China integrates public feedback into national development plans

Chinese authorities are prioritizing practical well-being indicators in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan for 2026 to 2030, focusing on the daily needs of ordinary citizens.

The government included seven well-being indicators out of 20 major indicators in the new plan. This approach aims to move beyond macro statistics like industrial capacity to address specific problems such as chronic disease management and infrastructure for workers.

In Sanming City, Fujian Province, a three-tier health support model provides management for residents with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. This system includes medical specialists, traditional Chinese medicine doctors, and health management specialists who teach patients how to use continuous glucose monitors and manage their diets. The city says this model covers roughly 90 percent of local residents with these conditions. The government also responded to grassroots requests regarding transportation infrastructure.

After a truck driver spoke at a meeting in 2020 about the need for rest areas, provincial authorities in Hunan Province established "Drivers' Homes." These roadside stations provide beds, hot water, and laundry rooms. Over 120 of these facilities now operate across Hunan. To inform the 15th Five-Year Plan, the government launched an online public consultation campaign that gathered more than 3.1 million suggestions from internet users.

Xi Jinping stated in August 2025 that these opinions provided valuable references for the national plan. During the previous Five-Year Plan period, the country saw per capita disposable income grow by an average of 5.4 percent annually and the creation of 62.42 million urban jobs.