Continuing to Advance Chinese-style Modernization—The CPC Central Committee Holds a Press Conference to Interpret the Spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee

From October 20 to 23, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing. This plenary session was convened at a critical juncture as our country is about to successfully accomplish the major goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan and enter a pivotal period marked by solid foundations and comprehensive efforts toward basically achieving socialist modernization. The session reviewed and adopted the "Suggestions of the CPC Central Committee on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" (hereinafter referred to as the "Suggestions"), thereby smoothly concluding all items on its agenda.

On October 24, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China held a press conference to introduce and interpret the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party.

The most important outcome of the plenary session was the review and adoption of the “Proposal.”

Scientifically formulating and continuously implementing five-year plans is an important experience of our Party in governing the country and administering state affairs, and also a significant political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

“The most important outcome of the plenary session was the deliberation and adoption of the ‘Suggestions.’” Jiang Jinquan, Director of the Central Policy Research Office, explained that the drafting of the ‘Suggestions’ was carried out under the leadership of the Party Central Committee. “General Secretary Xi Jinping personally served as the head of the drafting group, personally charting the course, providing guidance throughout the entire process, and playing a decisive role in setting the direction. The drafting group conscientiously implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important instructions, upheld the correct orientation, firmly stood on the people’s position, paid close attention to grasping the overall situation, strengthened strategic planning, and especially put great effort into promoting democracy, pooling wisdom from all quarters, and building consensus.”

“The ‘Proposal’ consists of 15 sections and 61 articles, organized into three major sections. The first section is the general overview, comprising Sections 1 and 2, which primarily highlight the significant achievements China has made during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, as well as the great significance and overall requirements for advancing economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The second section, from Section 3 to Section 14, lays out strategic tasks and major initiatives for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, categorized by specific fields. The third section, consisting of Section 15 and the concluding remarks, focuses on strengthening and upholding the Party Central Committee’s centralized and unified leadership, and on promoting the building of socialist democracy and the rule of law.” Jiang Jinquan stated that during the plenary session, participants engaged in lively discussions and generally agreed that the ‘Proposal’ represents yet another important programmatic document in the history of our Party. Its guiding principles are scientifically sound and precise; its development goals are clear and unambiguous; and its tasks and measures are grounded in reality and practicality. It serves as another comprehensive mobilization and overall deployment for seizing the momentum and continuing to advance Chinese-style modernization, and will undoubtedly have a profound and far-reaching impact on the development of the Party and the country.

The “Proposal” outlines a grand blueprint for development over the next five years and points out the direction forward for deepening the advancement of Chinese-style modernization.

“The ‘Proposal’ accurately grasps China’s historical position in development, conducts a thorough analysis of both the international and domestic situations, and outlines an ambitious blueprint for development over the next five years, thereby charting the course forward for deepening Chinese-style modernization.” Han Wenxiu, Deputy Director in charge of daily work at the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission and Director of the Central Rural Work Office, provided an introduction focusing on the situation analysis for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, as well as the guiding principles and key objectives for economic and social development.

Regarding the overall assessment of China’s development environment during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the “Suggestions” point out that relations among major countries are shaping the international landscape, and the evolution of the international situation is profoundly influencing domestic development. China’s development is at a time when strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors are on the rise. Han Wenxiu stated that, from an international perspective, the world is experiencing an accelerated evolution of a century-long transformation, with profound adjustments in the balance of international power. Domestically, China boasts a solid economic foundation, numerous advantages, strong resilience, and great potential; the underlying conditions and fundamental trends supporting long-term healthy development remain unchanged. “During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we must both seize the momentum and tackle difficulties head-on, transforming our various advantages into tangible effectiveness for high-quality development.”

The plenary session set forth the main goals for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period: achieving remarkable results in high-quality development, significantly enhancing our capacity for scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, making new breakthroughs in further deepening reform in a comprehensive manner, markedly elevating the level of social civilization, continuously improving people’s quality of life, making new major strides in building a Beautiful China, and strengthening the national security framework. “These goals are both inspiring and entirely feasible,” said Han Wenxiu. He expressed confidence that over the next five years, China’s overall national strength will continue to grow, its international standing will keep rising, and people’s lives will become even happier and more fulfilling, thus laying an even firmer foundation for basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035.

