China’s economy: How far will the shift from politics to pragmatism go?
- Mar 7, 2023
- 1 min read
The pictures Chinese President Xi Jinping puts up on his bookshelf during his traditional New Year's speech provide rich food for thought for China watchers. This year, the most prominent new pictures were that of President Xi with his two predecessors Hu Jintao and Jiang Zemin - perhaps to assuage rumours that the unceremonious removal of Mr Hu at the closing session of the 20th Party Congress in October signalled a split in the party.
Also featured was Mr Xi Zhongxun, Mr Xi's father, with then President Jiang. Xi the elder was a prominent reformer under Deng Xiaoping, who piloted China's most successful special economic zone, Shenzhen. In his speech, President Xi also lauded Mr Jiang, who died on Nov 30, for the "great legacy" he left behind, perhaps referring to the Three Represents, the notion chat entrepreneurs and intellectuals can also be part of the party alongside farmers, workers and soldiers.
Mr Xi for the first time acknowledged that life under China's Covid-19 policies for the past three years had been tough, saying: "It has not been an easy journey for anyone." He even seemed to have some reconciliatory words for the protesters against the policies. “Ours is a big country. It is only natural for different people to have different concerns or hold different views on the same issue,” he said, but also stressing that China is a country that draws strength from unity.
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This article was originally published on https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/gia/.
The photo of Xi with his predecessors felt like a deliberate signal to calm party unity fears, but I wonder how much that actually translates to real economic policy shifts for everyday people. — Iron Nest roadmap tracker
The shift from Xi posing with his predecessors to signaling policy continuity is a telling visual cue, but the real test will be whether local governments actually get the fiscal room to execute this pragmatism. I’ve been tracking similar signals through a resource that breaks down these leadership dynamics. https://3mf-to-stl.com
The shift from politics to pragmatism is one thing, but Xi’s bookshelf photos with Hu and Jiang feel more like a signal of continuity than a real policy pivot—still, it’s a telling gesture for how Beijing wants to frame the transition. I’ve been tracking similar signals with a tool that https://3dtrellis.com
The shift toward pragmatism is promising, but the real test will be whether Xi’s public show of unity with Hu and Jiang translates into actual policy flexibility beyond the photo ops. I’ve been tracking similar signals and found a useful breakdown at https://grok-ai-video.com
The shift from Xi posing with Hu and Jiang to a more pragmatic economic tone is telling, but the real test will be whether policy follows the symbolism. I've been tracking this closely with https://framepack-ai.com