China’s economic policymakers are preparing to unveil a modern five-year economic blueprint amid growing concerns over slowing consumption, stagnant wage growth, and a continuing decline in property values. The plan, expected to include a target for economic growth, comes as the world’s second-largest economy faces significant headwinds.
NPR’s China correspondent, Jennifer Pak, has been reporting on the challenges facing China’s economy. Pak joined NPR in late 2025, after eight years as the China correspondent for American Public Media’s Marketplace, based in Shanghai. She previously covered the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2015 establishment of a news bureau for the UK Daily Telegraph in Shenzhen, documenting the city’s rise as a technology hub.
Pak’s reporting from Shanghai during the city’s two-month lockdown in 2022, where 25 million residents were confined to their homes, provided a first-hand account of the economic and social disruptions caused by China’s zero-COVID policy. Her coverage, including illustrations of quarantine meals shared on social media, contributed to a Gracie and a National Headliner Award for her team in 2023.
The upcoming five-year plan is expected to address these challenges, but details remain scarce. The plan will likely outline strategies to stimulate domestic demand, boost innovation, and address the risks posed by the property sector. According to reports, policymakers are grappling with how to balance growth targets with the need for structural reforms.
Pak’s earlier work for Marketplace focused on the complexities of the Chinese economy and its implications for American businesses and consumers. She arrived in Beijing in 2006, initially learning Mandarin from conversations with taxi drivers, and has since reported extensively on U.S.-China tensions and the country’s economic development.
Prior to her return to China, Pak served as the BBC’s Malaysia correspondent, based in Kuala Lumpur, where she reported on the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. Her reporting has also appeared in the Financial Times and NPR, demonstrating a broad range of experience covering Asia.
The economic challenges facing China are multifaceted. Declining property prices, a sector that has historically been a major driver of growth, are raising concerns about financial stability. Simultaneously, weak consumer spending and sluggish wage growth are hindering domestic demand. The effectiveness of the new five-year plan will depend on the government’s ability to address these issues and restore confidence in the economy.
Pak is currently based in Shanghai, continuing to report on the evolving economic landscape and the policy responses being implemented by Chinese authorities. She maintains an active presence on Instagram, sharing insights into China’s culinary scene and daily life.
