China's key government officials and party cadres involved in financial policy making sat down for a two-day close-door meeting on 19 and 20 January 2007 to draft a series of financial reform strategies for the next five years. High expectations were held for the national financial work conference, since the last two such gatherings, in 1997 and 2002, each had a profound influence on China's financial reform and development. Held at a crucial moment when the Chinese economy is facing domestic