China’s Five-Year Plans (FYPs) represent a rare combination of strategic foresight and adaptive governance. Over the past 70 years, this planning mechanism has served as both a compass and a roadmap, allowing China not only to stay true to its long-term objectives but also to recalibrate policies in response to evolving domestic and international environments.

The 14th FYP (2021–2025), for instance, was conceived at a time of profound global changes, including the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and digital transformation. Yet it has managed to maintain strong policy continuity in areas such as technological self-reliance, environmental sustainability, and domestic consumption-driven growth. At the same time, it has demonstrated remarkable flexibility – adjusting to supply chain disruptions, accelerating green development, and promoting digital economy initiatives.

Looking forward, the upcoming 15th FYP is expected to build upon these achievements while further adapting to new challenges such as AI governance, climate action, and global uncertainty. This ability to stay on course while remaining agile is one of the greatest strengths of China’s governance model. Based on experience, China is even more mature and wise and can make the next FYP more comprehensive and productive. It ensures that policies are not merely reactive but proactive, forward-looking, and anchored in long-term national interests.

Staying focused

We are living in an age often described as one of the “great transformations unseen in a century.” Globalisation, technological disruption, environmental crises, and geopolitical shifts are reshaping the world. In this context, China’s ability to remain focused on long-term development goals is not just admirable – it is essential.

Chinese-style modernisation, guided by the vision of the Communist Party of China (CPC), is underpinned by a profound sense of historical responsibility. It is not driven by short-term gains but by the enduring goal of improving people’s livelihoods, achieving common prosperity, and ensuring national rejuvenation. This long-term approach offers stability and consistency – two qualities that are increasingly rare but greatly needed in global governance today.

Moreover, China’s long-term focus enables it to tackle “big picture” issues that many other systems struggle with. Whether it’s lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, advancing the green transition, or investing in next-generation infrastructure, China does so with a strategic horizon that extends beyond the next stage. This is a powerful asset in addressing challenges that require years, or even decades, of sustained effort.

An inspiring approach

China’s “l(fā)ong-termism,” deeply rooted in the planning tradition and the CPC’s governance philosophy, offers an alternative and refreshing paradigm to global development discourse. While much of the world operates within short-term political cycles, China’s model provides a counter-narrative, one where continuity, coherence, and strategic patience are central to progress.

This model brings innovation to development thinking in several ways:

??Integrated Planning and Execution:?The FYPs align central goals with local implementation, fostering unity of purpose while allowing for localised innovation.

??People-Centred Development:?Development is not just measured by GDP growth but by improvements in education, health care, rural revitalisation, and ecological wellbeing.

??Balanced Modernisation:?The FYPs stress harmony between material and spiritual advancement, between economy and ecology, and between urban and rural areas.

??Institutional Resilience:?The stability and foresight provided by China’s planning system help to buffer against the volatility often associated with frequent leadership changes in other systems.

In many ways, China is pioneering a model that merges modern economic tools with traditional governance wisdom. This holds valuable lessons for developing countries seeking to achieve sustainable progress.

Maintaining market vitality

This concern, often raised by Western media, stems from a misunderstanding of how planning and markets interact in the Chinese context. In China, planning does not mean rigid control or the suppression of innovation. Rather, it serves as a framework within which the market can operate more efficiently and confidently.

China’s experience has shown that strategic planning and market mechanisms are not mutually exclusive – they are complementary. The government sets the direction, safeguards social equity, and ensures macroeconomic stability, while enterprises drive innovation, competition, and productivity. This is evident in how China has nurtured some of the world’s most dynamic tech companies, vibrant e-commerce platforms, and leading renewable energy enterprises – all within the FYP framework.

Moreover, long-term planning helps to create a stable and predictable environment, which is essential for business investment and innovation.?

Far from stifling market vitality, China’s planning approach has enabled rapid and inclusive growth. It has created an ecosystem where public and private enterprise can grow together.?

The author is?Founding Chair of Global Silk Route Research Alliance.?