One very noneconomic trend that encourages me is the new freedom of Chinese scholars to explore the geology and archeology and invite in their Western counterparts to observe and participate. They have been bound and gagged for 50 years and are now freed of those restraints and able to enter the world dialog. They will be a force to be reckoned with if the aging Marxists try to relive the past.
Sure they have “freedom” - just as long as the scholars don’t want the ability to freely use all the resources and communications ability of the Internet.