‘Unforeseen factors rising’: Xi sounds alarm – key challenges loom as China sets next five

Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned that China is entering a period where “strategic opportunities exist alongside risks and challenges, while uncertainties and unforeseen factors are rising,” as the Communist Party approved the framework for its next five-year plan. The remark, reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), reflects growing concern within Beijing over a volatile global environment, domestic economic headwinds, and intensifying trade frictions with the United States. The warning came as Xi placed his personal imprint on the country’s development blueprint for 2026 to 2030 — described by state media as his “brainchild” and a product of his direct leadership. According to SCMP, Xi “personally headed” the team that drafted the framework, overseeing revisions and con