CPC Central Committee holds symposium to solicit advice on economic work

BEIJING -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has held a symposium with non-CPC personages to solicit opinions and suggestions on this year's economic situation and the economic work of 2025.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the symposium on Dec 6 and delivered an important speech.

As 2025 will see the conclusion of the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), it is necessary to carry out macroeconomic policies that are more proactive and impactful, Xi said.

Xi called for expanding domestic demand, promoting the integrated development of technological and industrial innovation, stabilizing the property and stock markets, and preventing and resolving risks in key areas and external shocks.

With these efforts, expectations should be kept steady, and more vitality should be unleashed, so as to sustain the upward trend of the economy, Xi said.

He urged efforts to accomplish the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan with high quality and lay a solid foundation for a good start of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

The symposium was attended by Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Entrusted by the CPC Central Committee, Li Qiang briefed the meeting on this year's economic work and introduced relevant considerations for the economic work of 2025.

Chairpersons of the central committees of eight non-CPC parties, chairperson of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and a representative of personages without party affiliation made speeches. They agreed with the CPC Central Committee's analysis of the current economic situation as well as its planning and considerations for the economic work of 2025.

They also offered suggestions on issues including accelerating the development of new quality productive forces and appropriately strengthening macroeconomic regulation.

After listening to their speeches, Xi said these opinions and suggestions will be carefully studied.

In the face of a more complex international and domestic environment, the Chinese economy has posted generally stable performance this year, making progress while ensuring stability, Xi said.

The major tasks and targets for economic and social development will be successfully accomplished this year, with new solid steps taken in Chinese modernization, he added.

Lauding the contributions the non-CPC personages have made to the CPC Central Committee's decision-making and policy implementation, Xi said it is a must to firm up the confidence of success so as to do a good job in economic work for next year.

Xi said China's economy has a solid foundation with many advantages, strong resilience and great potential, and the supporting conditions and fundamental trend for its long-term sound development remain unchanged.

He urged efforts to maintain strategic focus, take the initiative to create an external environment favorable to the country, unswervingly manage the country's own affairs well, and transform all positive factors into actual achievements in development.

Noting that China's development faces a multitude of uncertainties and challenges, Xi called for making full preparations, achieving the goals of economic and social development next year through unremitting efforts, and opening up new prospects for the country's development.

He expressed the hope that all non-CPC parties, the ACFIC, and personages without party affiliation will assist the Party and the government in doing a good job in economic work, contribute ideas and efforts to the decision-making of the CPC Central Committee, and further enhance their capacity for participation in and deliberation of state affairs.