According to a member of the National Development Planning Expert Committee, China may push ahead with the 4+3 regional economic development strategy during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) period.

By the end of the 20th century, China had advanced the overall four-region development strategy, which gives priority to development of the eastern and western regions, revitalization of the northeast, and the rise of Central China.

During the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15), regional coordinated mechanism has been completed, and the central government has further advanced the "Three-Support-Belt Strategy" based on the "four-region strategy, which includes the Belt and Road Initiative, integrated development of Beijing, Tianjin municipalities and Hebei province, as well as the Yangtze River economic belt.

During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the country will further propel the overall regional development strategy and form the strategic layout including four regions and three support belts, which is called the "4+3 layout".