英语新闻丨Party plenum to shape next five-year plan

As the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee is held from Monday to Thursday, the spotlight will be on how China will use the key Party meeting to set the tone for its development priorities for the next five years amid persistent economic headwinds.中共二十届四中全会于周一至周四召开，在经济持续面临压力的背景下，外界聚焦中国将如何通过此次重要党内会议，为未来五年的发展重点定调。The fourth plenary session is expected to see the leadership reviewing the proposal of the CPC Central Committee for the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, which will lay the groundwork for the country's development from 2026 to 2030.此次四中全会预计将审议《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》，该建议将为中国2026至2030年的发展奠定基础。Observers said that what makes this meeting significant is not the prospect of dramatic shifts, but rather the reaffirmation of a steady and pragmatic vision that has enabled China to weather global uncertainty and maintain momentum as the world's second-largest economy.观察人士表示，此次会议的重要性不在于可能出现重大转向，而在于重申稳健务实的发展理念——正是这一理念帮助中国抵御了全球不确定性，作为世界第二大经济体保持了发展势头。Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has chartered the course for the 15th Five-Year Plan. He has chaired a number of high-level meetings attended by senior officials to discuss key priorities for the new plan, while State media outlets have launched a national campaign to gather public input and feedback.中共中央总书记习近平为“十五五”规划指明了方向。他主持召开多次高级别会议，与高层官员共同研讨新规划的重点任务；同时，中央媒体启动全国性活动，征集公众意见与反馈。During an inspection tour to Shanghai in April, Xi presided over a symposium on China's economic and social development in the 15th Five-Year Plan period.今年4月习近平在上海考察期间，主持召开了“十五五”时期中国经济社会发展座谈会。"We must unswervingly manage our own affairs well, and stay committed to expanding high-standard opening-up," Xi told the symposium, while stressing the need to adapt to the changing global landscape and grasp strategic priorities for China's development.习近平在座谈会上表示：“我们要坚定不移办好自己的事，坚定扩大高水平对外开放。”他同时强调，要主动适应全球格局变化，把握中国发展的战略重点。"Greater emphasis should be placed on ensuring both development and security, with a comprehensive assessment of domestic and external risks and challenges," he said.他指出：“要更加注重统筹发展和安全，全面研判国内国际风险挑战。”The 15th Five-Year Plan is considered a crucial step, as China is using a three-plan period—the 14th, 15th and 16th Five-Year Plans—to "basically realize socialist modernization" by 2035.“十五五”规划被视为关键一步，因为中国正计划通过“十四五”“十五五”“十六五”三个五年规划时期，在2035年“基本实现社会主义现代化”。Experts said that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China's development priorities are likely to be centered around enhancing its economic resilience, which will include diversifying trading partners, boosting domestic consumption and improving technology and innovation capabilities.专家表示，“十五五”时期中国的发展重点可能围绕提升经济韧性展开，具体措施包括拓展贸易伙伴多样性、扩大国内消费、提升科技创新能力。Cheng Xusen, a research fellow at Renmin University of China's National Academy of Development and Strategy, said that the development of new quality productive forces, a key driver for high-quality growth, is expected to be a priority in the 15th Five-Year Plan.中国人民大学国家发展与战略研究院研究员程秀森表示，作为高质量发展的关键驱动力，发展新质生产力有望成为“十五五”规划的重点任务。Key priorities include expanding domestic demand, boosting consumption's role in economic growth, creating high-quality jobs and increasing household incomes, Cheng said.程秀森指出，重点任务还包括扩大内需、强化消费对经济增长的拉动作用、创造高质量就业岗位、提高居民收入。In addition, China intends to deepen high-level opening-up by promoting trade facilitation and liberalization, strengthening international economic cooperation, and enhancing its position in global industrial and supply chains, he added.他补充道，此外中国还将通过推动贸易便利化与自由化、加强国际经济合作、提升在全球产业链供应链中的地位，深化高水平对外开放。Cao Heping, a professor at Peking University's School of Economics, said that technology innovation, as the main driving force of high-quality growth, is evolving from an engine that propels progress into a key force reshaping the nation's economic landscape.北京大学经济学院教授曹和平表示，科技创新作为高质量发展的主要驱动力，正从推动发展的引擎，转变为重塑中国经济格局的关键力量。During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the innovation-driven development strategy is expected to further unleash its effectiveness on a broader scale, Cao said, and the deeper integration of new energy, new materials and intelligent manufacturing is expected to forge new technological strengths and drive the next phase of industrial transformation.曹和平称，“十五五”时期，创新驱动发展战略有望在更广泛领域进一步释放效能；新能源、新材料与智能制造的深度融合，预计将打造新的技术优势，推动下一阶段产业转型。At the April symposium, Xi highlighted the strategic importance of developing new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, adding that China's development will be driven by technological innovation, with the real economy being the foundation.在4月的座谈会上，习近平强调了“十五五”时期因地制宜发展新质生产力的战略意义，并指出中国发展要以科技创新为动力，以实体经济为根基。He also highlighted the importance of improving the national innovation system through stimulating the vitality of various innovation entities and zeroing in on global scientific and technological frontiers.他还强调，要通过激发各类创新主体活力、聚焦全球科技前沿，完善国家创新体系。Matteo Giovannini, a finance professional at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and a nonresident associate fellow at the Beijing-based think tank Center for China and Globalization, said that over the past few years, China has consistently contributed around 30 percent of global economic growth, a figure unmatched by any other major economy.中国工商银行金融专业人士、北京智库全球化智库非resident副研究员马泰奥·乔瓦尼尼表示，过去几年中国对全球经济增长的贡献率始终保持在30%左右，这一比例远超其他主要经济体。"In 2024, the country's GDP grew by 5 percent year-on-year, reaffirming its role as a key stabilizer of the world economy. These achievements are not the outcome of short-term stimulus, but of structural progress guided by long-term vision," Giovannini said in an article published by the China Global Television Network.乔瓦尼尼在为中国国际电视台撰写的文章中表示：“2024年中国GDP同比增长5%，再次印证了其世界经济关键稳定器的作用。这些成就并非短期刺激政策的结果，而是长期规划引领下结构型发展的成果。”He said that as China prepares to embark on the next stage of modernization, the fourth plenary session offers an opportunity to consolidate these gains and chart the path forward.他指出，在中国准备迈入现代化建设新阶段之际，四中全会为巩固现有成果、规划未来道路提供了契机。"Ultimately, the fourth plenum embodies China's quiet confidence in its governance model. It demonstrates that reform, innovation and openness can coexist under a framework of stability and national purpose," Giovannini said. "The global environment may be fraught with sanctions, trade friction and political suspicion, but China's long-term orientation enables it to look beyond short-term turbulence."乔瓦尼尼表示：“归根结底，四中全会体现了中国对自身治理模式的从容自信。这表明在稳定与国家目标的框架下，改革、创新与开放可以并行不悖。尽管全球环境充满制裁、贸易摩擦与政治猜忌，但中国的长期导向使其能够超越短期动荡。”20th CPC Central Committee membersn.中共二十届中央委员会委员 /ˈtwentiəθ ˌsiː piː ˈsiː ˈsentrəl kəˈmɪti ˈmembəz/15th Five-Year Plan researchers/expertsn.“十五五”规划研究者/专家/ˌfɪfˈtiːnθ ˈfaɪv jɪə plæn rɪˈsɜːtʃəz/ /ˈekspɜːts/