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

The Communist Party of China will hold its annual conclave between October 20 and 23 in Beijing.

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 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.

The Politburo meeting was chaired by Xi and reviewed a draft proposal of the 15th five-year plan.

That proposal will be endorsed at the plenum next month after revisions arising from the meeting, according to state news agency Xinhua.

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 on Monday underlined a number principles aired in previous economic policy documents, including “upholding the concentrated and unified leadership of the party”, and developing “new quality productive forces”, a phrase that stresses the need for hi-tech innovation and sustainable development.