In the inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the General Secretary delivers his “first lesson of the new year.”
Highlight it this way.

January 21, 2026 | Source: China Media Group

On January 20, General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered the “first lecture of the new year” at the Central Party School. The participants were leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels, and the theme was studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party.

In the “first lesson” of the inaugural year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, what topics did the General Secretary highlight for the “key few,” and what key priorities did he set for this new journey? “Eye on Current Affairs News” has the answers for you.

Targeting the “critical few,” we’re “taking the stage” once again.

After making major decisions and strategic deployments, the Party Central Committee has established a regular practice of holding special seminars for leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

Following his visit in October 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping once again went to the Central Party School in January of this year to attend the opening ceremony of the special seminar for leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels. From studying and implementing the spirit of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee to studying and implementing the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, the themes have kept pace with the times, yet the focus remains on the “key few.”

Central Party School (National Academy of Administration). (Photo by Cheng Cheng, CCTV reporter for China Media Group)

Why focus on the “critical few”?

The General Secretary once said, “We must ensure that leading cadres at the provincial and ministerial levels are fully aligned in their thinking and actions, thereby setting an example for the entire Party to effectively implement our policies.” By focusing on the “key few,” we can create a ripple effect—where each level leads by example and drives progress at the next. This is a political wisdom that involves setting an example from the top down and thus promoting effective implementation.

What is special about the timing of this course opening?

The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a critical phase for consolidating the foundation and making comprehensive efforts. The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party has laid out strategic tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan period that are vital to China’s modernization drive in the broader context. The General Secretary clearly pointed out, “Studying and implementing the spirit of the Plenary Session thoroughly is a major political task for the entire Party and the whole country, both now and in the period ahead.”

In the inaugural year, right at the start of the new year, holding this special workshop aimed at the “critical few” is perfectly timely.

Participants of the special seminar are entering the auditorium of the Central Party School. (Photo by Cheng Cheng, CCTV reporter for China Media Group)

To study and implement well the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, we must fully recognize the significant political advantage of formulating and implementing five-year plans.

At the opening ceremony, the General Secretary pointed out that formulating and implementing five-year plans is an important experience for our Party in governing the country and administering state affairs, and also a significant political advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. “We must firmly have confidence in our system and continuously build on this advantage by integrating it with new realities.”

How can we analyze and grasp the situation?

At the opening ceremony on January 20, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party has made strategic arrangements for economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and we must comprehensively, deeply, and accurately understand and grasp these arrangements.

The General Secretary “highlighted key points” in his opening address on how to comprehensively, deeply, and accurately grasp and understand the situation.

The opening ceremony of the special seminar for leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.

Let’s first look at how to analyze and grasp the situation.

The proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan, adopted at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, deeply analyze the complex environment facing China’s development during the 15th Five-Year period and arrive at the fundamental judgment that “China’s development is at a time when strategic opportunities coexist with risks and challenges, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors are on the rise.”

At the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, the General Secretary pointed out that the situation is constantly evolving. We must continue to strengthen our analysis and judgment, proactively identify changes, adapt to them, and seek new opportunities. While maintaining strategic composure and firm confidence in victory, we must also remain vigilant in times of peace, cultivate a sense of urgency and foreboding, and consistently maintain strategic initiative.

In his important speech delivered at the opening ceremony, the General Secretary once again emphasized the Party Central Committee’s fundamental judgment: “China’s development is at a time when strategic opportunities and risks and challenges coexist, and uncertainties and unpredictable factors are on the rise.”

The opening ceremony of the special seminar for leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.

The General Secretary pointed out that when analyzing the situation, we must not only take all factors into full consideration but also be adept at identifying and grasping key factors—such as new developments in the international landscape, the new round of scientific and technological revolution, and industrial transformation. We must adopt a holistic perspective, keep our sights set on the bigger picture, maintain strategic composure, and meticulously plan our tactical approaches, thereby continuously enhancing the certainty and sustainability of China’s development.

How can we build a modern industrial system?

The Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party has placed particular emphasis on strategic tasks and major initiatives for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, with “building a modern industrial system and consolidating and strengthening the foundation of the real economy” ranking first. This constitutes the material and technological foundation of Chinese-style modernization.

At the opening ceremony on January 20, the General Secretary once again emphasized that building a modern industrial system and achieving an overall upgrade of the industrial system are key strategic tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

The General Secretary pointed out that all regions and industries should identify their respective positions, adhere to the directions of intelligentization, green development, and integration, leverage their comparative advantages, and create a vibrant situation in which upstream and downstream industries are seamlessly connected, each playing to its strengths, and working together in the same direction.

