The guidelines of the Third Plenum

December, 2013

The International Monetary Fund has released its updated report on the growth forecasts for the world economy. With regard to China, the expected rates of growth of gross domestic product reflect a slowing economy, explained by the effects of the international economic crisis and a protective attitude toward inflation and tensions on the real estate market.

The Third Plenum has dictated what will be the basic guidelines of Chinese politics in the coming years. From the social point of view, particular attention has been paid, at the international level, to the measures relating to the reduction in the number of offenses for which capital punishment is provided , to the abolition of the system of reeducation through labor and easing the constraints on one child. Progressive changes are also planned with regard to the pension system: the reform will include, among other things, the gradual increase in the retirement age and the revision of the social security system. On the economic front, financial and tax reforms are particularly significant. In particular, in financial matters, China opened the banking sector to the private sector, which can open small or medium size banks, if they satisfy the requirements. It is a major change from the past, which could still see the public capital as major players in the Chinese banking system. An opening to private which is reflected also in the industry sector: while maintaining the key role of SOEs , in fact, private capital will have access to shares in the projects with investments of state groups.
“What we must do, we must do so with courage”.

Xi Jinping

President of People’s Republic of China

For the next few years, it has also provided a tax reform, with the aim to share more equitably the revenue into the state coffers, taking into account the different needs of the various levels of government through a " comprehensive and transparent budget allocation system" for areas where the expertise of local and central government intersect, with greater interaction between the two levels of government (www.agichina24.it). The reforms which will meet the Chinese system in the coming years are presented in the document " Decision on the major issues concerning the overall deepening of reforms," published by Xinhua news agency.