In a world marked by transformation and turbulence, a growing number of countries are turning their attention eastward, as the appeal of Chinese governance and the opportunities it presents continue to expand.

To understand Chinese governance, one must first understand the governance of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The international community has long sought to answer one question: why has the CPC succeeded?

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a speech at a gathering in celebration of the 105th anniversary of the founding of the CPC on July 1. With a broad historical perspective and deep theoretical insight, Xi identified six fine qualities of the CPC: remaining committed to seeking truth and always adhering to the right direction; remaining deeply rooted in the people and always boasting a solid foundation; courageously rising to its historic missions and always maintaining the strategic initiative; following the trend of development and always remaining at the forefront of the times; having the courage and ability to fight, unwavering confidence in victory, and commitment to continuous self-improvement. These qualities hold the key to understanding why the CPC works in China and the underlying logic of its governance.

The CPC has dedicated itself to achieving lasting greatness for the Chinese nation and to the noble cause of peace and development for all humanity. It has actively advanced the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. By consistently responding to the questions posed by China, by the world, by the people, and by the times, the CPC has enabled Marxism in contemporary China and the 21st century to shine even more brightly with the light of truth.

Development path

Since the dawn of the new era, new explorations, practices and achievements in Chinese modernization have unfolded across all fields and regions. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irresistible.

Chinese modernization, the latest major achievement of scientific socialism, has drawn the international community's attention to the CPC's long-term commitment to its agenda and its strategic resolve to carry out hard work across generations. Thanks to far-reaching exploration and practice, Chinese modernization is offering fresh ideas and a new paradigm for tackling the common challenges countries face on the road to modernization.

Major-country responsibility

Over the past 105 years, the CPC has always stood on the right side of history and on the side of human progress. Through unremitting efforts, it has profoundly altered the trends and landscape of world development and influenced the course of world history.

Under the leadership of the CPC, socialist China has pursued inclusive development for the benefit of all, expanding the space for shared development. It has worked to bridge deficits in peace, strengthening the foundation of security. It has promoted mutual learning among civilizations, building a force for harmonious coexistence. And it has also improved global governance to consolidate the bedrock of fairness and justice.

It has promoted the development of a community with a shared future for humanity, offering Chinese wisdom, Chinese solutions, and Chinese strength to address the major issues facing humanity. It is widely recognized as the defender of world peace, a contributor to global development, and an upholder of international order.

A people-centered commitment

In the face of profound changes and major challenges in today's world, the CPC regards meeting the people's needs as the key to breaking new ground. It has always put the people first and regarded contribution to the causes of the Party and people as its highest aspiration.

The CPC's respect for people's needs, dignity and development is evident in its efforts to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity. It is also reflected in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, which has improved local livelihoods and created jobs, as well as in China's commitment to fulfilling its responsibility as a major country in areas such as public health, climate change and food security.

As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the CPC is charting its development blueprint with an ever broader vision, keeping in mind both the overarching strategic context of the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation and the major changes unseen in a century that are reshaping the world. The CPC has become a moral anchor, a source of confidence and a beacon of hope for the progress of human civilization. It stands ready to work with all progressive forces toward a brighter future of peace, development and win-win cooperation.

Yiwu, a city in east China's Zhejiang province, is neither a coastal hub nor a border town. Yet it has built a trade network that reaches across the globe. Today, the city is home to more than 10,000 foreign-invested businesses and around 38,000 foreign merchants who live and work there.

People's Daily reporters recently visited Yiwu to meet foreign entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses and settled down in the city. They shared stories of growing alongside Yiwu and becoming part of its remarkable transformation.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without Yiwu," said Senegalese businessman Sourakhata Tirera, a sentiment he often expresses. He first came to Yiwu in 2003 to source hardware products and was immediately impressed by the Yiwu International Trade Market. He noted, "If you can't find something here, it's probably because you haven't searched carefully enough."

In 2007, Tirera opened a foreign trade agency in Yiwu. In 2012, leveraging Yiwu's comprehensive foreign trade pilot reform project, he established a wholly foreign-owned trading company. Today, his company ships 200 to 300 containers every month, dealing in more than 1,000 product categories and providing one-stop sourcing services for clients across Africa.

"Everyone is fascinated by Yiwu because it's a place full of opportunities. Things that once seemed impossible can become reality here," Tirera told People's Daily after he finished receiving a trade delegation from Gabon.

Yemeni businessman Maged Mohammed Ali Al-Huraibi came to Yiwu alone in 2008 to pursue his entrepreneurial dream and founded a cosmetics trading company. In 2024, Yiwu launched a one-stop entrepreneurship service for foreign talent, offering factory leasing, policy consultation, and talent recruitment. Seizing the opportunity, Al-Huraibi invested in a cosmetics factory early that year, successfully transitioning from trader to manufacturer.

"Yiwu made my entrepreneurial dream come true. Now I want to bring cosmetics made in Yiwu to even more countries and regions around the world," Al-Huraibi said.

Yiwu's success is not simply about gathering products. More importantly, it comes from the city's ability to create what the market needs -- pioneering new approaches where none exist and forging new paths through continuous exploration.

Nepalese businessman Khadka Raj Kumar first came to Yiwu in 2002. In 2011, Yiwu pioneered a dual-track system for representative offices and foreign-invested business entities, addressing challenges related to residency, employment and business operations for foreign entrepreneurs. The following year, Kumar established his own trading company in Yiwu and later bought a home there.

In 2013, Yiwu established China's first people's mediation committee dedicated to foreign-related disputes, inviting foreign businesspeople to serve as mediation processes. Kumar has served in this role since 2017 and has participated in resolving more than 150 foreign-related disputes.

"In Yiwu, we're not outsiders -- we're part of the local community," he said.

As Yiwu's sixth-generation marketplace, the Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center marks the city's transition from traditional trade to a digital trade ecosystem.

Pakistani businessman Sheikh Jamil, who has operated in Yiwu for 21 years, has witnessed this transformation firsthand. According to him, more and more business is now conducted online. With the help of AI, he can quickly generate product solutions tailored to different market demands. "I can do business with the whole world without leaving my office," he said.

Yemeni businessman Hasan Mohammed entered Yiwu's cosmetics business as a distributor a decade ago. In 2018, he registered his own cosmetics brand in Saudi Arabia. With its products registered in Saudi Arabia, manufactured in China and sold worldwide, his business model delivers both high-quality products and a strong competitive edge.

"Yiwu is more like an ecosystem where ideas can quickly become reality. It offers not only opportunities, but also the potential for continuous growth," said Mohammed.

For Brazilian businesswoman Ana Garcia, Yiwu's transformation from "Made in Yiwu" to "Created in Yiwu" has been fueled by broad support in branding, digital innovation and global expansion. She founded a business consultancy that helps overseas clients identify market opportunities and sourcing needs, connect with qualified suppliers, and manage every step of the supply chain -- from product selection and quality inspection to logistics and customs clearance.

Yiwu belongs not only to China, but also to the world. Together with entrepreneurs from around the globe, the city will continue turning the impossible into the possible, further burnishing its reputation as the "world's supermarket" and ensuring that products created in Yiwu benefit people in more countries.

On the occasion of the 105th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), German Marxist scholar, China researcher and writer Michael Geiger spoke with People's Daily in an exclusive interview, sharing his insights into China's achievements and the experience of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Having studied China for nearly two decades, Geiger siad the country's exploration of a new path of social development has provided him with profound intellectual inspiration. As a Marxist scholar, he believes China's practices offer important insights into the evolution of Marxist theory and its application in contemporary society.

Geiger noted that in The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels stated that after the proletariat takes power, it should create conditions for the development of new forces of productivity. Yet finding a viable path toward this goal has remained a major challenge throughout history

In his view, the CPC has, through efficient and forceful development measures, rapidly advanced social productive forces. Today, China is at the forefront of the world in fields such as new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence. This practice fully demonstrates that the socialist path is sound and viable, and it is also prompting the global academic community to re-examine the theoretical connotations of Marxism.

