Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged senior officials to ensure a strong start to China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, underscoring its strategic importance. Speaking in Beijing, Xi framed the upcoming planning period as critical for navigating economic uncertainty and long-term structural challenges. He emphasized that early momentum would shape policy execution and national development outcomes through 2030.
Xi delivered the remarks while opening a study session for provincial and ministerial-level officials at the Party School of the Communist Party of China. He addressed leaders responsible for translating central policy into regional and sectoral action across the country. Therefore, the speech signaled expectations for disciplined implementation and coordinated governance nationwide.
During the session, Xi highlighted five-year planning as a core governing mechanism refined through decades of policy experience. He noted that such plans provide institutional continuity while reinforcing the political strengths of China’s socialist system. Moreover, he argued that consistency remains essential for maintaining economic stability during periods of global volatility.
Xi warned that China now faces overlapping opportunities and risks amid rising uncertainty and complex external pressures. Consequently, he urged officials to sharpen their understanding of strategic priorities approved at the fourth plenary session. He stressed that misjudging risks could undermine development objectives during the next planning cycle.
A central focus of the plan, Xi said, involves upgrading China’s industrial structure and strengthening its modern industrial system. He called for preserving a reasonable manufacturing share while accelerating advanced manufacturing development. At the same time, he emphasized infrastructure modernization as a foundation for future productivity gains.
Xi also highlighted the importance of forming a new development pattern anchored by domestic demand. He said China should better integrate investment in physical assets with long-term investment in human capital. Therefore, innovation and workforce development must advance together to sustain economic resilience.
Improving living standards remained another priority throughout Xi’s address. He stressed that economic growth must translate into tangible quality-of-life improvements for citizens. Meanwhile, he urged officials to balance development speed with fairness, accessibility, and social stability.
Xi further called for strengthening the Communist Party’s leadership capacity across socioeconomic governance. He reiterated the need to maintain pressure against corruption to safeguard public trust. Accordingly, discipline enforcement would remain integral to effective policy delivery.
Premier Li Qiang presided over the study session and urged attendees to convert policy guidance into concrete outcomes. He emphasized aligning local initiatives with national objectives to achieve a strong start. Other senior leaders, including Standing Committee members and Vice President Han Zheng, attended the opening session.
Looking ahead, officials are expected to refine implementation frameworks ahead of the plan’s launch in 2026. Analysts view the early mobilization as a signal of policy continuity and centralized coordination. Ultimately, leaders see a strong start as essential for sustaining China’s long-term development trajectory.
