As the Communist Party of China is in full swing discussing the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, China's state-run media have begun to emphasize "high-quality development."
On the 21st, the state-run People's Daily said in a front-page article, "External shocks are growing and internal tasks are not few, but we must overcome uncertainty with the 'certainty of high-quality development,'" adding, "At its core is 'new-quality' productive forces, with innovation as the most salient feature."
It continued, "This theory was born of practice, guides practice, and is establishing itself as a theoretical and practical engine to open a new phase of Chinese-style modernization. We must institutionally guarantee the development of new-quality productive forces and fully build out the system tailored to regional characteristics," adding, "This is expected to become a core task of the 15th Five-Year Plan."
Earlier, at a meeting on the 29th, the Communist Party of China's Politburo announced the schedule for the Fourth Plenary Session and emphasized that it "must adhere to high-quality development, guide development with the new development philosophy, and develop new-quality productive forces suited to each region."
Xinhua News Agency also published an editorial the day before, saying, "The Fourth Plenary Session will analyze the grave and complex changes in China's development environment and make strategic plans for development over the next five years," and added, "During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the foundation of development should be placed on 'high-quality development,' and a new development framework should be built rapidly."
The Global Times, citing Dean Yu Miaoje of Liaoning University, also reported, "During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, efforts to modernize the industrial system amid scientific and technological innovation and to promote high-quality development will be strengthened." It added, "In addition to reforms across multiple institutional sectors, achieving a high level of opening-up is essential to promoting high-quality development," and said, "Through this, China can continue to make greater contributions to the recovery of the global economy."