The Logical Framework of Xi Jinping’s Important Discourses on National Development Strategy and Planning in the New Era

National development strategy and planning constitute the action program of national governance and the guarantee and foundation for sustained and healthy economic and social development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out: “The strategic question is a fundamental question for a political party and a country. If strategic judgments are accurate, strategic planning is scientific, and strategic initiative is gained, the cause of the Party and the people will have great hope.” “Scientific planning brings the greatest benefits; mistaken planning brings the greatest waste; and capricious planning is the greatest taboo.” [n1] The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Party Central Committee [n2] examined and adopted the *Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development* (hereinafter referred to as the *Proposal*), which has drawn a clear blueprint for development over the next five years. How to comprehensively understand the national development strategy and planning in the New Era, and how to scientifically grasp the profound implications of the 15th Five-Year Plan, have become major theoretical and practical issues that urgently need to be resolved. To clarify these issues, it is necessary to deeply comprehend the policy orientation and strategic intent of the *Proposal*, and even more so to provide a comprehensive interpretation of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era.

I. The Generative Logic of Xi Jinping’s Important Discourses on National Development Strategy and Planning in the New Era

National development strategy refers to the overall approach adopted by a state to achieve its general objectives. National development planning is the process and practice by which a state makes systematic and phased arrangements for development in the economic, social, cultural and other fields in order to realize its strategic objectives. The development strategy provides the overall direction for the formulation and implementation of development planning, while development planning constitutes the vehicle for the development strategy; the two are closely linked. Adhering to the use of development strategy and “using medium- and long-term planning to guide economic and social development is an important way in which our Party governs and administers the country.” [n3] Since the beginning of the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the work of national development strategy and planning. On the basis of inheriting and innovating the state theories and social development theories of the classical Marxist writers, inheriting and summarizing the historical experience of the Communist Party of China in leading the work of national development strategy and planning, and responding to the international and domestic situation of the New Era and the Party’s mission and tasks, he has put forward a series of innovative concepts concerning national development strategy and planning, which are profound in implication.

1. Theoretical Dimension: Inheritance and Innovation of the State Theories and Social Development Theories of the Classical Marxist Writers

In the 19th century, Marx and Engels, based on historical materialism, profoundly elucidated propositions such as the nature of the state and the development of social production. On the one hand, they revealed the nature and historical limitations of the capitalist state and its system. Marx and Engels believed that although the capitalist state and its system had progressive significance, they were in essence instruments for the bourgeoisie to safeguard its own interests. The fundamental contradiction of capitalist society is the contradiction between socialized production and the capitalist private appropriation of the means of production, which keeps the entire social production in a state of anarchy and leads to the outbreak of periodic economic crises. On the other hand, they scientifically clarified the importance of the proletariat’s organized planning of social production. Marx and Engels argued that to overcome the inherent contradictions and crises of capitalism, it was necessary to smash the bourgeois state machinery and realize the dictatorship of the proletariat. Consequently, “the anarchy of social production is replaced by a consciously organized plan.” [n4] “Only a society that coordinates the distribution of its productive forces according to a single, unified plan can enable industry to be distributed throughout the country in the way best suited to its own development and to the maintenance and development of other elements of production.” [n5] Moreover, they also made long-term plans for the future, demanding that communists “represent the future of the movement in the present movement,” [n6] and ultimately realize the association of free individuals by unifying immediate goals and long-term objectives.

After the victory of the October Revolution, in the practice of socialist construction in the Soviet Union, Lenin put forward more complete and specific national development strategies and planning schemes. In terms of defining objectives, in response to the then-prevailing situation of poverty and backwardness, Lenin made the famous assertion that “Communism is Soviet power plus the electrification of the whole country,” [n7] and regarded it as a “second party program” to promote Russia’s transformation from an agricultural country to an industrial one. In terms of process implementation, Lenin advocated achieving all-round advancement of national development strategy and planning through coordination across various fields. For instance, in *On the Unified Economic Plan*, Lenin carried out systematic planning from multiple aspects such as fuel supply, agricultural transformation and industrial distribution. In terms of guarantee, Lenin emphasized the key role of institutional mechanisms in the implementation of the Soviet socialist development strategy and planning. In Lenin’s view, “any plan is a measure, a criterion,” [n8] so it was necessary to maintain the authority and scientific nature of institutional mechanisms in practice. For example, by granting legislative functions to the State Planning Committee, guarantees were provided for optimizing decision-making. In 1921, the Soviet government promulgated the *Decree on Replacing the Surplus Appropriation System with a Tax in Kind* to stimulate the initiative of social production. Lenin’s scheme for national development strategy and planning not only laid the foundation for the start of the Soviet Union’s Five-Year Plans for national economic development but also had a profound impact on the development of other socialist countries.

