China to Start Big Reveal of Xi's Plan to Keep Economy Humming
- Party communique provides first glimpse of new five-year plan
- Document represents president's best chance to enact reforms
A map of China is seen on the wall of a partially demolished building in Beijing.
Photographer: Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesThe Communist Party’s big policy powwow is almost over. The long, slow reveal of President Xi Jinping’s plan to make China "moderately well-off" by 2020 has just begun.
The communique handed down on Thursday is expected to provide only the broadest outline of proposals approved during the four-day gathering of the party’s Central Committee in Beijing. If past practice is a guide, more details should emerge in 10 days or so when state media release the draft of Xi’s first comprehensive development plan since taking power in 2012. The full picture probably won’t come to light until the national legislature puts its own stamp on China’s next five-year plan this coming spring.