Chinese leaders hint at increased focus on politics and Communist Party discipline for coming year

The first Politburo meeting of 2024 – a year that marks the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China – focused on political control and party discipline

The meeting also offered clues that a key economic policy meeting, the so-called Third Plenum, would be delayed until later this year

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The Politburo meeting included discussions on the study of Xi Jinping’s political philosophy. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:01am, 1 Feb 2024Updated: 12:36pm, 1 Feb 2024

The Chinese Communist Party leadership held the first Politburo meeting of the year on Wednesday, setting the tone and direction for the upcoming national parliamentary sessions.

While China’s lacklustre economic recovery continues to be a major concern for foreign investors, Chinese leaders focused on strengthening political control and party discipline in a statement issued after the meeting.

Maintaining stable economic growth remains an important objective, but the main stress is squarely on the political front in a year that will see the People’s Republic celebrate its 75th anniversary.

The central government may still unveil more forceful stimulus packages later at the annual “two sessions”, when the national legislature and top political advisory body meet, but it is unlikely Beijing will make economic growth the only priority.

But, in a break with precedent, Wednesday’s meeting concluded with no reference to the third plenum, an important part of the five-year political cycle that usually sets out the path for future economic policy.