Certainty in China's development to offer world new opportunities, says Premier Li

China's new blueprint for national development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) will offer the world new opportunities, anchored in the certainties it has provided in terms of direction, concrete actions, and the development environment, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday.

From the past to the present, and into the future, China was, is, and will remain committed to serving as a cornerstone and a harbor of stability for the world, Li said in a keynote speech at the opening of the China Development Forum 2026 in Beijing.

He said China's total economic output in five years is expected to reach 170 trillion yuan (about $24.4 trillion), with an estimated increase of 30 trillion yuan.

This will create greater space for deepening economic and trade cooperation between China and other countries, Li said, adding that it represents a clear direction and a stable goal for China's economy.

In terms of certainty in concrete actions, China will implement 109 major projects in areas such as new industries, new growth sectors, modern industrial systems, and integrated urban-rural development over the next five years, Li noted.

China will promote the revitalization and efficiency upgrades of traditional sectors, including chemicals, machinery, and shipbuilding, while accelerating the growth of emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, new materials, and new energy, he said.

These will give rise to numerous projects and industries worth hundreds of billions or even trillions of yuan, creating greater opportunities for foreign businesses operating in China, he added.

As for the third certainty, Li highlighted that China provides a stable development environment as it is among the safest countries in the world.

China will strive to build a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized, fully implement national treatment for foreign-invested enterprises, further shorten the negative list for market access, and strengthen services and support, he said.

This will provide companies operating in China with the confidence to develop in a stable, transparent and predictable environment, Li said.