Last month, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held in Beijing.
The plenary
session's most important outcome was the deliberation and adoption of the
Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for
Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social
Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Recommendations”).
The Five-Year Plan is designed to be the “relay race” in advancing Chinese modernisation. President Xi Jinping, also the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, points out that the consistent theme from the First to the 14th Five-Year Plans has been to build China into a great modern socialist country.
The 20th CPC National Congress spelt out the two-step strategic plan for building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and marching toward the second centenary goal.
The first step of the strategic plan is to basically realise socialist modernisation by 2035, which requires unremitting efforts throughout the 14th to the 16th Five-Year Plans.
The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) plays a pivotal role in building on past successes to break new ground.
Well-conceived Goals serve as the “conductor’s baton” for development.
An important indicator of China basically achieving socialist modernisation is that China's per capita GDP will be on a par with that of a mid-level developed country, which requires the appropriate pace of economic and social development to be sustained during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.
The Recommendations sets forth major objectives in seven areas: significant achievements 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.
These objectives coordinate the needs and the potential of development, take into account both the current and the long-term considerations, and are at once ambitious and pragmatically achievable.
High-quality development is the theme of economic and social
development. Competition is intensifying with the unfolding of technological
revolution and industrial transformation.
Strategic technologies exemplified by artificial intelligence are changing the way of people's life and production profoundly.
Achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology is key to high-quality development.
The Recommendations highlights the guiding role of scientific and technological innovation and emphasises upgrading traditional industries while fostering emerging industries and industries of the future.
It recommends promoting advances in original innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields and boosting full integration between technological and industrial innovation. It advocates pressing ahead with the critical battle against pollution and the drive to upgrade ecosystems, as well as accelerating the shift to eco-friendly production practices and lifestyles.
Meeting the people's ever-growing needs for a better life remains the fundamental goal of development. In 2024, China's per capita disposable income stood at about USD 5800, and average life expectancy reached 79 years; basic pension insurance and basic medical insurance covered approximately 1.07 billion and 1.33 billion people respectively.
Nevertheless, people still face some issues in employment,
education, social security, housing, and medical care. Focusing on the goal of
prosperity for all, the Recommendations puts forward a series of explicit requirements
concerning people's well being, rural revitalisation, regional development,
etc..
It stresses promoting high-quality full employment, optimising the income distribution system, ensuring more equitable access to basic public services, steadily advancing all-around rural revitalisation, and promoting coordinated regional development.
Promoting high-standard opening up is an integral part of the Chinese modernization. In today's world, unilateralism and protectionism are rearing their heads, the threat of hegemonism and power politics is on the rise, and the international economic and trade order face severe challenges.
The Recommendations explicitly states that China will unswervingly expand opening-up, promote alignment with high-standard international economic and trade rules, refine the negative list-based management system for cross-border trade in services, take well-ordered steps to expand opening up in the domain of digital trade while pursuing balanced development of imports and exports and increasing efforts to expand imports with a view to polishing the “Invest in China” brand and creating an institutional environment that is transparent, stable, and predictable.
It also calls for effectively managing outbound investment, pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and strengthening strategic alignment with Belt and Road partner countries.
The scientific formulation and consistent implementation of five-year plans stand as an important piece of experience in the approach of the Communist Party of China governing the country as well as the key political strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
The 15th Five-Year Plan period will encounter many uncertain and unforeseeable factors, but China, under the firm leadership of the CPC, has the capability, confidence, and determination to continue chartering new chapters with the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, and open up new horizons for Chinese modernisation.
The new blueprint for Chinese modernisation also presents new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation. Development is the shared pursuit of the world. President Xi Jinping has emphasised that openness and cooperation are the right path, and mutual benefit and win-win outcomes meet the aspirations of the people.
As the world's second-largest economy, second-largest consumer market, and second-largest import market, China will always adhere to promoting cooperation through openness and pursuing development through cooperation, driving the tide of opening up and win-win progress forward.
China and Africa are good brothers of shared future and natural partners in pursuing development. China is ready to further deepen cooperation with African countries including Kenya in areas such as industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade, and investment, jointly pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and implement the zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties.
China will work with Africa to share opportunities, help each other succeed, and achieve common development on the path to modernisation.
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya
