As the curtain closed on 2012 it was clear to observers that China has traveled through an important year, with changes, challenges, achievements and confrontation at the forefront of the country's ongoing development. Below ChinAfrica lists our top 10 China news items in 2012:

POLITICS:

New Party Leadership

The Communist Party of China (CPC), China's ruling party, witnessed a smooth transition of its leadership. Its 18th National Congress, held on November 8-14, elected the Party's new leaders. Xi Jinping, newly elected Party chief, vowed to work hard so that the Chinese people could have better education, more stable jobs, more income, greater social security, better medical and health care, improved housing conditions, and a better environment. "People's desire for a better life is what we shall fight for," he said. (Issue December)

POLITICS:

Fighting Corruption

The CPC has strengthened its efforts in the fight against corruption. On December 13, Li Chuncheng, former Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, was confirmed to have been removed from his position for suspected "serious discipline violations." Li is one of the senior officials who are under investigation by the Party's discipline inspection commissions because of corruption in 2012. Previously, Bo Xilai, a former member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee, was expelled from the Party and removed from public office on September 28. In a new effort to eradicate corruption, initiated in the month following the 18th Party National Congress in November, more than 10 senior officials suspected of corruption were investigated or removed from their posts. These efforts have been well received by the public.

ECONOMY

Stable Growth

China enjoyed stable and rapid economic growth despite global economic depression. According to statistics released by China's National Bureau of Statistics, China's GDP grew by 7.7 percent year on year in the first three quarters. Though slower than previous years, this is still a satisfactory level of development, according to Sheng Laiyun, Spokesperson of National Bureau of Statistics, who described China's economic growth as "stable in general."

BILATERAL RELATIONS:

New Era in Sino-African Cooperation

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is widely regarded as an important cooperative event for China and Africa since most projects involving the two sides are conducted within its framework. At the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC held in Beijing July 19-20, Chinese President Hu Jintao proposed measures in five priority areas to boost China's relations with African countries. The measures include financial assistance to the African Union's peacekeeping missions and providing a $20 billion credit line to African countries in the next three years. The next ministerial conference of the forum is scheduled to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2015. (Issue August)