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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), which ends in 2025, has become one of the most significant milestones in the country's modern history. Adopted against the backdrop of the completion of the first "centenary goal"—building a prosperous society—this program ushered in a new phase of national development focused on high-quality growth, technological independence, and sustainability. It served as a transitional bridge between the era of quantitative accumulation and the era of innovation, between the industrial model and the knowledge economy, and between dependence on foreign markets and the strengthening of domestic potential.
Since its approval in March 2021, the program's key idea has been to create a new development model based on the concept of "dual circulation," where the domestic market becomes the primary driver of growth, while external openness remains a catalyst. Chinese strategists understood that, in the face of global upheaval, they needed to prioritize domestic sources of strength—innovation, human capital, infrastructure, and indigenous technology. This is why the 14th Five-Year Plan, from its inception, placed a strong emphasis on scientific and technological progress.
Beijing declared technological independence "the pillar of national rejuvenation" and significantly increased investment in science and research. R&D spending during this period rose to record levels. China achieved sustained success in artificial intelligence, telecommunications, microelectronics, space, and biomedicine. Large-scale state programs were launched to develop new energy, chip manufacturing, quantum technologies, and the digital transformation of industry. The "Digital China" program created the infrastructure for the widespread implementation of artificial intelligence, 5G, and big data in everyday life and the economy.
However, the 14th Five-Year Plan was not limited to technological breakthroughs. China set the goal of creating a modern industrial system capable of connecting the real sector with the innovative economy. This idea was embodied in the modernization of production facilities, automation of enterprises, and the promotion of high-tech services. At the same time, the government developed next-generation infrastructure—high-speed railways, energy grids, industrial clusters, and smart cities. Thanks to this, the country's growth model became more sustainable and its economic structure more balanced.
The environmental component played a key role in the program. China, as the world's largest energy producer and consumer, recognized the need to transition to a green development model. The 14th Five-Year Plan set the goal of increasing the share of non-fossil energy sources to 20% and laying the foundation for achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century. Over the years, China has made significant progress in developing solar and wind energy, electric vehicles, and energy-efficient technologies. The country has built the world's largest solar power plants, the share of electric transport has grown, and the concept of "green cities" has become not just a slogan but a practice.
The social dimension also became a cornerstone of the 14th Five-Year Plan. After eliminating absolute poverty in 2020, China faced the challenge of how to make this achievement sustainable and translate the success of poverty alleviation into long-term rural development. A comprehensive rural revitalization program ensured the modernization of agriculture, the development of cooperatives, the digitalization of the agricultural sector, and improved infrastructure in remote regions. As a result, millions of residents gained access to modern services, education, and healthcare. Urbanization increased, but the government sought to avoid excessive population concentration in megacities by promoting the development of small and medium-sized towns.
Economically, China has demonstrated enviable resilience. Despite global turbulence, trade conflicts, and external restrictions, average annual GDP growth from 2021 to 2024 was approximately 5.5%, and the country is projected to maintain this rate in 2025. China not only stabilized its economy after the pandemic but also became the main driver of global economic recovery, accounting for almost a third of global GDP growth. This growth was driven not by extensive factors, but by the development of "new productive forces"—technological innovation, education, digitalization, and industrial modernization.
The key significance of the 14th Five-Year Plan is that it set a new standard for the quality of state planning. It is not simply a document setting economic goals, but a comprehensive development strategy for decades to come. It combined short-term objectives—growth, modernization, and social stability—with long-term goals: achieving technological self-sufficiency, a green transition, and building a "modernized socialist state" by 2035.
In 2025, China reflects on the results of its Five-Year Plan with a sense of confidence. The country not only withstood the pressures of external factors but also strengthened its position as a center of global progress. Beijing has proven its ability not only to respond to challenges but also to anticipate them, turning crises into incentives for development. The 14th Five-Year Plan was a time of building new productive forces, strengthening scientific and technological strength, and advancing toward a more harmonious, sustainable, and inclusive development model. It laid a solid foundation for the next stage—the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), from which the world expects further breakthroughs and innovations.
Author: Anushervon Rasulov
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