Tracking China's Leadership Transition

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping walks past Chinese President Hu Jintao (front left), former Chinese President Jiang Zemin (front center) and Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao (front right) during the opening session of the 18th Communist Party Congress held at the Great Hall of the People on November 8, 2012 in Beijing, China. (Feng Li/Getty Images)

As China begins its once-a-decade handover of power at the upper reaches of the Communist Party, Asia Society offers a range of perspectives on the 2012 transition between outgoing President Hu Jintao and President-to-be Xi Jinping. Scroll through the commentary, reportage, and videos below for insights into this opaque political process.

Hamid Biglari: 'China Obviously Has Come a Long Way'

Citicorp's Head of Emerging Markets discusses five main areas that characterize the expectations surrounding Xi Jinping and the new Chinese leadership.

November 14th by Saira Siddiqi |

Richard H. Solomon: Is the Party Listening to the People?

Richard H. Solomon weighs the impact of a more globally involved Chinese public on the mandates of the new leadership as they tackle reform and economic growth.

November 14th by Tahiat Mahboob |

Video: Are China's Citizens Happier Than They Were 10 Years Ago?

Policy The greatest challenge facing China's new leaders, says J. Michael Evans of Goldman Sachs, is civil unrest spurred by income inequality in a growing economy.

November 14th by Boruo Chen |

China's Next Leaders: A Guide to What's at Stake

Policy Figuring out how to transfer power at the top in the absence of an open and legitimate leadership selection process is China's biggest political challenge.

November 13th by Susan Shirk |

Winston Lord: The Tiananmen Question

NEW YORK, October 24, 2012 — Former Ambassador to China Winston Lord discusses the lingering imperative for the new Chinese leadership to address the verdict of the famed 'incident' in Tiananmen Square.

November 13th by Tahiat Mahboob |

Video: Former US Ambassador Says 'China Expertise' an 'Oxymoron'

Policy Former U.S. Ambassador to China Winston Lord discusses the "perils of prediction" when it comes to China's leadership.

November 9th by Liz Flora |

How Will China's New Leaders Approach Rising Tide of Environmental Protests?

Policy Asia Society Senior Advisor Junjie Zhang argues that addressing China's pollution and environmental degradation problems must be at the top of Xi Jinping's agenda.

November 9th by Junjie Zhang |

China Leadership Transition: Who is Xi Jinping?

China expert Orville Schell explains some of the political constructs that make up Xi Jinping's public persona.

November 9th by Tahiat Mahboob |

Video: 5 Areas of Change to Look for Under China's New Leadership

Policy As China ushers in a new generation of leaders, Hamid Biglari, Head of Emerging Markets at Citicorp, discusses topics that should be at the top of Xi Jinping's to-do list.

November 8th by Boruo Chen |

The Strange Things Banned Before China's Party Congress, Explained

Policy Unpredictable restrictions before the 18th Party Congress have inconvenienced pigeon owners and taxi riders, among other parts of the population.

November 7th by Liz Flora |