On 13 March 2026, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) was adopted by the National People’s Congress (NPC). An overview article covering the main targets related to climate change and the green transition can be found here.
This article focuses on the parts of the Plan that are relevant to low-carbon and resilient territorial and spatial planning as well as urban-rural development. China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) positions territorial and spatial planning as an enabler of the green transition, with a focus on coordinating urban and rural development, strengthening governance at the county level, and improving environmental quality through more integrated and data-driven spatial management.
Rural development and county-level governance
The Plan signals a shift in rural policy from poverty alleviation towards improving living conditions and local economic vitality. It promotes the development of liveable, business-friendly, and socially inclusive rural areas, with counties positioned as the primary units for the integrated planning, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure and public services. At the same time, it emphasises optimising the spatial layout of villages and towns and strengthening territorial governance at the county level.
Regional integration and spatial planning
The Plan reinforces the “Major Function-Oriented Zone Strategy” and calls for improved spatial planning, control, and coordinated governance across regions. Urbanisation policy continues to evolve towards a more people-centred approach, focusing on qualitative improvements, the integration of rural migrants, and more compact urban development patterns. Greater emphasis is placed on the coordinated development of large, medium, and small cities as well as small towns, alongside the role of city clusters in driving regional integration.
Environmental governance and spatial integration
The Plan further underlines the need to improve environmental quality through strengthened governance systems and closer alignment with territorial and spatial planning. It calls for expanding eco-environmental zoning and control mechanisms and embedding these more systematically into spatial planning frameworks. In addition, the Plan promotes more coordinated industrial layout decisions, linking environmental constraints with spatial and economic planning.
Key takeaways
The 15th FYP reflects a shift towards a more integrated and system-oriented approach to territorial development, with stronger alignment between spatial planning, environmental governance, and socio-economic objectives. The growing role of counties as governance units, combined with enhanced regional coordination and compact urbanisation strategies, points to more balanced spatial development patterns. As the Plan sets out high-level directions, its practical implications will depend on forthcoming sectoral and regional implementation plans, which are expected to further operationalise planning instruments and governance mechanisms.
