China’s 17th Party Congress: Looking Ahead to Hu Jintao’s 2nd Term

The future of Chinese socio-economic and political development in the coming five years will be defined by the outcome of the 17^th Party Congress. This landmark political event selects the next generation of Chinese leaders and defines the policy vision that will guide China in the years to come. The Congress also has major implications for China’s domestic politics and the China-U.S. relationship.

On October 30, the John L. Thornton China Center and the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies hosted a conference on the outcomes of the 17^th Party Congress and Hu Jintao’s second term. A distinguished panel of experts discussed trends in leadership characteristics, factional politics, ideological change, the issue of political succession, the institutionalization of power, socio-economic policy, and Chinese foreign policy.

After each panel, participants took audience questions.