Geiger also brought together a group of German experts and scholars to publish the book Chinas Jahrhundert (Chinese Century). He noted that international academia has long sought to understand the underlying drivers of China's development achievements, stressing unambiguously that the fundamental reason for China's remarkable progress lies in the leadership of the CPC.

Geiger argues that researchers bear the duty to present a well-rounded, objective account of China and the CPC to Western audiences. Publishing Chinas Jahrhundert was precisely meant to supply diverse alternative perspectives for global readers.

When talking about the practical outcomes of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times, Geiger noted that Marxism acts as a catalyst for social transformation. The innovative practice of sinicizing and modernizing Marxism has immensely enriched the theory and injected new vitality into it.

The key to China's success lies in a more profound understanding of Marxism. Several decades ago, it was widely considered difficult to reconcile a planned economy and a market economy could be integrated. Yet China broke through established frameworks and achieved major breakthroughs in areas such as ownership reform. It can be said that China's practice truly conforms to the fundamental essence of Marxism.

People often discuss the high level of public support for the CPC. Geiger stated that such a level of support is something that political parties in some Western countries "would not even dare to dream of," fully demonstrating that the CPC has, to a large extent, responded to the practical needs of the people.

The CPC adheres to the principle of "from the masses, to the masses." For instance, three million Party members have long worked on the front lines of poverty reduction. They have gone deep into the poorest regions, understood the real difficulties faced by every household, and sought concrete solutions. This reflects the close ties between the CPC and the people.

Against the backdrop of mounting global turbulence and defeatist arguments like the "inevitability of war", Geiger holds that China has blazed a path distinct from the conventional logic of major- country rivalry.

A major country with global influence does not need to rely on expansion or confrontation to safeguard its interests. China always upholds clear principled bottom lines while exercising patience and restraint, a stance consistent with the ancient Chinese philosophical notion of "holding the middle ground to achieve harmony."

True political wisdom lies not in picking sides crudely between confrontation and compromise, but in striking a proper balance between defending one's own interests and fostering long-term global stability.

Speaking about China's developmental wisdom of pairing top-level design with "crossing the river by feeling the stones" in comprehensively deepening reform, Geiger expressed strong recognition of this governance philosophy.

He believes that socialist modernization has no ready experience or standard answers; progress can only be achieved through practical exploration, repeated verification, and continuous adjustment. Trial and error, trade-offs and adjustments in development are all normal parts of the exploration process, and this pragmatic exploratory attitude toward development is extremely valuable.

Geiger pointed out that China has overcome countless difficulties and "crossed many rivers." While new challenges will inevitably emerge, he believes the CPC has already demonstrated through 105 years of practice that it is fully capable of adapting to changing circumstances and continuing moving forward.

Horgos, situated within the Ili Kazak autonomous prefecture of China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, stands as a pivotal gateway for China's westward opening-up.

Once a key staging post along ancient trade routes where camel bells echoed across the Gobi Desert,  today the city has become a vibrant business magnet, drawing investors and entrepreneurs from Central Asia and Europe.

For an increasing number of foreign businesspeople, Horgos is no longer just a destination for trade trips -- it  has become a second home they keep returning to.

As dawn approaches, cross-border trucks queue efficiently at the Horgos highway port, navigating customs procedures.

Kazakh businessman Ilyas, with 14 years of experience in the Horgos fruit and vegetable trade, has witnessed this transformation firsthand.

Fresh produce trade depends heavily on swift clearance; delays lead to significant losses as perishable goods spoil quickly. Previously, Ilyas would arrive before daybreak just to secure precious delivery time.

To address sluggish customs procedures and high spoilage rates for fresh agricultural products, Horgos Customs established a China-Kazakhstan "green channel" for agricultural products, offering priority inspections and immediate release upon arrival.

The new arrangements have created a fresh rhythm for cross-border produce trade: goods picked in the morning can clear customs the same day and reach markets that very night, allowing high-quality Chinese agricultural products to reach overseas consumers while still fresh.

Recent years have seen new energy vehicle (NEV) exports emerge as a major growth driver for Horgos trade. Recognising the strong demand for Chinese electric vehicles across Central Asia, Kazakh businessman Khambati seized the opportunity, registered a company in Horgos, and entered the vehicle export logistics business.

To facilitate NEV exports, Horgos Customs introduced a fast-track clearance scheme for self-driven export commercial vehicles, significantly streamlining offline procedures and moving the entire process online.

The average customs processing time has been reduced from more than 30 hours to less than five. Standardized workflows, intelligent services and around-the-clock operational support have made Khambati's logistics operations highly predictable and significantly improved delivery efficiency.

Horgos has also pioneered a new multilingual cross-border livestreaming business model, the first of its kind in Xinjiang. The local government provides free exclusive live-stream venues, builds professional livestream bases, and runs regular training courses for new streamers, offering hands-on guidance on product sourcing and account operation.

Today, over 20 livestreaming studios in the commercial building of the China-Kazakhstan Horgos International Border Cooperation Center stay busy with nonstop broadcasts, selling Chinese cosmetics, clothing and daily necessities to consumers in Central Asia and Europe.

Kazakh livestreamer Alten Asenbek moved into the Horgos cross-border e-commerce livestreaming base last December. Starting with barely any orders, he has now built a social media following of over 26,000, with peak hourly sales hitting 14,500 yuan (about $2,134).

At the Dastarkhan restaurant inside the Center, visiting merchants and local residents often gather around tables to chat.

Locals fondly call this little diner the "Sisters Restaurant."It is a successful cross-border business jointly founded by Kazakh entrepreneur Toktabayeva Almira Sansiba and her Chinese partner Guli.

Recently, thanks to supportive policies, more than 80 percent of the restaurants, retail stores and accommodation providers inside the cooperation center have completed upgrades to their point-of-sale terminals. The new system supports dual-currency settlement in Chinese yuan and Kazakh tenge, and accepts international credit cards alongside mainstream domestic and overseas mobile payment methods.

 "The process is fast and secure," Sansiba explained. "Customers simply scan a code to pay. Tenge amounts are automatically converted, and yuan funds arrive directly in our accounts."

Booming business has turned Horgos into her second home. "I've made friends from all over the world. Diners stay for tea and long conversations after meals, just like family. We are no longer mere travelers; we have become part of one big family."

Beyond creating a business-friendly environment, Horgos has continued to improve public services for foreign residents by leveraging talent policies associated with the pilot free trade zone and its broader opening-up initiatives.

In January last year, Uzbek businessman Bekzati relocated his family to Horgos to start a local business. Unfamiliar with both the language and local policies, he became deeply worried about finding schools for his three children. Community staff proactively reached out and eventually helped resolve his children's schooling issue.

Catering to the large flow of foreign truck drivers and merchants passing through the port, the Yingtar community in the Horgos Industrial Park subdistrict has launched regular consultation sessions for international residents, targeting and addressing  their practical concerns.

With maturing public services and attentive, inclusive governance, Horgos is becoming a place that overseas merchants not only want to visit, but are also eager to return to, and, for many, a place they now call home.

In northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region lies a township called Minning. Its name combines the Chinese abbreviations for southeast China's Fujian province -- "Min" -- and Ningxia -- "Ning," symbolizing a partnership that has spanned more than 4,000 kilometers and become one of China's most celebrated examples of east-west cooperation in poverty alleviation.

Not long ago, 81-year-old Lin Yuechan, former director of Fujian's poverty alleviation office, returned to Minning with her granddaughter. Looking around, the young girl asked, "Grandma, there's no sand here. Why call it 'Golden Beach'? The answer awaited at the township's historical exhibition center.

