China broadens priorities for local officials beyond GDP growth

Beijing is broadening local officials’ priorities beyond economic growth as China’s economy changes.

The story focuses on Jiangsu province party chief Xin Changxing, who spent China’s National Day holiday checking safety at a metro station, shops, a fire drill and crowd control at tourist sites.

These duties show how local officials are expected to carry out policies set by China’s central leadership.

China is moving toward lower growth but a more sophisticated economy, changing what the government asks officials to focus on.

They must balance economic goals with responsibilities such as public safety and managing crowds.

The challenge is fitting these wider demands into local governance while implementing central policy.

A Communist Party Central Committee meeting, known as the fifth plenum, is taking place this month, but the story does not say what decisions will follow.