Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Qi Zhenhong says China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan will mark a critical stage in achieving socialist modernization by 2035, emphasizing innovation, openness, and shared development.
Speaking at the Global Dialogue on “Innovation·Openness·Shared Development” held in Colombo, Ambassador Qi noted that China’s GDP is projected to reach 140 trillion yuan this year and that the next five-year period will focus on technological breakthroughs in fields such as AI, hydrogen energy, 6G, and quantum computing.
He said China will further open its economy to the world, remove restrictions on foreign investment in manufacturing, and strengthen global trade partnerships, while continuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Highlighting Sri Lanka’s “Clean Sri Lanka,” “Digital Sri Lanka,” and “Rural Development” initiatives, Ambassador Qi said these align closely with China’s new development agenda. He reaffirmed China’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Sri Lanka in modern agriculture, port development, digital and green economies, and poverty reduction, “to forge a China–Sri Lanka community with a shared future.”
Full Speech
Advancing the 15th Five-Year Plan: Opening a New Chapter in Chinese Modernization
–Keynote Speech at Global Dialogue on “Innovation·openness·Shared Development” Sri Lanka Session,
by H.E. Qi Zhenhong, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka
(Oct 28, 2025, 17:00, Marino Beach Hotel)
Your Honourable Anil Fernando, Minister of Labor, and Deputy Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development,
Your Honourable Shen Haixiong, Vice Minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, and President and Editor-in-Chief of China Media Group,
Ms. Liao Li, Deputy Chief of China Media Group Asia-Pacific
Distinguished Guests, Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening! Ayubowan! Vanakkam!
Last week, the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China concluded successfully, attracting worldwide attention. The session deliberated over and adopted the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. I am delighted to share my insights and reflections with all of you here today.
Back in 1949 when the People’s Republic of China was just founded, the country could not even manufacture a single car, an airplane, a tank, or a tractor. Since the first Five-Year Plan adopted in 1953, China has formulated and implemented 14 such plans up till now. From an impoverished agricultural nation, China has transformed into the world’s largest industrial manufacturer, the largest trader of goods, the largest holder of foreign exchange reserves, and the second-largest economy, with a per capita GDP exceeding $13,000. It has achieved two miracles rarely seen in the world: rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. Behind these miracles lies a key governance experience of the Communist Party of China—guiding economic and social development with medium- and long-term planning. With the blueprint for reform in place, the key is to turn it into reality step by step. China aims to basically achieve socialist modernization by 2035 through the next two Five-Year Plan periods. The period covered by the 15th Five-Year Plan will be critical in this process as we work to reinforce the foundations and push ahead on all fronts toward basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035. It will thus serve as a key link between the past and the future.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s GDP has successively crossed the thresholds of 110 trillion yuan, 120 trillion yuan and 130 trillion yuan. This year, China’s GDP is expected to reach around 140 trillion yuan, exceeding the set targets. The “15th Five-Year Plan” period will be in a phase of development where strategic opportunities exist alongside risks and challenges, while uncertainties and unforeseen factors are rising. However, The Chinese economy has solid foundations, multiple advantages, strong resilience and great potential. China has the capability and confidence to address various internal and external risks and challenges. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is showing unprecedented bright prospects. Now, I would like to share my perspectives on three themes: innovation, opening up, and shared development.
First, in the new Five-Year Plan period, China’s innovation momentum will keep surging. Innovation is the primary driver of development. In recent years, China has rapidly emerged as a global leader in technological innovation, achieving breakthroughs in emerging industries such as quantum technology, artificial intelligence, brain-computer interface, humanoid robot, 6G mobile communication, hydrogen and nuclear fusion energy and biomedicine. Nowadays, the Shenzhou spacecrafts are reaching for the heavens, the Chang’e probes are embracing the moon, the Mengxiang drilling vessel is exploring the deep ocean, and high-speed rail technology is leading the world. China’s Global Innovation Index ranking has risen from 34th in 2012 to 10th in 2025. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, China will seize the historic opportunity presented by the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. We will raise our innovation capacity across the board, synergize technological and institutional innovation, and continuously foster new quality productive forces, contributing more to global scientific exchange, cooperation, and progress.
Second, in the new Five-Year Plan period, China’s doors will open even wider. Opening up is a distinct hallmark of Chinese modernization. In recent years, China has consistently advanced high-standard opening up, deepened the structural reform in foreign trade and investment, removed all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector, and provided zero-tariff treatment for 100% tariff lines to all Least Developed Countries having diplomatic relations with China. All these measures have been warmly welcomed by the international community. China has been the world’s largest trader in goods for eight consecutive years, with its trade in services exceeding one trillion US dollars, making it a major trading partner for more than 150 countries and regions. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, we will firmly embrace economic globalization by steadily expanding institutional opening up, upholding the multilateral trading system, creating greater space for two-way investment cooperation, and pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Third, in the new Five-Year Plan period, China will share even brighter development prospects with the world. History and facts have repeatedly proved that the more China develops, the more the world benefits. In the next five years, China’s development will provide more opportunities for global development. This Plenary session has once again sent a signal to the world of its commitment to openness, cooperation, mutual benefit and common prosperity. China’s determination to share development opportunities with all countries remains unwavering. So does its commitment to making the economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced, and mutually beneficial. As a natural member of the Global South, China is always dedicated to helping developing countries better integrate into global industrial, value, and supply chains, and accelerate their industrialization and modernization processes.
As a traditional friend and cooperative partner of China, China’s progress in the next five years will open up brighter development prospects for Sri Lanka. At the beginning of this year, President Dissanayake paid a successful visit to China. Our two leaders reached important consensus and cooperation outcomes, which provided new strategic guidance for the development of our bilateral relations. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Amarasuriya also concluded a successful visit to China. During their meetings, Predident Xi Jinping noted that China and Sri Lanka are fellow travelers on the path toward development and revitalization, and good partners of win-win cooperation. Currently, President Disanayake is leading the Sri Lankan people in striving to realize the vision of a “A Thriving Nation and a Beautiful Life,” by formulating and implementing three key plans: “Clean Sri Lanka,” “Digital Sri Lanka,” and “Rural Development.” These initiatives are highly consistent with the relevant contents of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. China stands ready to work closely with Sri Lanka to strengthen the comprehensive alignment of our development strategies and plans, continue the advancement of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and expand the scope and depth of collaboration on various fields including port economy, modern agriculture, digital economy, green economy, poverty reduction, tourism, among others. With these efforts, we can better boost Sri Lanka’s economic and social development. Let us join hands to carry forward and build upon the China-Sri Lanka friendship carefully nurtured by generations, and together forge a China-Sri Lanka community with a shared future.
Thank you!