Shandong sets priorities for 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30)

Celebrating its economic milestone of entering the 10-trillion-yuan ($1.4 trillion) GDP club, Shandong province has laid out recommendations to guide its development during the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30). The plan, approved during Monday and Tuesday's 10th plenary session of the 12th Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, prioritizes building a modern industrial system, driving innovation, and improving social welfare.

The milestone was shared with other outcomes of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) at a press conference held by the provincial committee on Wednesday. Also announced was news that the plenary session had adopted the recommendations for the province's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for economic and social development.

The recommendations outline key tasks for the 15th Five-Year period, focusing on 11 priority areas. These include accelerating the development of a modern industrial system, building a higher-level innovation-driven province, expanding domestic demand, optimizing the opening-up landscape, advancing rural revitalization, promoting green and low-carbon transformation, and improving people's livelihoods.

To propel the tasks, the recommendations devise 10 major projects, encompassing enhancing scientific and technological innovation, promoting rural revitalization, and strengthening social welfare and security, among other initiatives.

To develop a modern industrial system, the province will focus on optimizing traditional industries, nurturing emerging sectors, and strategically planning for future industries. The recommendations call for upgrading traditional pillar industries such as metallurgy, chemicals, textiles, and construction materials through high-end development, digital intelligence integration, and green transformation.

"These industries form the solid foundation of Shandong's economy," said Sun Aijun, director of the Shandong Development and Reform Commission. "We must ensure stability while pursuing progress, optimize layouts, adjust structures, and increase the share of advanced production capacity to consolidate Shandong's role as a key national industrial base."

On the innovation front, efforts will include establishing a national sci-tech innovation center, implementing a decade-long action plan for basic research, and promoting enterprise-led integration of industry, academia, research, and application, said Liang Kailong, deputy director of the Shandong Department of Science and Technology.

Wang Lei, director of the Department of Commerce of Shandong Province, shared that the province would expand the space for opening-up, strengthen economic linkages at home and abroad, and better utilize domestic and international markets and resources.

Improving people's livelihoods remains a cornerstone of Shandong's development strategy. In recent years, approximately 80 percent of fiscal expenditure was directed toward the people's livelihoods.

"Employment is the foremost concern in the sector of people's livelihoods," said Li Shigong, deputy director of the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Shandong Province.

"We will implement an employment-first strategy, improve employment promotion mechanisms, and launch targeted programs for young people, including college graduates," Li said. The province will also refine its multi-tiered social security system to ensure care for the elderly and support for vulnerable groups.