The Chinese Communist Party (CPC) has unveiled a comprehensive blueprint designed to guide the nation towards high-quality growth and technological self-reliance over the next five years, marking a pivotal moment for China’s economic future.
This announcement, made during the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee, sets the stage for the 15th Five-Year Plan, which will direct the country’s development from 2026 to 2030.
“It was stated that we should achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology and steer the development of new quality productive forces. We must seize the historic opportunity presented by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation to boost China’s strength in education, science and technology, and human resources in a well-coordinated manner,” the plenary announced.
The session, presided over by General Secretary Xi Jinping and held in Beijing from Monday to Thursday, culminated in the adoption of recommendations that will shape China’s priorities, with a major focus on economic resilience, innovation, national security, and improving citizens’ livelihoods.
“We must promote higher-quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output and make solid headway in promoting well-rounded personal development and common prosperity for all,” the party stated in the Communiqué.
“We should enhance the overall performance of China’s innovation system, raise our innovation capacity across the board, strive to take a leading position in scientific and technological development, and continue fostering new quality productive forces,” the Communiqué added.
It confirmed that China will promote advances in original innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies across key fields, facilitate full integration between technological and industrial innovation, pursue integrated development in education, science and technology, and talent, and advance the Digital China Initiative.
Also central to the plan is a commitment to bolster the real economy by developing a modernized industrial system. This includes advancing strategic emerging industries such as new energy, new materials, aerospace, and the low-altitude economy, while also prioritizing the acceleration of future industries like quantum technology, bio-manufacturing, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G.
In the latest plan, traditional industries, including chemicals, machinery, and shipbuilding, will be upgraded, as they currently contribute approximately 80% of manufacturing value.
“We will work hard for a further five years to see that by the year 2035 China’s economic strength, scientific and technological capabilities, national defense capabilities, composite national strength, and international influence will all be markedly stronger,” the plenary announced.
According to the head of the National Development and Reform Commission, Zheng Shanjie, these efforts could expand China’s high-tech markets to multi-trillion-yuan levels in the coming decade.
In addition to ramping up innovation, the senior official indicated that efforts will also focus on upgrading some traditional industries, noting that these industries are the foundation of China’s industrial system, with their total value-added accounting for around 80 per cent of the country’s manufacturing sector.
“The recommendations put forward will help cultivate emerging pillar industries and accelerate the development of strategic emerging industrial clusters in sectors including new energy, new materials, aerospace, and the low-altitude economy,” Zheng added.
Achieving greater scientific and technological self-reliance is another key priority. The communiqué calls for significant improvements in innovation capacity and technological strength.
Minister of Science and Technology, Yin Hejun, stated that China will focus on breakthroughs in critical sectors such as semiconductors, high-end equipment, and machine tools, supported by enhanced basic research, improved national laboratories, and better coordination of innovation resources nationwide. Yin emphasized that scientific and technological innovation will increasingly drive new, quality productive forces.
“We believe that after five more years of dedicated efforts, China’s scientific and technological strength will take another major step forward. Scientific and technological innovation will play an even greater role in leading the development of new quality productive forces and promoting China’s high-quality growth,” Yin said.
The plan reaffirms China’s commitment to reform, opening up, and boosting domestic demand. The Party underscored the need for deepening market-oriented reforms while fostering better coordination between an efficient market and a capable government. Building a robust domestic market will go hand in hand with advancing high-standard opening up, aiming to establish a “new development pattern” where domestic economic circulation is primary, supported by international economic engagement.
Rural revitalization and balanced regional development are also central to the plan. The CPC pledged to accelerate agricultural modernization and promote comprehensive rural revitalization. Additionally, efforts will be made to improve the regional economic layout to ensure more balanced growth across different provinces and regions.
The communiqué further stressed the importance of culture, environmental protection, and public well-being. It called for strengthening socialist culture and ethics, promoting the Beautiful China Initiative, and advancing the national green transition. It also highlighted the need to improve livelihoods and promote common prosperity, ensuring that the benefits of development are shared more equitably across society.
The plenary session underscored the need to modernize the national security system and enhance protections against external and internal risks. It reaffirmed the goal of achieving the centenary objectives of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and modernizing national defense.
The session also confirmed the appointment of Zhang Shengmin as a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and approved disciplinary actions, including the expulsion of several senior officials for serious violations of Party discipline and state laws.
The plenary described the current plan period as “a key link between the past and the future, critical to laying solid foundations for basically achieving socialist modernization” over the next 10 years.
In the communiqué, the plenary further underscored the necessity for all party members to comprehend the importance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. As the nation transitions into its next development cycle, the CPC called for unwavering unity under Xi’s leadership to advance modernization and national rejuvenation.
