As we wrap up 2024, I decided to end this year’s newsletter with a summary of the Politburo learning session. Thank you all for reading, and happy new year! Readouts of these learning sessions provide a valuable channel for us to better understand the policy trajectory and its direction in the coming year.
The top decision-making body in China holds collective study sessions with experts from academia, think tanks, and occasionally senior officials from key departments. These sessions cover a broad spectrum of topics, from economic policy to ideological matters, with the most recent focusing on China's historical approaches to frontier governance.
As Asia Society researcher Neil Thomas pointed out in his paper, these study sessions carry significant political heritage and follow a consistent format: invited experts must condense what would typically be a semester's worth of university coursework into a single intensive session while being prepared to field questions from Politburo members.
The sessions culminate in Xi's concluding remarks, where he articulates his interpretation of the topic and signals the party's future policy direction.
The published readouts of these sessions serve as valuable windows into China's policy trajectory. The selection of topics reveals the leadership's priorities, while the timing and content often presage upcoming policy shifts.
In 2024, there are seven published readouts, with the notable absence of the 13th collective study session happening between Mar and Apr. Topics include, New quality productive forces(Jan), New energy and national energy security(Feb), Increasing employment rate(May), Strict governance over the Party(Jun), Modernization of border, maritime, and air defense(July), Build China into a cultural powerhouse(Oct), Frontier governance(Dec).
A Typical Layout of Study Sessions
Jan 31, New Quality Productive Forces
Lecturer: Self-study with group discussion: Ma Xingrui(Party secretary of Xinjiang), He Lifeng(vice premier focusing on the economy), Zhang Guoqing（vice premier focusing on SOE and safe production), and Yuan Jiajun(Party Secretary of Chongqing) delivered speeches based on their respective areas of responsibility and local work experience, while Liu Guozhong(vice premier focusing on healthcare agriculture) and Chen Min'er (Party Secretary of Tianjin) submitted written statements.
Key takeaways:
It’s Xi's first complete elaboration on the important concept of “new quality productive forces.”
The definition of "New Quality Productive Forces" includes
Led by innovation
Breaks away from traditional economic growth models
Characterized by high technology, high efficiency, and high quality
Driven by technological breakthroughs and innovative allocation of production factors
The core indicator is a significant improvement in total factor productivity（全要素生产率）
Industrial Chain Layout:
Build industrial chains around the development of new quality productive forces, enhance the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains
Focus on advancing new industrialization and accelerating strategic tasks of building China into a manufacturing power, quality power, cyber power, digital China, and agricultural power
New Quality Productive Forces as Green Productive Forces:
Must accelerate the green transformation of development methods to support carbon peak and neutrality goals
Speed up green technology innovation and promotion of advanced green technologies
Leverage the driving role of green finance
Reform Requirements:
Further deepen economic and technological system reforms to adapt to new quality productive forces development, expand high-level opening up to create a favorable international environment
Education, Technology, and Talent Development Requirements:
Optimize university disciplines and talent training models according to new technology development trends
Improve the mechanism for production factors to participate in income distribution and stimulate the vitality of various factors, including labor, knowledge, technology, management, capital, and data.
During his inspection tour this May, Xi also mentioned that China should not only focus on items such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products. He warned of the risk of a “sudden upsurge, a sudden rise, and a sudden dispersal.” He called for measures to be adopted to develop new productive forces for local conditions.
Feb 29, New Energy Technologies and National Energy Security
Lecturer: Liu Ji, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He’s also directing the State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources
Takeaways:
Further develop new energy infrastructure networks
To Advance smart grid transformation and smart microgrid construction
Enhance power grid capabilities for taking in clean energy
Emphasizing Better power allocation ability
Building comprehensive charging network systems to support rapid NEV growth
This is Xi’s first public proposal to "develop new energy infrastructure networks."
I cannot find the readout of the 13th Politburo study session. While the numerical sequence of study sessions continues.
