China pledges tech-driven growth in new five-year plan as plenum ends

Communique calls domestic demand a 'strategic priority,' formalizes PLA purge

China's Communist Party has been meeting in Beijing to map out an economic plan for the next five years. © Reuters

WATARU SUZUKI and LORRETTA CHEN

October 23, 2025 19:23 JST

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG -- China on Thursday pledged to build its economy by doubling down on its pursuit of technological self-sufficiency, outlining the key priorities of a new five-year plan that will kick off in 2026 but touching little on pressing problems.