As spring tide surges forward, a new journey unfolds; with unity and resolve, we stride toward the future. Amid the prolonged Ukraine crisis and the ongoing U.S. – Israeli strikes on Iran, the sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) — known as the Two Sessions — have successfully convened in Beijing.

The meetings once again sent a strong signal that China remains focused on development and committed to advancing modernization. By maintaining the certainty of its own development, China has injected positive energy and stability into a turbulent international landscape.

The Two Sessions represent China’s highest-level political agenda for formulating national policies and charting the country’s economic and social development, including targets for GDP growth, employment, and technological innovation.

The NPC is the highest institution of state power in China, responsible primarily for deliberating the Government Work Report, reviewing national development plans, and enacting or amending laws.

The CPPCC, an important institution for multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), performs functions including political consultation, democratic supervision, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs.

Deputies to the NPC—drawn from all sectors of society—and members of the CPPCC—representing democratic parties, people’s organizations, and various sectors—conduct extensive research and gather public opinions before submitting proposals and suggestions during the Two Sessions. These are then studied and handled by relevant departments.

This process reflects how the Chinese people exercise state power through the NPC and practice consultative democracy through the CPPCC, transforming the concerns and aspirations of the public into national decision-making and demonstrating whole-process people’s democracy.

This year marks the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030). The Two Sessions coordinated both short-term objectives and long-term planning. In addition to approving key annual documents such as the Government Work Report, the meetings also approved the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China, ushering in a new stage for the country’s future development, strengthening national consensus, and showcasing to the world China’s vision, momentum, and opportunities.

I would like to share with friends from all sectors in Tonga the major outcomes of the Two Sessions, interpret the drivers of China’s development, and explore new opportunities for cooperation between China and Tonga.

I. Advancing Steadily Amid Pressure

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s economy forged ahead despite mounting pressures, demonstrating remarkable resilience. GDP successively surpassed the milestones of RMB 110 trillion, 120 trillion, 130 trillion, and 140 trillion, reaching RMB 140.19 trillion (approximately USD 19.6 trillion), with an average annual growth rate of 5.4 percent, significantly higher than the global average, contributing around 30 percent of global economic growth. The guiding role of the new development philosophy has been fully demonstrated, and high-quality development has advanced steadily.

As the external environment becomes increasingly complex—with frequent geopolitical conflicts, mounting challenges to the international order, insufficient global growth momentum, and rising risks—China’s institutional advantages under socialism with Chinese characteristics, its enormous market scale, complete industrial system, and abundant human resources have become ever more evident.

The Government Work Report set forth a pragmatic and proactive “two-sentence goal”: GDP growth of 4.5–5 percent in 2026, while striving for better in practice. The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan is proposed that GDP should keep growing within an appropriate range based on structural optimization and quality improvement, laying a solid foundation for achieving the goal of doubling China’s 2020 per capita GDP by 2035 to reach the level of a moderately developed country. This sends a clear message that “the next China is still China.”

II. Pursuing Innovation and Advancing Quality Development

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s research and development (R&D) spending reached 2.8 percent of GDP. New quality productive forces grew steadily, and numerous new advances were made in science and technology. China led the way in the research, development, and application of artificial intelligence (AI), biomedicine, robotics, and quantum technology. New breakthroughs were made in the independent R&D of chips.

China’s installed capacity of wind and solar power has exceeded that of coal-fired power. The country has built the largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system in the world, forming the largest and most complete new-energy industrial chain. China has become one of the fastest countries in reducing energy consumption per unit of GDP and the largest contributor to global greening.

The Government Work Report proposes fostering emerging pillar industries such as integrated circuits, aviation and aerospace, biomedicine, and the low-altitude economy, and nurturing industries of the future such as future energy, quantum technology, biomanufacturing, embodied AI, brain-computer interfaces, and 6G technology.

It also calls for creating new forms of smart economy, advancing and expanding the AI Plus initiative to seize the commanding heights of AI application. The transition from “Made in China” to “Created in China” is gathering steady momentum.

III. Putting People’s Well-being at the Center

The Two Sessions further highlight the people-centered nature of Chinese modernization by investing in both physical assets and people.

