Key things to know about formulation of recommendations for China's 15th five-year plan

BEIJING -- The Communist Party of China has unveiled a major document that charts China's development path through 2030 and offers the world a glimpse into its next stage of growth.

The landmark document, formally titled the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, was adopted on Oct 23 at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, following more than eight months of drafting.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, headed the drafting group and played a decisive role in formulating the recommendations.

The following are some key details of its formulation and the important messages it conveys.

BLUEPRINT FOR CRITICAL PERIOD

Formulating and implementing five-year plans has been a hallmark of the CPC's governance, enabling China to promote coordinated economic and social development over the medium and long term.

The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) carries unusual weight, as only 10 years remain before 2035, a milestone year by which China aims to "basically achieve socialist modernization."

The Party leadership's recommendations set the overall direction and priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan, while the final plan will be submitted for review and approval in March at the annual meeting of China's top legislature.

Xi sees the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period as a critical stage for reinforcing the foundations and pushing ahead on all fronts toward the 2035 modernization goal.

He regarded the next five years as "a window of opportunity" to consolidate and build on China's strengths, remove development bottlenecks, shore up areas of weakness, seize the strategic initiative amid intense international competition, and make decisive progress toward basically achieving socialist modernization.

POOL WISDOM AND FORM CONSENSUS

The drafting of the recommendations was marked by openness and inclusiveness, drawing on broad public input and collective expertise.

At the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in July 2024, Xi urged thorough preparations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, emphasizing the need for early research and evaluation of the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan.

In January 2025, the CPC leadership decided to set up a drafting group for the document to be submitted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, with Xi personally heading the team.

In the same month, the CPC Central Committee issued a circular soliciting opinions on the plenum's agenda from within the Party, as well as feedback from non-CPC personages.

On Feb 11, the drafting group convened its first plenary meeting, marking the official start of the drafting process.

To better understand public needs and expectations, six research teams were dispatched to 12 provincial-level regions. They met with local officials and visited 66 primary-level organizations, including enterprises, communities and schools.

From May to June, entrusted by Xi, senior Party leaders held three symposiums to solicit views from experts in the economic and sci-tech sectors, as well as representatives from the grassroots.

Around the same time, public opinions were solicited on the new plan during a month-long online consultation campaign. The initiative drew over 3.11 million valid submissions, yielding more than 1,500 constructive suggestions across 27 topics.

A summary of these findings was reviewed by Xi and presented to the Party leadership, ensuring that the voices of citizens were heard at the highest level.

In early August, the draft text was discussed by selected Party members. Later that month, Xi chaired a symposium to hear views from non-CPC personages on the draft.

By September, a total of 2,112 suggestions had been collected from various regions, departments and sectors, resulting in 218 revisions to the document.

In the months leading up to the October plenum, Xi conducted field visits to enterprises and communities, focusing on priorities for China's development in the coming five years. During an inspection tour in Shanghai in April, for example, he visited a large-model AI incubator and chaired a meeting to solicit suggestions for the 15th Five-Year Plan. He has also convened a series of leadership meetings to review the draft.

During the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, held from Oct 20 to 23, 168 members and 147 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee discussed the draft recommendations and proposed further refinements.

STRATEGIC GUIDELINES FOR STEADY PROGRESS

The recommendations serve as a timetable and roadmap for continuing the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability.

It clearly outlines key approaches and priority tasks across 12 major areas, ranging from industrial development, sci-tech innovation and opening up to rural revitalization, green development and national defense.

Seven of these areas are focused specifically on economic development.

"China's profound changes over the past 40-plus years of reform and opening up were a result of the country's commitment to taking economic development as the central task," said a member of the drafting group.

The document also underlines the need to pursue common prosperity for all. "This represents the overarching requirement for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period," Xi said.

With a focus on ensuring and improving people's well-being, the document outlines measures to promote high-quality and sufficient employment, provide education that meets public expectations, accelerate the building of a Healthy China, and steadily advance equal access to basic public services.

Setting out main goals for China's economic and social development, the recommendations further detail the objectives envisioned for basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035.

"Modernization has long been a goal pursued by generations of Chinese people. It once seemed so distant, but today it is drawing ever closer," said another member of the drafting group.