From Marx and Engels’ definition and division of the nature of the state and stages of social development to Lenin’s planning and exploration of Soviet socialist construction, these intellectual resources not only provide solid theoretical support for the formulation and implementation of China’s development strategy and planning in the New Era but also endow China’s development strategy and planning in the New Era with a distinct people-centered foundation. Precisely on this basis, the *Proposal* lists “Marxism-Leninism” [n9] among the guiding ideologies for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

2. Historical Dimension: Inheritance and Deepening of the Communist Party of China’s Leadership in National Development Strategy and Planning Work

Adhering to the use of development strategy and planning to set the course and direction is a distinctive feature of the Communist Party of China’s governance and administration. Under the strong leadership of the Party, from the First Five-Year Plan to the Fifth Five-Year Plan, China established a strategic policy of giving priority to the development of heavy industry and initially formed an independent and complete industrial system. In response to problems such as economic structural imbalance, during the Sixth Five-Year Plan period, the Party Central Committee timely adjusted the strategy and focused on promoting economic system reform. In 1987, Deng Xiaoping proposed the “three-step” development strategy [n10] and systematically expounded the basic line for the primary stage of socialism, clarifying the direction for China’s modernization. From the Seventh Five-Year Plan to the Ninth Five-Year Plan period, with the continuous deepening of reforms in various fields of the country, the Party Central Committee successively put forward major strategies such as sustainable development, rejuvenating the country through science and education, and the large-scale development of the western region, promoting China’s rapid economic development. Thereafter, from the Tenth Five-Year Plan to the 12th Five-Year Plan, the Party Central Committee further promoted the optimization of China’s economic structure and the transformation of the economic development mode.

In leading the work of national development strategy and planning, the Communist Party of China has gradually formed a practical path based on national conditions and advancing with the times, and has also accumulated rich historical experience. For example, it is necessary to always unswervingly uphold the Party’s overall leadership; national development strategy and planning must match the national conditions and national strength; and attention must be paid to the continuity and stability of strategic planning. These experiences have not only promoted the country’s prosperity and progress but also provided a historical mirror for the enrichment and improvement of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era.

3. Practical Dimension: Grasping and Sublimating the International and Domestic Situation of the New Era and the Mission and Tasks of Our Party

On the one hand, the stage-specific features of the New Era and the new historical juncture have driven the deepening development of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era. From the perspective of the domestic situation, the New Era has ushered in a historic leap from “growing prosperous” to “growing strong,” and the principal contradiction in Chinese society has undergone a fundamental transformation. This requires the Party Central Committee to make corresponding adjustments in national development strategy and planning, in order to resolve the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development and continuously meet the people’s growing needs for a better life. From the perspective of the international situation, since the New Era, in the face of the accelerated evolution of changes unseen in a century, the rising tide of unilateralism and protectionism, and the rapid rise of Global South countries, the Party Central Committee needs to innovate and upgrade national development strategy and planning, thereby gaining the initiative in fierce competition. On the other hand, the mission and tasks of the New Era have driven the deepening development of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era. Advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese-path modernization is the central task of the Party and the state on the new journey of the New Era. To accomplish this task, it is necessary not only to adhere unwaveringly to the Party’s basic line, but also to “vigorously promote theoretical innovation, institutional innovation, cultural innovation, and innovation in all other areas on the basis of practice.” [1]1 Xi Jinping’s remarks on strategy and planning, quoted from his speeches on economic work. Thus, the development of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era is also the result of continuous reflection and innovation based on the situation and tasks of the New Era.

II. The Theoretical Framework of Xi Jinping’s Important Discourses on National Development Strategy and Planning in the New Era

Since the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping has advanced the work of national development strategy and planning, emphasizing both historical inheritance and keeping pace with the times, both overall coordination and a focus on key issues. He has systematically elucidated the connotative structure, practical orientation, and implementation pathways of national development strategy and planning in the New Era. In summary, these important discourses contain three basic aspects.

1. Theory of Connotation: The Architecture System of National Development Strategy and Planning in the New Era

An analysis of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era can be systematically summarized through the following “three maps.”

