Event 6: China's Xi Jinping Administration: An Assessment of Achievements and Challenges

Date and Time
    Feb. 26 (Thu.) 10:00am-11:30am

Venue
    Conference Room, East-West Center in Washington
    1819 L St., NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20036



Abstract
  Over two years have passed since the advent of the Xi Jinping Administration in China, and this first stage has already been rather eventful to say the least. Xi Jinping's "tiger hunt", his anti-corruption drive, has resulted in the downfall of a number of high-ranking cadres, including those in the military. He seems to be successful in consolidating his power base, and his plan for economic reform is wide-ranging and ambitious. At the same time, Xi Jinping's emphasis on ideological purity and the oppression of dissident voices has been striking and appears contradictory to his policies on the economic front. On the societal level, people's dissatisfaction about the present and concern about the future have not been allayed by the tightening of discipline among the local cadres, while the further downturn in the economy is forecast this year. This seminar will review and assess the achievement and challenges in the past two years of Xi's leadership, and explore the prospects for 2015 and beyond with a major focus set on the domestic questions.

Opening Remarks
Masako Egawa, Chair, U.S.-Japan Research Institute / Executive Vice President, The University of Tokyo

Moderator
Ellen L. Frost, Adjunct Senior Fellow, EWC in Washington

Speakers
Akio Takahara, Professor, Faculty of Law, the University of Tokyo
Nathaniel Ahrens, Director of China Affairs, the University of Maryland / Senior Associate (non-resident), Hills Program on Governance, CSIS

Commentator
Susan Lawrence, Specialist in Asian Affairs, Congressional Research Service(CRS)

Masako Egawa

Ellen L Frost

Akio Takahara

Nathaniel Ahrens

Susan Lawrence

Co-hosted by
East-West Center in Washington