Xi Jinping Urges Strategic Planning for China’s Next Five-Year Development Plan
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for comprehensive and forward-looking planning as China prepares its 15th Five-Year Plan, covering the period from 2026 to 2030. Speaking at a symposium in Shanghai on Wednesday, President Xi emphasized the importance of adapting to changing global and domestic conditions and focusing on strategic priorities.
“The planning must focus on the goal of basically realizing socialist modernization, with a view to building a great country and advancing national rejuvenation,” he said, highlighting the need for sound economic and social development strategies.
The five-year plans have been central to China’s development since the 1950s, outlining the country’s goals, major tasks, and policy directions. As the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) enters its final year, efforts are intensifying to meet its targets and lay the groundwork for the next phase.
President Xi, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, underscored the need for reasonable target-setting and practical measures across various sectors. “We must unswervingly manage our own affairs well and stay committed to expanding high-standard opening up,” he stated, urging a commitment to high-quality development.
Emphasizing the balance between growth and security, he called for a comprehensive assessment of both domestic and international risks. “Greater emphasis should be placed on ensuring both development and security,” President Xi noted, advocating for improvements to the national security system.
The formulation of the five-year plans involves a combination of centralized leadership and extensive public participation. In 2020, President Xi led the drafting of the 14th Five-Year Plan, holding multiple symposiums to gather input from various sectors of society.
Wang Huiyao, president of the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization, commented on the significance of these plans. “China’s successive five-year plans provide the global economy with unparalleled certainty—a critical anchor at a time when the world faces profound unpredictability,” he said.
As China charts its course for the next five years, the emphasis on strategic planning aims to ensure sustained growth and contribute to global stability.
