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The four main themes for this year’s Two Sessions include the 15th Five-Year Plan, artificial intelligence, boosting domestic demand, and enhancing people’s livelihoods, according to analysts.
The Two Sessions, which begin tomorrow in Beijing, are the annual gatherings of China’s National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. As this marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the NPC will review the draft outline for the national economic and social development during these meetings.
A key focus this year is on discussing and unveiling the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, said Lian Ping, president and chief economist at the Guangkai Chief Industry Research Institute.
Defining goals for the upcoming five years before reaching the broader objective of socialist modernization by 2035 is seen as vital. Lian emphasized that the period from 2026 to 2030 serves as a crucial bridge between past achievements and future ambitions.
The primary discussion points during the Two Sessions revolve around strategies to achieve high-quality economic growth and technological advancements in China, Lian explained.
In recent weeks, the State Council has launched a dedicated initiative to leverage artificial intelligence across various industries, aiming to catalyze breakthroughs throughout the AI supply chain and application scenarios while unlocking further development potential. Future policies will prioritize AI governance and address the implications of AI on employment, wealth distribution, and social psychology.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security plans to implement measures to stabilize and enhance employment quality, support key industry jobs, and create policies to mitigate AI’s employment effects, spokesperson Cui Pengcheng announced.
Expanding domestic demand is identified as the top economic priority for this year, according to the Central Economic Work Conference. Persistent structural challenges—specifically strong supply paired with weak demand—remain a concern. The National Development and Reform Commission has outlined plans to introduce a strategic framework for increasing domestic demand between 2026 and 2030.
Policy shifts will focus from short-term subsidies to more institutional support, promoting a development model where demand stimulates supply and vice versa, noted Zhang Jun, chief economist at China Galaxy Securities.
Regarding social welfare, initiatives around employment promotion, supporting childbirth and child-rearing, and reducing medical costs are expected to be key topics at the Two Sessions this year.
Seven provincial regions have already begun offering free childbirth services, a policy that will be extended nationwide. Additionally, coverage will be expanded to include flexible workers and migrant employees under maternity insurance.
Medical insurance will fully cover assisted reproductive procedures, and nationwide coverage for painless childbirth is planned for this year.
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