How will the 19th CPC National Congress pave the way for China's future?

By Shafei M. Hali

The CPC National Congress meeting is classified as the most essential and significant political event in China. It is traditionally held after every 5 years. The first was held in 1921, the same year that the CPC was founded.

The last congress convened on November 8, 2012 when President Hu Jintao handed over the leadership of the Communist Party to Mr. Xi Jinping. The National Congress holds tremendous significance as formal leadership-selection process for the Communist Party of China (CPC) takes place during its sessions. No single Chinese political event is more closely observed by the international community and the local stakeholders alike, as it is the starting point for the pulse of China’s future progress.

A journalist takes video in the new media newsroom of the Press Center of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 11, 2017.[Photo: Xinhua]

The session for the 19th National Congress will commence on the 18th of October 2017.  What is expected is that the General Secretary and the President, Mr. Xi Jinping will be presenting the work report to 2,287 delegates. The report will recapitulate the successes and lessons learnt in the past five years, based on these achievements the report will also explain the grand vision for China over the next term and beyond. After the speech discussions will take place after which a consensus will be reached for the future vision. 

On 24 October 2017, it is expected that the 19th Central Committee of the Party will be elected, consisting of 205 members and 171 alternates. The Party Congress will then conclude with a speech by President Xi. On the 25th of October, the first plenary session of the new Central Committee will take place during which the election process for the 25 members of the Politburo will take place as well as the establishment of the all-important Politburo Standing Committee (The core leadership of the Party).

The question of re-election of President Xi as president is a given. There isn’t any mystery involved, as President Xi Jinping has an impeccable record of leadership so far, and he is practically a celebrity loved by all. He has transformed China not just domestically but has positioned China strategically on the world map as a global leader and visionary. He has lead China without faltering through the much needed reform process which are still ongoing. It is under his watch that China’s average annual GDP growth rate grew at 7.2 percent during 2013-2016, compared with 2.6-percent average global growth. China's 2016 GDP of $11.2 trillion accounted for 14.8 percent of the world economy. China created more than 13 million new urban jobs annually for four consecutive years in 2013-2016. New jobs created in the first eight months of this year stood at 9.74 million. Research and development expenditures rose 52.2 percent from 2012 to 1.57 trillion yuan in 2016. The share of service output in GDP rose from 45.3 percent in 2012, to 51.6 percent in 2016. At the end of 2016, the installed nuclear power capacity rose 167.6 percent from 2012, in-grid wind power capacity rose 140.1 percent and in-grid solar power capacity surged 21.4 times from 2012. The total area of new forests stood at 7.2 million hectares in 2016, up 28.7 percent from 2012. The value of goods trade stood at 24.3 trillion yuan in 2016, accounting for more than 11 percent of total global trade volume. The value of service trade was $657.5 billion, up 36.8 percent from 2012, representing an average annual growth of 8.1 percent. The per-capita disposable income of all residents rose from 7,311 yuan in 2012 to 23,821 yuan in 2016, an annual increase of 7.4 percent. The figure for H1 2017 rose 7.3 percent year-on-year. The number of rural people living in poverty dropped to 43.35 million last year, from 98.99 million in 2012. President Xi has proven to be a people’s champion not just for China but his efforts have earned him great respect beyond China. Xi was awarded the Highest Palestinian Medal, The Order of St. Andrew the Apostle, Grand-Cross Medal of Honor of the Peruvian Congress, Order of the Republic of Serbia on a Grand Collar, King Abdulaziz Medal, IAAF Golden Order of Merit, Nishan –e- Pakistan (Pakistan’s Highest Award for Foreign Leaders), Order of Jose Marti of Cuba, Liberator Medal in Venezuela, Order of Leopold (Highest Order of Belgium) and the Olympic Order in Gold. President Xi had the vision of transforming China and the developing world alike through China’s Belt and Road Initiative, upon which 100 plus countries and organizations have pledged support. The Initiative is founded on the principles of building a community of a shared future, through inclusivity, interconnectedness, and innovation.

It is because of the above mentioned reasons that President Xi is termed as a visionary and a true statesman who has alleviated scores of people from poverty, has started a green revolution in China, leading China towards modernity, is responsible for the new Chinese dream, has significantly curbed corruption and has opened China to the world. He has become so popular that, the other day I was having a conversation with a Chinese army officer, doing his war course at the National Defence University Pakistan and I asked him, “who is the most famous and loved leader of China after Chairman Mao and Deng Xiaoping?” The officer answered that it is “undoubtedly President Xi Jinping, as he is the most revered President of modern China.” It is because of President Xi’s status among the people and his successes as a statesman that various analysts like Professor Zhang Xixian of the Party School of the Central Committee of CPC believe that, “New achievements in the Party theory are expected that extract and summarize from the past five year's work. They will be put into the party constitution to guide the party and the people. It is also expected that the party is going to strengthen governance of the party by adjusting the system,” enabling the party and its leadership to carry on with the vision for China’s future. As a Professor of Public Policy, I believe that it is essential for any form of government to succeed; continuity should be maintained for the long term policies and goals. With massive endeavors with huge potentials and dividends like that of the Belt and Road initiative; continuity in policies and strength in government is mandatory and in my opinion this can only be possible with a loveable strongman like Mr. Xi at the helms of the government. Thus during the 19th National Congress whose session is scheduled to begin on the 18th of October, all the above mentioned challenges and prospects for the future of China will be carefully pondered upon and President Xi has already warned that the task for the future is “daunting” and efforts need to be doubled in order to meet the set targets, as the ultimate goal of the CPC is to serve the people.     

The Author:

Dr. Shafei Moiz Hali studied at George Mason University, Virginia, USA and specialized in the field of International Commerce and Policy. He did his PhD from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China specializing in Chinese foreign policy focusing on the Belt and Road Initiative and energy issues. Currently Dr. Hali is working as an Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Contemporary Studies, National Defence University (NDU) Islamabad, Pakistan.