• BLOG SURF
Five-year plans have been instrumental in the socioeconomic transformation of China.
Carefully designed as planning blueprints, each plan guides policy making for half a decade.
While the country's greatest development achievements are associated with the successful process of reform launched in 1978, economic modernisation started in the early 1950s. It was triggered by the First Plan (1953-1957), which established the industrial base that set the country on the path to development. Improved connectivity was also key, and the First Plan fostered the construction of railways across the country. On a smaller scale, but with great impact on people's daily life, the number of bicycles increased from 80 million to 1.2 billion in five years. While this achievement might appear simple at first sight, bicycles meant a lot to families. The greater mobility they brought about facilitated access to jobs, health care and education, among other public services. Plans are dynamic and change over time. Their focus is shaped by development milestones. - blog.adb.org/blogs
A version of this article appears in the print on February 16, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.