Minning Township has evolved into a living testament to China's east-west paired assistance program. In 1996, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee launched a nationwide strategy to promote poverty alleviation cooperation between the more developed eastern regions and the less-developed western regions.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, then a senior official in Fujian, oversaw the progress of pairing-off cooperation between Fujian and Ningxia. Under his leadership, Fujian and Ningxia took the lead in establishing a joint conference mechanism, creating city- and county-level partnership arrangements, and initiating mutual exchanges of officials through temporary assignments.

Lin, who traveled between Fujian and Ningxia more than 40 times, is a witness to the close cooperation between the two places.

In 1997, this cross-country cooperation gave birth to Minning village. Lin, then executive deputy director of the Fujian-Ningxia cooperation office, turned the first shovelful of earth at the groundbreaking ceremony.

At the time, the settlement was little more than a barren stretch of desert. Sandstorms swept across the Gobi landscape. There were no formal classrooms or blackboards; local students wrote on the ground with tree branches. The first settlers lived in cave dwellings dug into the earth.

Yet in a congratulatory letter, Xi, then deputy secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, envisioned a bright future: "This village is just a barren sandy expanse today, but one day it will become a golden beach.

Nearly three decades on, that vision has become reality.

The Fujian-Ningxia partnership has now entered its thirtieth year. Thanks to the sustained efforts of officials and residents from both regions, what was once a desolate wasteland has grown into a prosperous township of 66,000 people, where relocated residents now earn more than 20,000 yuan ($2,945) per person annually.

From poverty alleviation to rural revitalization, from digging wells and building terraced fields to establishing industries, from resettling impoverished communities to fostering cultural integration, the significance of Fujian-Ningxia cooperation has only become more apparent with time.

Over the past 30 years, Fujian has allocated 7.68 billion yuan ($1.13 billion) for assistance for Ningxia. More than 4,100 cooperative projects have been implemented, benefiting 2.44 million people. More than 160 Fujian-Ningxia poverty alleviation demonstration villages and 423 relocation communities have taken root across Ningxia. All 803,000 impoverished people in the autonomous region had been lifted out of poverty as of 2020.

As China enters a new phase of high-quality development, Fujian-Ningxia cooperation is moving steadily toward higher-quality growth.

At the Lanwan ecological aquaculture base beneath the Helan Mountains, the water in the ponds is crystal clear and teems with shrimp, mud crabs, and large yellow croaker.

"At first, no one believed this could work here," said Qiang Zuozhou, who runs the facility. "But the pilot projects and technology proved everyone wrong."

Aquaculture experts from Fujian's city of Ningde spent more than two decades tackling challenges ranging from water quality control and fry breeding to environmental adaptation, eventually turning the idea of "raising marine fish inland" into reality.

Ningxia now annually produces over 2,000 tons of alternative aquatic products ("seafood"), establishing itself as the most diverse and productive fishery region among China's five northwest provincial-level areas.

Meanwhile, new models of cooperation -- "Fujian enterprises plus Ningxia resources," "Fujian technology plus Ningxia application scenarios," and "Fujian markets plus Ningxia products" -- have flourished.

This partnership has spawned 12 industrial parks hosting nearly 400 companies with an annual output value approaching 35 billion yuan ($5.15 billion). Approximately 6,000 Fujian-owned enterprises maintain stable operations in Ningxia.

On June 1, 24 trainees from six countries, including Rwanda and Gambia, gathered in Minning township. Together with Professor Lin Zhanxi from Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, they inaugurated a Fujian-Ningxia Juncao technology workstation.

"This takes me back to Ningxia," remarked the 84-year-old professor, recalling his experiences promoting the mushroom cultivation technique in Africa. "Juncao's international journey began in Xihaigu's cave dwellings."

In 1997, responding to the Fujian-Ningxia cooperation initiative, Lin traveled to Pengyang county in Ningxia and taught local farmers how to cultivate mushrooms in abandoned cave dwellings while guaranteeing the purchase of their products.

"A single growing season dispelled their initial skepticism," he noted. Farmers quickly discovered that "three cellars yielded more income than planting 1.8 hectares of wheat."

Within a decade, 17,500 households across Ningxia adopted Juncao-based mushroom cultivation, increasing mushroom growers' annual incomes by more than 5,000 yuan ($736) on average. Today, the region produces more than 90 million edible fungus sticks annually, generating an output value of 680 million yuan ($100 million).

In 2000, Lin took Juncao technology overseas. Today, the technology has taken root in 106 countries and regions worldwide.

Fujian lies at the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, while Ningxia serves as a key hub along the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Together, Fujian and Ningxia have found ever-broader pathways for cooperation.

In recent years, Ningxia has fully integrated into the corridor. The "Minning" freight train now carries goods from Yinchuan to Southeast Asia, while direct flights from Ningxia to Dubai deliver the autonomous region's cool-climate vegetables to Middle Eastern dining tables in just eight hours.

At the seventh China-Arab States Expo, 12 new energy projects with total investment of approximately 8.4 billion yuan ($1.23 million) were signed, and a number of projects have been launched in Belt and Road partner countries.

The world has taken notice of the wisdom embodied in the Fujian-Ningxia partnership.

Over the past three decades, China's east-west cooperation program has continued to enrich the forms of assistance, deepen integration, and expand platforms for collaboration.

The Fujian-Ningxia experience is a powerful illustration of this progress. In 2025, Ningxia's per capita GDP reached 77,981 yuan ($11,478), nearly 19 times higher than the 3,926 yuan ($578) recorded in 1996, while the gap between the autonomous region and the national average has continued to narrow.

Located in the northeast of Jiangxi province in east China, Jingdezhen is renowned both in China and abroad for its porcelain and is widely known as the "millennium porcelain capital." In January 2025, Jingdezhen's handmade porcelain industry heritage sites were officially submitted to UNESCO as China's nomination for the 2026 World Heritage List.

Jingdezhen possesses not only millennial ceramic heritage but also a long tradition of openness and inclusiveness. Historically, it was said that only 20-30 percent of people that lived there were locals, while the rest were migrants drawn by its thriving porcelain industry.

Today, around 5,000 foreign residents have made their homes there, known locally as "Jingdezhen drifters." They have become part of the city's everyday life, as communicators of ceramic culture, contributors to urban development, and co-creators of the distinctive character of this global city of crafts and folk arts.

Yann Colleu, from the French overseas territory of Reunion Island, first came to Jingdezhen in 2017 for a short-term study program and was immediately captivated by the atmosphere.

"I became obsessed with the place," he said with a smile.

What stayed with him was extended far beyond the masterful handiwork of seasoned local potters. Jingdezhen's ceramic traditions are not museum pieces frozen behind glass; it is a living tradition,  carried forward through gestures, language, customs, patience, and daily practice.

In 2024, he and his wife returned to Jingdezhen and established their own studio there.

When he first arrived, he could not speak a single word of Chinese. One day, a craftsman handed him a lump of clay and gestured: "Come on, give it a try."

Colleu placed the clay on a wheel, and it collapsed three times. Each time, the craftsman patiently helped him reshape it and simply said: "Take it slowly."

That afternoon, Colleu realized something important: "Language is not a barrier, and hands are the best translators."

A young man in a neighboring workshop freely repaired dozens of his flawed clay prototypes without charge, asking only that he paint classic blue-and-white porcelain patterns for them as repayment down the line.

Once, when Colleu was selling ceramics at a night market, a local woman running a neighboring stall helped him attract customers. "Foreign artist's work -- very creative!" she called out. At that moment, he stopped feeling like an outsider.

By 2025, the total output value of Jingdezhen's ceramic industry had exceeded 100 billion yuan ($14.77 billion). The city is home to more than 58,000 handmade ceramic workshops and approximately 150,000 ceramic industry workers, while maintaining partnerships with more than 180 cities across 72 countries.

"No matter where you come from, as long as you respect tradition and are sincere about craftsmanship, people here will treat you as one of their own," Colleu said.

