An opinion piece in the South China Morning Post states Beijing's plans assure steady, high-quality growth and stable relations, with Hong Kong taking a bigger role in national development. It highlights a shift to a growth target range as reflecting strategic flexibility.
The South China Morning Post published an opinion piece on March 23, 2026, titled 'As mainland China charts a new course, Hong Kong writes its next chapter'. It states: 'Beijing’s plans provide assurances of steady, high-quality growth and stable relations, with Hong Kong playing a bigger role in national development.' The article describes the shift to a target range for growth as 'strategic flexibility – a pragmatic approach that balances ambition with stability'. On one hand, it allows 'room for structural adjustments, risk prevention and reforms'. On the other, 'the goal is firmly within China’s growth potential and among the highest of the major economies, a positive signal for the global economy'. It notes that the five-year plan provides clear answers to 'What will China do in the next five years, and how?' Keywords include UN Charter, Shenzhen, China-US relations, Macau, China, Commissioner's Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong, Premier Li Qiang, Hong Kong, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Greater Bay Area, John Lee Ka-chiu, Northern Metropolis, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.