U.S. dollar ticks up

The U.S. dollar strengthened in late trading on Friday.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against six major peers, added 0.07 percent to 99.389 at 15:00 (2000 GMT).

In late New York trading, the euro declined to 1.1596 dollars from 1.1614 dollars in the previous session, and the British pound decreased to 1.3381 dollars from 1.3386 dollars in the previous session.

The U.S. dollar bought 158.11 Japanese yen, lower than 158.54 Japanese yen in the previous session. The U.S. dollar climbed to 0.8034 Swiss francs from 0.8031 Swiss francs, and it advanced to 1.3917 Canadian dollars from 1.3893 Canadian dollars. The U.S. dollar added to 9.2305 Swedish kronor from 9.2263 Swedish kronor.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan proposal sends a strong signal of the country's commitment to upholding openness and cooperation, which will promote further development for the country and the world, said officials and scholars around the world.

The draft 15th Five-Year Plan, the blueprint that will guide the world's second-largest economy from 2026 to 2030, is central to steer China to move toward modernization amid technological disruption, demographic shifts and an increasingly fractured global order, according to the scholars.

"China's 15th Five-Year Plan is not a rigid model; it is more like benchmarks for growth targets and focal points. Chinese economists and economic decision-makers are not just focusing on qualitative growth, but also on innovative development. We're witnessing new transportation methods, robotics and artificial intelligence," said Andrey Denisov, first deputy chair of Russia's Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and former Russian Ambassador to China.

"The 15th Five-Year Plan is of great importance to China's development. The country is poised to make remarkable advancements in various sectors, including artificial intelligence, high-end manufacturing and infrastructure construction. Given the shifting global context and China's transition towards high-quality development, I am confident that this plan will herald a new era for China's development," said Kamel Mansari, news director of the French-language daily Le Jeune Independent.

Scholars also noted that China's commitment to high-quality development and high-level opening-up will promote win-win results and benefit the world.

"China has emerged as a key partner for most countries worldwide, and a preferred partner due to its closeness and integration with global communities, as well as its strong humanitarian perspective. The Chinese economy has not only benefited itself; it has helped many economies worldwide flourish through its partnerships," said Dirgham Muhammad Ali, an Iraqi economic expert.

China's National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to open in Beijing on Wednesday, with lawmakers set to approve the 15th Five-Year Plan.