Published by ChinaMNC · Xinfeng

China's Cultural Policy Push: What Foreign Founders Should Know

A practical briefing for foreign founders on China's cultural-sector policy direction, drawn from an official government article on cultural development under the 15th Five-Year Plan.

Why Cultural Policy Matters to Foreign Founders

China's official media regularly publish high-level policy narratives that signal where government attention and resources are heading. For foreign founders registering or operating a company in China, these signals matter: they shape local government priorities, available support programs, and the sectors likely to receive attention during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. This briefing summarizes one such official article and translates its factual content into practical orientation points. It does not predict specific incentives or approvals, which vary by locality and project.

The Policy Framework in Brief

The source article describes Xi Jinping Thought on Culture as the guiding framework for cultural work in the new era, presenting it as a theoretical summary of the Party's practical experience in leading cultural development. It frames this thought as a combination of the "two integrations" and as a major achievement in advancing innovation in Marxist cultural theory. For founders, the operative point is that cultural development is treated as a strategic national priority, not a peripheral matter.

The article notes that the strategic task of "stimulating the cultural innovation and creativity of the whole nation and promoting the prosperity and development of socialist culture" has been written into the 15th Five-Year Plan outline. That inclusion signals that cultural sectors are expected to receive sustained policy attention over the plan period.

Published Materials and Theoretical Work

According to the article, several official publications have been released this year, including the first and second volumes of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Culture, Excerpts of Xi Jinping's Discourses on Establishing and Practicing a Correct View of Political Performance, the first and second volumes of Selected Works of Xi Jinping on Party Building, and the first volume of Records of Governance in the New Era in Chinese and English editions. The article states that Party members and officials are encouraged to study original texts and grasp the principles, and to translate learning into practical action.

The article also references Xi's instructions on high-quality development of philosophy and social sciences, calling for accelerated construction of an independent knowledge system for Chinese philosophy and social sciences. It mentions that theoretical outputs explaining new concepts have become more abundant in academic journals over the past decade, and that the philosophy and social science front is advancing knowledge, theory, and methodological innovation while maintaining a Chinese standpoint.

Grassroots Communication and Core Values

The article describes local theory-learning activities, citing Zibo's "Mingli Hutong" in Shandong and Chongqing's "Courtyard Lectures" as examples welcomed by residents. It also mentions the "8090 New Era Theory Preaching Team" and Fudan University's "Spark" volunteer service team as vehicles for communicating new ideas, with the aim of making theory understandable and relatable at the grassroots level.

On core socialist values, the article states that these are being integrated into rule-of-law construction, social development, and daily life. It cites the ongoing "Hundred Lectures on Core Values" and mentions recognition programs including "Role Models of the Times," "Good Chinese People," and "Most Beautiful Figures." It also notes positive content in cyberspace and the promotion of civilized rural customs.

Cultural Heritage and Public Cultural Services

The article reports that on July 25, 2026, at the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, China's "Jingdezhen Handicraft Porcelain Industry Relics" project passed review, becoming China's 61st World Heritage site. It recalls that three years earlier, after Xi Jinping Thought on Culture was proposed, Xi visited Jiangxi and praised ceramics as a treasure of Chinese civilization and an important calling card, urging that Jingdezhen's profile be enhanced.

The article states that the General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage, describing it as a roadmap and task list for high-quality development of cultural heritage work over the next five years. It also reports completion of provincial-level acceptance for the fourth national cultural relics census, a special campaign on safety management of cultural relics in state-owned museums, progress in revolutionary cultural relics protection and utilization areas, and gradual improvement of facilities for intangible cultural heritage inheritance and experience.

On public services, the article lists 3,253 public libraries, 7,188 museums, and nearly 44,000 mass cultural institutions. It mentions historical and cultural districts in Beijing's Longfusi, Suzhou's Pingjiang Road, and Fuzhou's Sanfang Qixiang, where visitors enjoy intangible heritage, cultural creative products, and time-honored Chinese brands. It states that revolutionary sites and memorial venues receive 600 million visits annually. It also notes that the seventh National Minority Literature and Art Performance was held in Beijing from August 18 to September 23, with 48 outstanding productions, a record number, and about 180,000 online and offline attendees.

Cultural Industry and Integration

The article states that "prospering new mass literature and art under internet conditions" has been written into the 15th Five-Year Plan outline, and that policies including the Work Plan for Literature and Art Beautifying Villages (2025–2027) and the Three-Year Action Plan for Drama Revitalization (2026–2028) have been issued. It notes that delivery workers who write poetry and grassroots writers have received mainstream literary awards.

It also reports that 14,900 intangible cultural heritage workshops have driven employment and income growth for more than 1.3 million people in related industries, and that the Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development of Historical Classic Industries calls for building several characteristic industrial clusters with scale of 100 billion yuan. The article describes culture as a fulcrum for high-quality development, boosting domestic demand, consumption, and confidence, and cites the trend of traveling for films, intangible heritage, and concerts, as well as rural tourism.

International Cultural Exchange

The article mentions archaeological cooperation, including confirmation of twin sacred lakes at the Montu Temple site in Egypt, promotion of China's large-site protection experience at the Ben Arous forest site in Tunisia, and the Honghe site in Kyrgyzstan as evidence of Silk Road exchange. It quotes the principle that exchange should transcend estrangement, mutual learning should transcend conflict, and inclusiveness should transcend superiority.

Practical Takeaways for Founders

• Sector signals: Cultural heritage protection, public cultural services, cultural creative products, and cultural tourism are framed as priority areas under the 15th Five-Year Plan.
• Local variation: The article cites local programs across multiple provinces; specific support measures are set locally, so verify details with the relevant local authority.
• Compliance context: Core values are described as integrated into law and daily life, which is relevant to content, marketing, and public communication strategies.
• Heritage and tourism: World Heritage listing and heritage-site development may create opportunities in tourism, cultural products, and related services.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.