Chinese Ambassador to Jordan Chen Chuandong Briefs Lebanese Media on the Outcome of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and China’s 15th Five-Year Plan

On November 6, the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon held a media briefing on the outcome of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. 

Ambassador Chen Chuandong made opening remarks and answered questions on CPC's leadership in economic work and prospects for China-Lebanon cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Transcripts of Ambassador Chen's opening remarks and Q&A session are as follows:

From October 20 to 23, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC was held in Beijing. The most important outcome of the session was the adoption of the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the CPC for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. I will share the main takeaways of the session and the Recommendations from four aspects:

First, what is the "Five-Year Plan"? Why do we formulate "Five-Year Plan"?

A Five-Year Plan is a comprehensive strategic plan for economic and social development in China, with a five-year cycle. Making five-year plans is not unique to China, nor was it first invented in China. However, the continuous formulation and earnest implementation of the plans are distinctive features of China. This approach overcomes short-term fluctuations and disturbances, ensuring the coherence and progression of the national development strategy, and allows long-term visions to gradually become reality through the accumulation of phased goals. Since 1953, China has formulated and implemented 14 Five-Year Plans, achieving a historic leap from being a poor and underdeveloped country to becoming the world's second-largest economy, and creating dual miracles: rapid economic development and long-term social stability.

Second, what are the examples of achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period?

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, facing the COVID-19 pandemic, complex and severe international environment, the CPC united and led people of all ethnic groups across the country to overcome difficulties and achieve a series of major accomplishments.

China's total economic output just exceeded 100 trillion yuan in 2020 and is expected to reach around 140 trillion yuan this year, with an average annual contribution rate to global economic growth of about 30%. China's trade volume in goods remains the largest in the world, with an average annual growth rate of 8%. China's comprehensive innovation capacity ranking has risen from 14th in 2020 to 10th in 2024. China has achieved remarkable progress in green development, with one out of every three units of electricity consumed being green power, and China has led the world in new energy vehicle production and sales for 10 consecutive years. China's people's well-being has been continuously improved, with the establishment of the world's largest education, social security, and public health systems. More than 12 million new urban jobs are created each year. On the basis of lifting nearly 100 million poor people out of poverty in eight years, a five-year transition period has been set up to prevent returning poverty.

The Chinese economy is showing sustained momentum, vitality, and resilience. The conditions and underlying trends supporting long-term growth remain unchanged. Increasingly, we are seeing the strength of socialism with Chinese characteristics, a mega market, a complete industrial system, and abundant human resources.

Third, what is the special significance of the 15th Five-Year Plan?

China has set the strategic goal of basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035. The 15th Five-Year Plan covers the period from 2026 to 2030 and it will thus serve as a key link between the past and the future five-year plans, and will be critical as we work to reinforce the foundations and push ahead on all fronts.

Fourth, what are the main goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan period? What opportunities will they bring to Lebanon?

In the next five years, China will achieve the following major objectives: significant achievement in high-quality development; substantial improvements in scientific and technological self-reliance and strength; fresh breakthroughs in further deepening reform comprehensively; notable cultural and ethnical progress across society; further improvements in quality of life; major new strides in advancing the Beautiful China Initiative and further advances in strengthening the national security shield.

The guiding principles that must be followed during the 15th Five-Year Plan period are: upholding the party's overall leadership; putting the people first; pursuing high-quality development; comprehensively deepening reform; promoting interplay between an efficient market and a well-functioning government; and ensuring both development and security. 

China's development is inseparable from the world, and the world's development is also inseparable from China. The Five-Year Plan not only charts the course of development for China, the world's second-largest economy, but also injects certainty and stability into a turbulent world. China's development plan for the next five years will open up broader space for cooperation with the world and provide important opportunities for the world and Lebanon.

First, opportunities for development. The Recommendations call for "building a modernized industrial system " and "achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology." We will facilitate full integration between technological and industrial innovation, upgrade traditional industries, and foster emerging industries of the future. China's photovoltaic industry has already benefited the people of Lebanon, and China's industrial upgrading and technological development in the next five years will bring more opportunities for Lebanon to develop its economy and improve people's livelihoods.

