As the presidential campaign heats up in the U.S., China is preparing for its own transition of power. In October 2012, President & General Secretary Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will step down from their decade-long roles as the country’s top officials, making way for the 5th generation of Chinese Communist Party leadership. Most observers point to current Vice President Xi Jinping as Hu’s successor, while Vice Premier Li Keqiang is expected to take over Wen’s position. The new General Secretary will be named at the National Party Congress, and the Premier will be formally announced at the 18th National People’s Congress.
While the transition is a decidedly internal affair, the public does have a wide range of views on the topic. As part of our Voices series, USCT gathered opinions from students and professionals on what the leadership change will mean for China. Click here for Chinese translation 中文翻译
I think Both Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang have good qualities, all of us feel good currently. The younger generation should have a better sense than the last generation. They will probably focus more on people’s livelihood, China’s development and the implementation of law. They should and probably will satisfy the peasants. Their policies should benefit the peasants. I hope that they are better than what we have now. - Liu Sha, photographer/writer, Shanghai
I don’t think the new leaders will make any difference; they are the same as all bureaucrats. I don’t place much hope in them. The leadership shift has a limited impact on my life. - Luo Xuerong, university student, Shanghai
I don’t know much about the leaders of the next generation, but I think reform is a must. They can not keep on doing what they’ve been doing forever. However, there is a problem, that the government has a tight control over the military. We can be angry but we cannot talk. I think, if the government took more care of its people, we the people will protect and love it, but if they are against the people, there will be a day they fail. - Su Yi. University of Warwick graduate student, Coventry, Britain
The new leaders [will be] very good. I do have hope in the next generation of leaders. The way they design policies will design how my life works. It is very important. - Dai Junjie, university student, Shanghai
I don’t have hope for Xi, he is nothing but a bully. Policies [politics] in China don't impact my life anyhow. - Jiang Yimeng, international student, Wisconsin
I don’t have any faith in the new leadership group. They won't do anything new since their core principle is to keep society stable. There will be no breakthrough, therefore it is unrelated to my life. - Zhao, computer programmer
The focus for leaders of the next generation will be placed on social stability and people’s livelihood. They will, when the situation allows, better people’s lives in many ways including lowering the CPI, growing the job market and creating more freedom of speech. Everything will be centered on the maintenance of stability. I do have a positive view of the new leaders since our society will march forward no matter what. However, I do understand that policies will not affect residents directly. The peasants will, as they have been for thousands of years, live peacefully, easily, normally and lightly. I want to urge the next generation to be more active and get the people to remember you! - Gu, retired official, Shanghai
I don’t care much about the leaders of our country. I don’t place hope in them. I have to rely on myself. Leaders are just regular human beings. - Liusong, website editor, Shenyang
Well, it is what it is, I don’t have any comments, neither do I know what to hope for. I feel like their policies do not influence my life. - Xie Xun, unemployed, Zhangjiajie City
