Four keys to the future: What the 15th five-year plan of China means to Zambia
Article by Chargé d’Affaires Wang Sheng of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia
WE LIVE in an era of profound transformation and deep uncertainty. Looking around the globe, we embrace the dawn of a new round of technological revolution, while also experiencing the ongoing geopolitical turbulence.
We call for closer international cooperation, while having to suffer the consequences of rising protectionism and unilateralism. How to deal with these challenges amid shifting global landscape is a test for all of us.
It is just against this global backdrop that China has offered an example worthy of in-depth observation. Not long ago, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convened its Fourth Plenary Session in Beijing, during which the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development was adopted as its most important outcome. This is not only a framework document outlining China’s development objectives for the next five years, but also a strategic blueprint as China embarks on the journey to transform itself into a modern socialist country in all aspects.
China’s journey to modernisation has never been solely about itself. As a major country deeply engaged in international affairs and committed to peaceful development, China’s prosperity is in itself a major contribution to world peace and development.
The choice of its development philosophies and practical exploration of governance and growth can serve as valuable references for all members of the international community, especially Global South countries aspiring for economic prosperity and social progress while staying independent.
The outcome of this Plenary Session provides us with what I would call four keys to open the doors to the future. They together decode China’s success story, chart the blueprint for China’s development and bring new opportunities to Zambia and other countries.
- The key to unlocking long-term prosperity
Lessons from history indicate that a lack of policy continuity can lead to stagnation. China’s long-term prosperity has been achieved precisely through the scientific formulation and sustained implementation of its successive Five-Year Plans. This is the CPC’s important experience in governance and a significant political advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics.
Through a stable and forward-looking planning system, China has successfully translated long-term visions into practical goals for each of its development phases and ensured their faithful implementation over a long period of time thanks to the party’s strong ability to organize and lead.
The Five-Year Plan has never been unique to China. Many countries have followed similar practices, but few have been successful as China is. Since the introduction of the first Five-Year Plan in 1953, China has, over the years, formulated and completed fourteen Five-Year Plans. In that course, a comprehensive industrial system has been established, working two miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability at the same time.
This first key boils down to a long-term philosophy of perseverance and enduring commitment. It demonstrates to the rest of the world that sustained prosperity requires strategic patience that goes beyond election cycles and immediate interests. China’s national planning system, with Five-Year Plans as its distinctive feature, is a window for observing and understanding the governance of China. It not only contributes Chinese wisdom to the innovation of governance paradigms, but also provides a solution of considerable referential importance for other developing countries as they modernize themselves.
- The key to charting a future blueprint
With a solid foundation of long-term governance, China also needs clear and concrete phased plans to guide its development. This brings us to the second key — the major objectives set forth in the 15th Five-Year Plan, namely, significant achievements in high-quality development, substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength, fresh breakthroughs in further deepening reform comprehensively, notable cultural and ethical progress across society, further improvements in quality of life, major new strides in advancing the Beautiful China Initiative, and further advances in strengthening national security. Here are some of the key points to watch if one wishes to better understand China’s path to modernization:
First, technological innovation. In 2025, China has shown remarkable vitality in technological innovation. The World Humanoid Robot Games were held in Beijing. The open-source large language model Deepseek has quickly gained popularity as one of the Top Ten Engineering Achievements of 2025. Besides high-tech products, China has also offered technical solutions and industrial upgrading possibilities. Empowered by digital technology, traditional industries such as manufacturing and agriculture have been renewed and upgraded as lab results are being gradually commercialised, and smart factories and smart farms have become increasingly popular.
Second, wider opening-up. China’s opening-up endeavour has undergone a shift from simple movement of factors of production towards a deeper integration with international rules and systems, something we regard as institutional opening-up. This is best illustrated by the Hainan Free Trade Port. Under a special customs operation model, Hainan will execute more liberal and convenient trade policies. With tariff exemption for foreign goods entering Hainan, it is becoming a super hub connecting domestic and overseas markets. Further opening-up policies in financial services, data flows and personnel mobility are being advanced simultaneously, developing a powerful synergy for institutional innovation.
