What China watchers should know about where the country is headed

Long-term reform is a challenge. In Western democracies, political candidates campaign on promises of change, but after one or two terms, little may actually change. Even if reforms are implemented, there is no guarantee that a successor won’t reverse them. China, however, approaches reform as a relay race, with each generation of leaders passing the baton to the next.

The country’s new energy vehicle sales could surpass 10 million units this year. Meanwhile, China’s solar power industry is also a global leader, with capacity accounting for around 80 per cent of the world’s total.

Fourthly, tackling corruption is crucial for sustainable development. Between 2012 and 2022, China investigated nearly 5 million officials for corruption.

Of course, progress in these six areas cannot conceal the fact that there are still problems. These are precisely the targets for the next phase of national development. Just as the reforms of Deng Xiaoping’s era left issues for future leaders to address, the reforms of the past 12 years have set the groundwork for further comprehensive deepening.

Average life expectancy in China could reach almost 80 years old while basic medical and pension coverage will exceed 95 per cent. In 2029, the Chongyang Institute expects there will be more than 100 countries that either share mutual visa exemptions or have unilateral visa exemptions and visa-on-arrival arrangements with China.

In terms of space and aviation, China will become one of the countries with the most comprehensive space programmes in the world, with plans to send astronauts to the moon.

More importantly, the national governance capacity and system of the Communist Party will take another big step forward. By 2029, China will have hopefully