China charts path to 2035 as President Xi calls for seizing ‘Window of Opportunity’

President Xi Jinping has urged China to seize a critical “window of opportunity” as the nation sets out its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), a blueprint that will shape China’s development path toward its 2035 modernization goals.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded the fourth plenary session of its 20th Central Committee last week, approving the policy recommendations that will guide the drafting of the plan.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, described the coming five years as decisive for securing China’s strategic initiative amid mounting global competition.

“We must consolidate our strengths, remove development bottlenecks, shore up weak links, and seize the strategic initiative amid intense international competition,” Xi said at the meeting held from October 20 to 23.

Roadmap to 2035 Modernization

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan marks the midpoint in its long-term strategy to “basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035.” The milestone goal spans three consecutive five-year periods — the 14th (2021–2025), 15th (2026–2030), and 16th (2031–2035).

During the current 14th Plan period, China declared victory over extreme poverty and completed the building of a moderately prosperous society, meeting major development targets on schedule.

High-Quality Growth, Innovation at the Core

According to the plenary communiqué, high-quality development will remain the central theme of China’s economic and social agenda. Xi said achieving mid-level developed-country status by 2035 requires maintaining “an appropriate growth rate” in the coming years.

China’s GDP reached 100 trillion yuan (about 14.11 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of this year, growing 5.2 percent year-on-year — a performance officials say reflects the economy’s resilience amid global uncertainties.

The new plan emphasizes industrial modernization, innovation, and technological self-reliance, including initiatives to strengthen indigenous innovation and roll out an “AI Plus” strategy to empower traditional industries. It also calls for developing new quality productive forces based on local strengths rather than one-size-fits-all projects.

“We must adopt a sound, rational, and realistic approach and avoid rushing blindly into new initiatives,” Xi cautioned.

People-Centered Modernization

Throughout the plan’s recommendations, the people-centered vision remains central. Xi urged continued efforts to enhance public services and promote common prosperity, stressing improvements in employment, education, healthcare, housing, elderly care, and childcare.

“The immutable goal of our modernization drive is to meet the people’s aspirations for a better life,” Xi said.

As one grassroots delegate at the session put it: “This document isn’t just a grand blueprint for national development — it’s a vision for a better life for everyone.”