Chongqing-The first all-English international broadcast program in Chongqing, the 190th episode of "Let's Meet," titled “China's Five-Year Plans: From Vision to Reality”, jointly produced by the Western China International Communication Organization and Chongqing Satellite TV, will be aired on both domestic and international media on March 4.
If you ask how a country plans its future, the answers can vary widely around the world. In China, there is a distinctive approach. It is called the Five-Year Plan. It is not magic. It is not a prediction. It’s a national roadmap for development—a commitment made to the entire people. In this special episode of Let’s Meet, through one city — Chongqing — we will decode how this commitment is transformed, step by step, from an ambitious blueprint into realities within reach.
The 12th Five-Year Plan: Digital Foundation
In 2011, China launched the 12th Five-Year Plan, with a strong focus on improving the level of informatization across the country. For ordinary people, this meant faster internet access. For national development, it meant a fundamental transformation in digital infrastructure. At the end of this five-year period, in 2015, a concept called “Internet Plus” emerged and was elevated to a national strategy. It quickly became a key driver reshaping production and daily life. Within just a few years, China built the world’s largest 4G network. In western China, in Chongqing, these changes were quietly taking place. In this episode, we spoke with Li Binhong, Chairman of Chongqing Zhijia Information Technology Co., Ltd. and one of the city’s early internet professionals, to learn how Chongqing’s internet sector took shape during this period.
The 13th Five-Year Plan: Industrial Breakthrough
If the 12th Five-Year Plan was about building the foundation, the 13th was about setting direction. In 2016, the Plan identified new energy vehicles and related industries as strategic priorities. It was a pivotal moment of transition — marked by both market vitality and technological uncertainty. As a major automobile manufacturing hub, Chongqing plunged into this future-focused transformation. In this episode, Let’s Meet Host Alex visits local automakers to explore the evolution of intelligent electric vehicles.
The 14th Five-Year Plan: Breakthroughs and Growth
In 2021, China launched the 14th Five-Year Plan. It carries two major tasks: On one hand, to scale up industries that have already shown results, such as new energy vehicles. On the other hand, to concentrate efforts on breaking through key “bottleneck” technologies — including advanced chips, industrial software, and precision instruments. In Chongqing, industrial growth and technological breakthroughs are shaping the city together. The drone light that illuminates the night sky over the Yangtze and Jialing rivers is a vivid example of the integrated application of intelligent control, chip, and software technologies.
The 15th Five-Year Plan: Intelligent New Era
The year 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan. If the previous cycles were defined by “Internet” and new energy, then the 15th Five-Year Plan signals the full arrival of the “AI Plus” era. Artificial intelligence is evolving from a supporting tool into a foundational force reshaping industries across the economy. In Chongqing, entrepreneurs are already putting this future into practice. In this episode, we speak with Li Li, CEO of Chongqing Yunwei Technology and a young entrepreneur in the AI space, about how AI-driven innovation is beginning to shape everyday life.
Let’s review this clear path: The internet laid the digital foundation. New energy pointed toward a green future. Scaling up and technological breakthroughs strengthened both the industry and core capabilities. “AI Plus” is now redefining creativity. Every five years lays a solid foundation for the next step. Chongqing has grown from a follower in the digital era into an active explorer in the intelligent era. A new five-year cycle has begun. The next chapter is unfolding — here in Chongqing, and across China.
"Let's Meet" airs every Wednesday and Saturday at 6 PM on Chongqing Satellite TV. It is also simultaneously released on the Let's Meet official WeChat Channels, Bridging News app, iChongqing website, Facebook and YouTube channels, WCICO's global communication matrix platform, and Chongqing Satellite TV's new media matrix.