China outlines priorities for next five-year plan, adds defence capability to long-term goals
Communist Party leaders outlined priorities of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026 to 2030) in a communique released at the conclusion of its Fourth Plenum on Thursday (Oct 23).
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
SHANGHAI: China has identified a list of goals to guide its next Five-Year Plan until 2030, placing greater emphasis on technological self-reliance, domestic demand and national security - and, for the first time, incorporating defence capability into the country’s 2035 development blueprint.
In a communique released at the conclusion of the Communist Party’s Fourth Plenum on Thursday (Oct 23), leaders outlined priorities that would form the basis of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026 to 2030), to be formally approved by the National People’s Congress next March.
The seven broad objectives range from high-quality growth and deeper reform to cultural advancement, ecological progress, improved living standards - and a stronger national-security shield.
“The 15th Five-Year Plan period will be critical as the country works to reinforce the foundations and push ahead on all fronts toward basically achieving socialist modernisation by 2035,” according to the communique, published by state news agency Xinhua.
“It will thus serve as a key link between the past and the future,” it added.
It comes amid what the Party described as “a period of coexistence of strategic opportunities and risks and challenges, and increasing uncertainty and unpredictable factors” the country is facing.
Challenges lie ahead for the world’s second largest economy, amid trade tensions with the United States and a sluggish domestic economy.
The Party maintained that the country’s economic foundation is “stable”, with “numerous advantages, strong resilience, and great potential”.
China must “concentrate efforts on doing our own affairs well”, it added, and “continue to write a new chapter … in rapid economic development and long-term social stability”.
The new five-year plan is expected to undergo revisions but it is viewed widely as an early window into Beijing’s plans for navigating challenges like slower growth, the country’s ageing population, and rising global tensions.
China will “accelerate high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening to lead the development of new-quality productive forces”, the readout said.
The plan will span the 2026 to 2030 period, which will see major upcoming political and strategic milestones: the next party congress and the 100th anniversary of the PLA’s founding in 2027, and the 80th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China in 2029.
China aims to “achieve the goals of the PLA's centenary as scheduled and advance national defense and military modernisation with high quality”, the communique said.
It also aims to achieve a “significant leap” in its economic strength, scientific and technological strength, defence capability, comprehensive national strength, and international influence” by 2035 - with per capita GDP reaching the level of a moderately developed country.
It appears to be the first time that defence capability is incorporated as part of the 2035 goals, based on checks by CNA.
The communique called for efforts to accelerate the “integrated development of mechanisation, informatisation, and intelligentisation” of China’s military - while “enhancing strategic capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests”.
It also stressed the need to “accelerate the development of advanced combat capabilities” and “consolidate and enhance the integrated national strategic system and capabilities”.
