Neil Thomas, a Chinese politics researcher at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s China Analysis Center, said the changes suggest Xi feels more politically stable than he did in his first two terms.
“Now in his third term, President Xi Jinping appears to be adopting an approach of centralisation through delegation – that is, he is not ceding any centralised political authority but instead delegating policy-making tasks to trusted aides,” he said.
“This more oracular leadership style may help Xi Jinping conserve energy in his advanced age, shift the blame for policy failures to his subordinates, and maintain his political advantage by dividing governance responsibilities among his various networks of supporters.”
Thomas noted that Ding’s background – which includes studying mechanical engineering at university before spending the first 15-plus years of his career at the Shanghai Institute of Materials – made him well suited for the role.
Ding officially took up his new post and met with hundreds of top scholars from China’s top research institutions, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Xinhua reported.
According to Xinhua, Ding quoted a Chinese proverb saying “it takes ten years to sharpen a sword” and urged scientists to stay focused on key tasks and stick to strategic goals with firm determination and indomitable will.
He also stressed the need for a “new system” to mobilize resources nationwide and speed up scientific and technological innovation to help China overcome the major obstacles it faces.
Xie Maosong, a senior researcher at Tsinghua University’s Institute of National Strategy, noted that science and technology policy was once handled by the fourth-ranking official, former vice premier Liu He.
Ding’s appointment “demonstrates stronger political will for science and technology development as it will be led by PSC members who are in the innermost decision-making circles,” he said.
A further advantage for Ding is that he is the youngest member of the seven-member PSC, which gives him more room for career growth, said a political scientist at Nanjing University.
“Ding is only 61 years old. He is likely to continue serving in the next PSC after the party’s 21st National Congress. [People’s] “It will be debated in Parliament in 2027,” said a political scientist, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“A lot of scientific and technological research takes time to produce results, so I speculate that one of the reasons for appointing Ding as head of technology promotion is to ensure continuity and consistency in China’s science and technology policy over the next decade,” he said.