The Outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (hereinafter referred to as the Outline) was officially released on March 17, 2016.

The full text of the Outline is over 65,600 words, consisting of 20 articles and 80 chapters. The notion of "successfully operating open universities" was clearly proposed in Section 4 (Accelerate the Construction of a Learning Society) of Chapter 59 (Promote the Modernization of Education) of Article 14 (Enhance Education and Health on a National Level)". The original text is as follows: 

“Vigorously develop continuing education and build a life-long education training system that benefits all. Promote the opening and sharing of all kinds of learning resources; successfully operate open universities; develop online and distance education; and integrate diverse digital education resources to provide services to society. Create a personal learning account and credit accumulation system so as to open a channel for continuing education and lifelong learning; develop a national qualifications framework; and promote credit transfer and the mutual recognition of non-degree education learning outcomes and professional skill level. Develop education for the older adults.” 

By OUC