National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)

What National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) does

National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is a central government agency of the People's Republic of China under the State Council, established in 2003 as the successor to the State Development Planning Commission. Headquartered at 38 South Yuetan Street, Beijing, with 501-1,000 employees, NDRC serves as China's top macroeconomic planning body. It formulates and implements national economic and social development strategies, conducts macroeconomic regulation, and coordinates reform policies across all major sectors. Its functional remit spans the 14th and 15th Five-Year Plans, energy pricing regulation (gasoline, diesel, rare earths), foreign investment security review, outbound investment oversight, and Belt and Road Initiative coordination.

NDRC coordinates massive state-directed capital programs including a 2 trillion yuan ($295 billion) AI infrastructure initiative, a proposed 20 trillion yuan ($2.9 trillion) energy transition plan targeting 50% non-fossil generation by 2030, 93.6 billion yuan in ultra-long special treasury bonds for equipment upgrades, and 150 billion yuan in state-backed venture capital funds for semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotech. It administers regulated pricing, consumer trade-in subsidy programs, and the National Rare Earth Price Index consolidating data from approximately 140 enterprises. It also issues policy frameworks including AI Metrology Guidelines, AI corruption detection guidelines for public bidding, the 'AI Plus' national policy, and a Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization regulatory framework jointly with CSRC and SAFE.

NDRC does not sell commercial products or services and generates no revenue. Its "go-to-market" is policy directive and administrative decision, distributed through China's governmental administrative hierarchy to provincial Development and Reform Commissions and sectoral ministries. Customer-facing engagement occurs through bilateral meetings with foreign government officials and multinational enterprises (e.g., Apple, Siemens, Hitachi, Temasek, Eli Lilly), international forums (Summer Davos, China-ASEAN Expo, Sino-German Forum), and the Belt and Road Portal. Under Chairman Zheng Shanjie, the commission has expanded its regulatory reach into cross-border AI transactions, semiconductor industrial policy, and outbound investment oversight.

Name

National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)

Legal name

National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) People's Republic of China

Website

https://en.ndrc.gov.cn

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

NDRC is China's central macroeconomic planning agency under the State Council, responsible for Five-Year Plan implementation, energy pricing, foreign investment security review, and industrial policy coordination across all sectors. It directs trillions of yuan in state capital programs and sets regulatory frameworks for AI, semiconductors, and outbound investment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Economic Planning and Macroeconomic Regulation

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Foreign Governments (8888), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Trade, Industry & Economic Development Administration (BPAIAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) (BPADACAC), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Financial Regulation, AML/CFT & Tax Transparency Cooperation (BPADANAL)

Keywords

• Economic policy planning
• Macroeconomic regulation
• Foreign investment review
• Energy price controls
• Industrial policy coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The NDRC formulates and implements China's national economic and social development strategies, macroeconomic regulation, and structural reform policies under the State Council. It administers regulated energy commodity pricing, foreign investment security reviews, the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment, ultra-long special government bond programs, and Belt and Road Initiative project coordination across 80+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment (2025 Edition) Official government catalogue listing encouraged industries for foreign investment in China, providing market access guidance and regulatory clarity for international companies seeking to invest in China.
• Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development Comprehensive national economic and social development strategy framework, providing macroeconomic coordination directives across 14 Five-Year Plans and serving as the central planning document for Chinese government economic policy.
• Foreign Investment Security Review Statutory security review mechanism for foreign acquisitions and cross-border technology transfers, providing regulatory clearance for investments affecting national security. Demonstrated through the blocking of Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Manus AI in April 2026.
• Refined Oil Price Control Mechanism Regulatory pricing mechanism for domestic gasoline and diesel retail prices, setting controlled price ceilings during market volatility. Demonstrated limit of 1,160 yuan/tonne increase vs potential 2,205 yuan/tonne market increase during March 2026 oil price surge.
• National Rare Earth Price Index Centralized digital pricing infrastructure consolidating daily spot pricing data from approximately 140 domestic enterprises under NDRC oversight through the Baotou Rare Earth Products Exchange.
• AI Corruption Detection Guidelines for Public Bidding Joint guidelines with seven other agencies for using AI to detect corruption in public tendering and bidding processes, including flagging irregularities and suspected bid-rigging. Successfully deployed in Zhejiang to identify corrupt officials.
• Belt and Road Initiative Project Coordination Inter-governmental coordination framework for international infrastructure and economic cooperation projects across 80+ countries, including flagship projects like Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, China-Laos Railway, and Zambia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone.
• Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization Regulatory Framework China's first official regulatory framework for real-world asset tokenization, establishing supervisory responsibilities and compliance pathways for digital asset issuance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Blocking of Meta's $2 billion acquisition of Manus AI in April 2026, establishing jurisdiction over offshore-incorporated Chinese AI companies
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered major, flagship and core.

