Two things:

1) China watchers in this thread may be interested in the latest film from British documentarian Adam Curtis: Russia 1985-1995 TraumaZone, which explores the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of Putin. It's available on YouTube in seven parts and is made up of 100% archival footage. A riveting watch.

2) Haven't seen this discussed much but did anyone notice that the Party changed their estimation of the "primary stage of socialism" in Xi's speech?

In 2017: "The basic dimension of the Chinese context -- that our country is and will long remain in the primary stage of socialism -- has not changed"

In 2022: "As a major developing country, China is still in the primary stage of socialism and is going through an extensive and profound social transformation."

What do you all make of this? The removal of the "and will long remain" language and the contrast between "basic reality...has not changed" and "extensive and profound social transformation" suggests the Party has decided it may soon move past the "primary stage" into something else. If not pure socialism then something closer to it. This doubles down on what we already know (the party-state is increasing its control of the economy) and reaffirms the general direction of common prosperity.

Indeed, it's worth taking note if the Party is reframing core doctrine in light of common prosperity. I'm not sure if that's what's happening here but it's worth keeping an eye on.