How did China’s 5-year plans deliver an economic miracle and what’s next?

The national strategic blueprint has evolved from its roots in a Soviet-style planned economy to today’s more responsive model

Reading Time:6 minutes

China’s President Xi Jinping urged officials to adapt to the “changes in the international environment”, improve foresight and optimise the economic layout while drafting the five-year plan. Photo: Xinhua

Jane Caiin BeijingandMeredith Chenin Hong Kong

Published: 4:00pm, 2 May 2025Updated: 7:47pm, 2 May 2025

China’s economic leapfrog into global second place, along with its eradication of extreme poverty, has been achieved through an array of plans covering the long and short term, while ranging from specific industries to the country as a whole.

The best known of these blueprints is the five-year plan for national economic and social development, which sheds light on Beijing’s priorities for the medium term and features some quantifiable and comprehensive goalposts.

This is the last year of China’s 14th strategic five-year plan, which has covered a period characterised by the prominent role given to supply chain and hi-tech self-reliance.

As Beijing puts the finishing touches on the 2026-30 plan, which will be made public in March next year, the intensifying strategic rivalry with the US has generated new interest in what China’s road map will look like for the next five years.

During a symposium with provincial heads on Wednesday, President Xi Jinping urged officials to adapt to the “changes in the international environment”, improve foresight and optimise the economic layout while drafting the five-year plan.

A draft national development planning law – the first of its kind – was submitted to the top legislative body, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress, for its first reading.

The law, which was considered during the committee’s four-day 15th session which began on Sunday, is expected to formalise processes and implementation at local levels, elevating planning to a new political height.

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