Leadership off to a good start

More than 100 days have passed since China witnessed its latest leadership transition, and the preliminary outline of a "New Deal" that will renew, resolve and reform, is beginning to take shape.

Xi Jinping, the country's top political leader, has set the goals of attaining the "China Dream", the great renewal of the Chinese nation, and resolving the problems people face, so they can lead happy lives. He has emphasized the need for renewing the Party's ties with the people, pushing forward reform, keeping power in a cage of regulations and being unwavering in the fight against corruption.

Li Keqiang, who will be in charge of the economy, has also accentuated the need for continued reform and has emphasized that the patterns of vested interests need to be broken and the function of government resolve from economic development to provider of public services. He has made it clear, as well, that urbanization is viewed as having the greatest potential for economic development.