First, the overall roadmap: from the “Two Centenary Goals” to the “Two-Step” strategic arrangement, constructing the overall coordinates of national development strategy and planning in the New Era. Since the New Era, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s construction of national development strategy and

From the perspective of deepening Chinese-path modernization, General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to the work of national development strategy and planning, aiming to make national development strategies and plans better serve the people, reflecting a distinct people-centered orientation. Adhering to a people-centered approach is the fundamental stance of the Party and also the value orientation of Chinese-path modernization. “The salient mark distinguishing a Marxist political party from non-Marxist political parties, and the watershed separating a socialist country from capitalist countries, is none other than the people’s stance.” [11]11 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC,” *Qiushi*, 2023, no. 2. The formulation and implementation of national development strategies and plans, under the overall leadership of the Party, provide forward-looking guidance for achieving high-quality development and, in the historical process of deepening Chinese-path modernization, lay a strategic foundation for meeting the people’s needs for a better life. “The people’s aspiration for a better life is our goal. Good policies and development plans should conform to the people’s will and meet their expectations.” [12]12 The *Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035*, adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in October 2020. Starting from this, it is not difficult to understand why the Proposal [13]13 *Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035*, adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in October 2024. lists “upholding the Party’s overall leadership” and “putting the people first” together as principles that must be followed for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The organic unity of the political orientation and the people-centered orientation constitutes a distinctive feature of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era.

4. From the perspective of the development of the theoretical system, it manifests the organic unity of inherent stability and dynamic adjustment

As the theoretical expression of national development strategy and planning, Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era possess inherent stability. On the one hand, this stability lies in a stable theoretical foundation. From the theoretical construction of Marx and Engels to the preliminary explorations of Lenin, these theoretical resources provide a solid foundation for the formation and development of the concept of national development strategy and planning in the New Era. On the other hand, this stability is also manifested in the coherence of strategic objectives, the continuity of strategic implementation, and the firmness of strategic resolve. In the face of complex and changing international and domestic situations, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has

As a practical summary of national development strategy and planning, Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era also possess a distinct dynamism. This dynamism is likewise manifested in two aspects. First, based on changes in the international and domestic situation, it continuously achieves dynamic adjustments and systematic optimization of tactics, “organically combining the principled nature of strategy with the flexibility of tactics,” and “seizing the strategic initiative by adapting measures to local conditions, moving with the situation, and following the trend.” [11]11 Xi Jinping, “Speech at the Symposium on Studying and Implementing the Spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC,” *Qiushi*, 2023, no. 2. Second, it always adheres to an open and innovative concept of dynamic development oriented toward the future, constantly enriching and perfecting the theoretical content and framework. Realizing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation is a long-term strategic task. On the path forward, various risks and challenges will inevitably be encountered, and the theoretical system of national development strategy and planning in the New Era must also be continuously adjusted to achieve optimization and innovation.

IV. The Practical Implications of Xi Jinping’s Important Discourses on National Development Strategy and Planning in the New Era

The Proposal [12]12 The *Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035*, adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in October 2020. has charted the course for development in various fields of China’s economy and society over the next five years. The next key step is to further transform the grand blueprint into a “specific construction drawing.” Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era contain the inherent logic and scientific methods of national development strategy and planning in the New Era, and serve as the fundamental guidance and action guide for the formulation and implementation of national development strategy and planning in the New Era. To achieve the coordinated advancement and precise implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, it is necessary to scientifically understand and accurately grasp the following aspects.

1. To scientifically understand and accurately grasp the 15th Five-Year Plan, it is necessary to anchor the target positioning and further refine the phased tasks.

In the process of promoting the formulation and implementation of national development strategy and planning, Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized the extreme importance of clarifying goals and tasks as well as scientifically implementing the blueprint. To scientifically understand and accurately grasp the 15th Five-Year Plan, at the national level, it is necessary to combine the functional positioning of different institutions and departments, refining the main objectives of the 15th Five-Year Plan into quantifiable and operable specialized objectives, so as to ensure effective linkage between the five-year plan and specialized plans; at the local level, it is necessary to adhere to the principle of combining an effective market with a competent government, and strive to promote the further transformation of the main objectives of the 15th Five-Year Plan into local actions.

2. To scientifically understand and accurately grasp the 15th Five-Year Plan, it is necessary to optimize the spatial structure and further promote coordinated development.