May 28, Promoting high-quality full employment
Lecturer: Mo Rong, Director of the Chinese Academy of Labor and Social Security, a think tank directly led by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.
Key Points include:
Development Orientation
Make high-quality full employment a priority goal for socioeconomic development
Develop new productive forces and modernize the industrial system
Support industries and enterprises with strong employment absorption capacity
Human Resources Development
Address supply-demand mismatch in human resources
Adjust higher education structure
Develop vocational education and skills training
Support for Key Demographics
Prioritize youth employment (especially college graduates)
Focus on migrant worker employment
Assist groups facing employment difficulties
Institutional Reform
Improve public employment services
Optimize entrepreneurship services
Labor Rights Protection
Regulate new forms of employment
Improve the social security system
Expand occupational injury protection pilots
Combat employment discrimination and wage arrears
It is worth noticing that this study session occurred right before the Chinese graduation season, which lasted from late May to July. According to official estimation, the number of college graduates nationwide in 2024 is expected to reach 11.79 million, an increase of 210,000 compared to the previous year. This group study session serves as an important groundwork for addressing upcoming employment challenges. Xi also mentioned the labor rights issues, “new forms of employment“ refer to gig economy workers such as delivery men. Their rights and social welfare also need improvement.
Jun 28, Improving the system of full and strict governance over the Party
Lecturer: Zhang Jinghu, Secretary-General of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee has gradually established a pattern of conducting targeted study sessions at specific time points. Before July 1st, which is the birthday of the party, the study sessions would focused on Party building-related content. This time also follows the pattern.
Key takeaways:
Xi emphasized that the “four major tests” and “four dangers” facing the party will continue to exist for a long time; comprehensive and strict governance over the party is an endless journey, and the Party's self-revolution is an endless journey. The “four major tests” refer to maintaining effective governance of the country, managing the ongoing process of reform and opening up, handling the challenges of the market economy system, and dealing with the international environment and external pressures. “Four dangers” refer to loss of motivation and drive, lack of adequate capabilities to govern, disconnection from the people, and corruption with negative work attitudes.
To solve these problems, the CPC needs to maintain full and strict governance over the Party by building five systems, including:
An organizational system ensuring seamless vertical integration and robust implementation
An educational system that builds fundamental strength and shapes core values
A supervision system delivering targeted oversight while addressing both immediate issues and underlying causes
A comprehensive institutional system that is scientifically sound and operationally effective
A responsibility system with clearly defined roles and explicit requirements
Xi also explicitly emphasized “five clarifications,” trying to utilize a hieratical structure to implement strict governance within the party.
Clarify the principal responsibility of party committees (party groups) in enforcing strict discipline within the party(党委（党组）全面从严治党主体责任)
Clarify the oversight responsibilities of discipline inspection commissions at all levels （各级纪委的监督责任，）
Clarify the primary responsibility of party committee (party group) secretaries as the first person accountable for party discipline（党委（党组）书记第一责任人责任）
Clarify the responsibilities of leadership team members in maintaining party discipline（领导班子成员的管党治党责任）
Clarify the specific obligations of party members（明确党员、干部的具体责任）
Jul 31, Advance the modernization of border, maritime, and air defense
Lecturer: Huang Jizhong from the Joint Staff Department
Xi emphasized that the world is experiencing accelerating changes unseen in a century, fundamentally transforming both the substance and scope of China's border, maritime, and air defense. The factors at play are increasingly complex, bringing both new opportunities and challenges. We need a systematic approach with comprehensive planning to strengthen our overall defensive capabilities. This means coordinating defense infrastructure with socioeconomic development in border and coastal regions, promoting interconnected and shared infrastructure, and building a defense framework that both ensures security and supports development. We must leverage technology, develop new defensive capabilities, and build an intelligent, multi-dimensional control system. Meanwhile, we should foster friendly relations and practical cooperation with neighboring countries to create a favorable external environment.