Today, he is pursuing a doctoral degree at Jingdezhen Ceramic University, searching through bowls and porcelain fragments for earlier and deeper connections between Jingdezhen and the wider world.

Nestled at the heart of the Yangtze River Delta, Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, is a city where rich cultural heritage meets modern vitality. Leveraging its comprehensive industrial ecosystem, high-quality business services, and inclusive urban environment, Changzhou has steadily expanded its opening up and become fertile ground for both living and working.

The city continues to attract global talent and resources. Today, more than 4,000 foreign residents have made their homes and careers there, evolving from witnesses to the city's development into active participants who grow alongside it and contribute to its success.

A Robust Industrial Ecosystem

Industry forms the backbone of urban development and provides the foundation for greater opening up. Changzhou's well-developed industrial chains and full-cycle business support services offer solid backing for both foreign-invested enterprises seeking long-term growth and international professionals pursuing career development.

One notable example is Germany's industrial giant Thyssenkrupp, which has increased its investment in Changzhou six times over the past six years, becoming a vivid illustration of mutually beneficial cooperation between foreign investors and the city.

According to Arne Mayer, a German national and general manager of Bilstein, a German manufacturer of high-performance shock absorbers and suspension systems under Thyssenkrupp, the city's mature industrial and supply-chain ecosystem is a key factor attracting companies to establish long-term operations there.

"Here, personal growth, business growth, and industrial development are closely interconnected and reinforce one another," he said.

Beyond its strong industrial support system, Changzhou's efficient and business-friendly environment has also earned widespread recognition from foreign enterprises.

In October 2022, Ypsomed Manufacturing Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Switzerland's Ypsomed Group, a leading developer and manufacturer of self-injection systems for liquid medications, established its first production base in the Asia-Pacific region in Changzhou.

Reto Felber, head of Ypsomed Manufacturing Co., Ltd., said that the city's excellent business environment was what impressed the company most. Government departments work efficiently, listen attentively to businesses, and actively help solve practical challenges, he noted.

Today, more than 3,000 foreign-invested companies run operations across Changzhou. A total of 107 Fortune Global 500 companies have launched 216 projects within the city. Changzhou is also home to 34 provincial-level regional headquarters and functional institutions of multinational corporations, as well as 35 foreign-funded research and development centers. In addition, it has developed six provincial-level international cooperation parks, including China-Germany and China-Switzerland cooperation zones.

Inclusive Urban Governance

In 2024, Brazilian football coach Cassiano came to Jiangsu Changzhou Economic Zone to work in youth football training. Through the Jiangsu Football City League, a wildly popular amateur football tournament in Jiangsu province, he experienced firsthand the city's vibrant sporting culture and open-mindedness.

During his free time, Cassiano enjoys wandering through Changzhou's streets and alleys, soaking in the charm of this historical city. He has visited cultural landmarks such as Qingguo Lane and sampled local specialties including magao, or sesame cakes, and shrimp cakes. The authentic flavors of local cuisine have left a lasting impression on him.

The warmth of everyday life gives the city its character, while its openness and inclusiveness encourage foreign residents to put down roots and integrate into local society.

In 2011, British national Steven William Ronald joined Changzhou Institute of Technology as a foreign teacher. In January 2025, he was invited, as an expat representative, to attend the fourth session of the 17th Changzhou Municipal People's Congress as an observer.

"It was a very special invitation," Ronald said. "It reflected the city's openness and inclusiveness and made me genuinely feel that foreign residents are not bystanders but participants in Changzhou's development."

In recent years, Changzhou has positioned itself as a magnet for young people. Its youthful spirit and multicultural atmosphere have attracted growing numbers of young international professionals.

Regular cross-cultural exchange events have further strengthened ties between foreign residents and the city. Since 2012, Changzhou has continuously organized an "Love Changzhou" expat salon, welcoming more than 3,000 participants from countries including Germany and Argentina. Foreign-invested enterprises in the city are also sending cheering groups to the Jiangsu City Football League, and nearly 1,200 participants have joined relevant activities in 12 batches.

Thanks to its diverse cultural fabric and welcoming community, Changzhou ranks third among major Chinese cities in attractiveness to foreign talent. Increasing numbers of international visitors are coming to experience, contribute to, and build their futures in the city.

A Comfortable and Fulfilling Life

When early summer arrives, Arne Mayer often cycles along Changzhou's riverside greenway with his family. Nine years into his life in the city, he has raised his family here and enjoys a stable, deeply satisfying lifestyle.

"I have found a perfect balance between work and life here in Changzhou," he said.

A sports enthusiast, Mayer particularly appreciates the city's steadily improving recreational facilities. Football pitches, baseball and softball fields, pocket parks, and other leisure spaces are now widely available, greatly enriching residents' daily lives. He is also impressed by the ecological improvements along the Yangtze River.

"The picturesque riverside greenway has become a wonderful place for recreation and exercise," he said.

A pleasant environment and convenient daily life are experiences shared by many foreign residents in Changzhou.

Xavier Desfertilles, a 50-year-old French national and general manager of a Changzhou-based metal company, has lived and worked in the city for 27 years.

In his view, daily life here offers remarkable convenience. Public facilities throughout the city are equipped with clear bilingual signage; international bank cards and mobile payment services are widely accepted; and major hospitals have English-speaking medical staff, making healthcare easily accessible for foreign residents.

The second World Conference of Classics convened on June 9 and 10 in Athens, Greece. The conference brought together renowned scholars and experts from China, Greece, and other nations, providing a platform for participants to discuss how classical wisdom can address contemporary needs and how different civilizations can learn from each other through dialogue based on equality and mutual respect.

Recently, Dr. Rodanthi Hatzopoulou, a Greek lecturer at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law and an international law scholar, published an article in People's Daily. She emphasized the contemporary value of the dialogue between the two great ancient civilizations of Greece and China. Dr. Rodanthi noted that classical wisdom can offer insights into modern challenges such as rapid technological change and geopolitical uncertainty, highlighting that cultural exchange and mutual learning are important forces in the development of human civilization.

Dr. Rodanthi stated that China and Greece are two of the most representative ancient civilizations in the world, both have continuously contributed to world civilization. The conference in Athens therefore represents more than a celebration of the past. It is a discussion about the present and the future.

The conference centered on discussions around several key topics, including virtue and education, moral communities in changing societies, culture-based approaches to global order, and the role of humanistic values in the digital age. Dr. Rodanthi believes these themes show that classical studies are not far from reality. On the contrary, they speak directly to some of the most pressing issues of our time.

Take the issue of "The role of humanistic values in the digital age", for example, new technologies, including artificial intelligence, big data, and digital platforms, are transforming every aspect of life. They offer great convenience and opportunity, but they also raise difficult questions about ethics, privacy, human dignity, and social responsibility. Technology can process information, but it cannot by itself define wisdom. It can connect people directly, but it cannot guarantee mutual understanding. Classical traditions remind us that human beings must remain at the center of progress.

That is why the China-Greece dialogue on classics is not nostalgic. It is future-oriented. It asks how ancient wisdom can help modern societies think more carefully about development, justice, responsibility, and human dignity. It also encourages people to see culture not as an obstacle, but as a bridge.

In recent years, cultural exchanges between China and Greece have continued to deepen. Collaboration has broadened to encompass fields such as archaeology, education, museums, cultural heritage protection, academic research, translation, tourism, and youth exchanges. These activities contribute to the rapprochement of cultures on many levels.

Looking ahead, Dr. Rodanthi expressed optimism about the prospects for further enhancing cultural exchanges and mutual learning between Greece and China. In a world facing uncertainty and division, the cultural exchange between China and Greece offers confidence and inspiration. It tells us that ancient civilizations still have contemporary value, that different cultures can meet through respect rather than suspicion, and that the common future of humanity depends not only on technological progress or economic development, but also on wisdom, understanding and moral vision.

