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China meets multiple targets for 14th Five-Year Plan ahead of schedule(People's Daily Online) 13:43, March 10, 2025
The year 2025 marks the final lap for implementing China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). Successfully meeting its targets will lay a solid foundation for a good start to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030).
Which targets for the 14th Five-Year Plan have been achieved ahead of schedule, and what do they signal?
Basic old-age insurance coverage reaches 95 percent
The Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development (hereinafter referred to as the Outline) points out that the multi-tiered social security system will be improved, with basic old-age insurance covering 95 percent of the population.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MHRSS), by the end of 2024, approximately 1.07 billion people in China were covered by basic old-age insurance, an increase of 6.36 million from the previous year. The basic old-age insurance coverage reached 95 percent in China, establishing the country as having the world's largest social security system.
A series of measures have been introduced in 2021-2025, including removing restrictions preventing workers in flexible employment from other provinces from participating in the local insurance system, bringing migrant workers, those in new employment forms, and flexible workers into basic old-age insurance for enterprise employees, and more.
Sun Jie, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and vice dean of the School of Insurance and Economics at the University of International Business and Economics, said that as new challenges arise, the social security network needs to expand and provide effective coverage for all. Sun proposed expanding social security coverage more precisely and improving its quality and efficiency to benefit all workers.
3.4 practicing (assistant) physicians and 4 registered nurses per 1,000 people
According to the Outline and the plan for healthcare professional development for 2021-2025, the number of practicing (assistant) physicians and registered nurses per 1,000 people should reach 3.2 and 3.8, respectively, by 2025.
Statistics from the National Health Commission of China showed that as of the end of 2023, the number of practicing (assistant) physicians and registered nurses per 1,000 people stood at 3.4 and 4, respectively, surpassing expectations.
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the number of healthcare professionals in China has steadily increased, with a better structure, improved skills, and enhanced service quality.
Han Lin, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) and vice president of Gansu Provincial Hospital, pointed out that the Chinese government has invested significant efforts to address the healthcare needs of China's over 1.4 billion people. Han suggested focusing future efforts on training much-needed professionals to meet diverse healthcare demands.
90.4 percent of China's surface water meets or exceeds Grade III quality
According to the Outline, the proportion of surface-water bodies nationwide classified as Grade III (meaning "fairly good") or above will reach 85 percent by 2025. Statistics from the Ministry of Ecology and Environment indicated that 90.4 percent of the 3,641 monitored sections in China had good water quality (Grade I-III), surpassing 90 percent for the first time.
An aerial drone photo taken on May 8, 2024, shows boats touring Baiyangdian Lake in Xiong'an New Area, North China's Hebei province. (Photo/Xinhua)
During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has made efforts to improve water quality, including protecting major rivers and lakes, strengthening control over drain outlets, and treating urban black and malodorous water bodies.
Lu Quanzhong, a member of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC and a senior engineer at the Research Institute of Environmental Sciences of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, emphasized the need to reinforce the idea of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Lu urged further public participation in environmental protection to ensure clearer skies, greener land, cleaner water, and more vibrant landscapes across the country.
89.5 percent of townships and towns connected by Grade III highways or higher roads
The highway development plan for 2021–2025 aims to ensure that by 2025, over 85 percent of townships and towns will be connected by Grade III or higher-grade highways, while more than 85 percent of villages across China will have paved roads.
By the end of 2024, 89.5 percent of townships and towns were connected by Grade III highways or higher-grade highways, while 94.6 percent of villages had paved roads, both surpassing targets ahead of schedule.
