What’s Behind Xi Jinping’s Speech on Economic Reform During His Southern Tour?

A television screen at a restaurant in Beijing shows Chinese leader Xi Jinping speaking during a broadcast from Shenzhen at an event marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone on Oct.14, 2020. Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images

Commentary

China’s official mouthpiece Xinhua News Agency revealed on Oct. 11 that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would be visiting Shenzhen city to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Special Economic Zone. Shenzhen is an industrial hub in China’s southern Guangdong Province that links Hong Kong to the mainland.

Crisis of Losing the People’s Trust

The circumstances surrounding Xi’s southern tour are similar to what then-leader Deng Xiaoping encountered when he took the same tour 28 years ago, such as the economic situation and the infighting within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).