China details reform decision-making process

Details about how decisions were reached on major issues of reform emerged on Monday.

More than 300 reform measures were adopted unanimously at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Nov. 12. Published in full text on Nov. 15, the document plots the course of all aspects of China's next round of reform.

In April, after the new leadership was elected, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee decided that the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee would deal with comprehensive reform and make important decisions.

The Political Bureau decided to found a drafting group, headed by President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. It was the first time since 2000 that the Party's top leader had led the drafting of a document to be tabled at a plenary session.

On April 20, the CPC Central Committee informed party organs and governments at the central level and of all provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, the armed forces and all non-governmental organizations that their opinions would be solicited. In less than a month, 118 items and proposals were gathered.

From its first meeting on April 24, the drafting group of about 60 members worked hard for 200 days under the leadership of Xi until the opening of the plenum on Nov. 9.