In early November, the Communist Party of China held a very important meeting to determine the future direction of Xi Jinping's (General Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the People's Republic of China) administration. This meeting is called the 6th Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee (6th Plenum). According to the published communique, this meeting adopted the third historic resolution following the Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping eras, making it clear that the party will steer significantly away from the socialist market economy system led by Deng Xiaoping toward Marxism-Leninism socialism that has existed since the party's founding. It also declared that the Xi Jinping regime will be further strengthened in the run-up to the 20th Party Congress to be held in the second half of next year, and that the transition will take place into the "New Era of Xi Jinping."
The historical resolution begins by saying, "A summary of the significant achievements and historical experience of the 100 years of struggle since the founding of the Party is necessary under the historical conditions of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Party, in order to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era on a new path toward the comprehensive construction of a modern socialist state," and divides the 100 years from the founding of the Party to 2021 into three periods: "From the founding of the Party in 1921 to the Mao Zedong era," "The Deng Xiaoping era," and "The Xi Jinping era up to the present." Based on the full text published in the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (dated November 13th), the author's summary is as follows (titles omitted).
Hair era
Mao Zedong combined Marxism-Leninism with the specific circumstances of China to establish Mao Zedong Thought, which paved the way for the correct revolution of "encircling the cities from the countryside and seizing power by force." He achieved the independence of the Chinese nation and the liberation of the people, bringing an end to the history of the semi-colonial and semi-feudal society of the old China.
The Deng Era
China developed social productive forces and lifted the people out of poverty in order to promote reform, opening up and socialist modernization. It made the historic decision to shift the focus of the Party and the state's work to economic construction and implement reform and opening up. It set out a development strategy to progress in three stages by the mid-21st century and basically realize socialist modernization, thus creating socialism with Chinese characteristics. It established the reform goals and basic framework for a socialist market economy system.
The Xi Era
Xi Jinping is the "chief founder of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" who has made full use of past history. The Party has placed Comrade Xi Jinping in the position of core member of the Party Central Committee and the entire Party. In social construction, people's lives have improved in all respects, and the miracle of long-term social stability continues to be written. National defense and economic strength have been improved simultaneously. The Chinese nation has made a great leap from "rising to become rich" to "becoming strong".
Finally, with regard to the future direction, the communique states:
The 20th Party Congress to be held in 2022 will be held at a critical time as we embark on a new journey towards the "second centenary" (Note: the 100 years leading up to 2049, the 100th year since Mao Zedong founded the People's Republic of China in 1949). The entire Party, the entire military, and the people of all ethnic groups across the country must unite more closely with the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, "implement Xi Jinping's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and work tirelessly to realize the Chinese Dream."
As I wrote in this column in November 2020, at a plenary session of the Central Committee last year, the Communist Party of China formulated a long-term plan to (1) double total GDP (gross domestic product) and GDP per capita by 2035 and become a moderately developed country, (2) become a world-leading innovative developed country, and (3) basically realize the modernization of national defense and the military. The Xi administration has set an ambitious goal of realizing a "modern socialist power" by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (2049).
The 6th Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee has placed these goals in a historical position. More importantly, it clearly states that China will move away from democracy and capitalism by transforming Deng Xiaoping's framework of reform and opening up and socialist market economy, which built the foundation for China's rapid economic expansion and made China the world's second largest economy (GDP power), and by strengthening the concentration of power in Xi Jinping's hands, it will move toward "Xi Jinping's new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics." A huge economic and military power is trying to take us in a different direction. This will have a major impact on the world economy and international community, as well as Japan. I would like to write more about this point on another occasion.
(Diary entry dated December 2, 2021)
[Profile of Shigeo Uchida]
Graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University in 1965. Joined the Nikkei Inc. After working in the Securities Department of the Editorial Office, the Japan Center for Economic Research, head of the Securities Department at the Tokyo Head Office and as an editorial writer, he became Professor Chiba University of Commerce in 2000. He has been Managing Director Corporation since 2011 (until May 2019). He is also Professor Emeritus Chiba University of Commerce. He has served as a member of the Economic Council, Securities and Exchange Council, and Research Council for Energy, among others. His hobby is chorus.
<Major publications>
"Seminar: Introduction to the Japanese Economy" (co-author, Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
"Showa Economic History (Part 2)" (co-author, Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
"The New Japanese Economy" (co-author, Nihon Keizai Shimbun)
"History of Japanese Securities 3" and "Now You Can Understand! How the Japanese Economy Works" (sole author, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc.)
"New Introduction to the Japanese Economy" (co-author, Nikkei Publishing Inc.) and others