Chinese President Xi Jinping warned of “severe” challenges Wednesday, as he kicked off a twice-a-decade party meeting that may signal if he will appoint a successor to rule after 2022.
Xi started the week-long event this morning with what’s known as the work report, seen as the ruling Communist Party’s most significant policy document. It covers achievements since Xi took power in 2012, and lays out his vision for everything from party building to the economy to the military.
“Right now both China and the world are in the midst of profound and complex changes,” Xi said. “China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development. The prospects are bright, but the challenges are severe.”
At stake is whether Xi will amass enough power to push through tough reforms as the world’s second-largest economy faces structural challenges over the next five years. At the same time, he’s seeking to boost China’s global clout with infrastructure spending while seeking to avoid a conflict with U.S. President Donald Trump over North Korea.
