A worker welds mining equipment at the workshop of CICIT Heavy Industries CO., Ltd. in Luoyang, Henan Province, on Feb. 18. Photo: IC PHOTO

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Scholars have praised the socioeconomic development goals and priorities outlined in the 2025 Report on the Work of the Government, delivered by Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) on March 5 in Beijing, asserting that these initiatives not only set a clear course for 2025 but also establish a robust foundation for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030).

Practical targets

The Report delineates key development objectives for the year: GDP growth of around 5%, surveyed urban unemployment rate of around 5.5%, over 12 million new urban jobs, CPI increase of around 2%, growth in personal income in step with economic growth, a basic equilibrium in the balance of payments, grain output of around 700 million metric tons, a drop of around 3% in energy consumption per unit of GDP, and continued improvements in the environment.

“This year’s government work report proposes many targeted and operable measures on the policy level,” said Liu Shouying, a professor from the School of Economics at Renmin University of China. He emphasized that the macroeconomic targets reflect a pragmatic approach. For instance, the GDP growth goal of around 5% balances real economic needs with guidance for high-quality development, while enhanced fiscal and monetary policy support underscores institutional stability and foresight.

The Report also advocates “developing new quality productive forces in light of local conditions and accelerating the development of a modernized industrial system.” It prioritizes fostering new growth drivers, particularly through emerging sectors like the digital economy, to bolster economic transformation. These measures, Liu noted, will reinforce the foundation for economic stability and progress while effectively driving high-quality development.

Essential role of innovation

Intellectual property underpins national innovation, cementing the basis for technological progress and economic takeoff. While China is strengthening its intellectual property landscape, it must overcome bottlenecks stemming from an emphasis on quantity and application at the expense of quality and effective outcome transformation.

Ma Yide, an NPC deputy and dean of the School of Intellectual Property at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlighted the Report’s focus on “strengthening the protection and application of intellectual property rights.” Reforms to place sci-tech outputs on the job under separate management and set up proof-of-concept, pilot-scale testing, and industrial generic technology platforms offer practical, innovative solutions to enhance protection and application, overcoming reluctance and capability gaps in technology transfer.

“Boosting incentives for eco-friendly consumption to promote green and low-carbon ways of production and life” in the Report marks a critical step toward policy-driven green transformation while opening up new pathways for synergistic ecological and economic progress. According to Fang Ying, vice president of Xiamen University, this major directive further underscores the Chinese government’s commitment to pushing ahead with Chinese modernization characterized by harmony between humanity and nature.

Developing new quality productive forces is a strategic national priority and a powerful catalyst for high-quality economic growth. “One of the highlights of this year’s government work report is that accelerating the development of new quality productive forces is placed at a more important position to vigorously propel the development of scientific and technological industries marked by green and intelligence,” said Zhang Yongsheng, director of the Research Institute for Eco-civilization at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).

Zhang elaborated that the rapid expansion of emerging industries—exemplified by DeepSeek, robotics, autonomous driving, and new energy—is driving transformative changes in the economy and society. China has been at the forefront of the global green and technological revolutions, achieving breakthroughs in key sectors and taking the lead in several critical fields. He expressed confidence that under the guidance of the new development philosophy, China’s economy will maintain steady growth and play an increasingly significant role in the global economic landscape through innovation-driven progress, green transition, and open cooperation.

People-centered philosophy

Wei Houkai, director of the Rural Development Institute at CASS, told CSST that he found this year’s government work report to be particularly pragmatic, reflecting a strong people-centered orientation. Noting his particular interest in the sections addressing agriculture, rural areas, and rural residents, Wei highlighted the Report’s repeated emphasis on urban-rural integration and its strong focus on improving public services in the countryside. With 2025 marking the final year of the transitional phase linking poverty alleviation with rural revitalization, he stressed the need to refine post-transition support institutions and policy systems based on comprehensive assessments. The Report’s systematic planning in this regard not only provides clear guidance for concluding the transition but also lays a solid foundation for the sustained advancement of rural revitalization.

The wellbeing of the populace forms the bedrock of national progress—it concerns the most vital interests of the people and has a direct bearing on social harmony as well as the country’s long-term stability and security. Chen Jinlong, a professor from the School of Marxism at South China Normal University, pointed out a series of measures outlined in the 2025 government work report, including “increasing the supply of senior secondary school places, promoting free preschool education in a phased way, and better protecting the rights and interests of people in flexible employment and new forms of employment.” Chen believes the implementation of these measures will further enhance the people’s sense of fulfilment, happiness, and security, elevating their quality of life to new heights.

Edited by CHEN MIRONG