Strong Property Rights for a Stronger Economy

China's notoriously weak protection of private-property rights finally has a long-waited sign of improvement. And rightly so, as the nation's ongoing economic transformation — as well as its commitment to long-term stability and prosperity — now hinge on upholding the rights of property owners.

In early September, the Communist Party's Central Leading Group for Overall Reform, headed by Party Secretary and President Xi Jinping, approved new property-rights protection guidelines. The guidelines include 10 specific measures that underscore the party's interest in improving legal safeguards for the owners of tangible and intangible property, including commercial real estate, trademarks and intellectual property rights.