With 2009 coming to a close, TALK honours those who have exerted the most influence in China this year: People who have made special contributions in their respective fields, whether striving for change as reformers, endeavouring to promote social change through the arts, pushing the boundaries of business beyond making money, scoring victories in sports, or just refusing to play by the rules.

This list is not the be all and end all. It’s intended to be the beginning of a conversation, rather than the final word. These are people to talk about.

REFORMERS

Winner: Corruption Crusader Bo Xilai

Chongqing’s party chief, Bo Xilai, came to the public’s attention this year as a crusader against corruption. Bo is the poster boy for the new generation of leaders who will assume power in 2012 and, some believe, he also demonstrates a shift in the way political power is gained in China. His charisma and savvy dealings with the media are not the norm here, and are more comparable with politicians in Western countries, especially the United States.

Chongqing's recent corruption trials, spearheaded by Bo, involved more than 9,000 suspects, 50 public officials, a billionaire and dozens of stories that recounted random acts of savagery, including the murder of one man for his “unbearably loud karaoke voice.”

So far, six people have been sentenced to death, and Xie Caiping – ‘the godmother of the Chongqing underworld’ – has been sentenced to 18 years behind bars. She was found guilty of running 30 illegal casinos, including one opposite the courthouse. She is also now famous across China for employing 16 young men who, according to the China Daily, “were exceedingly handsome and obliging.”

But despite these successes, Bo is not universally popular. Questions remain in some quarters about his motives, and whether this crackdown is spurred more by political ambition than a commitment to transparency and rule of law. Nonetheless, it’s impossible to deny that he’s making waves, in Chongqing and around China. Plenty of people will be waiting to see what’s next for Bo Xilai.

Runner Up: Legal Eagle Xu Zhiyong

Thirty-six year old Xu Zhiyong is a rising star in China’s legal world and the co-founder of the Open Consititution Initiative. His stated aim is to to allow people from all walks of life to gain access to legal representation.

Xu began the year continuing his most famous legal crusade to date, acting on behalf of 213 families whose children were affected by last year’s tainted milk scandal.

But his year took a turn for the worse in July, when he was detained for tax offences. Xu was released after a month, and in August he was featured on the cover of China’s Esquire magazine.

After his release he was quoted as saying: “I am an optimist in the long run. More and more lawyers are prepared to defend dissidents and stand up for independence of the courts and help people fight for their rights.''

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