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China’s 15th Five-Year Plan: What Foreign Founders Need to Know About Market Access and Investment

A practical guide for foreign founders on China’s 15th Five-Year Plan priorities, based on a recent State Council Information Office briefing with Ministry of Commerce officials.

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan: Practical Takeaways for Foreign Founders

On October 22, 2026, China’s State Council Information Office held a press conference under the theme “Starting the 15th Five-Year Plan.” Vice Minister of Commerce Jiang Chenghua, along with directors from the Ministry of Commerce’s market operations, foreign trade, outbound investment, and foreign investment departments, outlined priorities for high-quality commercial development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. For foreign founders considering or already operating a company in China, these signals matter for market entry, investment, and long-term planning.

14th Five-Year Plan Achievements Provide a Baseline

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s consumer market expanded steadily, with retail sales of consumer goods surpassing 40 trillion yuan and then 50 trillion yuan. Foreign trade reached new highs, with goods imports and exports exceeding USD 6 trillion and services trade surpassing USD 1 trillion. Two-way investment remained among the world’s largest: cumulative foreign direct investment (FDI) attracted over five years exceeded USD 750 billion, and non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) covered nearly 190 countries and regions, totaling over USD 800 billion. These figures indicate the scale of the market and China’s continued integration into global trade and investment flows.

2026: A Stable Start for the 15th Five-Year Plan

In the first three quarters of 2026, the Ministry of Commerce reported that commercial operations were generally stable with progress. Retail sales of goods and services grew 2.6% year-on-year. Goods imports and exports increased 18.8%. Actual use of foreign capital reached 548.8 billion yuan, with the stock of foreign investment remaining stable. Non-financial ODI amounted to USD 101 billion. Notably, after difficult negotiations, China-US and China-EU economic and trade relations remained generally stable, creating a relatively stable international environment for companies from all countries, including Chinese enterprises.

Four Priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan

The Ministry of Commerce outlined four focus areas for the coming years. These have direct implications for foreign founders.

1. Boosting Consumption: New Opportunities in Services and New Types of Consumption

Consumption is shifting: service consumption is accelerating, goods consumption is moving toward higher quality and innovation, and new forms of consumption are emerging. However, the domestic market still faces supply exceeding demand, and factors constraining consumption remain. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, policies will focus on optimizing supply, creating new consumption scenarios, and improving facilities to unlock the potential of urban and rural residents. For foreign founders, this suggests opportunities in service sectors, innovative consumer products, and experiential retail.

2. Expanding High-Level Opening: More Access, Better Services

Despite rising unilateralism and protectionism globally, China will continue to expand opening up. The plan includes:

• Actively expanding autonomous opening and steadily widening the scope and regions of opening.
• Implementing an upgrade strategy for pilot free trade zones (FTZs) to fully leverage their role as comprehensive test platforms for reform and opening.
• Continuing to build the “Export to China” brand, making it easier for global products to enter Chinese households.
• Enhancing the “Invest in China” brand by improving the foreign investment service and support system, making China a fertile ground for foreign businesses.
• Improving the management system for outbound investment cooperation and optimizing overseas comprehensive services, so Chinese enterprises can go global with greater confidence.
• Improving the quality and effectiveness of Belt and Road economic and trade cooperation.

For foreign founders, these measures signal continued efforts to streamline investment procedures, improve services for foreign-invested enterprises, and create a more predictable environment for market entry and expansion.

3. Contributing to Global Economic Governance

China will uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, deepen bilateral and multilateral economic and trade cooperation, expand its network of high-standard free trade areas, and actively lead the formulation of international rules in emerging areas such as digital trade and green development. It also aims to foster an open AI ecosystem and work with other countries to build international economic and trade rules for artificial intelligence. While this is primarily a macro-level agenda, it may influence future regulatory frameworks that affect foreign companies, especially in tech and green sectors.

4. Strengthening Risk Prevention and Opening Security

Amid a complex external environment, China will implement a holistic approach to national security, better coordinate development and security, and improve risk prevention in the commercial sector. This includes optimizing trade friction response mechanisms, using trade remedy investigations, improving export control and security review mechanisms, and refining laws and regulations on countering sanctions, interference, and long-arm jurisdiction. Foreign founders should note that compliance with export control and security review requirements will remain important.

Free Trade Agreements: Expanding Networks and Lowering Barriers

In response to a question on high-standard free trade zones, Vice Minister Jiang highlighted that China has signed 26 free trade agreements with 33 countries and regions, covering 45% of China’s foreign trade and 70% of attracted foreign investment. In 2026, China completed an upgrade negotiation with Switzerland and signed an upgrade protocol with Georgia. The China-Switzerland upgrade includes emerging rules on digital trade, AI, and trade and sustainable development, with zero-tariff products ultimately accounting for over 99% of bilateral goods trade. The China-Georgia upgrade expanded provisions on investment, e-commerce, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and technical barriers to trade. China also signed framework agreements with 40 African countries and 8 Pacific Island countries, and early harvest arrangements with Congo, Kenya, and Seychelles. For foreign founders, these agreements can reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers for companies operating in China and exporting to partner markets.

In the first three quarters of 2026, China’s imports and exports with FTA partners reached 19.55 trillion yuan, up 30%, contributing over 70% of foreign trade increment. The Ministry of Commerce will push for early entry into force of the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 and the China-Peru FTA upgrade protocol, accelerate negotiations with South Korea, New Zealand, and Central Asian countries, and promote RCEP expansion and upgrading.

Inbound Consumption: ‘China Haul’ and ‘Buy in China’

Regarding the “China Haul” trend on overseas social media, Yang Mu, Director of the Department of Market Operations and Consumption Promotion, noted that inbound consumption is showing new characteristics. The range of products is expanding from traditional specialties like tea and silk to tech products, Chinese-style fashion, wellness products, beauty and trendy toys. This reflects growing recognition of “Buy in China.” For foreign founders, this suggests opportunities in retail, e-commerce, and consumer brands targeting inbound tourists and expatriates, as well as in showcasing products to a global audience.

Conclusion

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan priorities emphasize consumption, opening up, global governance, and security. For foreign founders, the key takeaways are: continued efforts to attract foreign investment and improve services; expansion of free trade networks that can lower trade costs; and a focus on new consumption areas. However, regulatory and security frameworks are also being strengthened, so compliance remains essential. Foreign founders should monitor policy developments and consider how these trends align with their China strategy.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.

Call to action: Foreign founders can contact ChinaMNC on WhatsApp / WeChat at +86 153 1898 8535 for help registering and operating a company in China.