Strategic guidance proves governance efficacy as China propels modernization
In 1954, one year after China initiated the inaugural Five-Year Plan (1953-57), a specialized factory for manufacturing bearings, core components of mechanical equipment, was set up in Luoyang, Henan province.
It was one of the 156 key projects launched nationwide during the period when the country was striving to build up the basic industries essential for national industrialization. These projects, spanning sectors such as steel, machinery, energy and chemical engineering, laid the foundation for China's industrialization in its early days, marking a determined stride from an agricultural society toward industrial prowess.
Over 70 years later, Luoyang Bearing Group stands as a testament to this enduring vision, as it has evolved into an innovation-driven enterprise manufacturing over 30,000 types of high-precision bearings, vital to industries ranging from aerospace and wind power to rail transit and marine engineering.
During a visit to the company in May, President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, reflected on this remarkable progress, saying: "China has always adhered to the path of developing the real economy. From the past reliance on imported matches, soap and iron, to now becoming the world's largest manufacturing country with the most complete industrial categories, we have taken the right path."
Sticking to this path, China has remained the world's largest manufacturing country for 15 consecutive years. Observers noted that this transformative journey underscores the profound efficacy of the five-year plan system as a fundamental instrument of China's governance.
Five-year plans are crucial strategic documents that outline national goals, major tasks and policy directions in various sectors for each five-year period.
It is an approach that experts say maintains policy continuity and stability toward established goals, and ensures the efficient and well-calibrated allocation of resources.
Formulating and implementing five-year plans has been a hallmark of the Communist Party of China's governance, enabling China to promote coordinated economic and social development over the medium and long terms. For China, the consistent theme from the first Five-Year Plan to the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), as President Xi pointed out, has been to build China into a modern socialist country.
For more than seven decades, a key to the enduring vitality of the five-year plan system lies in "a synergistic relationship in which the top-level design and long-term perspective of national planning effectively complement the microlevel efficiency and innovative drive of the market economy", said Yan Yilong, deputy dean of the Institute for Contemporary China Studies at Tsinghua University.
"This system operates on three pillars: building consensus on national goals through political guidance and scientific planning, breaking down goals into actionable tasks with evaluation and supervision, and ensuring resource allocation to support these objectives," Yan said.
The five-year plans are not merely economic plans but comprehensive national development blueprints, and the robust implementation of these blueprints is the highlight of China's governance, he added.
Acknowledging the nature and significance of China's five-year plan system, The Diplomat, a Washington, DC-based foreign affairs magazine, noted that "the plans are neither rigid blueprints nor mere guidelines. Instead, they act as authoritative signals that shape the behavior of ministries, provincial governments, State-owned enterprises, private firms, and increasingly foreign investors".
Over the decades, China's five-year plans have guided continuous progress in national development and living standards, from ensuring adequate food and clothing after completing the sixth and seventh five-year plans in the 1980s to propelling China's total economic output to become the world's second-largest in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-10) period.
"Five-year plans illustrate the nation's shift from a planned economy to a socialist market economy," said Zhang Zhanbin, director of the Chinese Modernization Research Center at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
He highlighted the transformative power of these plans by citing the example of the revitalization of Northeast China, comprising Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces.
The region became the nation's heavy-industry heartland during the first Five-Year Plan period and was reinvigorated decades later by the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05), which proposed to support the adjustment and transformation of the old industrial base. Each subsequent five-year plan has included dedicated sections outlining tasks for Northeast China's revitalization.
The 14th Five-Year Plan has initiated a more comprehensive revitalization phase for Northeast China, with a State Council-approved implementation plan outlining a clear road map for the region's future.
"The elevating of the strategic positioning of Northeast China in the recent five-year plans reflects the Party and the country's earnest expectations for its comprehensive revitalization in the new era," Zhang said.
Pivotal stage
The year 2025 signifies the conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and is pivotal in shaping the subsequent five-year agenda.
The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), the draft proposals of which are being discussed at the ongoing fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, is tasked with achieving "decisive progress" in basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035, said Yan.
Speaking at a symposium with provincial leaders in Shanghai in April, Xi pointed out that the scientific formulation and consistent implementation of five-year plans represent an important experience of the Party in governing the country and a major political strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Xi, who previously led the drafting groups for both the 13th and 14th five-year plans, has consistently emphasized strategic foresight in guiding each phase of national development.
During the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period, he underscored that this stage was decisive for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and highlighted the importance of leveraging strategic opportunities. For the 14th Five-Year Plan, he outlined the historic mission of advancing toward the second centenary goal and called for a profound understanding of the new stage of development, including its characteristics and requirements.
Broad consensus
Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, Xi has highlighted that the formulation and implementation of this plan has immense significance for fully realizing the strategic initiatives outlined at the 20th CPC National Congress and advancing Chinese modernization.
