Party and State
China is a one-party state in which the Communist Party of China (CPC) holds overall political power. Developments within China’s political system have significant implications globally, while the boundaries between the Party, the state and other parts of Chinese society are often fluid.
At the Swedish National China Centre, we monitor developments and analyse key trends in China’s domestic politics, including changes within the Party and state apparatus, industrial policy and demographic trends. We closely follow major political processes such as the National Congress of the CPC, the annual “Two Sessions” and China’s five-year plans and assess their implications for Sweden and Europe.
Bild: Vincent Thian / AP / TT
Our experts
Björn Jerdén
Director
Patrik Andersson
Analyst
Gustav Sundqvist
Analyst
Alexis von Sydow
Analyst
Björn Cappelin
Analyst
Sofia Ledberg
Head of Political Section
PUBLICATIONS ON CHINESE DOMESTIC POLITICS
18 March, 2026
What does China’s new five-year plan mean for the EU?
On the role of five-year plans in the Chinese system and it's implications for Europe.
2 March, 2026
Making sense of Zhang Youxia’s downfall – an expert roundup
A compilation of expert assessments regarding the removal of the high-ranking Chinese military leader.
15 April, 2025
Is there any hope for political liberalization in China?
Past attempts at political reform meet a present-day China where the space for change is shrinking.
network
European China Knowledge Network (E-CKN)
A network established to bring together EU representatives and China experts across the union.
European Think-tank Network on China
A gathering of China experts from a selection of European think tanks focusing on Chinese foreign policy and EU-China relations.
CEE-Nordic Dialogue on China
A platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration among actors in the Nordic, Baltic, and Central and Eastern European regions.
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