Xinhua reported that Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CCP CC presided over a meeting of the CCP CC Politburo in Beijing on October 31, to analyze and study the current economic situation and deploy current economic work. The Politburo assessed that the "three major battles of major risks, precision poverty alleviation and pollution prevention and control have accelerated the pace of reform and opening up and achieved sustained and healthy economic and social development. In the first three quarters" and that the economy was generally stable. It said "consumer prices are basically stable, manufacturing investment has rebounded to a higher level in recent years, imports and exports have grown rapidly, foreign capital utilization has steadily expanded, autumn grain has achieved a bumper harvest, and income growth of residents has been basically synchronised with economic growth. New urban employment has completed the annual target ahead of schedule". Stating that the downward pressure on the economy has increased and some enterprises have more operational difficulties, it said this should be given "great importance" and timely countermeasures taken. The meeting said the 40th anniversary of reform and opening up should be celebrated and the first China International Import Expo should be held well. It also said "We will do a good job in ensuring people's livelihood security in the winter, especially to ensure that the masses warm the winter, ensure the timely and full payment of migrant workers' wages, do a good job in safe production, strengthen natural disaster prevention, and ensure the stability of the overall situation of society". The meeting also referred to the "profound" changes occurring in China's external environment.

(Comment: There has thus far been no indication of the Fourth Plenum being convened.)