China Unveils Ambitious 2025 Economic Strategy at Central Conference

China's Central Economic Work Conference has unveiled an ambitious economic strategy set to shape the Chinese mainland's path through 2025. Held from Wednesday to Thursday, the conference emphasized proactive fiscal and monetary policies aimed at driving growth and ensuring stability across key sectors.

In a keynote speech, General Secretary Xi Jinping reviewed the nation's economic performance in 2024 and outlined strategic plans for the coming year. He highlighted the importance of increasing the deficit-to-GDP ratio and adopting a moderately loose monetary policy to boost domestic demand.

The meeting praised the Chinese mainland's stable economic performance in 2024, noting significant strides in high-quality development. Despite facing external challenges and domestic hurdles, confidence remains high in achieving the major annual goals and tasks for economic and social development.

Key Priorities for 2025

The conference set forth several key priorities to steer the economy towards sustained growth:

Boosting Consumption and Investment: Initiatives to stimulate consumer spending and improve investment efficiency are top priorities. This includes launching special campaigns dedicated to increasing incomes and easing the financial burdens of low- and middle-income groups.
Expanding Domestic Demand: Efforts will focus on enhancing domestic demand through large-scale equipment upgrades, consumer goods trade-in programs, and the development of emerging sectors like the AI Plus initiative.
Developing New Quality Productive Forces: Emphasis on scientific and technological innovation will drive the creation of a modernized industrial system. Projects include forward-thinking technological arrangements and nurturing future industries to boost strategic scientific strength.
High-Standard Opening Up and Risk Prevention: Policies will aim to expand high-standard opening-up, maintaining stability in foreign trade and investment while effectively mitigating systemic risks.
Regional Development: Coordinated urbanization and rural revitalization efforts will ensure integrated urban-rural development, stable agricultural production, and modern governance of mega cities.
Green Transition and Well-being: Accelerating the green transition with new energy projects and zero-carbon industrial parks, alongside initiatives to enhance people's well-being through employment support and improved elderly care services.

The conference concluded with a call to all sectors to strengthen confidence, overcome challenges, and convert positive factors into tangible economic achievements. With these strategies, the Chinese mainland aims to lay a solid foundation for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).