Xi noted that in implementing the Third Plenum's directives, we must thoroughly examine key defense issues, build on existing reforms, execute planned reforms, and prepare for future changes to drive innovation in defense construction. This requires simultaneous operation, reform, and refinement - optimizing leadership structures, enhancing military-civilian coordination, and strengthening legal frameworks to ensure smooth and efficient operations. Special attention must be paid to national air traffic management and the emerging low-altitude economy while modernizing our civil defense system.
Xi stressed that border, maritime, and air defense span multiple departments and administrative levels. This demands strong central leadership from the Party, harnessing the combined strength of party organs, government, military, law enforcement, and civilians. We need better coordination in planning, mission execution, and resource allocation between military and local authorities. The military must proactively engage with local governments, while central agencies, local party committees, and governments must strengthen their defense consciousness and thoroughly implement all national defense tasks.
Notes: This time, also follow the pattern of studying national defense issues a day before the birthday of the PLA. For me, two elements stand out. First， the Chinese understanding of defense emphasizes cooperation with neighboring countries, positioning security enhancement as compatible with regional development. By incorporating "friendly neighborly relations" and "practical cooperation" into core defense discourse, My understanding is that its security framework is inherently linked to regional stability rather than confrontation.
Second, the unusual inclusion of air traffic management and low-altitude economy in a defense-focused study session deserves special attention. Historically, China's airspace has been under strict PLA Air Force control, but top-level attention to developing a low-altitude economy suggests Beijing is ready to unlock economic potential in these traditionally military-controlled domains. This transition is already visible in key personnel changes: for the first time in history, the National Air Traffic Management Committee Office is headed by Cai Jianjiang, former chairman of Air China Group, breaking with the tradition of military leadership in this role. The military also expressed their support as well. At the 2024 Zhuhai Air Show, PLAAF Commander Chang Dingqiu notably emphasized that:
Oct.28: Build China into a Cultural Powerhouse
Lecturer: Wang Bo Vice President of Peking University and the Associate Dean of Yenching Academy
Xi’s take:
China must unwaveringly follow the cultural development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Uphold Party leadership, enhance cultural governance capabilities in the information age, and strengthen the Party's governing foundation and mass base in ideological, spiritual, and cultural domains. Maintain the fundamental system of Marxist guidance in the ideological sphere, fully implement socialist cultural thought with Chinese characteristics for the new era, and develop socialist culture that is national, scientific, and popular - oriented toward modernization, the world, and the future. Guided by socialist core values, it continuously builds Chinese spirit, Chinese values, and Chinese strength while developing and strengthening mainstream values, mainstream public opinion, and mainstream culture.
We must focus on stimulating cultural innovation and creativity across the nation. Adhere to people-centered creative direction, prioritize social benefits while unifying them with economic benefits, and make stimulating innovation the central link in deepening cultural system reform. Accelerate improvements in cultural management and operational mechanisms. Focus on enhancing original cultural creativity, improving artistic creation and production service mechanisms, nurturing timeless classics that resonate with the people, and building new peaks of Chinese culture. Actively cultivate a positive cultural ecosystem, fully promote academic and artistic democracy, support writers, artists, and scholars in immersing themselves in life and focusing on creation, and drive continuous cultural innovation. Explore effective mechanisms for cultural-technological integration, achieve digital empowerment and information transformation in cultural development, and convert cultural resource advantages into cultural development advantages.
Emphasize culture's role in nurturing character and cultivating sentiment, fostering an enterprising national spirit. Respect the laws of talent development, improve talent selection, cultivation, utilization, and incentive mechanisms suited to the cultural sector, create a favorable policy environment for identifying, valuing, and nurturing talent, and build a large-scale, well-structured, innovative team of high-level cultural professionals.
Maintain reverence for history and love for culture, adhere to the principles of protection first, rational utilization, and minimal intervention, promoting systematic protection and unified supervision of cultural heritage. Improve mechanisms for cultural heritage protection and transmission and accelerate the completion of the legal and regulatory system.
