The 21st Century Council confirms China’s all-round reform

When answering questions from the press, Ernesto Zedillo, Chairman of the 21st Century Council, said that this high-level dialogue with the Chinese government impressed us that the political reform possibly to be announced soon would be ambitious and conducive to China’s prosperity and development.

On the eve of the Third Plenary Session of 18th CPC Central Committee, former government heads, entrepreneurs and scholars coming from around the globe to attend the 21st Century Council Beijing Conference talked face to face with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, and learned that China's new government would promote reform in an all-round way across the political, economic and social aspects to ensure the ongoing momentum in China's economy and opening up to the outside world.

At the press conference held yesterday afternoon, former Mexican President and Chairman of the 21st Century Council Ernesto Zedillo told the media that the high-level dialogue with the Chinese government revealed that the political reform possibly to be announced soon was ambitious and conducive to China’s prosperity and development.

George Yeo: The Third Plenary Session contains political and social reform

Former Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo, who was also present at the Conference, answered our question through Facebook, saying the Chinese government attached great importance to this Beijing Conference. In addition to the conversations with Mr. Xi and Mr. Li, the attendees also had a dialogue with China's State Councilor Yang Jiechi, ministers, provincial governors and secretaries of the CPC provincial committees and other high-level officials.

"The advent of the Third Plenum sees China taking a big step forward not only in economic reform but also in political and social transformation." Said Mr. Yeo.

The Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee to be convened in Beijing on November 9-12 is a critical session for the new Chinese leaders to determine the road map for policy execution in the coming decade, weighing almost equal to the Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978, at which China's development path of reform and opening up was defined, a kick-off of China's economic and social transition for 35 years.

Some analysts believe that the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee is mainly aimed at identifying China's economic development and reform philosophy in the next stage rather than specifying policy measures. However, with the approaching date of the Plenum, reports and analyses published by the official and international media, as well as the frequent vocal campaigns launched by China's top leaders, have kept drawing attention to this Plenary Session.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang met successively with foreign delegates attending the 21st Century Council Beijing Conference at the Great Hall of the People, suggesting China’s determination to promote in-depth reform in an all-round way and extend opening up. According to some media-quoted analysts, given the sensitive point in time prior to the Third Plenary Session, the convening of the 21st Century Council Beijing Conference by the Chinese government via an academic institution with an official background is aimed at publicity for the Plenum among the international community to promote mutual understanding between China and other countries.

A comprehensive program of reform will be put forward for overall deployment of deepening reform in an all-round way. Mr. Xi so said in the meeting with the Council delegates on November 2.

Mr. Li clarified the scope of reform in his speech at the opening ceremony on November 1: "China's reform has now entered the deep water zone. We will deepen the reform comprehensively, eliminate deep-seated obstacles, and promote structural reforms in order to continually unleash the dividends of reform. Reforms will continue to deepen in the fiscal, financial, pricing and enterprise fields where you have a keen interest."

In the press conference yesterday, the Chinese official media also observed how the Council evaluated the success of China's economic development paradigm. According to Chairman of the Berggruen Institute on Governance Nicolas Berggruen, China's success was built on "ongoing reform and adaptation." He believed that the new leadership would promote reform and create opportunities for more people, supported by a more open economic system to provide more opportunities for the private sector, with attention paid to economic growth in terms of both quality and quantity.

According to Berggruen, Chinese and Western political leaders in power have differing  mindsets, as Chinese leaders stress reform, change and self-criticism to better serve the people, pay attention to long-term planning, and get ready to learn from others for successful practices, which is impressive for the members present at the conference.

In his reply to the Wall Street Journal reporter's question about the reform content of the Plenum, Zedillo said Li Keqiang revealed important tips in the opening speech. As for another closed-door meeting, the participants pursued the Chatham House Rule (Rule of the Royal Institute of International Affairs Chatham House), and thus could not reveal more about the reform. He did not want to be arrogant toward China as Westerners used to do, nor did he consider any interference in China's internal affairs appropriate in dealing with the Chinese.

The 21st Century Council, also known as "the shadow G20," is a non-governmental forum co-launched in 2011 by a number of world-renowned statesmen, strategists and entrepreneurs, including former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and American investor Berggruen.