As China approaches its 15th Five-Year Plan, a bold new action plan has emerged that could reshape the future of its most economically advanced region: the Yangtze River Delta.

In this episode, I dive into the sweeping policy blueprint just released by the central government — a roadmap that outlines 30 detailed action items across 7 strategic pillars aimed at integrating Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui into a truly unified mega-city cluster.

From transportation and environmental governance, to public services and global competitiveness, this plan positions the region to rival Tokyo Bay and Greater New York — not just in GDP, but in functionality and innovation.

But while the vision is ambitious, the reality is complicated. How do you align the interests of powerhouse cities like Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing, and Hefei, each with its own agenda? Can a top-down approach truly deliver integration, or will competition and fragmentation persist?

Join me this week as we explore:

• The 7 “One” frameworks of the Action Plan
• Why the Yangtze River Delta matters globally
• The political, economic, and social challenges behind regional coordination
• And whether this could become a national template for China’s urban future

This isn’t just a story about infrastructure. It’s about rethinking how cities collaborate — and the very nature of governance in a hyper-competitive age.

Tune in now and stay informed with your Weekly China Recap with Xing Zheming, powered by Taskforce Consultancy.

Subscribe & share if you find this useful. Let’s take the lead together.

Contact us via

zheming@taskforce-china.cn

zhibin.lang@taskforce-china.cn