China 15th Five-Year Plan implementation

China has introduced several components of its 15th Five-Year Plan, focusing on financial reform and industrial development through 2030.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) released a reform and development plan centered on the national expansion of the e-CNY. Following its reclassification on January 1, 2026, as an interest-bearing digital deposit instrument, the plan seeks to integrate digital payments with cross-border currency infrastructure. The PBOC aims to increase the yuan’s international role in trade and investment by enhancing financial connectivity.

Simultaneously, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments released a plan for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This initiative targets qualitative and quantitative growth, including a 15% increase in per capita operating income for large-scale SMEs and an 8% annual growth rate in R&D expenditure for industrial SMEs. The strategy includes fostering 22,000 ‘Little Giant’ enterprises, establishing 600 national-level industrial clusters, and expanding financing channels to support digital and green transitions.