MNI: Xi Steers China to Modernity, Ditching Speed for Quality

By William Bi

     BEIJING (MNI) - History does seem to repeat itself. Four decades ago, the

paramount leader Deng Xiaoping opened China to outside capital and unleashed the

pent-up energy of an enterprising populace, setting course for the country's

dramatic rise. 

     Not long after, then-U.S. President Ronald Reagan signed into law the

Economic Recovery Tax Act, slashing marginal taxes across the board. The deficit

ballooned and the economy sank into a "double-dip" recession, forcing the

Republican government to largely retract those tax cuts. 

     One may say this somewhat mirrors the situation today. As President Donald

Trump and Republican congressional leaders were claiming their "largest tax cut"

in history would boost growth, a prediction roundly disputed by economists,

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his bureaucrats emerged from a three-day

conclave setting in place moderate growth strategies seeking to optimize the

nation's modernization and beat its biggest competitor in terms of quality, if

not size. 

     State media summarized the results of the Central Economic Work Conference

(CEWC) with a few pithy numeric slogans: "One Basic Requirement," "One

Guideline," "One Grasp," and "3+8 Tasks."

     The "One Basic Requirement" is that growth will change "from China-made to

China-created, from China-speed to China-quality," as the country changes to a

"strong" rather than "large" manufacturing nation. That requirement will be met

by following the "One Guideline" of Xi's supply-side reform, with a "Grasp" over

China's unequal wealth distribution. 

     U.S. Republicans may want to take note.

     In a 3000-character communique, Xi urges officials and China's 1.3 billion

people to win the "Three Solidifying Battles" -- preventing financial risks,

eliminating poverty and curbing pollution -- by undertaking eight major tasks: 

     1. Implement supply-side reform

2. Unleash market energy, make state firms stronger, better and bigger

3. Revitalize the countryside

4. Rebalance regional economies 

5. Reduce market barriers, seek trade balance, guide outbound investment

6. Improve basic welfare

7. Boost housing supplies, especially rental properties

8. Improve the ecosystem

     With this new thinking in focus, Xi has called for the accelerated

formulation of systems of indicators, policies, standards, statistics, economic

and political evaluations, with all the attendant rules and conditions.  

     Analysts pored over the densely- and carefully-worded summary to look for

clues and changes from past official statements. Here are MNI's takeaways: 

     --LOWER GROWTH TARGET

     To the stability- and target-obsessed China, de-emphasizing quantitative

growth doesn't mean it will abandon goals altogether. But given the likely 6.8%

growth rate this year, even if growth slows to 6.3% per year in 2018-2020, China

can still achieve its target of doubling the GDP by 2020 from 2010, as laid out

in the 18th party congress. Many economists predict that the National People's

Congress in March will target 6.5% growth for 2018.

     --DEEPEN SUPPLY-SIDE REFORM

     "China doesn't need to cut taxes for businesses in the same way as the new

U.S. tax reform," which seeks to transfer wealth to businesses from individuals,

a prominent state-affiliated economist, Liu Yuhui, told MNI at the annual

Mysteel steel forum in Shanghai last weekend. 

     Xi's two-year-long push for cutting redundant steel mills, coal mines and

cement plants has in a way been an income transfer. It has given order and life

to industries mired in debts and reckless competition. Those that survived have

enjoyed elevated prices of steel, coal, cement and non-ferrous metals. The CEWC

communique made it clear the measures won't be reversed. Prices of industrial

products such as steel will likely be supported, especially given the increased

costs of protecting the environment in line with Xi's vision for a cleaner

China. 

     Deleveraging, and the tough regulations over the financial industry, will

continue, but the communique removed a line calling for deleveraging in the real

economy. That nuance suggests regulators may be confident after making initial

inroads and won't likely further tighten the screws. 

     Xi has pinned much hope for China's future on a cleaner environment and

innovation. Environmental-protection and high-tech industries are among those

expected to benefit. A "youngster China," supported with innovation and

consumption, is now emerging out of the economy of a mature and rather stale

China, Liu said. 

     --STABLE MONETARY POLICY SHOULD ALSO BE NEUTRAL

     In comparison with last year, the CEWC this time emphasized the word

"neutral" in describing its goal for monetary policy, suggesting monetary supply

may be further tightened. The PBOC is likely to raise intermarket borrowing

rates after a 0.05% symbolic increase this month. 

     This year's communique also added in a prescription about "ensuring

reasonable gains in credit and social financing," which may be needed to address

companies' recent difficulties in selling bonds and raising capital. 

     --EXPAND REFORM

     New to the CEWC communique this year is a call for "further expanding the

range and depth of opening-up" and a more "orderly" allowance of market access,

accompanied by the promotion of a more even trade balance.

Throughout the year, as President Trump takes the U.S. to a more isolationist

role in the world, China has steadily expanded its presence while carefully

avoiding directly confronting its biggest rival. Expect China to be more

pragmatic in dealing with the Trump administration, such as allowing more

imports of agricultural goods and energy products, which will shrink the trade

surplus while allowing China more leverage in accessing U.S. markets, including

investments the communique said would be "effectively guided and supported."  

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: vince.morkri@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$A$$$,M$Q$$$,MC$$$$,MI$$$$,MT$$$$,MGQ$$$]