Report on China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Economic Growth Targets and SDG 8

A recent report published in the Study Times, a journal of the Central Party School, outlines China’s economic strategy for its upcoming 15th five-year plan. The report indicates that a minimum annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 4.5 percent is necessary to meet the nation’s 2035 development goals. An ideal growth rate of approximately 5 percent is cited as a solid foundation for this objective. This economic strategy is fundamentally aligned with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, which aims to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.

• Target 8.1: The proposed 4.5-5% growth rate directly supports the goal of sustaining per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances.
• 2035 Benchmark: The objective is to elevate China’s per capita GDP to the level of “moderately developed countries” by 2035, a target set during the 20th National Congress. This long-term vision for economic prosperity contributes to the overarching principles of SDG 8.

Strategic Priorities for Sustainable Development

The article by Professor Cui Youping of the Institute of Party History and Literature identifies eight key priorities for the next half-decade. Beyond headline growth, these priorities demonstrate a multi-faceted approach to national development that resonates with several SDGs.

1. Technological Advancement: This priority is central to achieving SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. By focusing on technological progress, China aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
2. Improvement of People’s Livelihoods: This broad objective encompasses a range of social development goals, reflecting a commitment to inclusive growth. It directly supports:
   • SDG 1: No Poverty, by ensuring economic gains translate into improved living standards for all citizens.
   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, as improved livelihoods are intrinsically linked to better health outcomes.
   • SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, by focusing on the well-being of the entire population.

Alignment with Global Development Benchmarks and SDG 17

The plan’s success is measured against international benchmarks, demonstrating an awareness of global development standards. The national five-year plan itself serves as a critical mechanism for policy coherence, aligning with the principles of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, which emphasizes the need for integrated strategies to achieve sustainable development.

• Per Capita GDP Goal: The target is to increase China’s per capita GDP from US$13,400 (2024) to the “moderately developed country” level of approximately US$30,000, as defined by World Bank data.
• Policy Framework: The 15th five-year plan acts as the primary national blueprint for mobilizing financial, technological, and human resources to achieve these sustainable development objectives, embodying the spirit of SDG 17’s call for effective domestic policy and planning.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  This goal is central to the article, which focuses entirely on China’s economic strategy. The text discusses the need to achieve a specific “annual gross domestic product growth of at least 4.5 per cent” to raise the country’s economic standing. The primary objective mentioned is to ensure “China has the per capita GDP of ‘moderately developed countries’ by that year,” which directly relates to promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  This goal is connected through the article’s mention of key national priorities. The text states that “technological advancement” is one of the “eight priorities for the 15th five-year plan.” This focus on technology is a core component of SDG 9, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 8.1: Sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances.

   The article is explicitly about this target. It outlines a specific national strategy to sustain economic growth, stating that the “average annual growth rate ‘has to exceed 4.5 per cent'” and that a “growth rate of around 5 per cent” is ideal. This is done to achieve a long-term goal for 2035, which is to elevate China’s per capita GDP to the level of “moderately developed countries.”

2. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors.

   This target is identifiable through the article’s reference to China’s development priorities. The inclusion of “technological advancement” as a priority for the upcoming “15th five-year plan” directly aligns with the objective of enhancing research and upgrading technological capabilities to foster innovation and development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 8.1.1: Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita.

  The article provides clear, quantifiable data for this indicator. It specifies the target annual GDP growth rate (“at least 4.5 per cent” and “around 5 per cent”). Furthermore, it provides a baseline and a target for per capita GDP, stating that China’s was “US$13,400 in 2024” and the goal is to reach the level of moderately developed countries, which is “around US$30,000.” These figures are direct measures of progress for this indicator.

• Indicators for Target 9.5

  While the article identifies “technological advancement” as a priority (aligning with Target 9.5), it does not mention or imply any specific indicators to measure progress. There is no mention of metrics such as research and development expenditure, the number of researchers, or other quantifiable measures related to technological innovation.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: scmp.com