The Party Congress Date is Set

CHINA FINANCIAL - In Brief 31 Aug 2017 by Michael Pettis

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The Party Congress has been officially set for October 18, which seems smack in the middle of the expected range. I asked one of my students to get me the previous dates, and she told me: 18th Congress: 2012.11.8 17th Congress: 2007.10.15 16th Congress: 2002.11.8 15th Congress: 1997.9.12 One piece of information that may be of interest, with all the obligatory caveats about the Beijing rumor mill, is about Wang Qishan's retirement. One of my former Peking University students who is very plugged in, especially among Wang Qishan proteges, and usually very sober, claims to have the full list of Politburo names, which was decided in Beidahe and which is now in circulation. He told me "Wang Qishan is out of the Politburo. He is not included because health issues. He retires after October." I asked him if Wang had any other role, and he responded, "To my knowledge, no formal role. His health condition is bad." He also told me that "Li Keqiang is still the Premier." Please note that except for the fixing of the date of the 19th Party Congress, these are rumors and have not been confirmed.