Guangdong Provincial People's Congress Reviews Ambitious 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030)

GUANGZHOU, China – The Guangdong Provincial People's Congress convened its annual session in Guangzhou today, January 26, 2026, to deliberate on the province's ambitious 15th Five-Year Plan, charting its economic development and opening-up targets for the period of 2026 to 2030. Guangdong Governor Meng Fanli delivered the Provincial Government Work Report, outlining the strategic blueprint for China's leading economic province.

Driving Economic Growth Through Innovation

The new five-year plan sets a significant economic objective for Guangdong, targeting an average annual GDP growth of around 5% for the entire 2026-2030 period. For 2026, the province aims for a GDP growth rate between 4.5 percent and 5 percent. This strategy underscores a commitment to 'high-quality development' and 'technological self-reliance' as central themes. The plan emphasizes building a modern industrial system, accelerating industrial upgrading, and deepening reforms.

A key focus is the cultivation of 'new quality productive forces' and disruptive innovation. Guangdong's blueprint introduces dedicated sections for the development of eight emerging sectors:

• Low-altitude economy
• Intelligent economy (with a strong emphasis on AI)
• First-launch economy
• Greater Bay Area economy
• Green economy
• Cultural economy
• Sports economy
• Silver economy

Furthermore, the plan explicitly proposes promoting cutting-edge technologies such as quantum technology, biomanufacturing, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion energy, brain-computer interfaces, embodied AI, and 6G communications as new economic growth points. This strategic direction aims to transform Guangdong into a global leader in technological innovation.

Deepening Reform and Opening-Up

As a long-standing frontier of reform and opening-up in China, Guangdong is poised to strengthen its advantages in this area during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Premier Li Qiang, during a recent inspection tour, urged Guangdong to 'strengthen advantages in innovative development and take the lead in reform and opening up.' The plan highlights the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as a crucial engine for regional development and innovation.

Efforts will be made to explore the establishment of 'special science and technology innovation zones' and implement inclusive and prudent supervision to provide a more flexible and inclusive growth environment for high-tech start-ups. This approach builds on Guangdong's historical role in pioneering China's economic reforms.

Approval Process and National Context

The review of Guangdong's 15th Five-Year Plan by the Provincial People's Congress is a critical step in its formal adoption. This provincial plan aligns with the broader national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), which is scheduled for approval by the National People's Congress in March 2026. The national plan emphasizes 'upholding the party's overall leadership; putting people first; ensuring high quality development; upholding comprehensive and in-depth reform; implementing state market balance to form an economic order that is 'flexible' and 'well managed'; and balancing security and development.'

Guangdong's plan is expected to play a pivotal role in achieving China's long-term goal of basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035, by focusing on internal drivers and resilience amidst global volatility.