China’s fifth plenum, from the ground up | South China Morning PostAdvertisementAdvertisementNEWSCMP Economy SeriesPlenary sessions of the Central Committee, the upper echelon of China’s ruling Communist Party, are major events on the country’s political calendar. This month’s edition, the fifth plenum, is attracting even more attention as the world’s second-largest economy takes on a more prominent role in global affairs. In this series, we examine how top-level policy decisions from Beijing cascade down to reshape China’s economic landscape on the ground.Updated: 10:15am, 23 Oct 2026Advertisement[1]In Focus | Beijing wants more than GDP growth from local officials. Can they adapt?Cadres at lower levels are juggling a complex set of priorities from Beijing – while still searching for new sources of growth.22 Oct, 2026Advertisement[2]In Focus | ‘Rampant’ unpaid debts, rising costs: why China’s private sector is hurtingWith an economic slowdown adding to their woes, China’s private businesspeople lament heightened regulatory enforcement as a further strain.23 Oct, 2026Select VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:00AI-generated voice