Xi Jinping, China's president, at the closing session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing. Inspired by the Soviet Union under Stalin, China’s first five-year plan in 1953 sought to industrialise the country rapidly while collectivising farming to increase agricultural production. This week, the same paper described the five-year plan as a metronome of China’s development that translates long-term strategic goals into phased, practical steps. It generates a cascading architecture of annual plans, sector-specific plans and regional plans, each with its own targets. “With tech self-reliance having evolved from a policy goal into a national imperative, the narrative of China’s tech ascent is entering a new chapter.

Source: The Irish Times March 13, 2026 08:19 UTC