“From now until 2035, we have only 10 years ahead. Only by making solid progress in the first five years can we seize greater initiative,” said Han Wenxiu. We must, with a sense of urgency that time waits for no one and every moment counts, as well as a profound historical mission, scientifically plan our economic and social development over the next five years. We must seize this critical window of opportunity, consolidate and expand our existing strengths, break through bottlenecks and constraints, address our weaknesses and shortcomings, and drive major breakthroughs in strategic tasks that are crucial to China’s modernization.

We will carefully align with and benchmark against the “Suggestions” to draft the outline for the 15th Five-Year Plan.

The “Proposal” lays out a comprehensive plan for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Zheng Zhajie, Party Secretary and Director of the National Development and Reform Commission, provided an overview from three perspectives: industry, market, and region.

In terms of industry, we will build a modern industrial system. “China’s economy has risen on the strength of the real economy, and it will also rely on the real economy to secure its future,” said Zheng Zhajie. The “Suggestions” focus on four key tasks—optimizing and upgrading traditional industries, fostering and expanding emerging and future industries, promoting high-quality and efficient development of the service sector, and building a modern infrastructure system—in order to “construct a modern industrial system and consolidate and strengthen the foundation of the real economy.” Among these, accelerating the qualitative improvement and rational quantitative growth of traditional industries is expected to create an additional market space of roughly 10 trillion yuan over the next five years. Meanwhile, emerging and future industries are poised for vigorous growth; in the next decade, their cumulative expansion will be equivalent to recreating China’s high-tech industry from scratch.

On the market front, we must build a robust domestic market. “A robust domestic market is the strategic underpinning of Chinese-style modernization,” said Zheng Zhajie. The “Suggestions” propose adhering to the strategic pivot of expanding domestic demand and outline three key tasks. “To ensure effective implementation, we must focus on three critical aspects: tapping into new growth areas, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring smooth circulation.”

In terms of regional development, we will promote coordinated regional development. “The ‘Suggestions’ outline five key tasks, which can be summarized as ‘three priorities,’” Zheng Zhajie explained. First, we will focus on optimizing spatial layout, including refining regional layouts and land-use patterns. Second, we will place greater emphasis on new-type urbanization, scientifically and orderly advancing the citizenship of rural migrants, and vigorously implementing measures such as urban renewal. Third, we will emphasize integrated land-and-sea planning, further boosting high-quality development of the marine economy and accelerating the building of a maritime power.

“Next, the National Development and Reform Commission will, in accordance with the directives of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, carefully align with the ‘Suggestions’ and promptly begin drafting the outline for the 15th Five-Year Plan, striving to produce a high-quality plan that is both realistic and meets public expectations,” said Zheng Zhajie.

After five years of hard work, China’s scientific and technological strength will once again reach a new major milestone.

Chinese-style modernization relies on technological modernization for support.

“During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s scientific and technological strength has reached a new level, yielding abundant achievements in scientific and technological innovation and steadily fostering the development of new-quality productivity, thus laying a solid foundation for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.” Yin Hejun, Secretary of the Party Group and Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, presented a set of data: In 2024, the nation’s total R&D expenditure exceeded 3.6 trillion yuan, an increase of 48% compared to 2020; the number of papers published in high-level international journals and the volume of international patent applications have ranked first in the world for five consecutive years; and China’s global ranking in comprehensive innovation capability has risen from 14th in 2020 to 10th in 2024.

“During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we must seize the historic opportunities presented by the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, coordinate efforts to build a strong country in education, a strong country in science and technology, and a strong country in talent, enhance the overall effectiveness of the national innovation system, comprehensively strengthen our independent innovation capabilities, accelerate the achievement of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, and lead the development of a new quality of productive forces.” Yin Hejun told reporters that the “Suggestions” lay out arrangements from four key areas: first, strengthening basic original innovation and tackling critical core technologies; second, promoting the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation; third, advancing the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent; and fourth, furthering the construction of Digital China.

