China may be bracing for structural slowdown in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) as the country's top economic planner starts its mid-stage assessment of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15). The analysis sets the stage for preparing a blueprint for the next period of development.

Observers said research will be getting underway this year.

A bridge over the Yangtze River under construction in Wuhan, Hubei province. It will be the eighth Yangtze River bridge in the city and is evidence of ongoing infrastructure development. The country is making preparations for drafting the next five-year economic development plan (2016-20), which may put emphasis on boosting domestic demand.CHEN ZUO / FOR CHINA DAILY

The economic development guidelines for the five years from 2016 are seen as the key to determine whether the target of "establishing a moderately well-off and harmonious society" by the end of 2020 can be achieved, they said.

The target was set at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in November last year. It also aims to double its 2010 gross domestic product and per-capita income for both urban and rural residents by 2020.

As China's economy has entered into a "structural slowdown", deepening reforms and continuing the opening-up strategy will be the priority for the next five-year blueprint, said Pei Changhong, director at the Institute of Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"The macroeconomic plan should focus on boosting domestic demand and solving structural problems to support sustainable growth," Pei said.

The preparation work for the 13th Five-Year Plan will end in 2015. This year will see emphasis put on researching significant issues that relate to stabilizing growth and enhancing reforms.

The National Development and Reform Commission has released survey questionnaires on its website to collect public opinion on the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan over the past 30 months.

The State Council — the country's cabinet — empowers the commission to set protocols and organize ways to implement the economic and social development plans.