context: Under Xi Jinping's习近平 leadership, The PRC's economic strategy balances state intervention with market mechanisms. The Party directs commercial activities through disciplined coordination, ensuring investment stability. On 9 December, signals emerged in a Politburo meeting regarding potential interest rate cuts and policies to encourage consumption. The next day, the Central Committee further addressed economic expectations through meetings with extra-Party representatives.
The CPC Central Committee called a Non-Party Personage Forum, reports Xinhua, soliciting opinions and suggestions regarding this year's and next year’s economic work from democratic parties, industrial and commercial federations, and unaffiliated personnel.
Xi Jinping 习近平 hosted the Forum, deeming it necessary to complete the missions listed in the 14th 5-year plan, as 2025 marks the end of the scheme.
Presidents of democratic parties and representatives for unaffiliated personnel gave speeches. They completely agree with the CPC Central Committee’s analysis and strategic considerations, and offered suggestions on
- boosting macro coordination
- enhancing the effectiveness of investments
- scitech innovation
- foster a new business environment for new energy industries
- state laboratory development
- hasten employment
- the healthy development of the private economy
- cross-strait integrated development
Xi considered the economic conditions in 2024 to be
- confronted with more complex global and domestic conditions
- generally stable with progress
- tackled difficulties under the coordination of the Party Centre
- completed major targets on socioeconomic development
Xi thanked democratic parties, industrial and commercial federations and unaffiliated personnel for their research and reports on
- developing new productive forces
- boost internal circulation
- strengthen ecological protection in the Yangtze
These suggestions have provided vital points of reference for scientific decision-making and effective planning.
To do next year’s economic work well, there is a need to uphold strong conviction. The following conditions remain unchanged
- the PRC’s robust economic foundation
- various advantages
- strong resilience and potential
- the long-term trend towards prosperity
As such, the PRC should retain strategic focus, fostering external environments beneficial to domestic growth.
Xi expressed three suggestions for non-party personnel
- retain a correct political standing
- uphold holistic thinking
- position themselves in the Party’s larger strategy
- utilise the United Front to
- promote policies, stabilise expectations and settle conflicts
- lead democratic party members and the masses to view economic conditions positively
- uphold holistic thinking
- provide suggestions and support to central policymaking
- research on issues involving stability of reform and development
- strengthen coordination to implement state strategies
- strengthen governance capacities
- strictly curb corruption
- play a major role in political participation