To formulate and implement strategies of national economic and social development, annual plans and medium and long-term development plans; to put forward targets and policies concerning the development of the national economy and the optimization of major economic structures, and make recommendation on the employment of various economic tools and policies; to submit the plan for national economic and social development to the National People's Congress on behalf of the State Council.

To study and analyze the economic situation and its development both at home and abroad and provide macroeconomic forecast and early warning; to study important issues concerning national economic security, put forward policy recommendations on macroeconomic management, and coordinate economic and social development; to adjust the daily performance of the national economy and coordinate and solve major problems in the operation of the national economy.

To summarize and analyze fiscal and financial situation, participate in the formulation of fiscal and monetary policies, and formulate and implement industrial and price policies; to analyze the effects of implementing fiscal, financial, industrial and price policies, and supervise and inspect the implementation of industrial and price policies; to set and adjust the prices of important commodities that are regulated by the state and important tariffs and fees; to control and monitor the total size of China's foreign debts, optimize its mix, and maintain the balance of international payments.

To study major issues concerning the restructuring of economic systems and opening up to the outside world, formulate plans for the comprehensive restructuring of economic systems, and coordinate plans for dedicated economic restructuring; to put forward recommendations on improving the socialist market economy system and promoting development with reform and opening up, and guide and promote the overall economic system restructuring.

To recommend the total size of fixed assets investment and plan the layout of key projects and productivity; to arrange fiscal expenditure for economic construction, guide and supervise the utilization of foreign loans in construction projects and policy-oriented loans; to guide private investment in fixed assets, study and put forward strategies for foreign capital utilization and overseas investment, and targets and policies concerning aggregate balance and structural optimization; to arrange construction projects funded by central government appropriation, key construction projects, foreign-funded key projects, overseas resource development projects and overseas investment projects utilizing large amount of foreign exchange; to organize and manage the work of special inspectors for key projects.

To carry out strategic readjustment and upgrading of industrial structure; to put forward development strategies and plans for important sectors in the national economy; to study and coordinate the solution of major problems associated with agriculture and rural economic and social development, and coordinate dedicated plans and policies; to guide industrial development and promote industrialization and informatization ;to formulate sector-specific plans in industry, and guide the drafting of technical regulations and standards for different sectors; to formulate development plans for oil, natural gas, coal, power and other parts of the energy sector; to promote the development of high-tech industries, carry out technological upgrading and guide industrial modernization; to guide and regulate the assimilation and innovation of imported technologies and key outfits.

To study and analyze the development of regional economy and urbanization, put forward plans for the coordinated development of regional economy and the implementation of the Western Region Development Program, and bring forward strategies and important policy measures concerning urbanization; to guide and coordinate regional economic cooperation.

To study and analyze both domestic and international markets and maintain the aggregate balance and overall control of important commodities; to formulate plans for the overall volume of import and export of important agricultural products, industrial products and raw materials, supervise the implementation of these plans and adjust them in accordance with the performance of the national economy; to manage the state reserve of important materials and commodities; to put forward strategies and plans for the development of modern logistics.

To coordinate social undertakings such as population and family planning, science and technology, education, culture, health, and etc. and national defense, and synchronize their development with the development of the national economy; to bring forward policies concerning coordinated economic and social development and coordinate the solution of major issues of social development.

To carry out the strategy of sustainable development, study and formulate plans for resource conservation and comprehensive utilization, participate in the formulation of ecological improvement plans, put forward policies of resource conservation and comprehensive utilization, and coordinate the solution of major issues of ecological improvement and resource conservation and comprehensive utilization; to coordinate environmental protection.

To study the situation of multi-ownership economy, make recommendations on the optimization of ownership mix and organizational setup of enterprises, and promote fair competition and common development among enterprises of various ownerships; to study and put forward policy measures that promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and non-state-owned economy, strengthen overall guidance and coordinate the development of SMEs and the non-state sector.

To study and put forward policies that increase employment, adjust income distribution, improve the policy of coordinated development of social security and economy, and coordinate the solution of major issues related to employment, income distribution and social security.

To study and formulate administrative laws and regulations concerning national economic and social development, economic systems restructuring and opening up to the outside world, and participate in the drafting and implementation of relevant laws and administrative regulations.

To undertake other tasks assigned by the State Council.

In accordance with relevant regulations of the State Council, the NDRC is also responsible for the administration of the State Grain Administration and State Tobacco Monopoly Administration.