Abstract: Humans constitute the most dynamic factor and the most decisive force in society. Promoting all-round human development has always been a central objective of Marxism, as well as a process of China’s socialist practice. In the new era, investing in people represents a strategic initiative to respond to domestic and international changes, adapt to the need for developing new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, expand domestic demand, and propel high-quality economic and social development. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period and beyond, it is essential to promptly shift outdated perceptions that hinder investment in people, accelerate efforts to address shortcomings in this regard, balance various relationships, and focus on planning in three key areas: building a strong nation in terms of people’s livelihoods, cultural prosperity, and a skilled talent workforce. The goal is to establish a sound ecological system that fosters investment in people and effective human resource utilization, thereby generating strong endogenous momentum for advancing Chinese modernization and accelerating the realization of all-round human development.

Key words: investing in people, all-round human development, Chinese modernization, high-quality development, 15th Five-Year Plan