Asia Economist and CEO, Centennial Asia Advisors

Manu Bhaskaran

Mr. Bhaskaran is a leading Asian economist based in Singapore with more than 30 years of experience in studying economic, political and security issues that shape the business environment in Asia. He co-ordinates the Asian business of Washington DC-based strategic advisory firm, Centennial Group, directing its Asian economic research practice which provides in-depth analysis of macro trends in Asia. He works extensively with investment institutions, government agencies and corporations. Mr. Bhaskaran regularly presents his views on the economic, political and business environment in Asia at business conferences and in-house briefings. He has conducted studies on a wide range of subjects including: consumer finance in Asia; Asian integration; regional and country-specific political and economic outlooks; the Impact of China on Asia; portfolio capital flows in emerging markets, amongst many others. He is as a member of the Regional Advisory Group for Asia and the Pacific of the International Monetary Fund. Mr. Bhaskaran is a regular columnist for The Edge (Singapore) and holds positions in think tanks including being Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS); Vice President of the Economics Society of Singapore, and Council Member of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA). Mr. Bhaskaran serves on the boards of CIMB Investment Bank and Japfa Limited.

Asia Economist and CEO

Preview to the 3rd Plenum of Chinese Communist Party

Centennial Asia Advisors

At Centennial Asia Advisors, we tell it like it is. We have no vested interests, no need for a China wall, and no reason to skew our outlook any other way. With over 30 years experience covering Asia’s political economy, you can be sure our conclusions and analyses are based on the unadulterated facts. Through years of fine-tuning our research methodologies, we deliver a quality of macroeconomic analysis few other houses can match.

Centennial Asia Advisors is an independent research and advisory firm that works with governments, multilateral institutions, financial firms and leading MNCs.

Economic Policy and Strategic Advisors

Macroeconomics

<ul><li>The Communist Party of China concluded its annual four-day conclave on 27 Oct.</li><li>First, President Xi has emerged from the meeting a more dominant force. He has attained the title of “core” leader in the CCP and looks to be the sole power centre.</li><li>Secondly, Xi has set his mind to achieving a number of targets. These include extending his tenure at the top and installing trusted aides into key positions at the 20<sup>th</sup> Party Congress. His formal institution of the anti-corruption campaign is meant to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents, with the latest plenum endorsing a code of conduct which emphasises greater scrutiny on the senior leadership.</li><li>Thirdly, this means that the fervour for reforms will ebb while nationalistic passions will be fanned in a bid to rally the Chinese people to Xi’s cause. Expect structural overhauls to take a backseat as politicking rises to the fore while foreign policy to be more robust, including a harder stance on maritime disputes.</li></ul>

The Communist Party of China concluded its annual four-day conclave on 27 Oct.First, President Xi has emerged from the meeting a more dominant force. He has attained the title of “core” leader in the CCP and looks to be the sole power centre.Secondly, Xi has set his mind to achieving a number of targets. These include extending his tenure at the top and installing trusted aides into key positions at the 20th Party Congress. His formal institution of the anti-corruption campaign is meant to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents, with the latest plenum endorsing a code of conduct which emphasises greater scrutiny on the senior leadership.Thirdly, this means that the fervour for reforms will ebb while nationalistic passions will be fanned in a bid to rally the Chinese people to Xi’s cause. Expect structural overhauls to take a backseat as politicking rises to the fore while foreign policy to be more robust, including a harder stance on maritime disputes.

China: 6th Plenum Sets President Xi up for Dominance