CHINA: China watchers in the coming weeks...

CHINA: China watchers in the coming weeks will look for signs of action by the Chinese government on free-market economic reforms. China last week published details of its recently approved economic blueprints for the 1990s, calling for a reduction in mandatory central planning. The documents say artificially low, state-controlled prices are to be eliminated in an “active and prudent way.” However, Western analysts have cautioned that despite the pledges of reform, the Chinese leadership remains divided over price reform and other market-oriented changes.