The annual Central Economic Work Conference has just concluded in Beijing with Chinese leaders deciding priorities for the economic work in 2026, the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. The message is clear: China is to boost consumption and build a robust domestic market to deal with external challenges. Meanwhile, institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank have raised their growth forecasts for China, underscoring the country's expanding global footprint. What can we learn from this key economic meeting? What do these signals reveal about China's next stage of development? How will local reforms, consumer spending, innovation and continued opening-up shape the economic landscape at home and abroad?