Second, opportunities for market. The Recommendations call for "boosting consumption" and "promoting high-standard opening up." With a middle-income group of more than 400 million people, China's efforts to boost domestic consumption and promote opening up will make the Chinese market an even greater opportunity for the world. China has been Lebanon's largest trading partner for several years in a row, and we are very willing to import more Lebanese products to enrich the Chinese market.

Third, opportunities for cooperation. The Recommendations call for "pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation." Lebanon has prominent geographical and talent advantages and has been an important part of the ancient Silk Road. It is a natural partner for Belt and Road cooperation. The National Higher Conservatory of Music, which is expected to be completed next year with a Chinese government grant, is a symbolic project of China-Lebanon cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. Next year marks the first year of the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lebanon, and the second China-Arab States Summit will be held in China, which promises more fruits of cooperation in various fields. China will continue to provide sincere support and assistance to Lebanon within its capacity and encourage Chinese enterprises to participate in Lebanon's reconstruction.

In three days, we will celebrate the 54th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Lebanon. May the friendship between China and Lebanon last forever.

*  *  *

The Beiruter: How do you view the prospects for China-Lebanon technological cooperation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period?

Ambassador Chen: Lebanon has abundant human resources and its education leads the region. The potential for China-Lebanon technological cooperation is enormous. For example, the two countries have great potential for cooperation among universities, and Lebanese universities are encouraged to take advantage of China-Arab Consortium of Universities and the "10+10 Cooperation Plan between Chinese and Arab Universities." This mechanism brings together top universities from China and Arab countries and conducts exchanges and cooperation in ten major fields, including ICT, agricultural development, and health. Chinese technology companies such as Huawei, Dahua Technology, and Hikvision have taken root in Lebanon, and Chinese photovoltaic products and electric vehicle have benefited the people of Lebanon. I believe that China's technological development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period will bring more opportunities for Lebanon to develop its economy and improve people's livelihoods.

Tele Liban: How has the CPC led the Chinese economy to achieve such a miracle?

Ambassador Chen: Adhering to and strengthening the comprehensive leadership of the CPC is the fundamental guarantee for advancing Chinese modernization. The Party's centralized and unified leadership ensures the continuity of policies. At the same time, as the ruling party, the CPC upholds democracy and widely absorbs opinions and suggestions from all sides. The process of drafting the Recommendations was a process of democracy and pooling wisdom, and it was also a vivid example of consultative democracy. After the Recommendations were approved, the State Council will formulate a specific draft and submit it to the National People's Congress for deliberation, which constitutes the entire process of formulating the plan. The combination of top-level design and seeking advice from the people effectively gathers wisdom from both inside and outside the Party and widely build broad consensus. Therefore, the entire Party and people across the country are united in mind and act, implementing the plan in concert and till the end. This is a key to China's success, thus avoiding partisan strife or abandoning the plan half-way.

Al-Akhbar: How will China better participate in Lebanon's economic reconstruction through development aid during the 15th Five-Year Plan period?

Ambassador Chen: China's development cooperation is different from the model of others. We see ourselves as partners rather than donors, and we do not attach any political conditions. We fully respect the wishes of the recipient countries. China is still a developing country, and our assistance to other developing countries is part of South-South cooperation, focusing on capacity building. China's aid to Lebanon not only includes signature projects like the The National Higher Conservatory of Music but also consists of many "small and beautiful" projects. For example, we have provided solar energy equipment to Ogero Telecom to ensure the stable operation of the communication network. We have cooperated with the UNDP to help Lebanese women and youth learn e-commerce and other job skills. And we have worked with the UNHCR to support vulnerable groups in Lebanon. In the future, we will continue to provide support within our capacity and encourage Chinese enterprises to actively participate in Lebanon's reconstruction as situation stabilizes and help Lebanon recover from the crisis as soon as possible.

Masdar Diplomacy: How to deal with the risks and challenges to China-Lebanon cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative in the complex international and regional situation?

Ambassador Chen: The Belt and Road Initiative is not just about infrastructure. In fact, it has five pillars: policy coordination, development connectivity, trade facilitation, financing facilitation, and people-to-people bonds. China and Lebanon have great potential for cooperation in these areas. We can work together to overcome various risks and challenges and bring more benefits to our two peoples.