Published : 2025-05-06
On May 6, 2003, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) was officially established.
The NDRC can be traced back to the National Planning Commission of the Central People's Government established in 1952. In 1954, the National Planning Commission was reorganised into the "National Planning Commission" under the State Council.
In 1998, the National Planning Commission was reorganised again, becoming the "State Development Planning Commission", with its main responsibility being macroeconomic management.
During the State Council's institutional reform in 2003, the State Development Planning Commission was reorganised into the National Development and Reform Commission.
With a broader scope of work, it is responsible for "formulating and organising the implementation of national economic and social development strategies, long-term plans, annual plans, industrial policies and pricing policies; monitoring and regulating the operation of the national economy; ensuring overall economic balance; optimising major economic structures; arranging major state construction projects; and guiding and promoting economic system reforms."
Regarding the reason for omitting the word "Planning" after the reorganisation, relevant officials explained that it reflects the course of the country's economic system reform to some extent.
The omission does not mean giving up planning. It signifies that planning under the socialist market economy is different from that under the planned economy conditions.
