With the release of China’s central government’s 13th Five-Year Plan (FYP)—an economic and social planning blueprint—expected later this month, newly released local plans may point to common themes of raising incomes, modernizing industry, environmental protection, and innovation.

China’s 12th Five-Year Plan ends along with 2015, and it is important to reflect on what was and was not accomplished as China maps out the next five years.

Despite new obstacles, growth in China remains robust, and US companies are dedicated to the China market—that was a clear message from the US-China Business Council (USCBC) 2015 China Operations Conference, held in Shanghai on October 22.

China’s 13th Five Year Plan (FYP), covering 2016-2020, will be submitted for review in late October at the next meeting for the senior party leadersh