China Spektrum online discussion: The CCP’s Third Plenum and China’s future economic course

Against the backdrop of economic challenges and shaken confidence of Chinese citizens, entrepreneurs and international investors, the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is gathering this week in Beijing for the Third Plenum. The meeting will set the economic policy course for the coming five to ten years, presenting a new agenda for reform and modernization. What political signals will the leadership send and what substantial policy improvements will be announced in response to domestic and international concerns and contestation about China’s future course?

To explore these questions, on July 23, MERICS held the China Spektrum online discussion with Jude Blanchette (CSIS), Manoj Kewalramani (Takshashila Institution), Katja Drinhausen (MERICS) and Kristin Shi-Kupfer (University of Trier). Drawing on their analyses of Chinese policy documents, media, expert and online debates, speakers highlighted key plenum outcomes, different visions for the path ahead and the implications for China and international stakeholders.  

China Spektrum is a collaborative research project by MERICS and the China Institute of the University of Trier that analyzes and presents public debates in China. The project is funded by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Find out more about the project and read the recent piece by MERICS Senior Analyst Christina Sadeler on expert debates about the role of China’s private sector here.

Speakers:

Jude Blanchette holds the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Co-Director of “Interpret: China”.

Manoj Kewalramani is China Studies Fellow and Chairperson of the Indo-Pacific Studies Programme at the Takshashila Institution, and author of the "Tracking People's Daily" newsletter.

Katja Drinhausen is Head of Program Politics and Society at MERICS and co-lead of China Spektrum project.  

Kristin Shi-Kupfer is Professor for Sinology at the University of Trier, a Senior Associate Fellow at MERICS, and co-lead of the China Spektrum project.  

Moderator: 

Claudia Wessling, Director Communications and Publications at MERICS. 

Welcoming remarks: 

Daniela Saccà, Desk Officer, Asia Division, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.