Time to choose

摘要

There was no ticker tape and there were no hugs on November 15th when Xi Jinping stepped out onto the red carpet in the Great Hall of the People. Mr Xi had just been "elected" as general secretary at the party's 18th congress (see page 33). the role for which he was anointed five years ago. The appointment of his deputy, Li Keqiang-an economist and protege of the outgoing party chief, Hu Jintao-was also foreseen. The nature of elite political power has changed since the days of Mao Zedong. His word was law and he led China into chaos. After Mao, Deng Xiaoping saw that economic reform was China's salvation.