Leaders are good as long as they care about the will of the citizens; I don’t care about policies or what have you. Also, I don’t expect the next generation to be any better. Policies don’t affect my life whatsoever. - Zhu Qianwei, university student, Shanghai
There are lots of things I can’t address, but one thing for sure is that the election system will be severely damaged if Xi becomes the next chairman of the Party. That being said, I do have hope for the next generation of leaders. Policies have a long-term impact, so it is hard to tell at this point. - Jin Yilun, university student, Shanghai
I don’t care about the next generation, all I want is to get Hu out of power. I am always disappointed in the Communist Party's leadership. Their policies do not affect us, they only affect provincial and municipal bureaucrats. - Qian, business owner, Jiangmen City
Leaders are not pragmatic，They don’t do real things. They are all the same if they don’t solve the current problems of our society. I try not to place hope in the leaders since the higher I hope, the harder I fall and hurt myself. - Sun, recent college graduate, Guangzhou
I feel that the policies will remain the same since leaders are decided internally [within the Party], therefore their policies are consistent in many aspects. I think the Premier has a bigger impact on our life since he manages civil affairs. I don’t place much hope in the next generation, there is no surprise about them. - Xu Jie, Wenzhou University teacher, Wenzhou
I don’t expect them to do great things. I hope they will not make more mistakes. I don’t know whether our society will collapse, I only hope the peasants will be safe. - A Hao, artist, Shanghai
The Central Government will embrace, stabilize and continue the economy while reforming and developing the culture. They will focus on people’s livelihoods. Though China has many difficulties and more problems, I have a positive perspective since the trend for development in China is good. Government is reforming gradually in many aspects, even policy problems have had their breakthroughs. The citizenry's power is growing while reforms of the political system are often mentioned. To manage a huge nation like China means complicated problems and many difficulties. Leaders must be wise. - Yu Rongjun, screenwriter, Shanghai
Original Chinese Responses
刘沙，摄影师，作家，上海
习近平和李克强的素质我们感觉都挺好，我们现在这边感觉都还可以。因为年轻一代一定比上一代各方面都好一点啊。 我觉得他们可能对民生方面啊，国家的发展和法制方面有所改善。他们应该会让老百姓更加满意吧。 法律的受益者应该是老百姓。希望他们比现在的做的更好。
大学本科生，罗雪融，上海
我觉得下一届的领导人没有什么不一样的，他们跟其他领导人没区别。我不很抱期望。政策对我也只有一点点影响。
苏毅，华威大学，硕士,考文垂,英国
我对于下一届领导班子的构成不是很了解。我觉得不管他们会不会，改革是势在必行的事情。他们不能想以前那样一直搞下去。可是会有一个问题，中共牢牢的把握住了军队和暴力机器，我们是敢怨不敢言。如果说中国要变好，人民都会拥护他，他要是不好的话，总有一天他要完蛋。
大学本科生，戴俊杰，上海
下一届领导组很不错. 我对他们有很大希望， 同时政策对我的影响也很大，制度关系生活方式。
留学生，蒋一梦 威斯康星州阿普尔顿市
我觉得阿，习近平就是个霸气的流氓，我对他没有任何希望。 反正政策对我影响也不大。
程序员，赵先生
我对新班子没有任何希望。政府的重心一向是维稳， 不会有突破；所以跟我的没有关系。
顾，退休公务员，上海
下一届领导人的方针，将会继续把维稳放在第一位，同时关注民生，在有可能的前提下，改善人民群众的生活。或许会侧重降低物价、增加就业、开放一点言论自由，一切均以维稳为限。 我对下一届领导和中国政治的未来是乐观的，因为社会总是进步的。 下一届的政策对我的日常生活不会有直接的影响，老百姓总是千百年来一如既往地过着平静、平庸、平常、平淡的日子。 对下一届领导人，我要说：拿点行动出来，让老百姓记着你们！
自由职业，谢逊，张家界市
我啊，没啥看法，都这样呗。我也不知道应该期望什么。政策我感觉不到什么影响。
大学本科生，朱钱唯，上海
领导人能体恤民情就够了，其他方针政策什么的我也不在意。对于下一届我也没很大的期望。 反正政策对我没啥影响。
私营业主，钱先生，江门市
不管下一届怎么样， 只要胡锦涛下台就好。 对中共领导人我一直很失望。 政策跟我们没关系，对省长市长应该影响大一点。
大学本科生，金佚伦，上海
要是习近平上来的话对选举体制将会很有影响，其他暂时无法评判。 我对下一届抱一定希望，我觉得制度对生活的影响较为深远，现在看不出到底怎么洋。
毕业待业者，孙，广州
领导人不现实，不办实事。 他们若不解决现下的社会问题，谁当都一样。 我不想对他们有什么希望，期望越高，失望越大。
徐洁，温州大学英语教师，温州
我觉得他们一般换领导人政策都是一致的，因为领导都是内部定掉了的，所以各方面政策应该挺一致的。 我觉得可能总理对我们的影响大一点吧，因为他切实的管理我们的问题。我对他们没有什么大的希望，没有什么惊奇的地方。
阿郜， 艺术家,上海
不求有功，但求无过。不知社会大动荡是否会来，百姓希望平安。
喻荣军，编剧，上海
中国在经济方面会优化、落实与持续，在文化方面需要实事求是的改革与发展。侧重应
该是民生方面。难题很多，问题很多，但总体上还是乐观的。因为中国现在整体发展的势头不错，政府的许多方面正在慢慢地改进，一些体制的问题也在开始打破，民众的力量越来越强。政治体制改革也开始提及。管理中国这样一个大国，问题复杂，困难很多，需要的是智慧。
Owen Wang is a sophomore at the University of Southern California, majoring in International Relations/Global Business.