XI JINPING’S HARD TASKS

LEAVING HARD TASKS TO NEW LEADER

The Japan Times, November 11, 2012

China is now in the final stage of preparation for its leadership transition, as the once-every-five-years national congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is in session with some 2,300 delegates attending.

Under outgoing President Hu Jintao, who led China for the past 10 years, the country has achieved rapid economic growth, surpassing Japan in 2010 to become the world's No. 2 economy. During Mr. Hu' tenure, China's economy grew nearly four times in size and its per capita gross domestic product in 2010 was 3.2 times the 2002 figure. Current per capita GDP is estimated at $5,000. This is a great achievement.

Mr. Xi Jinping, expected to be elected China's new leader at the end of the party congress, will inherit enormous side effects caused by China's economic development as well as its achievements.

To maintain its legitimacy, the CCP must continue to increase the economic fruit for people. But this process has produced problems such as a growing gap between rich and poor, widespread corruption, and environmental disruption. China, with a population of 1.34 billion, has significant ethnic problems. China's new leadership clearly will confront great challenges.

(...) [article here]