The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has outlined China’s development trajectory for the next five years and continues to generate strong international attention. To better interpret the key signals released at the plenary session and assess the new opportunities it presents for global development, a CSST reporter recently interviewed several foreign scholars. They have welcomed the convening of the plenary session, noting that the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the CPC for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, adopted at the meeting, serves as an important guiding document for understanding China’s latest policy priorities.

Ash Narain Roy, director of the Indian Society for the Study of Social Sciences in New Delhi, told CSST that as China’s comprehensive national strength continues to grow, foreign scholars have shown increasing interest in closely following the country’s development. Against this backdrop, the plenary session has attracted widespread global attention. Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, observed that China’s Five-Year Plans (FYPs) have long been well known internationally. In his view, the Recommendations are both thought-provoking and instructive.

Bert Hofman, former director of the East Asian Institute at the National University Singapore and former World Bank Country Director for China, noted that the Recommendations for the 15th FYP demonstrate considerable continuity with the 14th FYP, while also introducing new emphases. The Recommendations continue to prioritize original innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, alongside advances in technology development and manufacturing. At the same time, issues related to people’s well-being and common prosperity receive greater attention.

China aims to basically achieve socialist modernization and achieve a per capita GDP on par with that of a “mid-level developed country” by 2035. Hofman expressed optimism about these goals, explaining that “China has set specific and clear goals for itself, most of which are on track to be achieved.” He noted that China’s progress in innovation and technology has placed it among the ranks of advanced economies. According to the Global Innovation Index released by the World Intellectual Property Organization in September 2025, China has entered the top ten most innovative economies, reflecting the rapid strengthening of its R&D capabilities.

Tomisaka Satoshi, a professor at the Institute of World Studies at Takushoku University, observed that the transformation of China’s manufacturing sector has been particularly striking over the past five years. He also highlighted the rapid development of industries oriented toward future growth, the achievement of poverty eradication, and the effective prevention of a return to poverty. Tomisaka attributed these accomplishments to the long-term stability of CPC governance, arguing that policy consistency constitutes one of China’s key advantages. “There is no doubt about China’s ability to achieve its strategic goals,” he said. In his view, the CPC demonstrates a strong capacity to examine issues from a broader, forward-looking perspective that extends beyond immediate concerns, address pressing challenges in a systematic manner, identify emerging issues, and make timely adjustments to avoid potential blind spots.

Today, the international situation is complex, and China is also confronted with both internal and external risks and challenges, Tomisaka further noted. Against this background, he emphasized that the plenary session’s call for sharing opportunities and pursuing common development with other countries carries significant global importance. Roy echoed this view, observing that regardless of changes in the external environment, China has shown a strong ability to seek solutions and manage risks.

Looking ahead, Tomisaka expressed optimism about China’s future role. Addressing current trends of anti-globalization, he concluded that the high-level opening-up highlighted at the plenary session will help improve the international trade system. In his view, China has an opportunity to play a greater leadership role in shaping the international order and to ensure that all countries can benefit from it on an equal footing.