On November 18, 2025, H.E. Ou Boqian, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai and Northern Emirates, published a byline article titled "Opportunities for China-UAE Cooperation under the 15th Five-Year Plan" in the UAE-based Khaleej Times. The full text is as follows:
Opportunities for China-UAE Cooperation
under the 15th Five-Year Plan
H.E. Ou Boqian, Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai and Northern Emirates
From October 20 to 23, 2025, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing. At the session, the "Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development" was deliberated and adopted. This programmatic document outlines the main objectives for China's economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period and drives all countries to share opportunities and pursue common development with China.
To comprehend the 15th Five-Year Plan, one must first understand China's five-year Plans. Such plans are neither unique to China nor invented by it; however, China is the only country that has consistently formulated and implemented them consecutively. Developing and executing five-year Plans for national economic and social development is a vital approach to the governance of the Communist Party of China, serving as milestones in China's progress and chronicling the journey toward the Chinese Dream. Since the launch of its first Five-Year Plan in 1953, China has formulated and implemented 14 consecutive five-Year Plans. This seven-decade-long practice reflects the characteristics and direction of China's economic and social development across different eras, showcasing the strategic resolve to "consistently implement long-term strategies." It is a key reason behind China's sustained development.
Similar to the UAE's "We the UAE 2031" vision and Dubai Economic Agenda D33, China's five-year plans combine strategic continuity with practical flexibility. From the mandatory plans that laid the foundation for industrialization in the early days, to the shift to guiding plans after the reform and opening-up, and then to the systematic deployment focusing on high-quality development in the new era, China's approach has consistently advanced modernization in a step-by-step manner. Its core strengths lie in "consistently implementing long-term strategies" and "pooling resources to achieve major objectives", enabling China to accomplish in decades what took developed countries centuries. This has created twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability.
The 15th Five-Year Plan period occupies a crucial connecting position in the process of basically realizing socialist modernization. Currently, China is in a period where strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors are increasing. The plan conducts an in-depth analysis of the domestic and international situation, focuses on key issues related to the overall situation and long-term development, and deploys strategic tasks and major initiatives for the 15th Five-Year Plan period in various fields. It clarifies the ideas and key work in key areas such as industrial development, technological innovation, domestic market, economic system, opening-up, rural revitalization, regional development, cultural construction, people's livelihood security, green development, security development, and national defense construction. In the next five years, China will continue to focus on promoting high-quality development, aim for common prosperity for all people, highlight the leading role of technological innovation, strengthen domestic circulation, smooth domestic and international dual circulation, coordinate development and security, and engage with the world with an open attitude to strive for a new situation in building Chinese-style modernization. Firstly, consolidate the cornerstone of supply chain cooperation. Leveraging the UAE's strategic position as a Middle East trade hub and China's super-large market potential, the two sides can deepen collaboration within industrial chains to build resilient global supply networks. Secondly, deepen scientific and technological innovation cooperation. The two sides can focus on key areas such as artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and new energy, promote joint R&D by scientific research institutions and enterprises, co-construct innovation platforms, and jointly promote achievement transformation, making scientific and technological cooperation a new engine for upgrading China-UAE relations. Thirdly, jointly explore the green development track. Based on China's practical experience in energy transition and ecological governance and the UAE's green development needs, deepen cooperation in fields such as low-carbon transformation of traditional industries, jointly enhance the ability to respond to climate change, and create a model for green development. Fourthly, work together to improve the global governance pattern. As important representatives of Global South countries, the two sides can rely on platforms such as the BRICS mechanism and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum to jointly safeguard multilateralism and international fairness and justice. We have reason to believe that with the in-depth implementation of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, China-UAE cooperation in various fields will continue to deepen and yield more cooperation results benefiting the people of both countries, injecting more lasting momentum into the China-UAE comprehensive strategic partnership.