China announced the basic principles and main goals of its next five-year plan. As it has continued a tariff war with the United States and accelerated technological self-reliance, the core is to significantly raise the level of self-reliance by 2030 and to strengthen national security. It also set a goal of raising per capita gross domestic product (GDP) to above the level of a middle-income country by 2035.
The Communist Party of China said this in a communiqué released on the 23rd after concluding the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, which ran for four days.
The meeting discussed the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), China's policy blueprint for the next five years. During this period, it will adopt as key principles ▲ high-quality development ▲ comprehensive reform ▲ a combination of an effective market and a competent government ▲ joint advancement of development and security.
Based on this, the goals to be achieved include ▲ a significant increase in the level of scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening ▲ clear results in high-quality development ▲ consolidation of national security ▲ new breakthroughs in reform ▲ improvement in the level of social civilization ▲ enhancement of the quality of people's lives ▲ achievements in building an ecological civilization.
On this basis, the meeting said, "By 2035, economic strength, scientific and technological strength, defense strength, national strength, and international influence will rise significantly, per capita GDP will reach the level of a moderately developed country (a middle-income country on the threshold of an advanced economy), people's lives will be happier, and socialist modernization will be basically achieved."
The meeting evaluated the achievements of the previous 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025) by saying it "was a very extraordinary and difficult time," adding, "We effectively responded to the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and major risks and achieved new results in the work of the Party and the state. Economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and national strength have leaped to a new stage, and 'Chinese-style modernization' has taken steady steps forward."
There were also major personnel decisions. Zhang Shengmin was appointed vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and 11 people, including Yu Huiwen and Ma Hancheng, were promoted to Central Committee members. The meeting also deliberated and approved relevant reports from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Central Military Commission, and confirmed the expulsion from the Party of 14 people, including He Weidong, Miao Hua, and Tang Renjian.