Third, a people-centered philosophy of development. China used to be one of the least developed countries in the world. Rather than relying on foreign aid, China embarked on a path of reform, opening-up and self-reliance, and succeeded in poverty alleviation. Behind this remarkable achievement lies a targeted and pragmatic methodology.
We have developed home-grown engines of growth by nurturing industries such as rural tourism, improved living conditions through relocation from inhabitable areas and resettlement, and increased employment through vocational training. China’s integrated approach to poverty alleviation and rural renewal offers unique and valuable experience for sustainable development patterns in Global South countries.
- The key to enhanced global partnership
While exploring its own development path, China is fully aware of its role and responsibilities in the world. The third key is the one that opens the door to understanding China’s relationship with the rest of the international community.
China has acted as a stabilising force in the face of challenges to international justice. Guided by the common values of humanity, that is, peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, we have unequivocally opposed hegemonism and power politics. We strongly condemn the recent US military strikes on Venezuela, which resulted in the capture of President Maduro and his wife, and we urge the US side to abide by international law and purposes and principles of the UN Charter, at once release President Maduro and his wife, and stop violating other countries’ sovereignty and security.
China acted as a source of certainty and predictability in a fast-changing international landscape. In 2025, China has reaffirmed its commitment to a community with a shared future for humanity with concrete actions, as a responsible major country. President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative, contributing Chinese solution to improving the global governance system. China worked for the establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), as a new platform for peaceful settlement of international disputes. China initiated the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), to enhance AI capacity building for the Global South and help bridge the global AI divide.
The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair. It is at the heart of China’s core interests. Repeated provocations from the “Taiwan independence” forces and large-scale US arms sales to Taiwan were met by firm opposition and countermeasures. More and more countries, including Zambia, are standing with China on the issue, by reaffirming their commitment to the one-China principle and support China’s efforts to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We have no doubt that, with support from the international community, including Zambia, the Chinese reunification cause will ultimately succeed.
- The key to deepened China-Zambia cooperation
The fourth key is how all of the above can truly benefit China-Zambia relations. To be specific, a synergy can be seen between the 15th Five-Year Plan and Zambia’s development strategy and agenda, and together, we can identify where and how we could inject fresh momentum to the China-Zambia Comprehensive Strategic and Cooperative Partnership.
Our development visions are closely aligned. With a focus on enhancing the capacity to independent development, China has provided and will continue to provide assistance to Zambia. Millions of doses of vaccines were donated during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital was expanded and handed over ahead of schedule as the largest medical service provider in this country to curb COVID-19. Three mealie meal plants were constructed with Chinese government grant to ensure food security, and three more are on the way. Boreholes were drilled in drought-affected areas to address water shortage with Chinese financial and technical assistance, and such practices will continue at a larger scale across the country.
Our economies are cut out for each other. As China pursues higher-quality development and builds a modern industrial system, it has accumulated rich experience and advanced technologies ready to be used in Zambia wherever needed. China hopes to deepen mining cooperation with Zambia, and support Zambia in achieving its ambitious goal of 3 million metric tons of annual copper production. China stands ready to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector, by helping optimise Zambia’s energy mix. China will help develop Zambia’s manufacturing sector, and unleash the cooperation potential in digital governance, smart cities and AI application.
Our development goals are linked. The TAZARA Railway Prosperity Belt stands as the latest example of China’s Belt and Road cooperation in Central and Southern Africa, echoed with Zambia’s ambition to improve regional connectivity. In the years to come, we can work together to upgrade the infrastructure, create cluster effects along the Railway route, stimulate investment and trade, improve people’s livelihood, and ultimately create new drivers of economic growth for the region, turning land-locked Zambia into a land-linked transport and logistics hub.
With these four keys, we hope to work more closely with the people of Zambia in the months and years ahead to unlock opportunities and open doors to a more stable, prosperous and equitable shared future.
