With the recent release of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development by Henan Province, the corresponding plans for all 31 provincial-level regions across the country have now been made public. What are the key highlights of these provincial plans? What common trends and unique characteristics define their development roadmaps for the next five years?
Multiple Provinces Set Economic Growth Targets
In alignment with the national-level 15th Five-Year Plan, which sets the target for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to "remain within a reasonable range, with annual targets proposed as appropriate," the 2026 Government Work Report specified an economic growth goal of 4.5% to 5%. An analysis reveals that most of the 31 provincial plans have announced their average annual GDP growth targets for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Among the top 10 provinces by economic output, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Henan, Fujian, and Shanghai have set targets of around 5%, Shandong at 5%, Hunan between 5% and 5.5%, while Sichuan and Hubei aim for approximately 5.5%.
"Given the current nationwide economic shift, Guangdong maintaining an average annual growth of around 5% can provide robust support for national economic expansion," noted Luo Zhiheng, Chief Economist at Yuekai Securities. He highlighted Guangdong's vast market scale, which aids in commercializing innovative technologies and fostering new industries and sectors. The province also boasts a solid industrial foundation, a comprehensive industrial chain, the top-ranked regional innovation capability nationally, and vibrant enterprise-led technological innovation.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Shanghai's GDP surpassed the 5 trillion yuan mark, with an average annual growth of 4.9%, elevating its economic scale into the top five globally among cities. "We will adhere to focusing on building the 'Five Centers,' integrating and guiding all aspects of economic and social development. Centered on implementing national strategies, safeguarding national interests, and ensuring national security, we will strive to enhance the status of the international economic center, continuously expand the economic aggregate, and aim for an average annual GDP growth rate of around 5%, thereby making a greater contribution to national development," stated Gong Zheng, Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee and Mayor.
Focus on Building a Modern Industrial System
In the national 15th Five-Year Plan, "Building a Modern Industrial System and Consolidating and Strengthening the Foundation of the Real Economy" is positioned as the foremost major strategic task. All 31 provinces have made targeted deployments around "building a modern industrial system."
Beijing's plan outlines the goal of constructing a more competitive modern industrial system. The city has already formed three trillion-yuan industrial clusters and seven hundred-billion-yuan clusters. According to the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the upcoming period will focus on further enhancing the international leadership of two existing trillion-yuan clusters: next-generation information technology and the healthcare industry. It aims to cultivate two new trillion-yuan clusters in artificial intelligence, as well as green and advanced energy and low-carbon environmental protection industries, bringing the total to five trillion-yuan clusters. Systematic efforts will be made around several hundred-billion-yuan clusters, including integrated circuits, robotics and intelligent manufacturing, intelligent connected vehicles, aerospace technology, new materials, and new safety and emergency industries, to bolster industrial development momentum. Future industries will be nurtured to foster new growth points in areas like sixth-generation mobile communication, quantum technology, bio-manufacturing, and brain-computer interfaces.
Jiangsu's plan proposes building a modern industrial system to comprehensively create an internationally competitive advanced manufacturing base. This includes consolidating the leading position of traditional industries; enhancing the competitiveness of strategic emerging industries by strengthening sectors like integrated circuits, digital technology, new batteries, biotechnology and new medicine, green and low-carbon industries, aerospace, low-altitude equipment, marine engineering equipment, and high-tech ships to drive the growth of the new economy; and cultivating and expanding future industries.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Henan will adhere to innovation-driven development and foster new quality productive forces according to local conditions. "We will promote the deep integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, accelerate the construction of a modern industrial system with advanced manufacturing as the backbone, aiming for the manufacturing sector's proportion to reach around 28% and stabilize within a reasonable range. The value-added of strategic emerging industries should account for 30% of that of large-scale industries. Artificial intelligence will empower all industries comprehensively, with the level of intelligence, green development, and integration entering the national forefront," said Wang Kai, Deputy Secretary of the Henan Provincial Party Committee and Governor.
Leveraging Comparative Advantages Based on Local Conditions
Within the provincial plans, many regions are emphasizing development based on their actual conditions and distinctive strengths, aiming to create exemplary development models nationally by leveraging their comparative advantages.
Zhejiang's plan states that the global competitiveness and influence of its innovation hub, advanced manufacturing base, and AI innovation development hub will become more prominent. The "Made in Zhejiang" and "Zhejiang Service" brands will be further enhanced, strengthening the international competitiveness and security resilience of its industrial system.
Hainan possesses comparative advantages such as its Free Trade Port policy system and unique attributes like climate, marine depth, geographical latitude, and green ecology. Li Lu, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Development and Reform Commission, indicated a focus on characteristic fields including seed industry, deep-sea exploration, commercial aerospace, green and low-carbon development, and cross-border data flow. The goal is to become a significant practice ground for new quality productive forces with unique comparative advantages and distinctive industrial features by 2030.
"Heilongjiang is endowed with vast forests, grasslands, wetlands, lakes, and border rivers, serving as an ecological security barrier in northern China. We will adhere to ecological priority and green development, improve the mechanism for realizing the value of ecological products, and develop green environmental protection industries, eco-tourism, green agriculture, and under-forest economy according to local conditions. We will accelerate the construction of a new energy system, build a national clean energy base, and better transform our green mountains, clear waters, ice, and snow into economic prosperity," stated Liang Huiling, Deputy Secretary of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee and Governor.
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