“Over the last 40 years, we have consistently adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, followed the path of peaceful development and pursued a win-win strategy of opening-up,” declared Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC)Central Committee, at a major event on December 18,2018, organized to commemorate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up. “We have firmly supported the basic norms of international relations and upheld international fairness and justice,” he added. Xi recounted the glorious achievements and valuable experience gained across the 40 years of reform and opening-up and outlined strategic plans for further deepening reform and opening wider to the outside world.

Not long after the gathering, the annual Central Economic Work Conference, a weathervane for China’s macro economy, was held on December 19.

How will China begin the new leg of the reform and opening-up journey? Where will the leg begin? What is the ultimate destination? What changes will the Chinese economy embrace in 2019?

With such questions in mind, China Report ASEAN turned to some renowned Chinese experts for answers.