The annual Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from December 19-21, 2018. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered important speeches at the conference. The meeting outlined a number of economic achievements made “under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core” over the past year. The meeting emphasized that China continues to faces challenges, including “worrisome changes amid steady economic performance, a complicated and grim external environment, and an economy facing downward pressures.” Asserting that “these are problems of progress”, it  went on to affirm that China “is still in and will long be in a period of strategic opportunity.”

The meeting confirmed the need to pay special attention to seven tasks next year. These tasks are: 1. “Promoting high-quality development in the manufacturing industry,” 2. “Promoting the formation of a strong domestic market,” 3. “Making solid progress in the rural revitalization strategy,” 4. “Promoting the coordinated development of regions,” 5. “Accelerating the reform of the economic system,” 6. “Promoting comprehensive external opening,” and 7. “Strengthening guarantees of and improvements in the people’s welfare.”

Politburo Standing Committee members Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, and Han Zheng all attended.