“After five years of hard work, China’s scientific and technological strength will once again reach a new high. Innovation-driven technological advancement will yield even greater results in fostering new-quality productive forces and promoting high-quality development, providing stronger support for the building of Chinese-style modernization,” Yin Hejun said.

The plenary session sent a strong signal that China is committed to open cooperation and mutually beneficial win-win outcomes.

For eight consecutive years, China has ranked first in the world in merchandise trade; service trade has surpassed one trillion U.S. dollars; foreign investment has achieved its “14th Five-Year Plan” target half a year ahead of schedule; and outbound investment has consistently remained among the top three globally... During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, high-level opening-up has become a powerful driving force for China’s economic development.

“The plenary session has devoted an entire chapter to furthering high-level opening-up to the outside world, sending a strong signal that China remains committed to open cooperation and mutually beneficial win-win outcomes,” said Wang Wentao, Party Secretary and Minister of the Ministry of Commerce. Regarding the opening-up efforts during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the “Suggestions” lay out key arrangements from four perspectives.

First, we will actively expand autonomous opening-up. We will proactively align ourselves with international high-standard economic and trade rules, focusing on the service sector to broaden market access and open up new areas. We will accelerate the negotiation and implementation of regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements, and expand our network of high-standard free trade zones. We will concentrate on building high grounds for openness and carry out various pilot programs and experiments aimed at fostering greater openness.

Second, we will promote innovative development in trade. The “Proposal” lays out plans for all three major pillars: merchandise trade, service trade, and digital trade.

Third, we need to expand the space for two-way investment cooperation. We should enhance the “Invest in China” brand and forge new competitive advantages for attracting foreign investment. We must effectively implement management of outbound investments, improve the comprehensive overseas service system, and guide the rational and orderly cross-border deployment of industrial and supply chains.

Fourth, we will jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative with high quality. We will strengthen alignment with the strategies of co-building countries and promote major landmark projects as well as small-scale yet impactful livelihood projects in a coordinated manner.

“We will ensure that all the decisions and arrangements outlined in the ‘Suggestions’ are effectively implemented and bear fruit, continuously raising our level of opening up to the outside world and expanding the development space for Chinese-style modernization,” said Wang Wentao.

Provide a solid health and demographic foundation for Chinese-style modernization.

Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, China has built the world’s largest healthcare service system, disease prevention and control system, and medical security system, achieving significant progress in health, wellness, and population development.

“By the end of 2024, the average life expectancy of Chinese residents had reached 79 years—a remarkable achievement,” said Lei Haichao, Party Secretary and Director of the National Health Commission. He added that the “Suggestions” are grounded in taking solid steps toward promoting the all-round development of individuals and common prosperity for all people, and further outline plans and arrangements for health and population issues.

Accelerate the building of a Healthy China. First, implement a health-first development strategy. Second, coordinate development with security to provide strong guarantees and support for economic and social development. Third, deliver equitable, accessible, systematic, continuous, high-quality, and efficient health services to the public.

Promote high-quality population development. First, build a society that is friendly to childbirth. The “Suggestions” explicitly advocate for positive views on marriage and childbearing, optimize policies supporting and incentivizing childbirth, and effectively reduce the costs associated with having, raising, and educating children. Second, promote elderly care and support. Measures include establishing sound policy mechanisms for the coordinated development of elderly care services and industries, and optimizing the provision of basic elderly care services. Third, promote active engagement among the elderly. Steadily implement a gradual increase in the statutory retirement age, refine age-related policies concerning employment and social security, actively tap into the human resources of older adults, and develop the silver economy.

“Health and health-related work, as well as population services, should not only focus on key groups such as the elderly, children, and women, but also provide comprehensive, end-to-end services—from prevention and health care to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation—for the entire population, thereby laying a solid health and demographic foundation for Chinese-style modernization,” said Lei Haichao. (Reporter: Liu Zhiqiang)