There were many prominent headlines following the conclusion of the 19th Party Congress: the dominance of known Xi allies among the newly announced Politburo; the emergence of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era; and the enshrinement of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Party Constitution. What has drawn less focus from the foreign business community is the emergence of the “new contradiction” in Chinese society, between “the people’s growing demand for a good life and the country’s unbalanced and insufficient growth.” This acknowledgement may finally see an end to the ‘growth at all costs’ model and a commitment to slower but sustainable, long-term growth.
At the European Chamber’s 2017 Annual Conference, China’s Rise: The New Contradiction, we are delighted to welcome the Head of the European Union Delegation to China, HE Hans-Dietmar Schweisgut, and keynote speaker Zhang Xiaoqiang, former Vice Chairman of the NDRC. They will headline a host of leading economists, academics and business leaders who will analyse what China will look like in President Xi’s ‘new era’. Is the market still destined to play the decisive role? Will President Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative finally transition from grand vision to ambitious reality? And what forks remain in the road for the deleveraging of the Chinese economy?