Beijing, December 13, 2025 — At the 2025–26 China Economic Annual Conference hosted by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) today, senior officials and economists signaled confidence in the Chinese mainland’s growth outlook and outlined policy measures to drive high-quality development as the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030) approaches.
Resilience and Upgraded Growth Outlook
Han Wenxiu, executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Committee for Financial and Economic Affairs, noted that despite global pressures—from the aftermath of the pandemic to supply chain disruptions—the Chinese mainland economy has shown strong resilience. Major indicators outperformed expectations, and institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and Goldman Sachs have raised China’s growth forecasts to around 5 percent for this year and next. The economy is on track to reach about 140 trillion yuan (roughly 19.8 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025.
Trade, Fiscal and Monetary Policy Priorities
Officials emphasized supporting both goods and service exports, promoting digital and green trade, and expanding import channels to foster sustainable external growth. To maintain momentum, the Chinese mainland will pursue a proactive fiscal policy—keeping an appropriate deficit and debt level—and a moderately accommodative monetary stance to bolster domestic demand. Better coordination among fiscal, financial and reform policies aims to reinforce their combined impact.
Boosting Consumption and New Demand
The conference underscored the success of the 'two new' policies—equipment upgrades and consumer goods trade-in programs—which drove strong sales growth and pushed new energy vehicle penetration close to 60 percent in November. Looking ahead, authorities plan to roll out income growth plans, raise basic pensions and remove unreasonable restrictions to unlock the potential of service consumption and inbound spending.
Accelerating Green Energy Development
Green growth remains a defining feature of high-quality development. The meeting called for drafting a strong energy system blueprint, accelerating new energy frameworks, improving clean fossil fuel use and expanding green electricity. Key initiatives include carbon peaking efforts, deeper upgrades in energy-intensive industries, an expanded national carbon trading market and the cultivation of hydrogen and green fuels, alongside plans for zero-carbon industrial parks.
Improving the Business Environment
To foster fair competition and quality-based pricing, regulators will use standards-setting and price enforcement tools to curb disorderly competition. Further state-owned enterprise reforms, stronger support for the private sector and measures to resolve overdue payments aim to create a more dynamic and predictable market landscape.
As China moves toward its 15th Five-Year Plan period, these policy directions highlight opportunities for global businesses, entrepreneurs and changemakers to engage with an economy that is both resilient and focused on high-quality, sustainable growth.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
