HAINAN, China -- The 3,000-plus delegates to the annual two-week meeting of China's National People's Congress, or NPC, have packed their bags and gone home. It was an unusually important meeting this year. In addition to the usual rubber-stamping of the Chinese Communist Party's policy proposals for the coming year, it was also the occasion for the announcement of the new government leaders.
There were no surprises in the new leadership lineup. These were widely trailed after the relevant decisions were made during the horse-trading at the annual seaside summerfest for party leaders last summer.
It will be some time before the new leadership shakes down. Many lower level government positions have been reorganized and new cadres have to be identified and appointed to fill them. The policy statements of the leaders announced at the NPC meeting must be digested and turned into work programs. Decisions also have to be taken on which parts of the programs will be carried out and which ignored.