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The Communist Party of China will convene its Fourth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee in Beijing from October 20 to 23, a key political meeting expected to set the tone for the country's next Five-Year Plan (2026–2030). The session will focus on economic strategy, governance, and personnel changes, particularly following the recent expulsion of two senior military leaders, General He Weidong and Admiral Miao Hua, in a sweeping anti-corruption purge.

Analysts say the plenum will mark the formal start of drafting the 15th Five-Year Plan, which is expected to prioritize innovation, technological self-reliance, green development, and domestic challenges, such as youth unemployment and a shrinking population, as China seeks to balance growth with security. Observers are also watching for signs of leadership reshuffles within the military and security apparatus, as well as guidance on how Beijing plans to navigate external pressure from U.S. trade and tech restrictions.

According to state and international reports, the new plan is likely to double down on strategic industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy, while promoting "high-quality development" and greater supply-chain resilience. It may also introduce new policy tools to boost household income and expand China's domestic market, reflecting concerns over weakening consumer demand.

The timing of the meeting follows a tumultuous few weeks in China-U.S. trade. However, on Friday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to speak by phone with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to discuss ongoing trade negotiations, in what some see as a tentative step toward easing tensions. President Donald Trump also said that the new 100% tariffs on Chinese imports are "not sustainable"and confirmed plans to meet President Xi Jinping "in a couple of weeks" when both leaders attend the APEC summit in South Korea. "I think we're going to do fine with China," he said.

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