China’s Bold Market Oriented Reforms

The Communist Party of China, which at one time sent tremors throughout the capitalist world particularly the Western countries, has just introduced another dramatic package of home-grown market-oriented reforms. In fact, the outcomes of the Third Plenary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party offer important insights for Sri Lanka. The Pathfinder Foundation (PF) is focusing on these reforms to convey the message that they offer considerable scope for being customized to reflect the specific conditions of the Sri Lankan economy. In considering these reforms, it is important to take into account the political and social characteristics of Sri Lanka. The level of ambition of the reforms that have just been announced by the Chinese authorities has surprised almost all commentators. Some skeptics claim that the actual implementation of the reforms will fall short of what is promised due to resistance from vested interests and/or a lack of political will. This is unlikely, particularly as President Xi Jinping has personally taken charge of the mechanisms that have been established to oversee these economic reforms. He will lead the group on “Comprehensive Deepening of Reforms” which has been tasked with implementing the planned changes. It is very unlikely that President Xi will compromise or back down now that he has staked his personal authority behind these reforms.