Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, told the country’s world partners on Wednesday that China is the place to look for opportunities and investments for the future, as he extended an invitation to reap the bonanza emerging from China’s next Five-Year Plan.

“To partner with China is to partner with opportunity; to believe in China is to believe in tomorrow; and to invest in China is to invest in the future,” Cui said.

Cui extended the invitation at an event held by the ministry office to introduce to foreign consuls, chambers, and media the significance and achievements of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

About 100 participants, including around 60 representatives from foreign consulates and chambers of commerce in Hong Kong, and representatives of the global media, attended the briefing.

China's upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and a modernizing China will bring greater stability and positive energy to the world, Cui said.

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While pursuing its own development, China will open up an even broader space for cooperation with its global partners, Cui said. He encouraged representatives from participating nations to recognize and seize the opportunities emerging from China's development.

Concluded in late October, the plenary session adopted the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. During Wednesday’s event, Cui explained the importance of the plenary session, after which he introduced China's key accomplishments in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25) and outlined its top-level design and strategic blueprint for the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period.

Cui said that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China reached new heights in various sectors such as economic growth, scientific innovation, cultural programs and industries, public well-being, green and low-carbon transition, national defense, and military development. With these accomplishments in place, the significance of the 15th Five-Year Plan is “a critical stage in building on past successes to break new ground for basically realizing socialist modernization,” Cui said.

He further detailed strategic tasks and key measures outlined in the forthcoming blueprints, with one of the focuses being enhancing self-reliance in science and technology and driving the development of new high-quality productive forces. To achieve this, the country will continue to bolster the original innovation and breakthroughs in core technologies, while also integrate technological and industrial innovation fully, Cui said.

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With this new Five-Year Plan, the expectation is for China to experience substantial growth across all sectors by 2035, aiming for a per capita GDP comparable to that of a midlevel developed nation, Cui said.

However, he also acknowledged that China will have to navigate profound and intricate changes in its development landscape in this period. It is crucial to recognize that in addition to further advancing the domestic market, the international geopolitical dynamics will significantly influence China's growth in the upcoming five years, when strategic opportunities will exist alongside risks and challenges, and when uncertainties and unforeseen factors will be rising.

Following the event, David Whitwam, chairman of the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, told the media that the event provided an excellent opportunity for the international business community and consulates general in the Hong Kong SAR to stay on top of the advancements in China's new Five-Year Plan.

He expressed confidence that the new development blueprint will pave the way for the Chinese mainland to sustain its growth, foster innovation, and improve the well-being of its residents. Whitwam also highlighted the unique roles of Hong Kong and Macao in ensuring the success of the plan, emphasizing the HKSAR’s expertise in financial services, its strategic port capabilities, and its contributions to China's development through university research.

Mojalefa Mogono, consul general of South Africa in Hong Kong, said he was profoundly impressed by China’s focus on sustainable development, technological innovation, and green energy in the 15th Five-Year Plan. He said that these priorities are beneficial also for global development, as they can drive environmental sustainability and inclusive growth, enhance economic capacity, and catalyze worldwide energy transitions. He said he is confident that China's dedication to these areas can enhance international cooperation, and urged the global community to work together on this agenda.

Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com