Reading China through Xi's classic quotes: 锐始者必图其终，成功者先计于始

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his 2026 New Year message on Dec. 31, during which he quoted a classic Chinese saying — "A successful venture should start with a good plan and with clear goals set" (锐始者必图其终，成功者先计于始; ruìshǐzhě bìtú qízhōng, chénggōngzhě xiānjì yúshǐ).

The saying originates from "Reply to Commissioner Sun Huaixi" (《答中丞孙槐溪》), a piece of correspondence written by Zhang Juzheng (1525-1582), a renowned reformer and statesman during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Addressed to a high-ranking official named Sun Hongshi (known by the literary name Huaixi), the letter is a masterful exposition on political strategies, military thought and governance philosophy. 

Literally, the saying means "He who starts with vigor (锐始者) must plan for the end (必图其终); he who succeeds (成功者) must have calculated from the beginning (先计于始)," highlighting the importance of beginning with the end in mind and planning well if one wants to achieve success.

The year 2025 marked the successful conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), which steered the country through global uncertainties and challenges while fulfilling the various economic and social development targets. It has laid a solid foundation for the goal of basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035. 

As 2026 begins, President Xi quoted the saying to inspire the entire Party and people of all ethnic groups in the country to get the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period off to a good start and forge ahead toward the goal. 

In October, the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted the Recommendations of the CPC Central Committee for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, outlining the top-level design and strategic blueprint for China's socioeconomic development over the next five years. In December, the annual Central Economic Work Conference set out eight key tasks for the country's economic work in 2026 to ensure a strong start for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. 

A vision for the end and a plan at the start must ultimately be realized through solid action, with unwavering commitment from start to finish. A well-conceived 15th Five-Year Plan and its effective implementation will ensure that China has even stronger foundations for basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035. It is for this reason that President Xi continued in his New Year message by saying: "We should focus on our goals and tasks, boost confidence and build momentum to press ahead. We should take solid steps to promote high-quality development, further deepen reform and opening up across the board, deliver prosperity for all, and write a new chapter in the story of China's miracle."