China's Xi pledges to tackle institutional obstacles to economic modernization

China will deepen reforms to tackle institutional obstacles to economic modernization, President Xi Jinping was quoted by state media as saying on Thursday, ahead of a closely watched meeting on reforms. The ruling Communist Party's central committee will gather in July for a key meeting known as a plenum, the third since the body of elite decision makers was elected in 2022, focusing on reforms amid "challenges" at home and abroad. "We will strive to resolve deep-seated institutional obstacles and structural contradictions, so as to constantly inject strong impetus into Chinese-style modernization and provide strong institutional guarantees," Xi was quoted…