Recently, prominent British scholar Martin Jacques shared his analysis of Chinese modernization with People's Daily, examining China's trajectory through lenses of civilizational evolution, governance, and global transformation.

As a long-time China observer and author of influential works including When China Rules the World: The End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order, Jacques has established himself as a leading international voice on China's development. He contends that China's development has fundamentally challenged Western assumptions, particularly the notion that Westernization was prerequisite for success.

Jacques identifies the Communist Party of China's (CPC) effective state capacity as the pivotal driver behind the nation's economic transformation -- what he characterizes as the "intellectual engine" of China's historic progress. He emphasizes that achieving modernization at China's unprecedented scale represents a unique phenomenon in human history.

Between 1979 and 2023, China's economy expanded at an extraordinary 8.9% average annual rate, far exceeding global averages. Jacques notes this combination of speed and scale has created a distinctive industrialization model, achievable only through the CPC's decisive leadership -- a factor he deems indispensable to China's modernization.

The scholar describes China as developing a novel governance approach he terms "science-based governance," enabling simultaneous focus on immediate priorities and long-term strategy -- a capability he believes eludes many nations. He further highlights China's adaptive governance system, which maintains stability while avoiding institutional rigidity through continuous reform.

Jacques attributes China's sustained development momentum to its robust public opinion mechanisms coupled with strategic foresight. Crucially, he identifies civilizational continuity as central to China's stability, noting how millennia of history have forged strong cultural confidence -- from the 5,000-year-old civilizational roots to the imperial unification over two millennia ago.

Beyond transforming China itself, Jacques asserts Chinese modernization is reshaping global dynamics. Since joining the WTO, China has consistently advocated for more equitable international systems. He credits China with catalyzing the Global South's collective rise through both its development model and platforms like the Belt and Road Initiative.

As Global South nations move toward international centrality, Jacques observes history accelerating at unprecedented rates. He notes the expanding influence of China's four major global initiatives (Global Development, Security, Civilization, and Governance Initiatives), positioning China as an increasingly vital force for global stability.

Looking ahead, Jacques expresses strong confidence in China's trajectory, highlighting technological parity with the U.S. and leadership in fields like artificial intelligence. He positions China as an increasingly significant development model offering valuable lessons worldwide.

Projecting a decade forward, Jacques anticipates China will globally come to symbolize modernity itself.

Helwig Schmidt-Glintzer, a renowned German sinologist and vice president of the International Confucian Association, recently shared his insights with People's Daily on the unique spiritual strengths and internal drivers of Chinese culture. He discussed how traditional Chinese culture heritage can contribute wisdom and solutions to global governance.

Schmidt-Glintzer, with nearly six decades to China studies, noted that the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan(2026-2030) for national economic and social development explicitly calls for stimulating the cultural innovation and creativity of the entire nation and promoting the prosperity and development of socialist culture.

He views this as deeply consistent with enduring Chinese cultural traits: rootedness in tradition, openness and inclusivity, and a drive for continuous innovation. This approach, he argues, demonstrates China's strategic commitment to advancing cultural inheritance and development at the national level.

The scholar emphasized that understanding contemporary China requires an appreciation of its historical and cultural traditions, characterized by "unity in diversity," and the internal logic behind Chinese civilization's millennia-long continuity.

"The defining feature of Chinese culture is 'unity in diversity,' where unity and diversity complement each other. This is not only a unique cultural gene of China, but also one of the country's major strengths today," he said. In his view, China's contemporary development reflects both the organizational capacity to pool resources to accomplish major tasks and the wisdom embodied in the principle of "seeking harmony without uniformity."

Schmidt-Glintzer emphasized that Chinese culture has always maintained openness. China, he said, has never believed it possesses the "ultimate answer." Instead, it upholds a pragmatic and open-minded approach, adjusting its development path through real-world practice, embracing diverse possibilities and adapting them rationally. This, he noted, stands in sharp contrast to Western traditions that often emphasize a singular "absolute truth."

"Chinese culture has long been highly inclusive, valuing diversity and integration, which has enabled Chinese civilization to endure uninterrupted through the ages," he said. "The Chinese classics have accumulated into a profound and lasting reservoir of intellectual resources. They not only help forge social consensus, but also provide intellectual support for national development and friendly exchanges with other countries."

Having closely observed China's modernization for years, Schmidt-Glintzer once harbored concerns that China might lose its cultural identity by imitating Western models. However, he affirmed this did not occur. "China has not abandoned its historical roots. Instead, grounded in its traditional culture and social structures, it has forged a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics suited to its conditions," he said.

"While drawing on Western experience, China consistently emphasizes pragmatism, inclusiveness, adaption to local conditions, and the unity of knowledge and action. It neither isolates itself nor engages in blind imitation," he added.

He pointed to localized solutions in areas like ecological governance and rural revitalization as contemporary applications of traditional Chinese concepts such as prioritizing the people and adapting to local realities.

"There is no universal model for modernization," Schmidt-Glintzer asserted. "The core value of China's development path lies in achieving modernization through civilizational inheritance, building a balanced and open development pattern amidst diversity."

The sinologist also sees deep historical roots in China's emphasis on narrowing wealth gaps and ensuring development benefits all. Traditional Chinese society, he noted, stressed the organic connection among individuals, communities and the broader collective, and this holistic outlook has provided intellectual support for balanced development.

"The cultural and ethical progress constitutes a core part of modernization. All countries should build consensus and mutual recognition, and drive development through shared responsibilities," he said.

According to Schmidt-Glintzer, China's traditions and achievements in cultural and ethical progress provide its modernization with profound intellectual resources and solid value foundations. Through inheritance and renewal, they sustain social harmony and cohesion, offering enduring momentum for long-term development.

Globally, he added, China's philosophy of harmony between humanity and nature offers vital intellectual guidance for ecological governance and sustainable development. China's key roles in areas like climate governance and water-resource protection, providing viable pathways for global modernization through its ecological wisdom and practical experience.

Schmidt-Glintzer views China as Europe's natural partner for cooperation. Historically, Europe and Asia have maintained deep connections for centuries. Geographically, both share the Eurasian landmass, connected by land rather than separated by oceans.

"Europe needs more stable ties with China and robust trans-Eurasian networks for transportation and people-to-people exchange," he said. "The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China provides an important platform for cross-regional cooperation. Europe should not remain a bystander, but should actively align itself with the initiative."

He also noted the scholarly view of China not merely as a traditional "nation-state," but as a "civilizational state." For such a vast and ancient country. achieving balance between unity and diversity has always been paramount. The institutional flexibility and adaptability China demonstrates in governance, he suggested, may offer valuable insights for Europe.

"Intellectually, Europe has a long tradition of learning from China," he said, citing thinkers such as Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and Bertrand Russell, both of whom argued that Europe could draw wisdom and valuable experience from Chinese civilization.

"Mutual learning between European and Chinese civilizations has a historical foundation and should be strengthened through deeper communication and cooperation," he said.

Addressing global challenges like climate change, aging populations, and environmental pressures, Schmidt-Glintzer pointed out that nations share common interests. He called for cooperation to tackle these issues, resolving differences through dialogue and preventing conflict through greater mutual understanding among nations and civilizations.

"Europe, once exerted broad global influence, now needs to build a new framework on that historical foundation," he said, adding that it should actively look eastward, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with East Asia, especially China, and work together to explore pathways that promote world peace and development.

In a significant shift for the global automotive industry, Chinese automakers sold nearly 27 million vehicles worldwide in 2025, surpassing Japan's approximate 25 million sales. This marks the first time China has ended Japan's 25-year reign as the global sales leader.

The milestone is underscored by three Chinese companies now ranking among the world's top ten automakers. Notably, BYD secured its position as the global leader in new energy vehicle (NEV) sales for the fourth consecutive year.

