The Day of the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan Launch and Economic Directives

Chinese state media continued its extensive focus on the Central Economic Work Conference throughout the day. Reports in the early morning emphasized "seeking real, not inflated, growth" and the importance of a strong start to the '15th Five-Year Plan' (2026-2030). This sustained narrative, visible across outlets like People's Daily and CCTV, built on the economic priorities established over the preceding three days.

The mid-morning and early afternoon saw continued reinforcement of the '15th Five-Year Plan' path, with state media highlighting "new goals" and "anchoring new targets." Separately, the South China Morning Post reported on China's EV battery giants expanding into shipbuilding and China's aim to boost imports and exports in 2026. International news outlets also reported on a mass shooting in Sydney.