IBOV 183,476.86 ▼ 0.27% IPSA 11,255.90 ▼ 0.39% IPC MEX 64,992.23 ▲ 1.13% MERVAL 2,893,751 ▼ 1.57% COLCAP 2,584.72 ▼ 0.95% BVL PERÚ 59,934.37 ▲ 1.27% USD/BRL5.19▼ 0.12% USD/MXN17.68▼ 0.27% USD/CLP960.63▼ 0.27% USD/COP3,293▲ 0.20% USD/PEN3.39▼ 0.67% USD/ARS1,525▲ 0.30% USD/UYU40.21▲ 3.50% USD/PYG5,870▲ 2.23% USD/BOB12.17▲ 2.05% USD/DOP59.35▲ 0.25% USD/CRC450.87▲ 2.53% USD/GTQ7.64▲ 3.22% USD/HNL26.85▲ 0.31% USD/NIO36.62▲ 2.66% USD/VES853.52▼ 0.13% USD/PAB1.00— 0.00% USD/BZD2.00— 0.00% USD/JMD 157.28 — 0.00% USD/TTD6.77▲ 2.72% EUR/BRL5.91▲ 0.63% BRENT 88.88 ▼ 0.03% WTI 83.11 ▼ 0.11% IRON ORE 161.91 — — COPPER 6.61 ▲ 0.03% GOLD 4,461 ▲ 1.78% SILVER 65.59 ▲ 1.26% SOY 1,184 ▲ 3.20% CORN 480.50 ▲ 10.02% WHEAT 655.00 ▲ 3.93% COFFEE 317.25 ▼ 5.51% SUGAR 16.43 ▼ 1.79% ORANGE JUICE 138.55 ▼ 0.47% COTTON 85.03 ▲ 2.33% COCOA 5,719 ▲ 3.18% BEEF 223.60 ▼ 3.93% CATTLE 339.10 ▼ 3.16% LITHIUM 75.20 ▲ 1.47% PETR4 41.64 ▼ 0.05% VALE3 72.97 ▲ 0.83% ITUB4 38.60 ▼ 1.03% BBDC4 16.85 ▲ 0.36% ABEV3 14.89 ▼ 0.80% BBAS3 19.37 ▲ 0.47% B3SA3 14.26 ▼ 0.21% WEGE3 47.59 ▲ 0.49% PRIO3 59.14 ▼ 0.19% SUZB3 41.33 ▲ 2.35% RENT3 34.68 ▼ 0.09% AZZA3 15.89 ▼ 2.63% CSAN3 3.22 ▼ 1.83% RAIZ4 0.25 — 0.00% PCAR3 2.75 ▼ 0.36% GMAT3 3.65 ▼ 1.08% PSSA3 48.13 ▼ 0.54% CVCB3 1.33 ▼ 2.92% POSI3 3.36 ▲ 2.44% SLCE3 13.34 ▲ 0.30% NATU3 8.14 ▼ 0.73% IBOV 183,476.86 ▼ 0.27% IPSA 11,255.90 ▼ 0.39% IPC MEX 64,992.23 ▲ 1.13% MERVAL 2,893,751 ▼ 1.57% COLCAP 2,584.72 ▼ 0.95% BVL PERÚ 59,934.37 ▲ 1.27% USD/BRL 5.16 ▲ 0.01% USD/MXN 17.06 ▼ 0.24% USD/CLP 913.98 ▲ 0.04% USD/COP 3,140 ▲ 0.03% USD/PEN 3.36 ▼ 0.66% USD/ARS 1,493 ▲ 0.10% USD/UYU 40.27 ▲ 1.24% USD/PYG 5,939 ▲ 1.68% USD/BOB 11.64 ▼ 0.76% USD/DOP 58.34 ▲ 1.25% USD/CRC 445.92 ▲ 0.89% USD/GTQ 7.62 ▲ 2.21% USD/HNL 26.79 ▲ 1.57% USD/NIO 36.62 ▲ 0.69% USD/VES 762.44 ▼ 0.13% USD/PAB 1.00 — 0.00% USD/BZD 2.00 — 0.00% USD/JMD 157.28 — 0.00% USD/TTD 6.70 ▲ 0.61% EUR/BRL 5.95 ▲ 1.01% BRENT 88.88 ▼ 0.03% WTI 83.11 ▼ 0.11% IRON ORE 161.91 — — COPPER 6.61 ▲ 0.03% GOLD 4,461 ▲ 1.78% SILVER 65.59 ▲ 1.26% SOY 1,184 ▲ 3.20% CORN 480.50 ▲ 10.02% WHEAT 655.00 ▲ 3.93% COFFEE 317.25 ▼ 5.51% SUGAR 16.43 ▼ 1.79% ORANGE JUICE 138.55 ▼ 0.47% COTTON 85.03 ▲ 2.33% COCOA 5,719 ▲ 3.18% BEEF 223.60 ▼ 3.93% CATTLE 339.10 ▼ 3.16% LITHIUM 75.20 ▲ 1.47% PETR4 41.64 ▼ 0.05% VALE3 72.97 ▲ 0.83% ITUB4 38.60 ▼ 1.03% BBDC4 16.85 ▲ 0.36% ABEV3 14.89 ▼ 0.80% BBAS3 19.37 ▲ 0.47% B3SA3 14.26 ▼ 0.21% WEGE3 47.59 ▲ 0.49% PRIO3 59.14 ▼ 0.19% SUZB3 41.33 ▲ 2.35% RENT3 34.68 ▼ 0.09% AZZA3 15.89 ▼ 2.63% CSAN3 3.22 ▼ 1.83% RAIZ4 0.25 — 0.00% PCAR3 2.75 ▼ 0.36% GMAT3 3.65 ▼ 1.08% PSSA3 48.13 ▼ 0.54% CVCB3 1.33 ▼ 2.92% POSI3 3.36 ▲ 2.44% SLCE3 13.34 ▲ 0.30% NATU3 8.14 ▼ 0.73%
since 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2026

