China announces date for key party meeting to discuss next 5-year plan

The main focus of the gathering will be the next five-year plan, which will set out the country’s economic, political and social goals amid ongoing tensions with the United States.

The date was announced following a meeting of the Politburo on Monday that set the tone for the fourth plenary session, which will be attended by President Xi Jinping and more than 370 members of the party’s Central Committee.

In May, Xi underlined the need to take a “forward-looking approach” and consider the impact of the changing international landscape on the country. A one-month online public consultation on the plan was also launched in the same month.

The 14th five-year plan is now in its final year. Under the rules, the 15th plan covering 2026-2030 must be endorsed by a plenary session of the party, after which it will be submitted to the annual legislative session in March for final endorsement.

The meeting will be held around one week before Xi heads to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, where he is expected to meet his US counterpart, Donald Trump, on the sidelines.

South China Morning Post