China to Hold Fourth Plenary Session on Oct. 20-23: Focus on Next Five-Year Plan and Leadership Reshuffle

The Communist Party of China will hold the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee from October 20 to 23, 2025.

Xi Jinping, President of China. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The term "Plenary Session" refers to the full meeting of the Central Committee, which is the highest decision-making body of the Communist Party of China. At the National Congress of the Communist Party, held every five years, 205 full members and 171 alternate members of the Central Committee are elected. During the Plenary Session, these members decide on major national policy directions in areas such as politics, economy, and society, as well as make high-level appointments within the Party, government, and military.

The Party's Politburo announced in July that the Fourth Plenary Session would discuss the 15th Five-Year Plan, emphasizing the need for China to seize the initiative in international competition and achieve significant breakthroughs in the mission of Chinese-style modernization. Analysts believe that the focus on economic planning at this session is influenced by a combination of challenges, including escalating trade tensions with the United States, a prolonged real estate downturn, and sluggish domestic demand.

The Five-Year Plan is first approved at the Plenary Session and then receives final approval at the National People's Congress, which is typically held every March and serves as the country's legislative body. While the detailed contents are likely to be announced at the National People's Congress in March next year, the general development goals are expected to be outlined in the communiqu? released on the final day of the Fourth Plenary Session.

The Fourth Plenary Session is usually held at the midpoint of the Central Committee's term and often involves a reshuffling of high-level positions, with significant personnel changes anticipated. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, at least nine members of the Central Committee need to be replaced due to corruption investigations or deaths since the Third Plenary Session last year, marking the largest reshuffle since 2017.

There is also considerable attention on the fate of senior officials rumored to be ousted. Liu Jianchao, former head of the Party's International Liaison Department and once considered a candidate for the next foreign minister, as well as Jin Zhuanglong, the Minister of Industry and Information Technology known as the "technology czar" and an aerospace expert, have not appeared in public for several months this year.