The shift has sparked a wave of online comparisons: Nokia watching Apple's rise, or Kodak facing the digital revolution.

However, the rise of Chinese automakers is not simply a story about volume. It signals a generational transformation in the global auto industry, driven by strategic foresight and sustained innovation.

Often described as a "crown jewel" of modern industry, the automotive sector is a key indicator of a country's manufacturing strength.

In the early 20th century, Ford pioneered assembly-line production, shifting the industry's center from Europe to the United States. In the 1970s, following the oil shocks, Japanese automakers built global dominance on fuel efficiency and lean production. By 1980, Japan had overtaken the United States, and since 2000, companies like Toyota, Honda and Nissan set the pace.

Now, momentum has shifted decisively towards China.

As global decarbonization efforts accelerated, Chinese automakers moved quickly into electrification and intelligent technologies. This led to rapid advancements in areas like battery technology, large in-car displays, and urban automated driving systems (like Navigation on Autopilot - NOA).

Meanwhile, segments of the Japanese auto industry deliberated over the pace of transition, debating whether electric vehicles would fully supplant hybrids.

This divergence in approach led to a widening gap. By 2025, NEVs accounted for nearly 60 percent of China's auto market, compared with less than 3 percent in Japan.

China's rise reflects a long-term strategic vision, not an overnight success. NEVs were designated a national high-tech R&D priority as early as 2001.

Over more than two decades, policies ranging from purchase subsidies to charging infrastructure development, alongside sustained technological breakthroughs and market cultivation, have laid a solid foundation for the industry.

Furthermore, China's comprehensive industrial chain and vast domestic market provided fertile ground for the rapid innovation and large-scale deployment of NEVs.

This well-integrated ecosystem, encompassing upstream sectors like advanced materials, accelerated battery breakthroughs and enabled significant economies of scale.

This industrial clustering not only fosters coordinated innovation but also significantly reduces costs and shortens development cycles. Some estimates suggest Chinese automakers can develop a new electric vehicle in about 18 months -- more than twice as fast as many Japanese counterparts.

An analyst at Japan's Mizuho Bank attributed this to a combination of advanced technology, cost advantages and rapid R&D capabilities.

Yet, scale does not equate to strength. Despite a sharp drop in net profit in 2025, Toyota continues to generate higher per-vehicle profit -- around 17,000 yuan ($2,470) -- than its Chinese competitors.

Having secured the title of "volume champion," Chinese automakers now face the challenge of becoming "quality champions." Key hurdles remain: building stronger brand premium, navigating regulatory headwinds such as carbon tariffs and data security reviews in Europe and the United States, making charging as seamless as refueling; and advancing autonomous driving from promise to reality.

Each milestone reveals new challenges. However, one fact is undeniable: China's auto industry has moved to the center of the global stage. Its focus is shifting beyond speed and scale to pursuing long-term excellence and enduring quality in the new energy era.

John Ross, British economist and former director for economic and business policy for the mayor of London, recently received an exclusive interview with People's Daily.

From the perspective of a Western scholar, Ross, also a senior fellow at Renmin University of China's Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, examined the historical logic and global significance of China's pursuit of high-standard opening up, noting that China's continued opening up is not only essential to its own development but also a rare source of certainty in a turbulent world.

Ross has observed and studied China's economy since 1978, when China started its reform and opening up drive.

"When China was at a low level, it dared to make up its mind to open up to the outside world. This courage and judgment are very rare," he told People's Daily.

Calling China's success "comprehensive," Ross said the great changes in China are unbelievable throughout human history.

He pointed out that openness has become a social consensus in China, integrated into China's national mentality and cultural characteristics, and taking the road of internationalization is an inevitable choice for China.

China is currently making every effort to promote institutional opening up, transitioning from traditional "opening up based on the flow of factors" to a "rules-based, system-level opening."

Ross said this change is very necessary and wise. Institutional opening is not opening without principles, but building an institutional system that suits itself on the basis of following international general rules.

China's path has clear logic and steady steps, which is in line with the country's stage and the trend of globalization, he explained.

Currently, global protectionism and unilateralism are on the rise. Ross commented that protectionism will hurt the global economy, but it will not be enough to reverse the trend of openness in human history.

He said protectionism cannot stop the mainstream of global openness. Most countries in the world, especially the emerging countries in the Global South, have not chosen protectionism, but continue to adhere to opening up.

China is the world's second-largest economy and largest trading nation in goods. Its development achievements and open attitude have shown the value of cooperation to all countries, therefore providing more cooperation options and opportunities for countries in the global South.

Ross believes that China's firm commitment to expanding high-level opening up will drive economic growth in China and the world. China has a super large domestic market and a complete industrial system, which are favorable conditions for the sustained improvement of the Chinese economy.

In recent years, China has firmly chosen the path of open development and has also reaped the fruits of openness -- the Chinese economy has maintained stable growth, and the people have gained practical benefits from economic development, he said.

The outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan introduced a series of new development measures, and Ross has expressed particular interest in China's scientific and technological innovation.

He said China has transformed from a technological leader in a few fields at the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan period(2021-2025) to a global leader in electric vehicles, renewable energy, artificial intelligence and other fields, and this transformation is amazing.

According to Ross, the core of China's scientific and technological achievements lies in the high proportion of R&D investment and high conversion efficiency of this into products. High-level R&D investment, deep integration with the real economy, and scientific guidance, these three factors will promote China's technological breakthroughs.

"I believe that the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan will allow China to take the lead in an increasing number of fields of global science and technology, and through extensive cooperation with other developing countries, it will also promote the common interests of all countries," Ross noted.

Ross believes that at the current historical stage, the core direction of human development is reflected in China's development. He said China has chosen an open path that suits its own national conditions and has presented a historical opportunity. China's opening up over the past 40 years has proved the correctness of this path with practical results.

"I hope that more countries can learn from China's opening up and jointly promote the global economy in a better direction," he said.

As night falls, a deep-blue "eye" gazes into the distance. Located in the western part of the Rongdong District of Xiong'an New Area, north China's Hebei province, the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center rests quietly. Resembling a human eye in its architectural design, it is locally known as the "Eye of Xiong'an."

Inside this "city brain," servers glow with streams of blue light, supporting multidimensional computing for government services, urban planning, and ecological management. Large screens display a continuously evolving virtual city model on a digital operations platform.

"The Xiong'an Urban Computing Center adopts an integrated computing system that includes edge computing, cloud computing, supercomputing, and intelligent computing, providing computing, storage, and network services for big data, blockchain, and the Internet of Things across the city," said Zhao Song, an engineer at the center.

When asked what practical benefits the center brings, Zhao replied, "There are quite a lot," citing the Xiong'an Pass project as an example. Its systems are deployed at the Xiong'an Urban Computing Center, allowing residents to use a third-generation social security card -- known as the Xiong'an Pass -- to access services in government affairs, social security, healthcare, transportation, and daily consumption. To date, more than 810,000 such cards have been issued, with over 6 million uses recorded.

"The computing center provides strong support for our operations," said Zhang Xu, project manager of the Xiong'an Pass at China Xiong'an Group Digital City Company.

During a government-led consumption promotion campaign, the mini-program of Xiong'an Pass experienced up to 40,000 concurrent connections at the moment vouchers were released, placing high demands on bandwidth and cloud resource responsiveness, Zhang noted.

With 50 petabytes of current storage capacity and a planned expansion to 1,000 petabytes, the facility prioritizes sustainability. Its design includes over 10,000 square meters of ultra-low energy consumption building space, setting national benchmarks for green infrastructure. Critically, all technologies -- from chips and servers to cloud platforms and applications -- are domestically developed.

