• Together with two colleagues I spent last week in Beijing, where we were attending the China Development Forum, an annual gathering where senior Chinese officials meet foreign business bosses. Our Beijing bureau chief, David Rennie, set up a remarkable agenda of conversations with Chinese officials, scholars, economists, business leaders and diplomats. Over breakfast, coffee, lunch and dinner we had some 30 meetings in just a few days. My colleagues and I left Beijing with thicker waistlines, a deeper understanding of China’s economic direction—and some fairly profound concerns.
• Our cover this week reflects these concerns. In a leader we argue that Xi Jinping’s plan to escape economic stagnation is misguided. Blending techno-utopianism, central planning and an obsession with security, Mr Xi’s plan sets out his ambition to dominate the industries of tomorrow. But its contradictions mean that it will disappoint China’s people and anger the rest of the world.
• If you subscribe to The Economist you can sign up to Drum Tower, our weekly newsletter on China.
Edited By
Zanny Minton Beddoes
Editor-in-chief