China's Communist Party wrapped up a four-day meeting that could herald big changes for the nation's economy.  But the self-contradicting statement from “The Third Plenary of the 18th Central Committee” leaves more questions than answers.

The first hint of where the Asian behemoth will go with its economy under the direction of President Xi Jinping over the next decade promised that the “free market” would play a bigger role, while at the same time asserting that the government would continue to exert control.

“The core issue is to straighten out the relationship between government and the market, allowing the market to play a decisive role in allocating resources and improving the government's role,” according to a statement from the Chinese Communist Party that’s about as clear as the sooty sky covering Beijing and the polluted northeast.

The promises are vague and for now lack specifics.  Farmers will reportedly have more property rights over their land.  The military will be modernized.  Foreign investment will be encouraged.  Corruption will be tackled.

“This was an opportunity for the party to lay out a clear vision for where the country is heading,” said Mark Williams, an economist with Capital Economics, “If they had been able to do that successfully I think it would have had a big impact on the behavior of officials, but I don't think they have been given a clear steer.”