China shifts cadre-appraisal metrics away from pure GDP growth, resetting mindsets
Five-month campaign seen prioritising social welfare and long-term sustainability over economic expansion, with debt, fraud and vanity projects in crosshairs
Beijing’s forceful campaign to instil a “correct” understanding of tenure performance among party cadres may signal Chinese leaders’ determination to downplay headline growth figures and move away from the “at-all-costs” development model, according to analysts.
The five-month education campaign, particularly targeting local cadres such as provincial governors and mayors, was initiated on Monday, a day before officials returned to work following the Chinese New Year holiday.
A Xinhua article on Wednesday discussed how Xi led the party to implement “correct tenure-performance concepts”.
“A flawed view of political achievements stems from personal or small-group interests, leading to short-sightedness; a desire for quick success and instant wins; deception; and reckless actions, resulting in ‘image projects’ and ‘political achievement projects’ that leave behind burdens and hidden dangers, causing strong public resentment,” the piece said.