Malaysian, Mongolian experts express confidence in China's growth potential in next 5 years

Experts from Mongolia and Malaysia have voiced strong optimism regarding China's economic prospects following the conclusion of a key plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which set out the nation's development blueprint for the next five years.

The 20th CPC Central Committee adopted the recommendations for formulating China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) at its fourth plenary session held from Oct. 20 to 23 in Beijing. A communique released after the plenum signaled how the world's second-largest economy will advance its economic and social progress.

According to the communique, China will aim to make significant advancements in high-quality development over the next five years. The country will seek to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, steer the development of new quality productive forces, and build a modernized industrial system.

The ambitious goals outlined in the plan have impressed regional observers, who see China as uniquely positioned to tackle complex development challenges.

"What strikes me most is that China's ambition to achieve both technology self-reliance and sustainable development. In most of the countries, throughout history, we learn that it's really difficult and complicated. But if anyone can do it, I think it will be China," said Undral Amarsaikhan, CEO of Mongolia's TenGer TV.

The communique also indicated that China will shift further toward services, consumption and innovation. Greater importance will be placed on domestic demand and a unified national market, leveraging the vast potential of a population exceeding 1.4 billion, which includes over 400 million individuals in the middle-income group.

The emphasis on strengthening domestic economic foundations while maintaining global engagement is seen as a pragmatic and necessary step for long-term stability and growth.

"All the issues that have been outlined recently are important, but some are especially important and not just for China, but also [for] other countries like Malaysia and other countries in ASEAN. China knows it needs to double down on what is known as the 'dual circulation', that is focusing on both exports of its products as well as domestic consumption. Once the economy of the country has been entrenched and firmly established, then it can go further to develop further in other areas," said Bunn Nagara, director and senior fellow at the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia-Pacific.

Malaysian, Mongolian experts express confidence in China's growth potential in next 5 years

Pakistani warplanes struck several locations across Afghanistan on Thursday night and Friday, killing at least six people, including a woman and a child, and wounding more than a dozen others, local officials said.

The strikes hit a fuel depot near the country's Kandahar Airport, areas in the capital Kabul, and the eastern Nangarhar Province.

A Pakistani security source said the strikes targeted hideouts belonging to the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

In Kabul's 21st police district, one of the areas hit, a market was left in ruins. Several cars were destroyed, and windows of buildings in the market and nearby areas were shattered. A crater caused by the Pakistani airstrikes was also visible.

"This is my car. I had parked it here, and it was the only way I could bring food to my family's table. It was my sole source of income and my only means of employment. Now my car is in this condition, and I have no other way to provide for my family," said Mohamad Ghulam, a taxi driver.

The airstrikes destroyed a house, killing four members of a single family. More than a dozen other households in the area reported their homes either fully or partially destroyed.

One of the victims was 22-year-old Hedayatullah, who had just been married. He was killed alongside his pregnant wife, as well as his brother and sister.

"Hedayatullah got married nine months ago. His brother was 18 years old. He himself was 22 years old, he also had a 12-year-old sister, and his wife was about 19 years old and was pregnant," said Ghulam Sakhi, a relative of the victims.

"This neighbor of ours was a family of five. Their mother was not present at the moment of the bombardment, but the rest of them lost their lives. It was Hedayatuallah's family. From my own family, two of my daughters, my sister-in-law, my brother, and two nieces got injured," said Mohamad Homayoun, a survivor.

In the past weeks, scores of people from both sides have been killed or injured in the conflict between Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan, according to officials from the two countries.

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has called for an immediate halt to cross-border clashes, warning that the escalating violence is driving a surge in civilian casualties and deepening a humanitarian crisis.

At least 6 killed, more than a dozen wounded in Pakistani airstrikes on Afghanistan: officials