owned service providers underpins China’s bid to achieve ‘high-level technological self-reliance’.

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China economy

Editorial | Xi again makes clear that private sector has leadership’s backing

President’s meeting with leading China entrepreneurs signals support for them playing a key role in transformation to new economy.

President Xi Jinping brought together China’s most prominent entrepreneurs, particularly in the tech world, for a high-profile meeting. Photo: CCTV
US-China relations

Opinion | China could be the steady counterweight to Trump’s Pax Americana

Few seem able to resist Trump’s domestic and foreign policies, but China’s actions could offer a template for how to withstand the pressure.

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Illustration: Craig Stephens
China economy

Weak Chinese consumer spending leads negative data stream

The data may indicate that Beijing’s consumption initiatives focused on trade-ins of vehicles and appliances have a limited shelf life.

China economy

China’s economic conference, November data dump and more

This week: China’s leaders push spending at economic gathering, Politburo pledges loosening of monetary policy and sanctions proliferate. Next week: November data dump, Fed rate cut on the cards and Xi expected to visit Macau.

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