The opening ceremony of the special seminar for leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.

Manufacturing is a vital pillar of the national economy, and advancing Chinese-style modernization requires maintaining a reasonable share of manufacturing. The proposal for the 15th Five-Year Plan points out: “Maintain a reasonable share of manufacturing and build a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as its backbone.”

In his important speech at the opening ceremony, the General Secretary once again emphasized, “We must maintain a reasonable share of manufacturing and vigorously develop advanced manufacturing.”

Developing new-quality productivity is an intrinsic requirement for high-quality development. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we must place the development of new-quality productivity in an even more prominent strategic position.

At the opening ceremony on January 20, the General Secretary emphasized that we should develop new-quality productive forces tailored to local conditions and promote the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation.

The opening ceremony of the special seminar for leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.

How can we accelerate the establishment of a new development pattern?

Currently, the century-long transformation is accelerating, and the international situation has become even more severe and complex. How can we gain strategic initiative?

At the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the more severe and complex the external environment becomes, the more urgently we must accelerate the establishment of a new development paradigm and firmly grasp the initiative in our development. At present and in the period ahead, we must continue to strengthen the domestic major circulation and speed up the formation of a robust domestic economic circulation system, using the stability of the domestic circulation to offset the uncertainties in the international circulation.

Central Party School (National Academy of Administration). (Photo by Cheng Cheng, CCTV reporter for China Media Group)

Five years ago, at the opening ceremony of the special seminar for principal leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels on studying and implementing the spirit of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, the General Secretary profoundly pointed out: “Building a new development pattern clearly defines the path choice for China’s economic modernization.” “The most essential feature of building a new development pattern is to achieve a high level of self-reliance and self-strengthening.”

Five years later, in his speech at this year’s opening ceremony, the General Secretary pointed out that we must adhere to the principle of prioritizing the domestic major circulation, properly balance the relationship between consumption and investment, as well as demand and supply, and closely integrate policies aimed at benefiting people’s livelihoods with those designed to boost consumption and investment—both in physical assets and in human capital. We should strive to enhance the quality and efficiency of the national economic cycle and make domestic demand the primary driving force behind economic development. We must strengthen the domestic major circulation to enhance our autonomy in expanding high-level opening-up, and expand the international circulation to invigorate domestic reform and development. Together, we should endeavor to achieve seamless connectivity and mutual promotion between domestic and international markets.

How can economic development and social development be coordinated and advanced together?

At the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Party, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that to basically achieve socialist modernization, it is necessary to promote coordinated development and overall advancement across all areas of endeavor.

At the opening ceremony on January 20, the General Secretary emphasized that economic development and social development are mutually reinforcing and must be advanced in a coordinated manner.

The opening ceremony of the special seminar for leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.

What the people hope for is precisely what the government strives for. At this opening ceremony, the General Secretary pointed out that improving people’s livelihoods should be given top priority in promoting social development, and while boosting economic growth, we must steadily enhance the quality of life for our people.

Strengthening social governance is an essential component of social development. At the opening ceremony, the General Secretary emphasized that we must uphold Party building as the guiding principle, reinforce the rule of law as a safeguard, consolidate the grassroots foundation, and effectively enhance the level of social governance.

Security is the prerequisite for development, and development is the guarantee of security. The General Secretary pointed out that we must coordinate development and security, effectively prevent and defuse various risks, and earnestly safeguard national security and social stability.

The Party emblem displayed at the opening ceremony of the special seminar for leading officials at the provincial and ministerial levels.

To fully build a modern socialist country and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the key lies in the Party—and even more so, in people. At the opening ceremony on January 20, the General Secretary emphasized that to successfully accomplish the goals and tasks for the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we must focus on enhancing the Party’s ability and level in leading economic and social development.

From further strengthening study and establishing and practicing the correct view of political achievements, to vigorously promoting the spirit of struggle and maintaining a high-pressure stance against corruption, the General Secretary has put forward clear requirements.

Those who initiate with vigor must always keep the end in mind; those who achieve success plan carefully from the very beginning. The brushstrokes of history begin with each present moment. The nation’s progress hinges on the collective efforts of every single individual. Let us strive to make a strong start to the 14th Five-Year Plan, remain steadfast in our confidence, and take action now!

Executive Producer | Shen Yong

Executive Producer | Gong Xuehui, Quan Yuhong

Lead Writer | Wang Xiaodong

Reporters: Cheng Cheng, Fan Yiming, Guo Hong

Visual | Chen Kuo, Zhang Jing

Editor-in-charge: Xu Li