Watching China's year for history

19th Party Congress and the New Era

October: The highlight of the year was, as expected, the 19th CPC National Congress. Not quite expected were the far-reaching proclamations and, taken together, the magnitude of their significance. I witnessed history and see six highlights.

First, Xi's name and thought were written into the CPC Constitution－"Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era". Xi is now, officially, the overarching creator and arbiter of political thought, and combined with his designation as "core" of the CPC, he is now the undisputed, unimpeded leader with singular authority. Xi Jinping "thought" is built on the twin pillars of people orientation and national rejuvenation, with the new concept of development (innovation, coordination, green, open, sharing) driving a new kind of economic growth.

Second, the "New Era", which is intended as a policy-energizing game changer, is a conceptual lens with which to view the range of goals, strategies and concepts that compose Xi's way of thinking and the Party's new direction.

The "New Era" is envisioned in three temporal segments: (i) from now until the fulfillment of China's first centenary goal of a "moderately prosperous society" in 2020 (2021 being the 100th anniversary of the CPC);(ii) from 2020 to 2035, when the CPC states it will build on the foundation of the moderately prosperous society so that, after"15 years of hard work", the country will "basically" realize "socialist modernization"; and (iii) from 2035 to 2050, when the CPC states it will "work hard for a further 15 years" and "develop China into a country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful". Realizing this vision at mid-century, around 2050, with China being respected as a great, modern, socialist country, is the second centenary goal (2049 being the 100th anniversary of the People's Republic of China).

Third, the new "principal contradiction" in China's "New Era" is between "unbalanced and inadequate development" and "the people's ever-growing needs for a better life", which includes increasingly broad demands for "democracy, rule of law, fairness and justice, security, and a better environment". From now on, this new-era principal contradiction, replacing quantitative GDP growth with qualitative improvement of life, is what will guide China's domestic affairs and policies.

Fourth, the Party's leadership role in governing the country is expanding and the Party's stringent approach to governing itself is intensifying. The Party will be more deeply embedded within agencies of government and sectors of society (including private companies, foreign businesses and educational institutions), and by reforming and purifying itself, the Party's governance will be stricter and more comprehensive. The anti-corruption campaign, not only continues, it has been enhanced.

Fifth, the "New Era" has China moving closer to center stage of the world and making greater contributions to humanity, offering "Chinese wisdom" and "Chinese solutions" for world problems. China's diplomacy will be proactive, championing the development of a community with a shared future for humanity and encouraging the evolution of the global governance system.

Sixth, I watched the new senior leaders of China, the seven members of the new Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, walk out on stage, ending months, really years, of speculation and rumor. Because everything in China reports to a Political Bureau Standing Committee member, and because of the Party's principle of collective leadership, their personalities, composition and balance determine the vision, strategies and policies that shape China.

The importance of the Political Bureau Standing Committee remains true today, but its importance frankly is also less true today. It is hard to overstate the consequences of Xi's name written into the Party Constitution, thus inscribing into perpetuity his predominant status and assuring his continuing pre-eminence in the country's political life.

Following the 19th Party Congress, some might have expected a respite, a slower November and December. They were anything but.