Xi promotes his agenda on Deng’s birthday

The Party will continue asserting control over the economy and society.

• That's our takeaway from Xi Jinping's speech on Thursday, celebrating Deng Xiaoping’s 120th birthday.

Some context: Every ten years, Party leadership attends a symposium celebrating the birthday of paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.

• How Deng’s legacy is framed during the symposium hints at the direction the Party wants to take the country.

As we expected, Xi framed Deng’s rule and achievements as firmly in the past, in a bygone era.

• Halfway through his speech, Xi pivoted to discussing "the new era and new journey," laying out his vision for greater Party control and national self-reliance.

That’s a big contrast to ten years ago.

• In 2014, when celebrating Deng's 110th birthday, Xi devoted his entire speech to praising Deng's legacy.

Xi also used Thursday's symposium to highlight national security concerns.

• National security was referenced six times in Thursday's speech.
• It wasn't mentioned once in 2014.

Get smart: By framing Deng’s rule as firmly in the past, Xi is indicating he will continue asserting Party control over more areas of economic and social life.