In an instruction in May, he emphasized the importance of integrating top-level design with seeking advice from the public, enhancing research and discussions, and building broad consensus, and stressed sound, democratic and law-based decision-making to ensure that the next five-year plan is formulated with high quality.
A key feature of the planning process has been the emphasis on public participation. From May 20 to June 20, an online campaign soliciting opinions for the 15th Five-Year Plan received over 3.11 million suggestions from the public. Xi described this as a vivid example of whole-process people's democracy and urged relevant departments to carefully study and absorb these valuable insights.
By integrating visionary guidance with inclusive governance, China's "target governance mechanism", exemplified by the five-year plan system, continues to be a vital tool for aligning national ambitions with the aspirations of its people, said Yan, the Tsinghua expert.
As China navigates a complex landscape of technological acceleration, economic transformation and strategic competition, the next five-year plan represents a critical step toward securing sustainable and high-quality development, he added.
【背景阅读】
高质量发展取得新的历史性成就
——从“十四五”看中国答卷
“十四五”规划收官在即。
“十四五”期间，以习近平同志为核心的党中央统揽全局、领航掌舵，全国上下勠力同心、众志成城，坚定不移办好自己的事，用新的伟大奋斗创造出新的历史伟业，中国答卷举世瞩目，中华民族伟大复兴势不可挡。
保持定力 扎实推动高质量发展
前三季度，国内生产总值（GDP）同比增长5.2%！
10月20日发布的这一经济增速，彰显中国号巨轮顶住了外部压力，继续展现强大韧性。
潮头掌舵，扬帆奋楫。
“党中央集中统一领导是做好经济工作的根本保证，在关键时刻、重要节点，党中央及时研判形势、作出决策部署，确保我国经济航船乘风破浪、行稳致远。”这是对新时代以来党领导经济工作实践的精辟概括，是全国上下的最大共识。
面对不确定性，最重要的就是集中精力办好自己的事。
“十四五”期间，世界百年变局加速演进，改革发展稳定任务之艰巨前所未有。全国上下积极作为、攻坚克难，扎实推动高质量发展，中国式现代化阔步前行，经济社会发展取得新的开创性进展、突破性变革、历史性成就。
“量”上连跨新台阶——
110万亿元、120万亿元、130万亿元……“十四五”以来，中国经济总量接连跨越新关口，预计到今年底有望达140万亿元左右。
从经济增量上看，“十四五”时期预计超过35万亿元，相当于“再造一个长三角”，超过世界排名第三国家的经济总量。
多家外媒刊文，高度评价“十四五”中国经济发展成就，认为超出预期。
在世界发展舞台上，中国力量愈发彰显。
“十四五”前4年，中国经济增速平均达到5.5%，在世界主要经济体中名列前茅；中国对世界经济增长的年均贡献率保持在30%左右，是世界经济发展最稳定、最可靠的动力源。
“质”上实现新突破——
近期，两则消息引人关注：马来西亚的亚洲航空公司正洽谈采购C919客机，柬埔寨国家航空有限公司拟采购20架C909飞机。
国产大飞机“出海”，彰显大国重器的技术硬实力。
第一艘国产电磁弹射航母福建舰下水，全球第一座第四代核电站石岛湾基地投入商业运行；研发人员总量居世界第一；今年全球百强科技创新集群数量达到24个、连续3年位居全球第一……“十四五”期间的一个又一个“第一”，见证创新驱动发展步伐铿锵。
习近平总书记深刻指出，市场资源是我国的巨大优势，必须充分利用和发挥这个优势，不断巩固和增强这个优势。
我国经济由高速增长阶段转向高质量发展阶段，充分挖掘内需潜力，加快培育完整内需体系，是把握发展主动权的必然之举。
