China's Communist Party meets to set direction for troubled economy

After months of delay, top officials from China’s ruling Communist Party are gathering in Beijing this week for the country’s third plenum. The meeting is crucial as China faces economic challenges and friction with the West. The country is dealing with a property sector crisis, high local government debt, weak consumer demand, declining investor confidence, and trade and technology tensions with the United States and Europe. China’s GDP growth for the second quarter was 4.7%, missing expectations. The plenum is expected to focus on targeted efforts to address economic issues and enhance China’s technological self-reliance. The meeting will also provide insights into the country’s role in the global economy and foreign investors’ willingness to do business in China.