Reuters: 

Chinese leaders have pledged to pursue higher-quality growth and deepen reforms, and we know that global uncertainties are rising. Against this backdrop, how are you going to set the key targets for China's economic and social development under the 14th Five-Year Plan? What are the key risks and challenges facing the economy of the next five years? What growth rate is needed to bypass the middle-income trap? Thank you.

Xu Lin:

Mr. Ning Jizhe will answer the questions.

Ning Jizhe:

Thank you for your questions. The issue concerning targets is very important. The Proposals have brought forward the major targets for China's economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, which can be summarized as the targets of "making new progress in six aspects." First, we will make new progress in economic development. Sustained and healthy economic development shall be realized on the basis of higher quality development with greater efficiency. Major progress shall be achieved in building a modernized economic system. Second, we shall take new steps toward reform and opening up. The socialist market economy will be further improved and a new institution for a more advanced open economy will take shape. Third, new measures for the improvement in social civility shall be taken. Public cultural service systems and cultural industries will be further developed so that people can enjoy a richer cultural life. Fourth, new progress will be made in achieving ecological civilization. The efficient utilization of energy and resources will be increased remarkably and the ecological environment will continue to improve. Fifth, people's living standards will reach a new level and growth in personal income shall become in step with economic growth. Significant progress will be made in providing equitable access to basic public services. Sixth, there will be new improvements in the efficiency of national governance. Socialist democracy and rule of law will be further enhanced and social governance, especially regarding communities, will witness major improvements. 

All the aforementioned have represented China's high-quality development and reform and opening up. These "six new major goals" have fully reflected the guiding principles of upholding and improving the institutions and mechanisms for the Party to lead economic and social development, advancing coordinated progress in the five-sphere integrated plan, and pursuing balanced progress in the four-pronged comprehensive strategy. They have exemplified a people-centered approach and efforts to satisfy the people's aspirations for a better life. These goals have also fully reflected the efforts to implement the new development philosophy to pursue high-quality development, as well as a firm commitment to deepening reform and opening up to increase the dynamism of development. Moreover, they testify to a systemic approach under which developments in terms of quality, structure, scale, speed, efficiency, and security will achieve synergy.

These major goals have been set in the context of overall development trends at home and abroad, as well as in light of China's current stage of development. Focusing on the 2035 long-range objectives, specific development targets in the coming five years have also been made. While setting these objectives, both developmental objectives and the issues we are facing have been taken into account to better achieve socialist modernization and give greater priority to the quality of development. These major goals also reflect the principle of trying to make breakthroughs while sticking to good practice. We will move on to the second "centenary goals" and make the 14th Five-Year Plan a new starting point in fully building a modern socialist country.

Regarding the risks and challenges that you mentioned, I would say that we are facing both international and domestic risks and challenges. Internationally, unilateralism, protectionism, and a backlash against globalization are on the rise, and uncertainties and destabilizing factors are also increasing, which have made the external environment for China's development more complex. Domestically, we are still facing the prominent problem of unbalanced and inadequate development as well as problems regarding the coexisting of structural, institutional, and cyclical issues. Additionally, there are a lot of weak links in terms of people's well-being and social development. Given the risks and challenges of the next five years, the Proposals put forward that we must consider the domestic and international situation in a coordinated way and put a focus on both development and security so as to prevent and defuse various risks and challenges. 

Regarding economic growth, I would say that development serves as the foundation and key to resolving all of these issues. This is the Party's top priority in governing and rejuvenating the country. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we will practice the new development philosophy so as to unleash the full potential of growth. Next, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and in accordance with the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will step up efforts to engage in work regarding the formulation of the 14th Five-Year Plan. In keeping with the direction and strategies made by the Proposals, and on the basis of meticulous calculation, the NDRC will propose well-calibrated objectives for both qualitative and quantitative growth to ensure reasonable and stable economic growth, providing a strong start in the building of a modern socialist country. The Plan will be submitted to the Fourth Session of the 13th National People's Congress next year for deliberation and approval.

Thank you. 

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