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

China: Reform Trajectory to Be Characterised by High Quality, Sustainability and Equity

China: Economic Activity Moderates, Reforms Are Being Rolled Out Post-Party Congress

China Politics: Key Themes from the 19th Party Congress so Far

China Economics: Reforms and Stability Are Divergent Paths

China: Challenges Could Mount Going Forward

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

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li>As the curtains came down on the political theatre that was the 19th Party Congress, President Xi Jinping unveiled his revamped leadership team as five of the seven incumbent members retired.</li><li>Despite media commentaries to the contrary, Xi is not as all-powerful as claimed, even though his Thought is now enshrined in the Party Constitution. His Thought however borrows its legitimacy from the Deng Theory. Also, there were compromise in the selection of new leaders such as Wang Yang and Han Zheng hailing from the rival factions. Fundamentally, Xi’s power is still circumscribed by a need to build consensus within the leadership. </li><li>From his dominant position, Xi now has the confidence to move on domestic reforms including focusing on the quality of economic growth, deleveraging, calibrated liberalisation of the Yuan, SOE reforms, Make in China 2025 and improving the lot of rural migrants living in urban areas.</li><li>No more "hide and bide" strategy as a more muscular China takes on the world - we expect geostrategic implications for countries with territorial disputes with China, greater soft-power projection and the aggressive promulgation of Belt and Road projects throughout the region.</li></ul>

As the curtains came down on the political theatre that was the 19th Party Congress, President Xi Jinping unveiled his revamped leadership team as five of the seven incumbent members retired.Despite media commentaries to the contrary, Xi is not as all-powerful as claimed, even though his Thought is now enshrined in the Party Constitution. His Thought however borrows its legitimacy from the Deng Theory. Also, there were compromise in the selection of new leaders such as Wang Yang and Han Zheng hailing from the rival factions. Fundamentally, Xi’s power is still circumscribed by a need to build consensus within the leadership. From his dominant position, Xi now has the confidence to move on domestic reforms including focusing on the quality of economic growth, deleveraging, calibrated liberalisation of the Yuan, SOE reforms, Make in China 2025 and improving the lot of rural migrants living in urban areas.No more "hide and bide" strategy as a more muscular China takes on the world - we expect geostrategic implications for countries with territorial disputes with China, greater soft-power projection and the aggressive promulgation of Belt and Road projects throughout the region.

China: What the New Leadership Line-Up Means for China and the World