Reform of state-owned enterprises
State-owned enterprises (SOEs) are the backbone of our national economy. They provide the material and political basis for developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. They are also important pillars underpinning the efforts of the CPC as the ruling party to govern the country and promote national development. Reform of SOEs is critical to both economic and social reform. It is the most important among all reform initiatives, as it bears on all aspects of national development. It is a difficult, complex and immense task that requires sustained commitment.
There have been several rounds of reform involving SOEs since the rollout of the reform and opening-up program, including the introduction of a contract system, a program to replace turning over business profits with income tax, implementation of managerial accountability, and promotion of modern corporate governance. At its third plenary session in 1993, the 14th CPC Central Committee called for modernizing corporate management, a move that paved the way for accelerating SOE reform. At its third plenary session in 2013, the 18th CPC Central Committee called for pursuing SOE reform at a deeper level. The year 2016 was a watershed year when the implementation of new reform policies began. To support a new round of SOE reform, the 2016 report on the work of the government outlined a series of pilot measures, such as diversification of forms of ownership – including introduction of mixed ownership – establishment of corporate boards of directors, open selection of executives and managers, and introduction of employee equity stakes. These measures were accompanied by initiatives to reform and reorganize national capital investment and management corporations. Together, they opened a chapter in SOE reform.
Unlike previous reforms, the current reform measures focus on innovation, and aim to sharpen the competitive edge of SOEs by tapping into their innovative potential, so as to build world-class enterprises and brands in response to the drive for economic structural upgrading. To this end, business integration and reorganization is essential. Some SOEs that use too much energy and produce too much pollution are being phased out. Another important reform measure is to expand market access in areas where SOEs used to enjoy monopolies, so as to allow private capital to have more opportunities to compete.
国企改革攻坚战
国有企业是中国国有经济的核心载体和重要支撑，是中国特色社会主义的重要物质基础和政治基础，是中国共产党执政兴国的重要支柱和依靠力量。国企改革不仅影响经济体制改革的推进，而且影响社会体制改革推进的过程，是全面深化改革的重中之重，事关发展全局，任务重、难度大，具有长期性、艰巨性和复杂性。
改革开放以来，国有企业改革作为整个经济体制改革的中心环节，经历了从承包制到利改税、从厂长负责制到建立现代公司治理结构等过程。1993年党的十四届三中全会提出建立现代企业制度，国企改革进入快速推进阶段。2013年，党的十八届三中全会提出进一步深化国有企业改革的方向和任务。2016年是深化国企改革攻坚年，也是政策措施落实年。为支撑新一轮国有企业改革,2016年的政府工作报告列出了推进股权多元化改革,开展落实企业董事会职权、市场化选聘经营者、职业经理人制度、混合所有制、员工持股等试点，加快改组组建国有资本投资､运营公司等一系列配套措施｡由此，中国新一轮国企改革即国企改革攻坚战正式开启。
与此前几轮国企改革相比，此轮攻坚战的首要任务是创新发展，借此进一步提升国有企业的竞争力和影响力,打造一批世界级企业和品牌，呼应中国正在进行的经济结构转型升级｡兼并重组则是此轮国企改革提升竞争力的重要途径，此外，一部分高耗能、高污染国有企业消失在历史舞台，以及以往被国有企业垄断的领域更多放开市场准入，让社会资本有更多机会参与竞争，也是此轮国企改革攻坚战的重要方向。