The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held its plenum at the end of October, adopting Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.

   Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the BELTEI International University in Phnom Penh, said that the plan focuses on high-quality development and the modernisation of the industrial sector and agriculture. It also promotes high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and aims to maintain the good momentum of economic and social development.

   "The plan will not only be a great boon to China herself, but also to the rest of the world, especially to the poor and developing countries," Matthews said in an interview with China Youth Daily that the plan will help China achieve the goal of socialist modernization by 2035.

   Matthews added that China has always shared the benefits of its development with countries around the globe through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative.

   Kin Phea, Director-General of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that China's shift in the plan from high-volume to high-value manufacturing is a strategic approach to bolstering its real economy. 

   "This transition is critical for ensuring a robust manufacturing sector that supports job creation and facilitates technological absorption," Kin Phea said in an interview with China Youth Daily.

   He said by prioritizing advanced manufacturing, China enhances supply chain resilience and strengthens its global competitiveness. "This focus fosters a more balanced and self-reliant economic structure, making the economy less vulnerable to external shocks while driving sustained, high-quality growth in an increasingly unstable global market." 

    Kin Phea added that China's pursuit of scientific and technological independence is both logical and essential, given the success of its targeted research and development initiatives in areas such as 5G and renewable energy.  

   "Achieving tech self-reliance is a strategic imperative to mitigate geopolitical risks," he said.

   He added that by prioritizing "new productive forces" such as artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology, China aspires to become a global innovation leader, rather than a follower.

   "This emphasis ensures long-term economic security and enhances the ability to set future technological standards on the world stage," the expert said.

   In regard to poverty reduction and agricultural modernization, Kin Phea said building on the success of poverty alleviation, this goal addresses the urban-rural divide.

   "Modernizing agriculture is vital for national food security," he said. "Comprehensive rural revitalization, through enhanced infrastructure and diversified economies, will prevent backsliding into poverty and elevate living standards."

   He added that this approach fosters a more balanced and socially stable nation, ensuring that economic development is inclusive and sustainable for all citizens, not just those in urban centers.

   "By revitalizing rural areas, China aims to create lasting prosperity for everyone," Kin Phea said.

  In order to build a strong domestic demand, the expert said China's vast population is a powerful asset. Stimulating domestic demand and creating a positive cycle of new supply will build a resilient, self-sustaining economy.

   "This reduces over-reliance on exports and acts as a buffer against international trade tensions, ensuring that long-term growth is driven from within," Kin Phea said. "It establishes a stable and prosperous cycle of development, securing China's economic future and prosperity from external shocks.

   Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that the plan reflected a forward-looking vision, based on China's remarkable achievements over the past decade.

   "The emphasis on advanced manufacturing, technological self-reliance, high green and renewable energy, and agricultural modernization demonstrates China's determination to transition toward high-quality, clean, sustainable and innovation-driven growth," he said in an interview with China Youth Daily.

   Mengdavid added that the focus on strengthening cultural influence and domestic demand also shows a balanced approach, combining material progress with social and spiritual development, and advocating multilateralism and adherence to international law.

   "As witnessed, China's rapid advances in green technology, digital transformation, and poverty eradication provide a solid foundation for these new goals," Mengdavid said.

   "If successfully implemented, the plan will not only sustain China's resilience amid global uncertainties but also enhance its role as a leading force in shaping a more stable, innovative, inclusive world economy and regional harmonization," he added. (By Wang Yan/China Youth Daily)