The Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform, which turns 4 in December, has built an effective framework to tackle deep-seated problems and clear the way for greater development of China. [Special coverage]
Headed by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the group was established on Dec. 30, 2013. Since then it has convened 38 meetings and approved more than 300 documents to achieve remarkable progress, observers said.
The group's efforts have boosted global confidence in China's lasting, robust growth as it works toward coordinating various departments, removing institutional barriers, reinforcing policy implementation and the Party's supervision over the reform process, experts and diplomats said.
China Daily surveyed the frequency of certain words and phrases in official releases of the Leading Group's 38 meetings. The word "reform" was used most often, mentioned more than 1,400 times. "Piloting", "supervision", "innovation" and "responsibility" also were among the top words used.
The leading group, aimed at fixing loopholes and tapping greater potential for development, has six affiliated groups working on different areas - the economy and ecology; democracy and the legal system; culture; social areas; building up the Party; and discipline and inspection.
The group's first meeting convened in January 2014. Xi has chaired each of the group's meetings and made important remarks to them, official releases show.
The meetings were attended by various figures necessary to implement reforms, such as members of the Leading Group as well as key officials of relevant Party and State departments, according to the releases.
The group had a packed schedule at each meeting, often with members listening to briefings presented by officials involved in specific tasks. It also analyzes and researches subjects at hand, reviews or approves documents and authorizes pilot projects.
A wide spectrum of issues was addressed at almost every gathering. The most recent meeting on Aug 29 reviewed and approved six documents, ranging from agriculture-related funds, compensation for damage to ecology, supervision in village affairs to judicial system buildup.
Many landmark policies introduced by the group have shaped and brought greater convenience to the everyday lives of the people.
A guideline was approved at the group's 11th meeting in April, 2015, on piloting comprehensive reform at urban public hospitals. A pilot program at county-level hospitals was quickly initiated in October that year.
Han Baojiang, director of the economic department of the Party School of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, noted that the Leading Group "takes action like thunder" to cover areas that directly shape the public good, such as medical services, elderly care, food safety and the environment.
The reforms undertaken in recent years have addressed harder, deeper issues as the easier ones were tackled before, and "the scope and depth of the reforms are unprecedented", Han noted.
The reform measures adopted have won public support as they boost equality and allow the fruits of the country's development to be better enjoyed by the public, Han said.
The Party's spearheading reforms have attracted global attention as the world closely watches its potential influence on China's opening-up.
Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov said he tries to "follow Chinese newspapers, articles about economic reform", and the Leading Group is "effective", as it offers a "very important agenda".
