Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) gathered in Beijing on Wednesday at a preparatory meeting to elect the presidium and set the agenda for the fourth session of the 14th NPC, scheduled to begin on Thursday.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the preparatory meeting. All the preparatory work for the annual session has been completed, Zhao said.
A 167-member presidium was elected, with Li Hongzhong as secretary-general of the NPC session.
The preparatory meeting also adopted the agenda of the upcoming session:
-- Deliberate on the report on the work of the government;
-- Examine the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development;
-- Examine the report on the implementation of the 2025 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2026 draft plan, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2026;
-- Examine the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2025 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2026, and the draft central and local budgets for 2026;
-- Deliberate on the bill put forward by the NPC Standing Committee on reviewing the draft environmental code;
-- Deliberate on the bill put forward by the NPC Standing Committee on reviewing the draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress;
-- Deliberate on the bill put forward by the NPC Standing Committee on reviewing the draft law on national development planning;
-- Deliberate on the work report of the NPC Standing Committee;
-- Deliberate on the work report of the Supreme People's Court;
-- Deliberate on the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate;
-- Deliberate on the report of the NPC Standing Committee on the work of the overhaul of laws and the proposed handling of certain laws and decisions.
Presidium elected, agenda set for annual NPC session
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.
15th Five-Year Plan to guide China's development, benefit world: scholars
