General Secretary Xi Jinping was designated as “core” of the CPC Central Committee and of the whole Party at the 6th Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). 

But how has this made a difference? How has the fact this designation affected President Xi's capacity to deal with complex and controversial policies, especially economic transformation including the resistance of various interest groups? 

How has the decision-making system changed? R.L. Kuhn spoke with Zheng Xinli, former deputy director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, and executive president of the China Association of Policy Science.

“Since the 18th CPC National Congress, we have issued many reform plans and economic strategies. Looking back, the general effect has not been bad. But as we push for reform, we meet a lot of obstacles and resistance. In some areas, reform has been very slow. For example, reforms of the rural areas have been carried out for more than three years. And they are still at the trial stage."

"We’ve only set the pilot programs in 15 out of a total 2,000-plus counties in China. Now three years have gone by since the implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). Our achievements are very limited. I think we are a bit slow in our progress. It is also the case with SOE (state-owned enterprise) reforms. The decision for SOE reform was announced at the 3rd plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee [2013]. But so far, only China Unicom came up with a plan of mixed ownership, and it was not long ago, and the next step is not yet in place. So on the whole, the progress is not really satisfactory. After confirming the central leadership with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core, we will further strengthen the authority of the Central Committee."

"The leading officials, Party members, and general public should align themselves with the CPC Central Committee and all the reform plans set forth by General Secretary Xi Jinping.”