Consul General Chen Shijie has recently published a signed article on New Zealand Herald, Chinese Herald, and Skykiwi, entitled “Viewing China’s New Development Blueprint from the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China”. The full text is as follows:

Last month, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convened its fourth plenary session in Beijing. The session deliberated over and adopted the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, which draws a clear roadmap for China’s development over the next five years and provides an important window for the international community to observe and understand the vision of Chinese modernization. Guided by this programmatic document, a more innovative, open, and confident China is steadily marching toward the future.

A China that Drives High-quality Development through Innovation

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China achieved new historic milestones in economic and social development. Its GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5%, with total output surpassing 130 trillion yuan in 2024 and expected to reach 140 trillion yuan this year—consolidating China’s position as the world’s second-largest economy. China’s average annual contribution to global economic growth has remained around 30%, making it one of the most stable and reliable engines of the world economy.

Today, China’s focus has shifted from quantitative expansion to qualitative improvement. The plenary session explicitly set forth strategic tasks such as building a modern industrial system, strengthening the foundation of the real economy, and nurturing emerging and future-oriented industries. From the automation upgrades of smart manufacturing bases in the Yangtze River Delta, to breakthroughs in new energy batteries, integrated circuits, and artificial intelligence in Ningde, Hefei, and Wuxi, and to the full rollout of the east-to-west computing resource transfer project—new quality productive forces centered on innovation are unleashing increasingly strong growth momentum across the Chinese economy.

China and New Zealand are important partners in scientific and technological cooperation. In October, the China–New Zealand Scientist Exchange Program was officially launched, through which the two sides will work together to address global challenges such as food security, public health, and energy, ensuring that high technologies better serve the well-being of the peoples of our two countries and all humanity.

A China Committed to Green, Low-carbon, and Sustainable Development

Green development is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China maintained good air quality on about 87% of days annually; the proportion of surface water sections with good quality rose to 90.4% in 2024; and forest coverage exceeded 25%, contributing one-quarter of the world’s newly added green area. Clean energy has grown rapidly: China has built the world’s largest carbon emissions trading market and clean power supply system, and it has become the world’s largest producer and user of new energy equipment. China now accounts for over 80% of global photovoltaic output and over 60% of global new energy vehicle production and sales.

New Zealand has long prioritized low-carbon economic development, and we are delighted to see an increasing number of solar power plants equipped with Chinese technology being commissioned. Under the guidance of the 15th Five-Year Plan, China will continue to advance its carbon peaking goals in an active and prudent manner, foster green production and lifestyles, and leverage its leadership in renewable energy to contribute more positive energy to global climate governance—working together with all countries to build a clean and beautiful world.

A China that Puts its People at the Center

As a Maori proverb goes: What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people! During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China made remarkable progress in improving people’s livelihoods. The per capita disposable income of residents rose from 32,000 yuan in 2020 to 41,000 yuan in 2024, with the middle-income group expanding to 400 million people. The country accelerated its efforts to become a strong nation in education: the gross enrollment rate in preschool education reached 92%, equivalent to the average level in high-income countries, while the gross enrollment rate in higher education rose to 60.8%, marking universal access. The social security system has become more comprehensive, with participation rates in basic pension and medical insurance both exceeding 95%, enhancing the sense of gain, happiness, and security among the people.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the philosophy of putting the people first will evolve from“ensuring the basics”to“promoting comprehensive well-being”, reflected in fairer opportunities, better quality of life, and more inclusive social protection. China will steadily advance common prosperity, deepen income distribution reform, expand the middle-income group, and improve inclusive and basic social welfare. Continued investment will go into education, healthcare, elderly care, and housing—areas that most concern the people—so as to promote equal access to basic public services between urban and rural areas and among regions. The world will see a happy China where every child is cared for, every student educated, every worker rewarded, every patient treated, every elder supported, every family housed, and every vulnerable group protected.

A China that Promotes Common Prosperity through Open Cooperation

Openness is the most distinctive hallmark of Chinese modernization. In recent years, China has continued to advance high-standard opening-up, eliminating all restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, granting zero-tariff treatment to 100% of taxable products from all least developed countries with diplomatic ties to China, and introducing unilateral visa-free policies for 48 countries including New Zealand—moves that have been widely welcomed by the international community. In the first nine months of this year, China-New Zealand trade in goods reached USD 16 billion, up 5.9% year on year, with China’s imports from New Zealand amounting to USD 10 billion, up 8%. In March, the first round of negotiations on a negative list for trade in services under the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was held in Beijing. Together, the two sides are working toward a “Version 3.0” upgrade of the FTA to bring more tangible benefits to both peoples.

The China-New Zealand experience shows that even amid rising unilateralism and protectionism, countries can still address challenges through dialogue and cooperation, making the cake of globalization bigger and more fairly shared. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will steadily expand institutional opening-up, uphold the multilateral trading system, broaden two-way investment cooperation, and advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation—transforming its vast market advantages into shared development opportunities, and injecting lasting vitality into global growth.

From the blueprint outlined at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the world can see a China driven by innovation, defined by green development, rooted in the people, and committed to cooperation and mutual benefit. Looking ahead, China will work hand in hand with all countries to open up a bright future of peace, security, prosperity, and progress, moving steadily toward the great goal of building a community with a shared future for humanity.