• European Senate of Economy / GermanymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Sino-German Forum for Industrial Cooperation and Development held in Beijing's Shunyi District, co-organized with European Senate of Economy. Over 400 participants including nearly 100 political and economic figures from Germany and Europe. Eight industrial partners designated for Beijing Sino-German Economic and Technological Cooperation Demonstration Pilot Zone.
• Semiconductor IndustryflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026NDRC announced commitment to invest hundreds of billions, potentially up to one trillion yuan, into integrated circuits, commercial satellites, and computing power. Semiconductors officially named state's top industrial priority in 15th Five-Year Plan.
• Eli Lilly, Mercedes-Benz, and other multinational manufacturersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026NDRC highlighted foreign investment commitments including Eli Lilly's $3 billion planned investment in China and German-China auto/manufacturing agreements during Chancellor Merz's visit.
• Algeria (Ministry of Transport)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2023Chairman Zheng Shanjie signed Agreement on Railway Transport Cooperation with Algerian Minister Ahmed ATTAF, establishing a mixed committee on railway transport cooperation.
• Hitachi GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 2023DDG Pan Jiang met with Aketa Atsuhiro of Hitachi Group to discuss expansion of investment cooperation in China and support for Hitachi's Economic and Technical Exchange Conference in China.
• TemasekmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2023Vice Chairman Yang Yinkai met with Temasek President Lin Boon Heng to discuss Temasek's investment expansion in China in digitization, health, new consumption and sustainable development sectors.
• HondurasmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2023Chinese and Honduran governments signed Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation Document (Memorandum of Understanding) to promote cooperation within Silk Road Economic Belt and Maritime Silk Road framework.
• Argentina (Ministry of Economy)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2023Vice Chairman Li Chunlin met with Argentine Minister of Economy Sergio Massa to exchange views on Belt and Road Initiative cooperation and key projects between China and Argentina.
• Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2023Chairman Zheng Shanjie met with DRC Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula to strengthen inter-governmental communication and deepen Belt and Road cooperation in resources investment, digitalization, and renewable energy.
• ASEAN CountriesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2023NDRC co-hosted seminar on rules of origin for upgraded ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) in Guangzhou with 52 officials from 10 ASEAN countries participating.
• US Multinational EnterprisesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2023NDRC held roundtable meeting with US multinational enterprises in Guangzhou with Vice Chairman Li Chunlin. Over 70 representatives from 54 US chambers of commerce and enterprises attended to discuss Greater Bay Area cooperation.
• Western AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2023Vice Chairman Li Chunlin met with Premier of Western Australia Mark McGowan to promote steady and long-term development of bilateral practical cooperation between China and Australia.
• Indonesia (Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 April 2023Chairman Zheng Shanjie met with Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan to discuss Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, North Kalimantan Industrial Park, and Belt and Road/Global Maritime Fulcrum cooperation. Vice Chairman Li Chunlin also co-hosted RCEC Joint Steering Committee with Indonesia's Ayodhia GL Kalake.
• CubamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2023Chairman Zheng Shanjie met with Cuba's Deputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Perdomo to advance cooperation under Belt and Road Initiative and deepen collaboration in information/communication, digital TV, green energy, and biomedicine.
• Apple Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2023Chairman Zheng Shanjie met with Apple CEO Tim Cook to discuss China's commitment to opening up and support for Apple in its business in China, with exchange on data security and personal privacy protection.
• Siemens AGmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2023Chairman Zheng Shanjie met with Siemens CEO Roland Busch to discuss cooperation in digital industrialization and bilateral cooperation between China and Germany. Siemens expressed willingness to build an ecosystem for industrial digitalization with Chinese partners.
• African Countries (FOCAC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 20222022 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference held, establishing Africa-China Alliance for Poverty Alleviation as platform for cooperation.
• State Council Ministries and AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDRC coordinates with all major Chinese government ministries including Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, National Energy Administration, and others on cross-cutting economic policies and initiatives.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India): India's apex economic planning body that advises on policy and coordinates multi-year national development strategy. Directly comparable to NDRC in mandate to formulate and coordinate national economic strategy across sectors.
• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Japan: Japan's central ministry combining industrial policy, energy policy, and trade promotion. Closely comparable to NDRC's role in guiding strategic industries, energy planning, and inbound/outbound investment coordination.
• People's Bank of China: China's central bank and sister macroeconomic regulator under the State Council. Comparable as a State Council-level economic policy institution with regulatory and market-shaping authority across the financial system.
• Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM): Co-administrator of foreign investment review, outbound investment rules, and trade policy alongside NDRC. Direct co-regulator with overlapping jurisdiction over FDI screening and the encouraged-industries catalogue.
• South Korea Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE): Combines industrial policy, energy planning, and trade promotion functions in a single ministry. Analogous to NDRC's combined mandate over industrial strategy and energy planning.
• National Development and Reform Commission of any other Chinese province: Provincial-level NDRC counterparts execute central policy and submit investment proposals to the national NDRC. Functionally identical mandate at sub-national level.
• European Commission DG for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN): EU-level coordinator of macroeconomic policy, surveillance of member-state fiscal plans, and investment strategy. Comparable in its supranational mandate to coordinate national-level economic policy and investment review.
• U.S. National Economic Council (NEC): White House body coordinating economic policy across federal agencies and advising on industrial strategy. Closest U.S. analogue to NDRC's coordination role, though with smaller direct capital-deployment footprint.
• State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) of China: Co-issuer with NDRC of the AI metrology guidelines and key standards/regulatory frameworks. Direct peer in issuing cross-cutting industrial and technology regulation.

Others

• China Investment Corporation (CIC): China's sovereign wealth fund implementing overseas investment under policy direction from State Council bodies including NDRC. Adjacent as a capital-deployment vehicle shaped by NDRC's strategic guidance.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments3 records

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Frequently asked questions about National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)