Steering the Dragon: China’s Economic Reform Agenda

By · July 18, 2024 · 2 min read

The LatAm Brief

One email, every weekday morning. What moved in Latin American markets, politics and expat life.

Yesterday’s subject line: “The US Army is quietly planning for Cuba”

Free. We send a confirmation link first — nothing arrives until you click it. Unsubscribe with one click in any edition. If you stop opening us for 30 days we stop sending by ourselves, as we assume the interest is no longer there. See our privacy policy. We never share your email.

In a crucial plenary session, China laid out its economic roadmap under President Xi Jinping’s watchful eye.

The event, termed the third plenum, aimed to refine the nation’s strategy amid growing internal challenges and external pressures.

Unlike typical fall sessions, this one spotlighted ongoing reforms and critical personnel changes, signaling Beijing’s intent to solidify control while driving economic growth.

The session tackled systemic risks in the real estate market and government debt, areas that have long plagued China’s economic health.

Also on the docket were taxation and finance reforms, designed to stabilize and stimulate the economy.

Furthermore, China remains intent on bolstering national security and independence in science and technology—a response to heightened tensions with the U.S.

Despite these ambitions, the plenum’s outcomes seemed more like a continuation of current policies rather than a bold new chapter.

Steering the Dragon: China's Economic Reform Agenda.
Steering the Dragon: China’s Economic Reform Agenda.
One-stop reference
Company Intelligence
Every listed company in Latin America — financials, ownership and structure for 1,450+ companies across 26 exchanges, in one place.
Browse the directory →
RT
Ask Rio Times
17 years of Latin America reporting, on demand.
Open the full Ask Rio Times →

This has left some observers underwhelmed, despite clear signs of strategic positioning.

Economists noted the session reaffirmed China’s commitment to self-sufficiency in emerging sectors like electric vehicles and renewable energies, vital for technological sovereignty.

The focus was not just on high-level reforms. There was a strong push to boost industrial production and internal demand.

This shift aims to address economic issues like the weak real estate sector and domestic consumption, reducing reliance on exports and easing international tensions.

Steering the Dragon: Steady Continuation Over Bold Change in China’s Reform Agenda

China’s economic maneuvers are not solely for domestic consumption. They carry global implications, underscoring the country’s role in sustainable development and ecological preservation.

The plenum highlighted China’s drive to lead in renewable energy—a cornerstone of Xi’s Global Civilization Initiative, which promotes a balance between economic expansion and environmental stewardship.

As China continues to navigate its complex economic landscape, the third plenum’s decisions are crucial. They will guide policy until the 2027 party congress.

Though immediate responses seem conservative, the strategies reveal a calculated plan for China’s sustainable growth and modernization. This session is more than a routine gathering.

Conclusion

The plenary session reaffirmed China’s economic strategies under Xi Jinping. It focused on ongoing reforms and managing risks in real estate and government debt.

Key issues were addressed, and self-sufficiency in sectors like electric vehicles and renewable energies was emphasized.

However, the outcomes mainly continue current policies rather than introducing bold new initiatives.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error

Read More from The Rio Times

The Rio Times · Power Map
See who really holds power in Latin America
Click to open the Power Map →

Rotate for Best Experience

This report is optimized for landscape viewing. Rotate your phone for the full experience.