中国超大规模市场华丽转身：2021年至2024年，内需对经济增长平均贡献率达86.8%。其中，最终消费支出平均贡献率为59.9%，比“十三五”时期提高11.1个百分点。纵深广阔的经济版图上，中国稳居全球第二大消费市场、第一大网络零售市场。
“十四五”以来，中国经济向上生长、向好突破，还有更多注脚：
单位GDP能耗4年累计降低11.6%，新能源汽车产销量保持全球第一；京津冀、长三角、粤港澳大湾区三大动力源地区引领作用持续增强，经济体量占全国40%以上；货物贸易规模年均增长8.0%，第一大国地位更加稳固；累计建成超过10亿亩高标准农田……
国际货币基金组织发布报告指出，中国经济正逐步向更高质量、更加平衡、更具可持续性的增长模式转变。
勇立潮头 全面深化改革开放
市场准入制度是我国社会主义市场经济基础制度之一。针对隐性壁垒仍存、地方保护花样翻新等顽疾，市场准入制度改革突出问题导向，往深水区持续攻坚。
今年发布的新版市场准入负面清单再次“瘦身”，清单事项数量由2022年版的117项缩减至106项。清单之外，各类经营主体皆可依法平等进入。
改革，伟大时代的勇毅之举，发展进步的动力之源。
经过40多年改革，容易的、皆大欢喜的改革已经完成了，剩下的都是难啃的硬骨头。“十四五”时期是聚力改革攻坚的重要历史交汇期。
聚焦构建高水平社会主义市场经济体制，开展新出台政策与宏观政策取向一致性评估，施行《公平竞争审查条例》，出台实施民营经济促进法，纵深推进全国统一大市场建设；
围绕促进人与自然和谐共生，启动全国碳排放权交易市场，推进生态环境标准制修订，健全生态环境保护督察工作体制机制，分级分类建设美丽中国先行区；
着眼于不断实现人民对美好生活的向往，健全灵活就业人员、农民工、新就业形态人员社保制度，放开放宽除个别超大城市外的落户限制，逐步推行免费学前教育，实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄；
…………
5年间，重点领域改革“向最难之处攻坚”，一系列改革“组合拳”集中推出，党的十八届三中全会提出的改革目标任务总体如期完成。
以经济体制改革为牵引，党的二十届三中全会部署的300多项改革举措渐次推出，进一步全面深化改革不断向广度和深度进军。
“直面矛盾问题不回避，铲除顽瘴痼疾不含糊，应对风险挑战不退缩，奋力打开改革发展新天地。”习近平总书记明确要求。
改革越深入，对开放的水平要求就越高；开放水平越高，对改革的促进作用就越大。
“十四五”期间，面对经济全球化遭遇逆流，单边主义、保护主义抬头，中国坚定不移推进高水平对外开放。
制造业领域外资准入限制措施全面“清零”，服务业领域开放试点有序开展；持续举办进博会、广交会、服贸会、消博会等国际经贸盛会；优化免签政策“开门迎客”，单方面免签“朋友圈”扩大至47国；给予最不发达国家、非洲建交国家100%税目产品零关税待遇……
从继续推动商品和要素流动型开放到更加注重制度型开放，中国践行“开放的大门将越开越大”的坚定诺言，以自身新发展为世界带来新机遇。
“与中国同行就是与机遇同行，相信中国就是相信明天，投资中国就是投资未来。”今年3月，习近平总书记在会见国际工商界代表时的真诚邀约，宣示中国坚定不移深化改革、扩大开放的决心，为中国与世界合作共赢注入强大信心和力量。
坚毅笃行 持续增进民生福祉
走进云南丽江现代花卉产业园，各色花朵香气馥郁，冷链物流车运作有序。这座产业园已经吸纳300余名周边群众“家门口就业”。
2025年3月，习近平总书记来到这里考察。从品种、价格，到务工收入……总书记看得仔细，问得具体。
“你们这个事业搞得很兴旺，符合现代农业发展方向。祝你们的生活像花儿一样美！”习近平总书记的话，给了大家更足的信心与干劲。
中国式现代化，民生为大。
“十四五”规划纲要提出7项民生指标，在20项主要指标中占比超过三分之一，是历次五年规划中最高的。
就业是最基本的民生，事关国家长治久安。
2024年5月27日，中共中央政治局就促进高质量充分就业进行第十四次集体学习。习近平总书记强调，各级党委和政府要把就业当作民生头等大事来抓，加强组织领导，健全制度机制，增强工作合力。
当年9月，《中共中央 国务院关于实施就业优先战略促进高质量充分就业的意见》发布，从中央层面为促进高质量充分就业作出顶层设计。
“十四五”以来，我国每年城镇新增就业稳定在1200万人以上。居民收入增长与经济增长基本同步，城乡收入相对差距进一步缩小。
幼有所育、学有所教、劳有所得、病有所医、老有所养、住有所居、弱有所扶，是牵动亿万家庭的民生关切。
300多个地级市和人口大县建设托育综合服务中心；学前教育毛入学率达到92%，高等教育毛入学率达到60.8%；跨省异地就医直接结算惠及5.6亿人次；居民人均预期寿命达到79岁；脱贫人口务工就业规模连续4年稳定在3000万人以上……5年间，坚持在发展中保障和改善民生，人民幸福生活的温暖底色更加鲜亮。
始终坚持以人民为中心，一切为了人民，一切依靠人民，14亿多中国人民在共同奋斗中共享改革发展成果。
10月20日至23日，党的二十届四中全会在北京召开。会议将审议《中共中央关于制定国民经济和社会发展第十五个五年规划的建议》，为未来5年中国发展擘画蓝图。
迈上新的历史起点，中国特色社会主义制度优势、超大规模市场优势、完整产业体系优势、丰富人才资源优势更加彰显，保持战略定力，增强必胜信心，我们完全有能力战胜前进中的各种困难挑战，谱写中国式现代化更加绚丽的篇章！
来源|中国日报网
编辑|刘姝辛
审核|王艺蓉
终审|邱岭