All government service systems in Xiong'an New Area are hosted at the computing center. Enterprises such as China Satellite Network Group Co., Ltd., China Space-Time Information Co., Ltd., and China Xiong'an Group, along with research institutions including the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Xiong'an Institute of Meteorological Artificial Intelligence, have also deployed their operations here. To date, the center has aggregated over 38 billion data entries and handled more than 400 million shared interface calls

As a "city of the future" entrusted with a mission of lasting national significance, Xiong'an integrates intelligence and innovation into its development, with the digital city and the physical city evolving in tandem.

In Xiong'an, even traffic lights can "think." During morning rush hour in the Rongdong district, traffic signals adjust in real time based on traffic flow -- an example of the city's artificial intelligence-powered system and a vivid illustration of its digital twin model.

Underground utility tunnels also reflect this digital intelligence. "Through digital twin technology, sensor devices, and building information modeling, we monitor and provide early warnings for potential issues in water, electricity, gas, heating, and communication systems," Zhao explained. In Xiong'an, every building, road, and pipeline has its own "digital ID." "The digital city enables more precise and efficient urban governance," Zhao added.

Xiong'an New Area has established a smart city standards system based on building information modeling and city information modeling platforms. It has built an independently innovative urban computing system featuring coordinated edge-cloud supercomputing integration, while achieving full coverage of IPv6, the HarmonyOS ecosystem, and sensing systems. Smart applications from government services and environmental protection to transportation and energy, are being rapidly implemented across the city.

Zheng points out that, in technology, "open-source" denotes an open, collaborative model where designs are publicly accessible for modification, improvement, and sharing. Meanwhile, the "open-source" nature of Chinese modernization rests on three pillars.

First, Chinese path to modernization possesses its own fundamental principles and origins. Second, China advances its modernization with an open mindset and practice, promoting mutual progress with the modernization processes of other countries and regions. Third, when others learn from China they primarily adopt an approach emphasizing autonomy, self-reliance, and pragmatic adaptation.

Adhering to opening up, cooperation and mutual benefit is an inherent requirement of Chinese modernization. Zheng emphasizes that openness is the prerequisite for "open source." It is precisely through opening up that China has effectively leveraged its comparative advantages, generating strong momentum for modernization.

China's current phase of opening-up is characterized by both high-standard institutional opening-up and unilateral opening-up. Through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, as well as the Global Governance Initiative, and its firm support for multilateral platforms such as the G20, APEC, and the BRICS, China is sharing its development experience with countries around the world especially those in the Global South.

This "source" provided by Chinese modernization offers inspiration for more countries seeking independent development paths. The "open-source" nature of Chinese modernization not only supports China's own sustainable development but also creates new opportunities globally and contributes to a better future for humanity, Zheng said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on March 5 took part in a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Jiangsu province at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing.

During the deliberation, he stressed that developing new quality productive forces is crucial to driving high-quality development and enhancing economic competitiveness.

He laid out clear requirements on developing new quality productive forces, enhancing economic resilience, and advancing common prosperity for all to fulfill the development goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

He urged major provincial economies such as Jiangsu to redouble efforts to gain experience in analyzing new situations and solving new problems. His remarks carry important guiding significance for advancing Chinese modernization.

Why is developing new quality productive forces so important?

Over the past year, the world has witnessed humanoid robots progress from tentative first steps to performing impressive "kung fu-like" movements. China now ranks among the global leaders in robotics research and application. At the same time, homegrown AI large models driving the global open-source ecosystem, while domestically produced new energy vehicles are becoming a common sight in everyday households. Technological innovation is reshaping industries across the board, generating new momentum for growth and transform the way people work and live.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China's economy has navigated one challenge after another, maintaining steady and positive momentum despite a complex domestic and international environment.

A key factor behind this resilience has been the country's firm commitment to high-quality development and its efforts to foster new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions.

Data released during this year's "two sessions" are encouraging. China's value-added manufacturing output has ranked first in the world for 16 consecutive years. In 2025, the value-added output in high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing grew by 9.4 percent and 9.2 percent respectively. China has also built the world's largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system.

In recent years, the Chinese economy has weathered multiple headwinds while maintaining strong resilience and vitality. A key reason lies in its comprehensive industrial system. Developing new quality productive forces has become essential for building a modern industrial structure, sustaining high-quality development, and strengthening the economy's ability to withstand external shocks.

Across the country, regional economies are exploring their own pathways for industrial upgrading. Jiangsu has delivered a strong performance by advancing intelligent upgrading, digital transformation, and network connectivity of its manufacturing sector, building an internationally competitive advanced manufacturing base.

Guangdong has accelerated the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area as an international center for scientific and technological innovation, with the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster now ranking first globally.

Anhui in east China has surged to the top nationally in both automobile and new-energy vehicle production, with vehicle exports exceeding one million units -- a result of the province leveraging its unique position at the intersection of multiple national strategies.

Today, China has firmly anchored the strategic task of developing new quality productive forces. Major provincial economies are taking on greater responsibilities, while regions across the country are leveraging their comparative advantages and pursuing their own strengths -- climbing to higher levels and moving toward new frontiers of development.

"Bring an extra suitcase to China."

"Must-buy lists for 'Shopping in China.'"

"A practical guide to tax refunds."

Posts tagged "Shopping in China" are going viral on overseas social media, highlighting a surge in shopping enthusiasm among inbound travelers.

Data from China's State Taxation Administration shows that in 2025, the number of overseas visitors claiming tax refunds surged 305 percent year on year, while sales of eligible goods jumped 95.9 percent and total refunds rose 95.8 percent.

The shift from "China Travel" to "Shopping in China" signifies more than just changing visitor habits. These practical shopping guides, widely shared online, point to deeper transformations in China's tourism market, as increasingly diverse consumption scenarios are reshaping foreign visitors' itineraries.

At a digital products store on Beijing's bustling Wangfujing pedestrian street, an Italian tourist named Luca was browsing smart bands from a Chinese brand, asking about differences between models and phone compatibility.

After testing various features with help from a sales assistant, he purchased four units -- one for his wife, an avid morning runner; two for his parents, who could use the health-monitoring functions; and one for his child, who would stand out at school with the stylish gadget.

Ahead of his trip to China, Luca said friends back home had already asked him to bring back items such as Bluetooth earphones and portable chargers.

As Chinese tech products sweep the globe, foreign tourists' shopping lists are expanding beyond traditional souvenirs to include high-tech products. Foldable smartphones, AI goggles, and drones are increasingly finding their way into their shopping carts.

Huaqiangbei electronics market in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province, often dubbed China's top electronics hub, has become a must-visit destination.

At major markets such as Huaqiang Electronics World and SEG E-Market, foreign visitors carrying large bags or even rolling suitcases stand out in the crowd.

"People used to think of Chinese specialties as tea or panda-themed souvenirs, but now these tech-driven smart products are the new 'must-buys,'" said an Egyptian tourist, his shopping bags filled after a busy morning.

Yiwu in east China's Zhejiang province, known as the "world's supermarket," offers a one-stop shopping experience, from nail clippers and phone cases to smart home appliances and drones, making it another key stop for foreign visitors.

A Russian tourist named Anna purchased a portable smart translator capable of real-time translation in over 100 languages for her son. "Yiwu defies expectations. It's not just a wholesale market for cheap goods; it feels more like a 'laboratory for future living,'" she said.

Beyond the appeal of quality and innovation in Chinese manufacturing, many foreign visitors are also captivated by Chinese aesthetics.

The Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum has launched a refrigerator magnet inspired by the caisson in the Heavenly Palace of Longfu Temple. Chengdu's Kuanzhai Alley, a premier historical and cultural district, incorporates panda elements into its souvenirs. "Rong Momo," a stuffed toy modeled on roujiamo, a well-known street food from Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi province, is popular among tourists.

Culturally distinctive keepsakes have grown increasingly popular among foreign tourists in recent years. These locally designed products offer an accessible glimpse into Chinese aesthetics and cultural sensibilities.

