Officials said strategic emerging industries such as new energy, new materials, aviation and aerospace, and the low-altitude economy are expected to create several trillion-yuan or even larger-sized markets.
Recommendations on the plan also noted that China will continue to strengthen its soft culture appeal.
Industries including quantum technology, bio-manufacturing, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, and sixth-generation mobile communication were identified as sectors ready for rapid expansion.
At a press briefing on the plenum’s conclusions, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao underscored China’s intent to become self-sufficient in science and technology, even as it maintains an open stance toward foreign investment.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao looks on during a press conference on the fourth plenum of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, in Beijing, China, October 24, 2025. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
He said the country wants to turn its market into a “test field and application field of innovation that will generate profit,” particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and new energy.
Wang clarified that China is not seeking investments that fail to serve its growing middle-income population, projected to reach 800 million in the next decade.
“Moving forward, whether it is about opening up or attracting investment, we will not engage in zero-sum games that will serve no one’s interest,” he said.
While many foreign companies have described China as a “default option” for investment, the minister said the government wants these inflows to translate into stronger domestic consumption of goods and services.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China received $720 billion in cumulative foreign investment, one-third of which went into high-tech sectors. Wang did not, however, acknowledge the broader slowdown in inflows.
The commerce minister also reiterated that China’s position on global AI governance reflects its pursuit of self-sufficiency in science and technology and an openness to cooperative progress.
The plenum did not address the question of leadership succession after President Xi Jinping, maintaining focus instead on economic restructuring, industrial advancement, and technological self-reliance. Xi, who has consolidated power over more than a decade in office, has done away with the traditional age limits and term constraints that once guided leadership transitions within the Communist Party, following the removal of presidential term limits in 2018.
Global implications
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan signals a new phase of technological self-reliance, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and biotechnology, which will intensify global competition. According to the Wall Street Journalthis may reshape global supply chains, as China prioritises domestic production and strategic control over critical technologies.
The plan also emphasises boosting domestic consumption, creating opportunities and competition for foreign companies in higher-value goods and services. Xinhua News notes that China’s state-led industrial policy could influence other countries to adopt similar strategies, potentially altering investment priorities and market dynamics worldwide.
The plenum further highlights the link between economic planning and national security. South China Morning Post reports that China’s policy orientation could accelerate moves by other countries toward supply-chain diversification and strategic decoupling, particularly in sensitive tech sectors.
China’s emphasis on green transition and modernising industries will also impact global commodity markets. As Xinhua News notes, China’s push into new energy, materials, and clean technologies could significantly influence global resources and climate transition efforts.