We must continuously enhance national cultural soft power and Chinese cultural influence. Advance the restructuring of the international communication framework, innovatively carry out online external publicity, and construct a multi-channel, multi-dimensional external communication pattern. More proactively introduce China's propositions, spread Chinese culture, and display China's image. Extensively conduct various forms of international people-to-people exchange and cooperation. More actively and proactively learn from and draw upon all excellent achievements of human civilization, creating a number of cultural achievements that merge ancient and modern, connecting Chinese and foreign elements.
Some Takes:
This learning could be classified into four topics.
Stimulating Cultural Innovation— emphasizes maintaining a people-centered creative direction and prioritizes social benefits over economic ones.
Creative Transformation of Traditional Culture— which always points to “the second integration”(第二个结合), which is integrating Marxist theory with traditional Chinese culture. During the process, Xi emphasizes protecting cultural heritage with minimal intervention.
Enhancing Cultural Soft Power— It’s the first time Xi proposed to advance the restructuring of the international communication framework, which requires building a multi-channel international communication framework to create works bridging Chinese and international cultures.
Dec.9: Historical Frontier Governance
Lecturer: Li Guoqiang, academic committee member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and deputy director of the Chinese Academy of History(a research institute under CASS).
Despite the fact that the lecture itself was more about frontier governance in a historical context, Xi’s take was more about current frontier governance. He emphasized three major points, including：
The Comprehensive Leadership of the Party and Collaborative Governance
Strengthen strategic planning and coordination, organically integrating frontier governance into the development of all aspects of work
Different departments should show courage in assuming responsibilities and maintain close cooperation to form synergistic efforts
Party organizations at all levels must consistently align themselves with the spirit of the Party Central Committee, and implement this into the specific planning and execution of all plans, regulations, policies, and projects.
Economic Development as Key Aspect of Unity
The development of frontier regions must be incorporated into the strategic framework of the Chinese path to modernization through a unified national market.
Keeping reform and opening up, leverage the coastal and border advantages of frontier regions, create diverse forms of open highlands, and form a comprehensive opening-up pattern featuring land-sea connectivity and east-west mutual assistance.
Promote integrated urban-rural development, with county towns as key platforms for steady urbanization. Advance rural revitalization, build on poverty elimination achievements and prevent any large-scale relapse into poverty.
Ensure development improves people's lives, enhances living and production conditions in frontier regions, and bridges gaps in infrastructure and basic public services.
Theoretical Foundation Requirements
Strengthen interdisciplinary research in frontier history and governance while developing a distinctive Chinese academic framework for frontier studies.
Conduct in-depth research on both theoretical foundations and practical challenges of frontier governance, aiming to produce high-impact, compelling scholarly work.
Leverage research findings to effectively showcase China's achievements in frontier governance in the contemporary era.
Develop a research corps dedicated to frontier governance, characterized by strong political integrity, solid theoretical grounding, and comprehensive professional competence.
Some Takes:
This may suggest a more targeted investment in frontier regions' infrastructure projects and comprehensive public services or, more straightforwardly, providing more direct subsidies to key frontier regions.
Regarding ethnic policy, while maintaining the existing framework of regional ethnic autonomy, the government is placing greater emphasis on fostering identification with the broader concept of "Zhonghua Minzu 中华民族" (Chinese nation). My understanding is this approach seeks to cultivate a shared national identity while acknowledging that such identification can coexist with, rather than replace, distinct ethnic identities such as Hui or Han.
The phrase: Foster the development of socially integrated communities and interconnected neighborhood environments积极构建互嵌式社会结构和社区环境 also worth paying attention.
I appreciate your taking the time to go through this lengthy piece. If you've found this analysis informative, please consider subscribing and sharing it with those who follow China's policy developments. I look forward to continuing these discussions in 2025. 新年快乐！