UN in China and NDRC Conclude High Level Seminar on China’s 15th Five Year Plan

Five-Year Plans have long played a central role in guiding China’s meteoric development rise, reflecting strong strategic continuity, broad public participation, and a people‑centred development philosophy.

To understand China’s new 15th Five-Year Plan more deeply and to identify possible new lines of support, the United Nations (UN) in China and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China jointly concluded a High-Level Seminar in Beijing on 12–13 May 2026. The two-day seminar brought together around 100 senior officials from relevant government ministries, representatives of UN entities in China, and international financial institutions to exchange views on China’s development priorities under the 15th Five-Year Plan and to explore pathways for deeper cooperation between the UN and China in the next five years.

A relevant department of NDRC emphasized that the 15th Five-Year Plan marks a critical stage in China’s modernization process and highlighted the importance of working hand in hand with the UN, strengthening dialogue, mutual learning, and practical cooperation. By bringing together China’s development experience and the UN’s international perspectives, the two sides can jointly advance high‑quality, inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.

Stephen Jackson, UN Resident Coordinator in China, highlighted that the seminar provided an important opportunity for the UN and international partners to gain deeper understanding of China’s development vision for the coming five years. He noted that China’s development achievements have been underpinned by sustained national commitment and disciplined implementation through successive Five-Year Plans, and emphasized that the 15th Five-Year Plan reflects both ambition and honesty in addressing remaining development challenges. He reaffirmed the UN’s readiness, through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2026–2030), to support China’s priorities, including social development, green and low‑carbon transition, coordinated regional development, and others.

The seminar featured seven thematic discussions, generating active and substantive exchanges. Thematic Discussion I, The Process and Methods of Formulating China’s National Development Plans (Focusing on the 15th Five‑Year Plan), reviewed the evolution and key principles of China’s development planning, including strategic continuity, people‑centred development, and broad participation. Thematic Discussion II, Innovative Development and the National Venture Capital Guidance Fund, examined China’s innovation‑driven development practices and the role of long‑term and patient capital in fostering new quality productive forces. Thematic Discussion III, High‑Quality Belt and Road Cooperation, explored approaches to advancing mutually beneficial international cooperation and aligning development strategies with partner countries and international organizations. Thematic Discussion IV, Green and Low‑Carbon Development, focused on China’s policy framework and objectives for carbon peaking and neutrality, resource efficiency, circular economy development, and ecosystem protection. Thematic Discussion V, Social Development and Public Services, addressed education, health, population ageing, childcare and elderly care, and the protection of vulnerable groups, underscoring a people‑centred approach to modernization. Thematic Discussion VI, Coordinated Regional Development, examined regional development strategies aimed at promoting balanced growth, infrastructure connectivity, and more equitable access to basic public services. Thematic Discussion VII, Expand High‑Level Opening‑Up, reviewed China’s experience and future directions in trade, investment, and institutional opening‑up, emphasizing dialogue, mutual learning, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The seminar concluded with a shared recognition of the value of continued dialogue and practical cooperation between the UN and China. Participants noted that the exchanges over the two days helped to further clarify areas of convergence between the 15th Five-Year Plan and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (2026–2030), and to inform more concrete avenues for future collaboration. 

(Thanks to Beijing Chaoyang Development Corporation Ltd. and Zhaotai Group for their support for this UN in China event.)