Chinese President Xi Jinping recently commemorated the 120th birth anniversary of Chen Yun, one of the foundational economic planners of the Communist Party of China. Amid the commemoration’s celebratory tone, Xi’s speech signals a rhetorical shift.
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The references to communist conviction so prominent in the 2015 address delivered for Chen’s 110th birthday were relatively sparse in Xi’s remarks from earlier this month. Instead, there was polished language relating to development planning and political resilience.
In 2015, Xi’s speech commemorating Chen Yun’s 110th birthday emphasised unwavering faith in Marxism and communism. Xi also spoke of Chen as a disciplined party member. The between-the-lines message was clear: ideology was to be re-centred as the Communist Party’s main source of legitimacy during Xi’s first term.
This year, Xi portrayed Chen as a model of disciplined governance, praising his ability to grasp key points, set aside time to consider strategic issues and simultaneously balance state-led and market approaches to economic planning.
Xi highlighted Chen’s 15-character maxim – “not following superiors and not following books but instead following facts while exchanging, comparing and repeating” – offering it as a guide for cadres navigating today’s volatile world. The symbolism is clear: Chen was not just a revolutionary elder but a technocrat who embraced policy logic in uncertain times.
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This rhetorical shift mirrors broader institutional pressures. The Communist Party is contending with youth unemployment, decelerating economic growth, local government debt and worsening international tensions.