China's Xi Jinping outlines five-year plan at closed-door party meeting

Chinese leader Xi Jinping delivered a speech on Monday on the opening day of a major meeting of the ruling Communist Party to approve a draft plan laying out its goals for the country over the next five years. A short dispatch from the official Xinhua News Agency said Mr Xi "expounded on the party leadership's draft proposals" for the next five-year plan for national economic and social development, which will cover 2026-2030. It did not provide any details. The latest plan comes at a time of growing challenges and uncertainty for China, including a persistently sluggish economy, foreign restrictions…