Is the Chinese Communist Party following through on its economic promises? A speech in Switzerland is casting doubt. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, China’s Vice Premier Liu He vowed his country wouldn’t return to a planned economy. Meanwhile, Beijing is further boosting the state-owned sections of its economy and limiting market access for private companies.
For example, China is launching a state-owned ride-hailing platform, known as “Strong Nation Transport.” State media says the platform will combine over 90 percent of the country’s transportation market, including services like ride-hailing and cargo trucking, plus transport by road, railway, ferry, and aircraft.