Planning Ahead

President Xi’s books on governance provide insightful applications

FThe author is president of the Center ChinaBrazil: Research and Business rom various speeches and texts by President Xi Jinping, two essential books have been published for those who wish to know and study how China has achieved its incredible development. Volumes I and II of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China also cover what new paths China can follow at this time, which Xi calls the new era.

The books have a rich content, with speeches addressing critical issues in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

In the first book, key issues are described, which lay the foundation for Chinese governance. In the second, the subjects of the first book are deepened and new themes explored from the global context of the new era.

Both books give ample insight into China’s successful governance. They also inspired me to build a hypothetical model on Chinese governance to better understand this complex issue.

Philosophical and political issues are fundamental in the context of the development of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). However, I will focus on leading management, economic, technological and social issues because in the new era, these factors have immediate worldwide impact.

Before I explain the structure of the model, I would like to explain the reason why it was so important to create this tool. It allows one to visualize and understand how the planning of the largest economy in the world works.

First, this model has technical consistency adaptable to any developing country, regardless of political, ethnic, religious or other unique characteristics.

Second, the main problems of developing countries are always generally the same. However, it is essential to customize the main objectives and action plan according to the characteristics of each country.

Finally, any governance model must not only have well-defined objectives, but also undergo periodic adjustments to its objectives and action plan during application.

In China, this happens through the National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held every five years, and the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the top legislature of the country, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body.

At these meetings, many objectives and action plans change as prior goals give way to new challenges and opportunities. This dynamic is necessary mainly due to the constant changes in the world.

In this current version of my hypothetical model on Chinese governance, some of the deliberations from the sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC National Committee in March 2019 have been taken into account.

Here is the model and some of the objectives and action plans that were determined for implementation.

The structure is divided into the following subjects:

Finally, Xi’s books are a must-read for anyone who is interested in governance and wants to know how well-designed planning helps a nation to become the most important nation in the world.