China's five-year plans serve as a bridge between the past and the future, playing a vital role in the country's modernization drive. The recommendations for China's next five-year blueprint reflect continuity and stability in overall development, said Dong Yu, executive vice dean of the China Institute for Development Planning at Tsinghua University, in an interview with the People's Daily. 

In late October, the Communist Party of China leadership adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining seven major objectives to guide the country's development through 2030.

These objectives cover key areas including high-quality development, scientific and technological innovation, reform, cultural and ethical advancement, people's well-being, ecological conservation and national security.

Since 1953, China has formulated and implemented 14 five-year plans, each serving as a roadmap for national progress.

Highlights from the 15th Five-Year Plan recommendations

"The guiding philosophy of the recommendations emphasizes that 'we will continue to pursue economic development as our central task,' and seven out of the 12 major tasks are focused on the economy," said Dong, who also participated in drafting several of China's recent five-year plans.

"This means that in the next five years, China will continue to focus on doing its own work well, further consolidating the foundations of its economy," he said.

Recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan prioritize modernization of the industrial system and strengthening the real economy through measures like upgrading traditional industries and fostering emerging industries.

Putting "upgrading traditional industries" high on the agenda reflects China's determination to enhance its manufacturing sector's global influence and deliver higher-quality products, Dong said.

He also highlighted the recommendations' stronger focus on opening-up. "Against the backdrop of the current global trade landscape, it clearly demonstrates that China will not close its doors but will open them wider to the world," Dong said.

"Furthermore, this year's recommendations differ from the past by explicitly stressing 'proactive opening-up,' which suggests that China will take the initiative, such as through unilateral opening measures, regardless of external circumstances," he added.

Experience and progress under the 14th Five-Year Plan

Amid the complex environment of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has gained valuable experience in tackling multiple challenges, Dong said.

During this time, the country's economic output made three major leaps, laying a solid foundation for future growth. China's GDP surpassed 110 trillion yuan ($15.4 trillion), 120 trillion yuan and 130 trillion yuan, and is projected to reach around 140 trillion yuan by 2025.

Dong emphasized that this period has seen steady improvement in the structure and quality of China's economy.

The 14th Five-Year Plan period has provided important experience in fostering new growth drivers and transforming the economic structure, which will serve as a crucial foundation for the next stage of development, Dong said.

'Beyond a single document'

"Once China sets a long-term goal, we strive for it through one five-year plan after another," Dong said. "This has long been a defining feature of China's economic development."

He described the implementation of China's five-year plans as a "relay-style" process that combines both goal-oriented and problem-oriented approaches.

"With the goal-oriented approach, we start by setting medium- and long-term objectives, then formulate plans to achieve them. The problem-oriented approach focuses on identifying key issues that require breakthroughs and addressing them through targeted measures," he explained.

"We have established a unified planning system that goes beyond a single document. It coordinates planning and implementation across multiple levels and sectors, supported by specialized sub-plans. This integrated framework ensures effective implementation and has become a hallmark of China's governance experience," Dong added.