China’s ruling Communist Party is set to convene a major meeting in October to outline the country’s social and economic development strategy for the next five years, as Beijing seeks to sustain economic growth amid ongoing trade tensions with the West.
According to state news agency Xinhua, members of the Central Committee, the party’s largest decision-making body, will gather for a plenary session from October 20-23. This will be the fourth plenum since the party’s last congress in 2022.
China holds party congresses every five years to set overarching policy goals, while several smaller plenums take place in between to address specific issues. Traditionally, the fifth plenum focuses on drafting five-year plans. However, an unexplained nine-month delay in the third plenum, which was postponed until July 2024, means the Central Committee is now expected to review the 2026-2030 plan during the upcoming fourth plenum.
Analysts say the next five years will provide a crucial opportunity for policymakers to shift China’s economic model toward domestic consumption, moving away from the trade- and investment-driven growth that has dominated in recent decades. Immediate challenges include deflationary pressures linked to a prolonged property slump, weakening consumer confidence, and recent signs of overcapacity and price competition in sectors ranging from electric vehicles to online food delivery.
Five-year plans are traditionally unveiled at the start of China’s annual parliamentary meeting in March. The timing of the October plenum is notable, occurring just a week before President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, where he is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. The ongoing tariff disputes with Washington have cast a shadow over China’s short- and medium-term economic outlook.
The October meeting will likely set the stage for Beijing’s policy priorities in the years ahead, addressing both domestic economic challenges and the strategic pressures of global trade conflicts.
