China shifts cadre-appraisal metrics away from pure GDP growth, resetting mindsets

South China Morning Post · Feb 26, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Ahead of China’s annual legislative meetings – typically a window into Beijing’s top-level policy agenda – this is the first entry in a series examining the complex economic recalibration driving China’s growth philosophy and its wide-ranging implications for local governments, financial investors and private enterprises.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 notice from the Communist Party’s General Office ordered officials to “accurately and resolutely” implement President Xi Jinping’s high-quality-development directives for a strong start to the nation’s 15th five-year plan (2026-2030) and do work that “benefits the people”.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.