The third step involved introducing the guidelines for the plan, on several occasions in 2010, top leaders' speeches revealed that the 12th Five-Year Plan would focus on changing the economic development model.

The fourth step was to develop a consultative draft for the plan. Various ideas and suggestions were collected and included in the consultative draft. A special expert committee, established in October 2005, deliberated on the consultative draft and advised the drafting team.

The fifth step involved discussions on the consultative draft at the Fifth Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in October 2010. More opinions and advice were collected during the meeting.

The sixth step was to draft the final plan. Based on the discussions and suggestions, a draft plan was completed at the beginning of 2011.

The seventh step involved discussions on details of the draft in January 2011 by the expert committee.

The eighth step took place in January and February when Premier Wen Jiabao collected opinions from all levels of society.

The ninth and final step will be completed this month when the draft is submitted for deliberation to the annual session of the National People's Congress. If the draft is approved by the NPC, the State Council will promulgate and then implement the plan.

The whole process of building the 12th Five-Year Plan reflects the central government's strategic decisions as well as local governments' desire for economic growth and social development. All these different interests, desires and opinions converge to form a consensus about China's future.

The process of formulating its five-year plan is proof that China has formed its own democratic, institutionalized procedures for public decision-making.

The author is director of the Center for China Studies at Tsinghua University. Source: chinausfocus.com