Opportunities, risks and uncertainties to mark new five-year plan period

China's development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–30) will be marked by strategic opportunities and growing risks and uncertainties, a senior Party official said on Friday, noting the nation's sound economic fundamentals, multiple advantages, strong resilience and vast potentials remain unchanged.

Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs and director of the Office of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, made the remarks at a news conference on the guiding principles from the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Han said the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development noted that major-country relations exert a profound influence on the global landscape, which in turn deeply affects China's domestic development.

The document stresses that China is entering a period where opportunities and challenges coexist, with rising uncertainties and unpredictable factors, Han said.

Han called on carrying forward the spirit of historical initiative, tackling difficulties head-on, and ensuring that Chinese modernization advances steadily and sustainably.

Han emphasized that during the five-year plan period, China should both seize opportunities and rise to challenges, giving full play to its institutional strengths, the advantages of its supersized market, its comprehensive industrial system, and its abundant human resources.

These strengths should be transformed into tangible outcomes for high-quality development, he said.

Han also said seven key objectives for economic and social development during the five-year plan period are outlined: significant advancements in high-quality development; substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength; fresh breakthroughs in further deepening reform comprehensively; notable cultural and ethical progress across society; further improvements in quality of life; major new strides in advancing the Beautiful China Initiative; and further advances in strengthening the national security shield.