The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. [Photo/Xinhua]
China is looking to build on the progress made during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) as it prepares for the next stage of development under the 15th Five-Year Plan.
Lawmakers and experts say the country has made steady advances in areas ranging from technological innovation and industrial upgrading to environmental protection and social welfare, laying a solid foundation for future growth.
Patrol unmanned aerial vehicles are displayed at an exhibition hall of United Aircraft Group in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, June 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
New quality productive forces
China has made steady progress in fostering new quality productive forces in the 14th Five-Year Plan period, and the new five-year plan calls for major breakthroughs in this area to build a modernized economy.
Xu Guanju, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and chairman of Transfar Group, said the foundation of new quality productive forces lies in a strong real economy.
"New quality productive forces are not something built in the air. Their foundation lies in a solid real economy," Xu said.
He noted that the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries should not mean abandoning their core businesses or blindly switching to new sectors. Instead, companies should move toward high-end, intelligent and green development within their areas of expertise.
Xu added that traditional industries should be guided to invest more in technological upgrading so they can better support emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and biomanufacturing, enabling traditional manufacturing to become an important carrier of new quality productive forces.
Investment structure optimization
Investment remains a crucial driver of both current demand and future supply.
China has made notable progress in expanding effective investment over the past five years.
Yuan Guohua, a national lawmaker and chairman of Shanghai State-owned Capital Investment Co., Ltd., said authorities have taken multiple measures to stabilize investment in traditional sectors while cultivating new growth drivers.
Yuan said the 15th Five-Year Plan highlights combining investment in physical assets with investment in people.
"This reflects an upgrade in China's investment philosophy, direction and priorities," Yuan said, adding that this approach is of great significance for strengthening development momentum and expanding domestic demand.
A staff member introduces a humanoid robot at the tech company DIGIT in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, March 27, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Innovation momentum
Scientific and technological innovation has also accelerated.
China's research and development (R&D) expenditure reached 3.93 trillion yuan (about $540 billion) in 2025, with average annual growth of 10% during the past five-year period.
The country's ranking in the Global Innovation Index rose from 14th place in 2020 to 10th in 2024, marking its first entry into the top 10.
A number of landmark breakthroughs have also been achieved. These include the successful launch of the Tianhe core module of China's space station, the Chang'e-6 mission returning the world's first far-side lunar samples, the debut of the homegrown superconducting quantum computer Origin Wukong, and the commissioning of the Fujian, China's first aircraft carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapults.
The 15th Five-Year Plan sets the goal of substantially improving scientific and technological self-reliance and strength.
Liu Hongtao, an NPC deputy and general manager of PetroChina Coalbed Methane Co., Ltd, said that he expects more key technological bottlenecks to be overcome in the next five years.
"With sustained efforts, China will gain stronger confidence in technological innovation and stronger momentum for development," Liu said.
Improving livelihoods
China also made solid progress in improving people's livelihoods.
Per capita disposable income grew by an average of 5.4% annually during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, while the achievements of poverty alleviation were consolidated and expanded
The new plan aims to further improve people's quality of life.
Pan Shuang, a national lawmaker and director of the Commerce Department of Liaoning province, said more efforts are needed to increase household incomes and improve the social security system.
She also called for greater support in healthcare, education, childcare and elderly care to boost people's consumption capacity.
A ranger interacts with Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkeys at the popular science education base in Pingwu County, Mianyang City of southwest China's Sichuan province, May 21, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Green transition
China has also made notable progress in ecological protection during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
The country has accelerated its green transition, with installed capacity of non-fossil energy power generation surpassing that of fossil fuels.
Average PM2.5 concentration in cities at or above the prefectural level has fallen to 28 micrograms per cubic meter, while more than 90% of surface water has reached Grade III (fairly good quality) or above.
During the fourth session of the 14th NPC, a draft environmental code was also submitted for deliberation.
Jia Yu, a national lawmaker and president of the Shanghai High People's Court, described the environmental code as "an encyclopedia of ecological conservation."
He said the draft code marks a new stage in China's ecological protection characterized by greater rule of law and more systematic protection, adding that it is of far-reaching significance for advancing Chinese modernization featuring harmony between humanity and nature.
The draft code will also help advance the goals set out in the 15th Five-Year Plan of making major new strides in advancing the Beautiful China Initiative and ensuring that eco-friendly ways of work and life become a societal norm.
2024春节档：史上最火，史上最“卷” 羊城晚报记者 李丽 据国家电影局统计数据，2024年春节档总票房80.16亿元，在观影人次、场次和票房3个维度创造影史最高纪录。 过去10年间，看电影逐渐成为中国人过年的新民俗 预约“手慢无”！各地春节文旅成绩单亮眼 中新网北京2月19日电(张钰惠)18日，文旅部发布数据显示，春节假期8天全国国内旅游出游4.74亿人次，同比增长34.3%，按可比口径较2019年同期增长19.0%；国内游客出游总花费6326.87 中新经纬2月18日电 “自然资源部”微信号18日消息，自然资源部公开通报2023年度国土变更调查专项督察发现的弄虚作假和调查不认真把关不严典型问题。 据介绍，年度国土变更调查结果中的耕地数据是耕地保护和粮食安 最长春节假期收官：多地接待游客远超往年，“南北互换”流动趋势明显 澎湃新闻记者 唐莹莹 2月17日正月初八，为期8天的史上最长春节假期正式收官。 根据全国各地文旅部门、热门景区以及多家在线旅游平台的数 傅园慧称在长白山包车被勒索 当地交通部门：正按流程处理 中新网北京2月17日电(记者 刘星晨)17日，游泳世界冠军傅园慧通过社交平台发布求助帖称，她在吉林长白山包车出行时遭遇勒索，询问网友是否需要报警。 图片 江苏省农垦集团有限公司原党委书记、董事长李春江接受纪律审查和监察调查 中新网2月23日电 据中央纪委国家监委网站，据江苏省纪委监委消息：江苏省农垦集团有限公司原党委书记、董事长李春江涉嫌严重违纪违法，目前 。本文链接：China builds on past gains to chart its next five-year roadmaphttp://www.sushuapos.com/show-5-94368-0.html
声明：本网站为非营利性网站，本网页内容由互联网博主自发贡献，不代表本站观点，本站不承担任何法律责任。天上不会到馅饼，请大家谨防诈骗！若有侵权等问题请及时与本网联系，我们将在第一时间删除处理。
上一篇： Bosnian diplomat: China's new five-year plan is a model to follow