BEIJING, March 7 (Xinhua) -- The gross domestic product (GDP) growth target set by the draft outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) has fully reflected a distinct orientation toward high-quality development by embedding quantitative requirements within a qualitative framework, an official said Saturday.

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 15, 2025 shows vessels loading and unloading containers at a container dock of Tangshan Port in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province. (File photo: Xinhua)

Zheng Bei, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, made the remarks at a press conference.

The draft outline proposed keeping China's GDP growth within an appropriate range in the five-year period, with annual growth rates to be determined in light of actual conditions, to lay a solid foundation for achieving the goal of doubling China's 2020 per capita GDP by 2035 to reach the level of a moderately developed country, said Zheng.

The economic growth target guides all parties to pursue tangible growth, allows room for shifting development patterns, adjusting structures, and promoting reforms, and provides support for employment and income growth among residents, said Zheng.

It embodies an expectation for the average annual GDP growth over the next decade, and aligns with the long-term positive trend of China's economic development, she said.

Zheng also noted that the target showed that China aims to achieve better outcomes in the actual work during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, laying a more solid foundation for development in the 16th Five-Year Plan period (2031-2035).