The Shanghai delegation to the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress held a plenary meeting on March 6 to deliberate the draft outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30).

The meeting was open to domestic and overseas media, drawing 152 journalists from 70 outlets, including 35 overseas outlets.

Deputies addressed questions on high-quality development, cross-border and offshore finance, technology innovation, consumption, urban governance and ecological protection.

Anchoring the 2026–30 agenda

Shanghai aims to align the upcoming five-year period with its 2035 vision of becoming a globally influential modern socialist metropolis.

Expanding domestic demand will remain a strategic priority. The city plans to strengthen its role as an international consumption center by deepening the integration of culture, commerce, tourism, sports and exhibitions, while stabilizing foreign trade and investment.

Accelerating the development of the "five centers" — international economic, financial, trade, shipping and science and technology innovation centers — will remain central to Shanghai's mission. The city will strengthen its capacity in global resource allocation, technological innovation and high-end industrial leadership.

Deputies also stressed the importance of integrating technological and industrial innovation to cultivate new quality productive forces, alongside continued efforts to improve public services and residents' quality of life.

Advancing cross-border and offshore finance

Shanghai has fulfilled 90 percent of the 70 tasks outlined in its April 2025 action plan to enhance cross-border financial services.

Efforts have focused on improving payment and settlement efficiency, expanding financing channels and strengthening risk management tools, laying the groundwork for more integrated financial services.

In offshore finance, Shanghai is aligning with high-standard international economic and trade regulations while exploring offshore business opportunities.

The city plans to develop offshore financial frameworks and initiate pilot programs in areas such as the Lin-gang Special Area, focusing on comprehensive pilot reforms in financial services for offshore trade.

Boosting innovation and future industries

Shanghai will strengthen its scientific and technological capabilities by promoting deeper integration between research and industry and accelerating the commercialization of innovation.

In future industries, a strategic scientists committee — bringing together leaders in technology, industry and investment — will be established to steer frontier industrial development and disruptive innovation.

The city will build an integrated innovation network linking major research institutes, leading enterprises, top scientists and global innovation competitions, accelerating the translation of breakthroughs into industrial applications.

Priority areas will include brain-computer interfaces, brain-inspired intelligence and nuclear fusion, as Shanghai works to foster globally competitive clusters in next-generation industries.

Stimulating consumption and urban vitality

To reinforce its status as an international consumption center, Shanghai will expand consumer goods trade-in programs, boost service consumption and further unlock inbound consumption potential.

The city will continue to host major events such as the Shanghai Shopping Festival and promote emerging trends including the debut economy, the silver economy and digital consumption, while creating new cross-sector consumption scenarios.

Enhancing governance and ecological protection

Shanghai will continue modernizing infrastructure and urban governance in one of the world's largest megacities.

Artificial intelligence will be applied more broadly in transportation, water management and other public services to enhance efficiency and resilience.

Urban renewal efforts will prioritize convenience for residents, including the expansion of "15-minute community life circles".

In ecological development, Shanghai will advance the construction of the Chongming World-Class Eco-Island and contribute to the Yangtze River Delta's "Beautiful China" pioneering zone, balancing high-level protection with high-quality development.

Source: Official WeChat account of the General Office of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government at "shanghaifabu"