On 20 January 2026, President Xi Jinping delivered a defining speech at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee (National Academy of Governance), reinforcing the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) pivotal role in steering national progress. Addressing a high-level study session for principal officials at provincial and ministerial levels, President Xi set out the foundational expectations for the country’s next development phase, asserting that robust Party leadership remains the cornerstone of China’s governance model.
Remarks made by President Xi:
President Xi emphasised the critical need for a strong start to China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, covering the period from 2026 to 2030. He articulated that the formulation and execution of these five-year plans are integral to the CPC’s governance experience, representing a distinct political advantage of socialism with Chinese characteristics by ensuring long-term policy continuity. Furthermore, Xi urged officials to cultivate a “comprehensive, profound, and accurate” understanding of the strategic economic and social development arrangements previously outlined at the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, calling for unified efforts to translate these high-level strategies into tangible action.
Emphasis on Risk navigation and modernisation:
President Xi emphasised that China is currently traversing a critical juncture characterised by the coexistence of strategic opportunities and significant risks, a landscape further complicated by rising uncertainty and unpredictable global factors. Identifying the core objectives for the 15th Five-Year Plan, he highlighted the urgent need to cultivate a modern industrial system and upgrade the nation’s overall industrial architecture. Xi stressed the imperative of retaining a robust manufacturing share within the economy, whilst simultaneously driving progress in advanced manufacturing sectors and modern infrastructure to secure national resilience.
Turning to the broader economic framework, the President called for the acceleration of a new development pattern centred on the domestic economy, urging a strategic integration of investment in physical assets with the enhancement of human capital. Furthermore, he focused on the improvement of public livelihoods as a vital engine for social development, ensuring that economic figures translate into steady enhancements in the quality of life for the population. Concluding his directives, Xi underscored the absolute necessity of reinforcing the Communist Party of China’s leadership over socio-economic development, whilst maintaining an unyielding, high-pressure stance against corruption to ensure the integrity of the state’s governance.
Historical Context: The Evolution of Planning:
Since their inception in 1953, China’s Five-Year Plans have served as the fundamental framework for the nation’s social and economic development, orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party. Instrumental in metamorphosing the nation from an agrarian society into a global economic titan, these initiatives were originally modelled on the Soviet Union’s piatiletka of the late 1920s to facilitate rapid industrialisation through centralised state planning. Formulated during critical plenums of the CCP Central Committee and national party congresses, these plans provide a comprehensive blueprint for policy priorities over each quinquennial cycle. As the nation enters the 15th Five-Year Plan, the mechanism has significantly evolved from rigid command economics to a hybrid model that guides market forces. With 14 distinct plans implemented over more than seven decades, this governance strategy has propelled China to the status of the world’s second-largest economy, though persistent challenges regarding industrial overcapacity, environmental sustainability, and geopolitical tensions remain central themes in modern policy formulation