The Government Work Report emphasizes promoting high-quality full employment. In response to widespread concerns about the impact of AI on employment, more effective measures will be taken to facilitate employment and entrepreneurship through better adaptation to the development of AI technologies.

China will continue to enhance education equity and quality. This includes upgrading basic education and making coordinated efforts to develop balanced, quality compulsory education and inclusive, quality preschool education. Policies will be refined on free preschool education and increasing the supply of regular senior secondary school places.

China will further strengthen basic medical and health services. In line with the health-first strategy, the multi-tiered medical security system will be improved to better safeguard people’s health.

China will continue to improve social security and social services. The supply of public-interest elderly care services will be expanded, and elderly care services in rural areas will be improved. Social assistance of different types will be provided across different levels to see that all our people’s basic living needs are met.

China will satisfy the intellectual and cultural needs of our people. Public cultural facilities such as libraries, museums, and cultural centers will be further opened to and better serve the public. Extensive public cultural activities will be widely launched, and new forms of literature and art in the internet era will be promoted for the general public. Sports venues and facilities close to people’s homes will be built and ensured they are put to best use, and more distinctive recreational sports events will be launched.

IV. Upholding Justice and Promoting Harmony

Today, hegemonism and power politics have posed serious challenges to the international order. During the press conference on the sidelines of the Two Sessions, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reaffirmed to the world that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the rise of a major country of 1.4 billion people will not follow the old path of great-power rivalry and expansion, but will remain firmly committed to peaceful development while encouraging all countries to pursue peaceful development together.

From the Ukraine crisis to the U.S. – Israeli strikes on Iran, China has consistently called for ceasefire and cessation of hostilities at the earliest opportunity, advocating that all parties should stay committed to peacefully resolving their differences through dialogue and consultation.

As an emerging and constructive force on the international stage, the Global South must strengthen confidence and solidarity in a time of turbulence, uphold the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, support each other’s core interests, and expand space for independent development.

Chinese modernization is socialist modernization pursued under the leadership of the CPC. President Xi Jinping has emphasized that “The more effective our Party is in supervising and governing itself, the better it will be able to provide guarantees for our economic and social development.”

The CPC is currently launching a Party-wide study campaign to see that officials have a correct understanding of what it means to perform well, guided by the Party’s commitment to serving the public good, bringing benefits to the people, ensuring sound decision-making, and taking solid steps to deliver outcomes. The CPC has always been committed to building a stronger and more capable Party, continuously improving its capacity and proficiency in governing and administering the country.

True friendship knows no distance; even mountains and seas cannot separate kindred spirits.

The development blueprint outlined by China’s Two Sessions is not only an action plan for China’s own progress but also presents valuable opportunities for deeper cooperation between China and Tonga.

The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan emphasizes working faster to adjust and improve the industrial structure, the energy mix, and the composition of the transportation sector, while striking a balance between development and emissions reduction.

It reiterates strong support for clean energy industries, including making solid progress in the innovation of key technologies such as next-generation solar cells and new energy storage, and promoting strategic emerging industries such as intelligent connected new energy vehicles. These priorities align closely with Tonga’s development focus on enhancing climate resilience.

China stands ready to further align the 15th Five-Year Plan with the Tonga Strategic Development Framework (2025–2035) to strengthen strategic guidance for bilateral cooperation. Negotiations on the Enhanced Economic Partnership Framework Agreement offer a good opportunity to facilitate greater access for quality Tongan products to the Chinese market, while encouraging Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Tonga.

China will continue to support Tonga in improving infrastructure, developing distinctive industries, advancing green transformation, and expanding the blue economy, thereby enhancing Tonga’s capacity for independent and sustainable development. Cooperation in agriculture, education, healthcare, and disaster risk reduction will be further deepened to deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.

China will always stand with Tonga in solidarity and partnership, further expanding practical cooperation across all fields, advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and Tonga, and writing a new chapter of friendship that benefits both peoples while contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Liu Weimin is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Tonga. The views expressed in this article are his and do not necessarily reflect the views of Talanoa ‘o Tonga.

Source: Chinese Embassy in Tonga