Leading official removed from State Council post

Political Bureau discusses structural reforms, economic, social development

The third plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee will be held from Monday through Wednesday in Beijing, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided on Saturday. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting.

The Political Bureau met to discuss a structural reform plan of the Party and State institutions, the country’s economic and social development and proposed candidates for State leadership positions and for the leadership of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee.

Participants also discussed a work report of the Political Bureau to the CPC Central Committee.

Revamp Party, State institutions

The Political Bureau decided to revise the draft of the structural reform plan of Party and State institutions and then submit the plan to the third plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee for review.

The gathering agreed that Party and State institutions form an important part of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and should be reformed to strengthen the Party’s leadership, improve State governance and make the system efficient.

While acknowledging its contributions, the gathering said the current structure of Party and State institutions was not good enough to meet the requirements for various tasks in the new era.

Details of the plan were not disclosed.

Candidates for administration

At the meeting, the Political Bureau discussed a list of proposed candidates for State leadership positions that will be recommended to the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress and a proposed candidate list for the leadership of the CPPCC National Committee, which will be recommended at the upcoming first session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in March.

Proactive fiscal policy

It was decided at the meeting that China would continue to adopt a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy to fulfill its economic and social development goals for 2018.

The gathering discussed the draft Government Work Report to be submitted by the State Council for review at the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress.

“Amid a complex domestic and international environment, the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core united the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and led them to make historic achievements and changes in promoting economic and social development over the past five years,” the meeting determined.

Participants agreed that China realized its major preset economic and social development goals in 2017, with some important indicators exceeding expectations.

As 2018 marks the first year to implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and the 40th anniversary of the reform and opening-up, the meeting stressed the need to strengthen overall Party leadership, stick to the basic tone of seeking progress while maintaining stability and adhering to the new development concept.