On April 30, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the formulation of robust plans for the country’s economic and social development for the 2026–2030 period, emphasizing the importance of “managing our own affairs well” and striving to ensure both development and security. These statements came at a time when China is accelerating efforts to achieve the targets of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), now in its final year, and to formulate the next five-year plan. Speaking at a symposium on China’s economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), Xi stated: “Planning must focus on fundamentally achieving socialist modernization in order to build a great country and advance national rejuvenation”.[1]
China continues to witness increasingly technology-oriented developments. As one of the prominent actors in the first quarter of the 21st century, China has played a significant role in shaping global power dynamics through its advances in economic, technological, and diplomatic spheres. By adopting various strategies in each of these domains, Beijing has expanded its global influence and supported these strategies with a multidimensional approach. In sectors such as artificial intelligence, 5G, semiconductors, and electric vehicles, domestic production has been promoted, while investments in technology and foreign trade, along with integration into global supply chains, have accelerated the process of economic transformation and development.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has opened the door for China’s economic growth to gain a diplomatic dimension, has enabled the country to forge global alliances by fostering closer ties with countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. China’s global initiatives are not limited to the BRI; through multifaceted foreign policy strategies such as the Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI), and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), China has presented an alternative leadership model combining cultural diplomacy and soft power.
At the core of China’s strategy for achieving global leadership lies the country’s economic development. Initiated in 1979 under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, this strategy has enhanced China’s influence on the international stage and established economic growth as both a means and an end. In this context, technological investments have been made, and the domestic market has been strengthened. The Five-Year Plans have played a crucial role in defining the nation’s economic and social objectives. These plans serve as guiding documents that summarize the country’s overarching goals, primary tasks, and policy directions across various sectors over a five-year period, providing medium- and long-term guidance for economic and social progress.[2]
China’s adoption of a multidimensional foreign policy and its integration with economic initiatives are vital in attaining its strategic development goals. Economic relations established with regions such as Asia, Europe, Africa, and Latin America have acquired a diplomatic dimension through increasingly frequent dialogues, thereby reinforcing China’s role in the global system. This has even influenced the formation of an alternative international order characterized as “multipolar.” These relationships, built through strategic partnerships, have strengthened China’s leadership position and expanded its influence in the international arena. Moreover, China’s growing diplomatic clout has further promoted its vision of an alternative global system.
The deepening of China’s economic relations with European Union (EU) countries, in particular, has also enhanced its bilateral diplomatic interactions with states in the region. For instance, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has emphasized that China is an important partner for the EU and noted Spain’s consistent support for the stable development of EU-China relations. He also expressed the willingness of Spain and the EU to strengthen communication and coordination with China to uphold the international trade order in the face of complex and challenging global conditions.[3]
China has engaged more extensively with Southeast and Central Asian countries through platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the BRI, while conducting China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summits with African countries and maintaining its presence in Latin America. In this way, China’s economic investments have gone beyond purely commercial activities to foster diplomatic relations, enable the formation of global alternative alliances, and even influence the restructuring of the international order.
In his message regarding economic development, Xi emphasized that China is and will continue to be an ideal, safe, and promising destination for foreign investors. He stated that the country offers a broad arena for business development, a stable policy outlook, and a secure environment, all of which make China a preferred choice for foreign investment and business activities.[4]
As a result, China has supported its development objectives—such as industrialization, infrastructure advancement, and opening to the outside world—through cooperative initiatives that drive economic growth. In doing so, the country has expanded its reach to many regions through various platforms, both those it has established and those to which it belongs. Over time, increasing economic interactions have also led to positive developments in diplomatic relations. Consequently, as China’s influence in the global economy has grown, multilateral diplomacy has gained prominence. China’s planned economic development strategy has not only strengthened its position on the international stage but also accelerated the transition to a multipolar world order, thereby enhancing its leadership role.
[1] “Xi stresses sound planning for economic, social development in 2026-2030”, Xinhua News, https://english.news.cn/20250430/151a9e4f70aa4fda9b9609361cfd7d7d/c.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 03.05.2025).
[2] Ibid.
[3] “Xi’s diplomacy injects certainty, stability into turbulent world”, Global Times, https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202505/1333283.shtml, (Erişim Tarihi: 03.05.2025).
[4] Ibid.
