Calls for Bolder Reforms on Deng Xiaoping's Birthday Draw Censorship

On Deng Xiaoping's 120th birthday, Chinese economists urged bolder reforms while facing censorship. Prominent economist Zhang Weiying's critical article was repeatedly taken down. These calls reflect a disappointment with the slow pace of reforms. President Xi Jinping praised Deng's legacy, which dominated social media discussions.

On the 120th birthday of late reformist leader Deng Xiaoping, Chinese economists urged bolder reforms, facing increasing censorship. Deng's historic reforms, initiated in 1978, allowed private enterprise and foreign investments, steering decades of rapid growth.

China's leaders recently proposed reforms that experts argue lack the vigor needed to revive the private sector and the faltering economy. Prominent liberal economist Zhang Weiying of Peking University had his critical article, initially published in 2018, censored twice on Thursday after it was widely shared on WeChat.

The article praised Deng's courage to prioritize market forces over state planning, a sentiment shared by other liberal economists disappointed with the slow reform pace. Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping honored Deng as the 'chief architect of China's socialist reform,' and social media saw significant activity commemorating his legacy.

(With inputs from agencies.)