​A SINGAPORE-BASED academic has cited China’s policy continuity as a critical factor for its successful long-term development planning, contrasting it with the Philippines’ characteristically disruptive system. ​Henry Chan, a distinguished visiting fellow at the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies, made the observation during a forum on China’s recently concluded “Two Sessions” and its 15th Five-Year Plan, organized by the based think tank Asian Century Philippine Strategic Studies Institute. ​Speaking via Zoom, Chan was responding to a question on the key methodologies and philosophies behind China’s successful five-year planning process. ​”Policy continuity is very important,” Chan said. “In fact, even China’s five-year plans are continuously refined by people tasked with fine-tuning them.” ​He noted that despite the detailed planning, China maintains flexibility in implementation. ​”What you learn today about the 15th Five-Year Plan may be implemented differently next year. The objectives remain the same, but the approach and the measures can change over time.” ​The academic contrasted this approach with the Philippine political system, where the six-year presidential term and its accompanying transition period result in sweeping changes. ​”Unfortunately, if you look at the presidential system — particularly in the Philippines — every six years you can expect sweeping changes, including among many of those so-called working-level officials,” Chan said. ​He stressed the importance of officials at the assistant secretary level, describing them as the “workhorse” and the ones carrying “institutional memory.” ​”They’re supposed to be the ones carrying the so-called institutional memory. Now they’re all being replaced,” Chan said, emphasizing the disruption this causes to policy implementation. ​Chan identified “continuity and pragmatism” as the “two key secrets behind the Chinese success in their five-year plan.” ​”Number one, Chinese are pragmatics. They do fine-tuning all the time,” he said as he elaborated on the pragmatic aspect of China’s success. ​The academic noted that beyond the issue of political leadership transitions, there are fundamental societal factors that contribute to development success. ​”There are many things that go beyond politics — such as how much your people aspire for education, how many late nights they are willing to endure, and how many examinations they are prepared to sacrifice for their future.”