Party Congress
Xi Aide Likely to Be Next Economy Czar Stresses Need for Growth
- He Lifeng seen by analysts as front runner to succeed Liu He
- He has expressed a more pro-growth stance than his predecessor
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As doubts grow over whether Xi Jinping still prioritizes expanding China’s economy over other goals, he’s tipped to appoint a new economic adviser who’s vowed to put growth first.
He Lifeng, who’s known Xi for more than four decades, runs China’s powerful planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission. He’s seen by economists and China watchers as a likely successor to Liu He, Xi’s economic czar who could retire after the Communist Party’s congress in mid-October.