官场说：李强好棒棒！ ~ 我台可能是全网唯一①个尬吹李强的频道

Summary

This script delves into the tenure of Li Qiang, exploring his rise to the position of Premier and evaluating his performance amidst significant challenges. It contrasts Li's cautious and humble approach with his predecessors, highlighting his unique handling of economic policies, government restructuring, and his relationship with Xi Jinping. The script scrutinizes Li's strategies against the backdrop of economic downturns, addressing his efforts to revitalize the economy, manage government debt, and his stance on state-owned enterprises versus private sector revitalization. It suggests that Li's tenure, while starting under tough circumstances, might be laying the groundwork for significant future impacts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Li Qiang, described as the weakest Premier in the history of the People's Republic of China, has been assessed one year into his term.
• 👍 Despite challenges, there are achievements under Li Qiang's leadership such as the introduction of fully foreign-owned enterprises like Tesla, advancements in epidemic prevention, and streamlined administrative services.
• 😭 Li inherited a range of domestic challenges, including a contracting real estate market, plummeting land finance revenues, and significant local government deficits.
• 🙏 Li's approach has not significantly deviated from his predecessors', with conservative fiscal policies but no major public sector layoffs as anticipated.
• 💁‍♂️ Li's leadership style is characterized by humility and a low profile, which appears to align with President Xi Jinping's preferences, contrasting with the more assertive stances of previous Premiers.
• 🔥 The economic policies during Li's tenure reflect a cautious approach amidst deteriorating economic conditions, with measures to address local government debt and promote economic stability.
• 💵 Li introduced significant financial interventions, such as a one trillion yuan special government bond issuance to support local government finances.
• 🚨 Under Li's leadership, there's a visible shift towards supporting the private sector and easing policies on foreign investments, indicating a potential pivot in economic strategy.
• 🛠 The narrative suggests Li's management of economic affairs has begun to diverge from Xi Jinping's previous policies, with more emphasis on practical measures over political considerations.
• 💯 Li's cautious start and subsequent assertive financial and economic measures have started to redefine his role as Premier, suggesting his term might become more influential in shaping China's economic direction.

Q & A

What achievements did Li Qiang have before becoming the Premier of China?

Before becoming Premier, Li Qiang's notable achievements include the introduction of Tesla, a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, to China, efforts in epidemic prevention, and the implementation of a unified online government service platform.

Why is Li Qiang considered the weakest Premier in the history of the People's Republic of China?

Li Qiang is considered the weakest Premier due to his relatively low political profile and limited personal power base compared to his predecessors, alongside inheriting a series of significant challenges.

How did Li Qiang's start as Premier differ from previous premiers?

Unlike previous premiers who stepped into their role gradually, accumulating power and prestige over time, Li Qiang was perceived to have ascended to the position more due to his close relationship with Xi Jinping rather than through a build-up of independent political achievements.

What were the major challenges Li Qiang faced at the beginning of his term?

Li Qiang faced numerous challenges, including a shrinking real estate market, plummeting land finance revenue leading to severe local government deficits, nationwide debt crises, declining consumer confidence in the economy, and a stringent employment situation.

What was Li Qiang's approach to the debt and economic challenges?

Li Qiang's approach included issuing a trillion yuan in special government bonds to assist local governments, signaling a significant departure from his predecessor's policies by adopting more proactive fiscal measures.

How did Li Qiang's economic policy direction appear to diverge from Xi Jinping's?

Li Qiang's economic policy direction showed signs of divergence from Xi Jinping's by focusing on digital economy, intellectual property rights, and improving the business environment, suggesting a shift towards more pragmatic economic reforms.

What steps did Li Qiang take to address the employment issue?

Contrary to expectations of a major civil service reform, Li Qiang expanded the recruitment of civil servants to mitigate youth unemployment, maintaining stability within the system.

In what ways did Li Qiang maintain a low profile compared to his predecessors?

Li Qiang maintained a low profile by reducing his visibility in situations traditionally associated with high leadership visibility, such as not attending disaster sites in person and cancelling the traditional Premier's press conference at the Two Sessions.

What measures did Li Qiang implement to boost local governments' financial situations?

Li Qiang implemented measures such as issuing special government bonds and supporting innovative debt resolution strategies, effectively transferring some of the economic development responsibilities from local to central government.

How did Li Qiang's handling of foreign investment and economic policies reflect on his leadership?

Li Qiang's leadership saw a pivot towards opening up and cooperation, including policies that fully allowed foreign control in banking and insurance, and lifting restrictions in manufacturing, marking a proactive stance on foreign investment and economic reform.