I live in China about 25% of the year. I'm in a smallish city (about a million) where the primary industry is tourism so it does not suffer as badly from pollution as many large cities. It has been astonishing to see the pace of change in infrastructure and living standards.

Take infrastructure -- roads and bridges are new, well engineered, no potholes or pavement problems. The new airports are a marvel of engineering and construction expertise. In other words, physical structures for the most part are done fast and done right.

Xi has 10 years to get reforms under way, but this is an enormous undertaking. Solving the problems faced by China only presents one conundrum after another - but at least it seems that the Chinese are now facing the problems and trying to address them.