China’s top science academy chief to promote plenum spirit at Hong Kong seminar

The president of mainland China’s premier science institution will host a seminar in Hong Kong next week to “study and implement” the spirit of the fourth plenum, which sets the tone for the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee’s policymaking over the next five years.

A Hong Kong government spokesman on Thursday said the seminar, to be held next Tuesday, would promote the spirit of the fourth plenary session of the party’s 20th Central Committee among various sectors of the community.

Speakers will include Hou Jianguo, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Zhu Weidong, deputy director of the Office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs.

“[The recommendations for the 15th five-year plan] adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee provide a top-level design and strategic blueprint for the country’s development over the next five years and are of great significance and impact to Hong Kong,” the spokesman said.

“All citizens of Hong Kong should earnestly study and implement the spirit of the fourth plenary session.”

The Communist Party has set a number of medium- and long-term goals as benchmarks for the country’s economic and social progress.