China's Third Plenum Report Vague, But States Markets Should Play "Decisive Role" in Economy
3,800 word document after a four day meeting
Members of the Chinese Communist party met this weekend for the Third Plenum, a session where the party broadly sets its economic and political agenda for the coming years. This one was the first held since Xi Jinping took office as president, and so has been highly anticipated by China watchers. As usual for political statements in the Communist country, the plenum's report was vague. The Global Post suggested:
Even under ordinary circumstances, interpreting Chinese politics is notoriously difficult. The system is opaque and convoluted, with ritualized language, cookie-cutter leaders and lots of befuddling slogans — see "The Three Represents."
But the communiqué released Tuesday evening after a four-day conclave of top Communist Party officials may be a high-water mark of mind-numbing vagueness.
The Post went on to dismiss the report as a "Rorschach test" (more about the word cloud from the BBC, pictured, here) and interpreting it to an exercise in cloud watching. However, as CNBC notes, third plenums are often followed by major reforms. And so there could be,maybe, some good news for free markets as the document calls for a "decisive role" for markets in China's economy as a centerpiece of the (centrally) planned reforms. The South China Morning Post explains:
For the first time, the party also said the private sector should be treated on the same footing as state-owned enterprises. It said: "Both the public and private sectors are the same important components of a socialist market economy and the important bases of our nation's economic and social development."
The party decided to set up a powerful organ to steer the reform crusade. "The central leading group on comprehensively deepening reforms will be responsible for the overall reform design … and the implementation of reform policies," it said.
On other fronts, the party vowed to "promote the rule of law and respect for the constitution", which will be crucial for a market-oriented economic system to flourish.
The only actual result of the plenary session so far has been the establishment of two new committees, one to direct economic reforms, the other national security strategy, in case anyone thought to question the party's dedication to central planning and the politics of committees.
Previously: Hayekians in China