Mixed ownership is one of the most important parts of Chinese structural reform. At the beginning, there was a lot of advocacy, but according to the latest government reports, the focus is more on taking things step-by-step. Taking a more measured pace and allowing companies to feel more comfortable is also one component. 

Zhang Yichen, chairman and CEO of CITIC Capital and a CPPCC member, thinks SOEs should deepen the reform on their own business merits. A lot of things could go wrong if business is conducted like a political campaign. First, shareholders might fight against each other. It could also lead to leaking of state assets if the process is rushed.

However, he added that the concern of the loss of state assets could be exaggerated. 

Second, aligning interests between shareholders and management itself is value creation. 

Regarding people's skepticism about the loss, Zhang said there will always be someone pointing fingers. Not doing anything might be the best way to avoid such criticism but something must be done in order to push the reform forward. Companies should take responsibility and have the courage to do what they need to do. Zhang also quoted the former chairman of Sinopec, Fu Chengyu, as saying "people should calculate the loss resulting from not doing anything, as well."