Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China: Directions for Contemporary China’s Developmen

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. The session focused on outlining the framework for China’s next Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). This agenda was reflected in the report delivered by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, in the session’s final communique, and in the document “Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.” The decision to make socio-economic development the central issue was unexpected, since, according to unwritten party tradition, the next Five-Year Plan is usually discussed at the Fifth Plenary Session (out of the typical seven held during each convocation). Possible explanations for this decision may include China’s challenging economic situation, increasing U.S. sanctions pressure, and the intention to reduce the total number of plenums to six (one per year). The session took place under difficult circumstances. Alongside economic difficulties, China’s political life was marked by extensive anti-corruption campaigns, particularly within the senior ranks of the People’s Liberation Army. In addition to major socio-economic planning, the Plenum also addressed issues of corruption and misconduct. It reviewed the reports of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Central Military Commission concerning serious violations of discipline and law by senior military officials and approved the decision of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to expel a number of individuals from the Party. The Plenum commended the progress achieved during the current 14th Five-Year Plan period and reaffirmed the national development goals of strengthening China’s overall capacity by 2035 and 2050. It again emphasized that all ongoing and future reforms will proceed under the principle of “upholding the Party’s overall leadership,” guided by the slogan “putting the people first.” The decisions of the Plenum highlighted the strategies of building a “Digital China,” “Healthy China,” “Beautiful China,” and “Peaceful China,” each supported by a set of ideas and practical initiatives. It is evident that China will face challenges in the future, yet it continues to pursue the most effective and innovative approaches to overcoming them.