China Plans 2026–2030 Tech, Industrial Push

China's Communist Party has approved a draft of its 2026–2030 five-year plan prioritizing scientific and technological self-reliance and building a modern industrial system, with emphasis on advanced manufacturing, semiconductors and AI. Leaders framed the push as essential to national security and economic resilience amid tightening U.S. export controls and an intensifying trade rivalry, and the move comes ahead of expected talks between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump. The plenum communique stressed expanding domestic demand, improving livelihoods and forging a stronger domestic market but provided only a broad outline; the full plan will be released and formally approved by the legislature in March. The plenum also featured notable personnel changes and signaled Beijing is willing to use industrial policy and export levers to protect its technological ambitions. Analysts warned the document suggests continuity of manufacturing-first priorities and that the touted pivot toward consumption-led growth may be limited in practice given property-market weakness and demographic headwinds.