BEIJING
\nWhile much of the world\u2019s attention is on the Iran war, that hasn\u2019t stopped China from moving ahead with national priorities with global repercussions. Not that China doesn\u2019t care about the war and its impact on energy supplies and geopolitics. But for the world\u2019s second largest economy, its growing rivalry with the United States revolves around a different battle: the development of the cutting-edge technologies shaping the 21st century.
\nThat message came through in a five-year plan formally endorsed Thursday by the National People\u2019s Congress at the end of its annual meeting, the nation\u2019s biggest political event of the year. If anything, China is doubling down on a push to transform its economy and be at the forefront of technology.
\nState media described China\u2019s determination to stay the course on economic development as a force for stability in an uncertain world. \u201cA stable and developing China injects more stability and certainty into a world fraught with change and turbulence,\u201d the official People\u2019s Daily newspaper said in a front-page column on Wednesday. Other state-media echoed that view.
\nThe commentaries and official statements didn\u2019t mention US President Donald Trump, whose tariffs and use of military force from Venezuela to Iran are shaking up the global order that has governed international relations in the post-World War II era. China publicly defends that system, while calling for making it more equitable to reflect the interests of developing countries as well as rich ones.
\nTrump is due to visit Beijing in three weeks to hold talks with his counterpart, Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The National People\u2019s Congress also rubber-stamped three laws, including one governing ethnic minorities, at its closing session. The votes are ceremonial and nearly unanimous, designed to show unity behind the ruling Communist Party\u2019s vision for the nation.
\nThe five-year plan was approved with 2,758 votes in favor, one against, and two abstentions. \u201cWe are forging ahead at full speed in building a great country,\u201d Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at an annual news conference during the Congress. Many economists believe that China needs to do more to put more money into the hands of consumers to boost domestic spending and reduce its dependence on export-led growth.
\nChina\u2019s leaders agree in concept, but the five-year plan puts technology front and center, confirming it remains the top priority. Analysts expect any steps to boost consumption to happen only gradually, such as expanding social security and health care benefits, while government funds are poured into artificial intelligence, robotics and other areas.
\nChinese Premier Li Qiang announced an economic growth target of 4.5 percent to 5 percent for 2026 at the start of the Congress, a level that gives the government more leeway to focus on the longer-term goals of the five-year plan rather than meeting a higher target this year. Staying conservative on climate
\nThe five-year plan doesn\u2019t pledge to reduce carbon emissions overall, but only to reduce \u201cemissions intensity\u201d \u2014 how much pollutants are emitted relative to the size of the economy. That means emissions could still grow as the economy does.
\nThe target for a reduction in intensity was set at 17 percent, a level that could allow emissions to rise 3 percent or more, analysts said. \u201cInternational good practice is to move away from intensity targets toward absolute emission reduction targets,\u201d said Niklas Hohne of the NewClimate Institute in Germany.
\nChina has a history of setting conservative targets and its rapid expansion in solar and other clean energies may drive emissions down anyway. The country is the world\u2019s No. 1 emitter of greenhouse gases, but leaders have long argued that the size of its population and economy must be considered when evaluating its pollution levels.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BEIJING While much of the world\u2019s attention is on the Iran war, that hasn\u2019t stopped China from moving ahead with national priorities with global repercussions. Not that China doesn\u2019t care about the war and its impact on energy supplies and geopolitics. But for the world\u2019s second largest economy, its growing rivalry with the United States […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":536286,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-536261","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n