Coordinated development is the main thread and basic method of Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era. To scientifically grasp the 15th Five-Year Plan, it is necessary to place further optimization of spatial layout and promotion of coordinated development in a prominent position, focusing on the following aspects. First, coordinated regional development, the core of which is to further achieve balanced linkage and joint progress. This requires both promoting the fair distribution of resources and continuously strengthening regional collaboration, achieving common development of all regions in the process of innovating systems and mechanisms. Second, coordinated urban-rural development, the core of which is to further achieve urban-rural integration and symbiosis. This requires both promoting the two-way flow of factors and actively promoting the sinking of high-quality resources, achieving comprehensive progress on the basis of breaking down the urban-rural dual structure. Third, coordinated economic and social development, the core of which is to further achieve the co-prosperity of the economy and people’s livelihoods. This requires both continuously enhancing economic resilience and firmly securing the bottom line of people’s livelihoods, ensuring that economic growth advances in tandem with social welfare. Fourth, coordinated development between humans and nature, the core of which is to further achieve the co-prosperity of ecology and culture. This requires both focusing on the efficient use of resources and innovating green production and lifestyle, achieving a positive interaction between lucid waters and lush mountains and a happy life within sustainable development. Fifth, coordinated domestic and international development, the core of which is to further achieve internal-external linkage and win-win outcomes. This requires both consolidating the foundation with domestic demand and expanding space and attracting high-end factors through further opening up, achieving mutual promotion and common progress between internal and external forces.

3. To scientifically understand and accurately grasp the 15th Five-Year Plan, it is necessary to stimulate multiple sources of vitality and further cultivate new quality kinetic energy.

Motivation and vitality are the engines for achieving the goals of the national development strategy. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, China has achieved innovative breakthroughs in tackling key core technologies. At the same time, China also has technological shortcomings in some areas. Based on this, the Proposal clearly put forward the requirement of “accelerating high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-strengthening, leading the development of new quality productive forces.” [13]13 *Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035*, adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in October 2024. Guided by Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era, to promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial upgrading, it is necessary to promote a virtuous cycle of the innovation ecosystem by further stimulating multiple sources of vitality. First, it is necessary to strengthen the synergy of entities, encouraging market entities to achieve extensive cooperation with universities, think tanks and other institutions, so as to continuously activate endogenous momentum on the basis of deepening collaborative innovation in industry, academia, research and application. Second, it is necessary to actively improve the innovation network, both by building cross-regional innovation communities and actively promoting the open sharing of data to ensure effective data flow. Third, it is necessary to continuously optimize the support system. Governments at all levels should further improve relevant laws and regulations, strive to optimize public service platforms, and provide more solid and powerful support for the integration of scientific and technological innovation and industrial upgrading.

4. To scientifically understand and accurately grasp the 15th Five-Year Plan, it is necessary to build social consensus and further enhance planning effectiveness.

Doing a good job of national development strategy and planning is the common aspiration of all Chinese people. Xi Jinping’s important discourses on national development strategy and planning in the New Era emphasize the unity of political standard and people-centered standard. This tells us that to scientifically grasp the strategic positioning and key tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan,[14]14 The 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) is the next five-year plan for China’s national economic and social development, currently in the drafting stage. The Proposal (《建议》) refers to the Party Central Committee’s proposal for formulating the plan, issued in late 2024. we must, under the Party’s overall leadership, fully mobilize the people’s enthusiasm and initiative to participate. In this regard, first, we must make every effort to strengthen propaganda and guidance, forming a systematic content propaganda system around the guiding principles, main objectives, and strategic tasks of the Proposal,[15]15 The Proposal (《建议》) refers to the “Proposal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035,” adopted at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee in October 2024. and creating a favorable atmosphere for universal participation by the whole society. Second, we must continuously improve people’s well-being, make every effort to do a good job of livelihood construction, and constantly enhance the people’s sense of identification with and support for the national development strategy and plan. Third, we must actively smooth feedback channels, extensively solicit the masses’ opinions and suggestions, and promote the practical transformation of the Proposal into the conscious action of the broad masses of the people.

5. To scientifically understand and accurately grasp the 15th Five-Year Plan, we must strengthen risk governance and further build a solid security barrier.

Being vigilant in times of peace and preventing trouble before it occurs is a fine tradition consistently upheld by the Communist Party of China, and it is also an important concept that Xi Jinping has always adhered to in advancing the work of national development strategy and planning in the New Era. In this regard, the Proposal clearly puts forward the basic principle of “adhering to the integrated planning of development and security.” This tells us that to promote the practical transformation of the 15th Five-Year Plan into development results, we must further build a solid security barrier. From a macro perspective, we must adhere to the centralized and unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, continuously improve the national security legal system, and enhance cross-departmental governance effectiveness. From a meso perspective, we must further form a joint prevention and control mechanism for security risks, continuously improve industry risk governance systems and optimize regional risk governance layouts, and promote the integration of risk prevention and control resources across industries and the improvement of emergency governance mechanisms. From a micro perspective, we must constantly strengthen risk awareness. Not only must we further enhance the sense of responsibility and vigilance of leading cadres at all levels through education and training, but we must also continuously promote the dissemination of relevant national security policies and concepts within the broad social system, so as to build a solid social security psychological defense line in all respects.