The draft proposals for China’s 15th Five-Year Plan were approved during the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in October 2025. The final plan is expected to be adopted by the National People’s Congress (NPC) in March 2026.
China’s Five-Year Plans have been key strengths of China’s medium- to long-term economic and social development framework since the 1950s. Specifically, it has demonstrated strategic foresight, coordinated planning, and consistent implementation. The key strengths of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan are its focus on high-quality development, particularly by achieving stringent climate targets such as peaking carbon emissions before 2030, while relying on strict monitoring mechanisms and advanced technologies. The plan also promotes innovation and digital transformation, focuses on integrated economic and military development, and leverages investment in research and development.
- The strengths of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, compared to previous five-year plans, are:
1) Focus on quality development:
Compared to previous plans that focused on quantitative growth, the 15th Five-Year Plan focuses on quality, innovation, and sustainability rather than simply increasing productivity.
2) Integrated economic and military development:
The new plan systematically integrates scientific and technological innovations across the military and civilian sectors, enhancing national capabilities in a comprehensive manner.
3) Shifting towards a green economy:
The plan features new mechanisms for monitoring and managing carbon emissions, representing a significant shift from previous plans that were less focused on environmental issues.
4) Investment in Research and Development:
The plan continues to boost investment in research, development, and innovation, a core strength that has enabled China to achieve significant technological advancements.
5) Balanced Development:
The plan seeks to achieve balanced development by supporting resource-rich regions, helping to reduce development gaps between different regions.
6) Investment Opportunities:
The plan opens new horizons for investors in areas such as carbon trading, offsets, and carbon asset management services, boosting national economic development.
Based on our understanding of the previous analysis, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) includes goals for economic and social development, focusing on technological self-reliance, high-quality development, and a real economy. The plan aims to be a crucial link towards achieving socialist modernization by 2035.