The 4th plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing from 20 to 23 October 2025. The central committee of China’s ruling Communist Party met in Beijing to discuss a proposal for national development from 2026 to 2030, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for Social and Economic development. The Plan’s blueprint signals continuity with a sharper focus on strategic adaptation to global uncertainty and long-term modernization toward 2035. China enters a crucial stage in its modernization and the Plan is expected to prioritize a number of strategic sectors.
On the 18th of November 2025, the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC) organized a webinar focusing on China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (‘Economic outlook and employment trends’). After the opening words by Mr. Bernard Dewit, Chairman of the BCECC, Dr. Xuxin Mao, Head of Research at the Bank of China (London), provided an in-depth analysis of China’s economic prospects under the new Five-Year Plan, with a particular focus on employment dynamics and future growth opportunities.
China’s Five-Year Plans, first introduced in 1953, are a continuous series of national programs guiding the country’s social and economic development. The 15th Five-Year Plan will set the framework for government policies from 2026 to 2030, as well as the vision and targets for the next 15 years. The Plan will focus on boosting economic development after a period of economic challenges. The new Plan is set to drive innovation, technological upgrading and greener growth, while demographic shifts and new productive forces reshape the labour market, creating emerging professions and transforming employment trends.
The finalized plan will not be made public before being formally approved by the National People’s Congress in March 2026. However, it can be expected that China will continue to focus on technology (AI, biotech), green energy and decarbonization, advanced manufacturing, and a modern service and digital economy, all supported by a strategy of self-reliance, innovation-led growth, and resilience. China is seeking to create a more self-reliant domestic economy, driven by domestic consumption and supported by external trade.
A global overview of China’s economic outlook with the 15th Five-Year Plan shows the key priorities in China and it highlights China’s intention to drive growth by strengthening scientific and technological innovation while modernizing traditional industries and fostering new productive forces. Expanding domestic demand plays a central role, with a focus on boosting household consumption and optimizing investment to support economic activity. The Plan also emphasizes China’s continued leadership in green and low-carbon development and improving people’s livelihoods remains a core objective, with commitments to strengthen employment support and enhance the welfare system for vulnerable groups. Additionally, China aims to pursue high-level opening-up through deeper reforms, greater economic internationalization and by reinforcing risk management capabilities.
It is clear that China is still ready to play a big role in the world’s future agenda and to share its achievements with other countries. All developments in China will not only impact China’s economic and social development in the next decades, but will have a big impact on a global scale, also for European and Belgian companies. Foreign companies are expected to enjoy better market access and reasonable treatment as China promises to provide an encouraging business environment for various companies in different industries. This approach will make China’s growth more sustainable and also will give business opportunities to foreign and domestic companies to work together.
Please contact the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (BCECC) in case you need more information.