China’s leadership transition comes to an end. Regardless of the proposed changes or reforms of China’s new leadership, the stability of the economy and its growth will likely remain the most important factor for Zhongnanhai.

As vested interests and established powers continue to distort China’s economy, Zhang Monan highlights three areas of Chinese society where reforms would provide equality and opportunity for socio-economic development while allowing growth.

Thanks to the central government’s stabilization policies, Chinese enterprises have accelerated production to make up the inventory rather than slowing down production to digest the inventory. The macroeconomic operation will continue the rising trend and China’s GDP growth in 2013 may be faster than 2012.

China’s economic growth model is running out of steam. According to the World Bank, in the 30 years after Deng Xiaoping initiated economic reform, investment accounted for 6-8 percentage points of the country’s 9.8% average annual economic growth rate, while improved productivity contributed only 2-4 percentage points.

Chinese leaders must balance profit margins and economic growth with improving their environment and the quality of life for ordinary people, writes Tom Watkins. China's new Communist Party Secretary General Xi Jinping appears to understand that leadership must begin at the top to ensure a peaceful rise.

Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds is a study by the US National Intelligence Council assesses how the world might evolve over the next two decades. The latest iteration, released in December, concentrates much of its analysis on China’s role in the world.

While China and the United States have seen an uptick in the number of complaints brought before the World Trade Organization as well as outside actions increasing trade conflict, there are steps both nations may take to increase cooperation and remain competitive.

In a feat unmatched by other world powers, China’s economy survived its second soft landing in less than four years. However, as external factors continue to shock China, its economy has faced increasing vulnerability. Now, economic rebalancing and reform could hold the key to continued growth.

Zhang Yansheng writes that China's economy will enter an important period of transition in 2013, and that the prospect of global economic growth remains troubling.

As Xi Jinping and Barack Obama are faced with tremendous economic challenges, the national prosperity of each country may benefit more from a local approach that could allow for joint efforts between the United States and China.