Beijing’s new five-year plan emphasises tech innovation, self-reliance and high-quality growth, as leaders balance China’s global ambitions with domestic challenges. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
China is preparing to unveil its 15th Five-Year Plan during the annual “Two Sessions” in Beijing, a political gathering that sets the country’s economic and policy direction. The plan will outline priorities for the next half decade, with a strong emphasis on technology, self-sufficiency and high-quality growth, CNN reported.
The plan is expected to spotlight artificial intelligence, robotics, renewable energy and advanced communications technologies such as 6G. Authorities have signaled extraordinary measures to achieve breakthroughs in semiconductors, industrial machine tools, and other core technologies critical to reducing reliance on foreign supply chains.
China’s leadership faces mounting challenges, including slowing economic growth, weak consumer confidence, high youth unemployment, and a shrinking population . Analysts expect Beijing to lower its headline growth target to a record low, shifting focus from “high-speed” expansion to “high-quality” development.
The “Two Sessions” comprise the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). While the NPC vote is largely ceremonial, the Communist Party leadership sets the agenda in advance, underscoring the scripted nature of the proceedings under President Xi Jinping.
Beyond domestic priorities, the plan positions China as a global supplier of technological expertise, with ambitions in quantum computing, biomanufacturing, hydrogen power, nuclear fusion, and embodied AI. Western governments remain cautious, citing risks of surveillance and censorship, but Beijing is expected to frame its innovation drive as a contribution to global progress.
The unveiling of the plan comes amid trade frictions with the United States and ongoing property sector instability. By emphasizing technology deployment and domestic demand, China aims to strengthen resilience while projecting confidence in its long-term trajectory.