As policies facilitating inbound tourism continue to improve, services across visa processing, border clearance, international transport, and payment have become more convenient. At the same time, immersive consumption experiences are emerging as a new highlight of "Shopping in China."

On Guozijian Street in Beijing's Dongcheng district, a Canadian tourist named Lillian donned traditional Chinese attire for her first travel photoshoot. "These are some of the best photos of my life," she shared. From choosing costumes and makeup to learning traditional poses and etiquette, this experience sparked in her a strong fascination with traditional Chinese culture.

At a tax refund counter on Shanghai's Madang Road No. 159, foreign visitors queued to complete refund procedures. Asked about their "Shopping in China" experience, many responded with a thumbs-up, describing it as "affordable, convenient, and a great overall experience."

As the potential of "Shopping in China" continues to unfold, cities and regions across the country are moving quickly to seize the moment. By rolling out tailored policies and incentives, they aim to build a more internationalized consumption environment where foreign visitors can travel with ease and shop with greater value.

By the end of November 2025, China had 12,252 departure tax refund stores nationwide, including 9,151 newly added that year. More than 7,000 stores now offer instant refund services, with coverage continuing to expand to better meet the needs of overseas travelers.

As an original and defining concept, whole-process people's democracy is deeply embedded in the daily lives of the Chinese people.

Deliberating the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) is a major focus of this year's "two sessions." The process of formulating the plan itself is a vivid practice of whole-process people's democracy.

From May 20 to June 20, 2025, an online public consultation was conducted for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan. The initiative drew over 3.11 million valid submissions, yielding more than 1,500 constructive suggestions across 27 topics.

The drafting group attached great importance to these inputs, carefully studied and incorporated them, with many reflected in relevant policy measures of the plan in appropriate forms.

By the end of 2025, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee had established 60 grassroots legislative outreach offices, which in turn drove the establishment of more than 7,800 such offices at the provincial and municipal levels. In 2025, more than 1,400 CPPCC members submitted over 12,000 reports on public sentiment. These diverse channels for reflecting public opinion serve as important bridges linking the people with the authorities.

Such democracy widely participated by the people has made "micro-governance" more dynamic and efficient.

At a "People's Livelihood Teahouse" in Wenhe subdistrict, Guangling district, Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu province, deputies to people's congresses at various levels, members of CPPCC local committees, and local residents gather to discuss issues affecting people's livelihoods. There, residents' concerns are addressed, and some suggestions are promptly relayed to relevant authorities.

In recent years, similar platforms have been established one after another, making primary-level governance smoother and more effective.

From farmlands and factory floors to hospitals, schools, and communities, NPC deputies and CPPCC members diligently perform their duties, soliciting opinions from the public, and turning suggestions into concrete actions that deliver tangible benefits.

In 2025, all 269 motions and 9,160 suggestions submitted by NPC deputies were reviewed and handled, with responses provided to the deputies. Of the more than 5,900 proposals submitted by CPPCC members, over 5,000 were filed, and some suggestions were incorporated into relevant policy documents.

A defining feature of "whole-process" is that it runs through the entire chain, spans all dimensions, and covers all areas.

Take food safety, a matter of widespread public concern, as an example. From May to September 2025, the NPC Standing Committee's law enforcement inspection team carried out inspections on the implementation of the Food Safety Law.

The team placed great emphasis on hearing public voices, incorporating public opinion, and pooling public wisdom.

Two deputies who led relevant motions and 10 other deputies were invited to participate throughout the process, contributing professional expertise and offering suggestions from different perspectives on strengthening food safety.

The team also organized a questionnaire survey on the implementation of the law, collecting 488,200 valid responses and 119,800 public suggestions.

During the inspection, the NPC Standing Committee also completed targeted amendments to the Food Safety Law. By integrating legislative and oversight functions, it further urged localities and departments to fulfill their responsibilities, improved relevant laws, regulations, and standards systems, strengthened law enforcement capacity, and consolidated a social governance framework for food safety, collectively safeguarding public health.

Whole-process people's democracy is not occasional, partial, fragmented, or piecemeal. Rather, it runs through the entire chain of democratic election, consultation, decision-making, management, and oversight; spans all aspects of political and social life; and covers all fields, including economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological development.

Continuously meeting the people's growing needs for a better life is an inherent requirement of developing democracy. Democracy is meant to solve the problems for the people.

China's development demonstrates that only a democracy suited to a country's specific conditions can be reliable and effective. The defining features of "whole-process" people's democracy enrich the forms of human political civilization and offer a Chinese approach to exploring better social systems.

Looking ahead, China will continue to follow a path of democratic development suited to its national conditions, advocate and support other countries in independently choosing their own paths of democratic development, and work together to advance the progress of democracy for all humanity.

More than 300 robotics-related companies have gathered in Beijing's Yizhuang Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), forming an industrial chain valued at over 10 billion yuan. Why has Yizhuang become such a magnet for robotics firms?

Two notable competitions held in 2025 provide clues. In April, the world's first humanoid robot half-marathon took place in Yizhuang. Then in November, the inaugural China International Robotics Debate Competition finals were hosted there. One event tested physical prowess ("martial"), the other intellectual capabilities ("civil").

Cai Jizheng, director of the Robotics and Intelligent Manufacturing Industry Bureau at BDA, framed these events less as competitions and more as scientific experiments and technical validations. He explained that humanoid robots integrate cutting-edge technologies like embodied intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and new materials. Their core development areas focus on the "brain" (perception, cognition, decision-making), the "cerebellum" (motion control), and the "body" (hardware structure). "We've adopted a strategy of hosting competitions almost every month," Cai said, "to drive technological progress and concentrate talent through competition."

While favorable policies are a primary draw for companies "voting with their feet," access to real-world application scenarios is even more critical. In August 2025, Yizhuang released the "Ten Measures for Embodied Intelligence Robots," offering substantial incentives such as 100 million yuan annually in "data vouchers," "prototyping vouchers" to reduce costs, and subsidies for humanoid robot sales. These hard-hitting measures cover the entire industrial chain, from data and R&D to scenarios and sales.

Earlier that year, in February 2025, a unique "job posting" was announced by the robot "Tian Gong": the "Beijing Yizhuang Nine Benchmark Robotics Application Scenarios Opportunity List." This initiative formally opened Yizhuang's urban resources, pledging to release opportunities for over 10,000 embodied intelligence robots worth nearly 5 billion yuan within two years, including more than 1,000 humanoid robots.

Director Cai emphasized that scenario access extends beyond the list. Using the Yizhuang New City as a testbed, BDA is implementing an embodied intelligence social experiment plan, allowing robots to learn in real-world environments. "We've already opened over 40 real-world settings like supermarkets, pharmacies, hotels, and warehouses," Cai noted, "generating millions of high-quality datasets for autonomous embodied intelligence."

Yizhuang's ecosystem is rapidly maturing. It hosts Beijing's sole "Human-like Robot Future Industry Incubation Base," the city's first "Robot Flexible Agile Manufacturing Platform," and the initial "Humanoid Robot Pilot Verification Platform." A 250,000-square-meter Beijing Robotics Industrial Park is under development, complemented by a 10-billion-yuan robotics industry fund. Efforts also include establishing embodied intelligence robot 4S stores. These platforms aim to aggregate essential resources and build a comprehensive ecosystem.

The area has essentially formed a complete industrial chain covering core components, whole-machine manufacturing, system integration, and scenario-based solutions. It has established a "1+6" industrial system centered on core components plus six types of robots: humanoid, industrial, specialized, medical, collaborative, and logistics robots.

Kong Lei, secretary of the BDA Working Committee, outlined ambitious goals: "We will continue to expand future industries like embodied intelligence." By the end of 2027, Yizhuang aims to create at least 10 benchmark intelligent scenario complexes, deploy 100 specialized AI models, and attract 1,000 core companies to its AI industrial chain.

In 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit marked a historic moment that resonated around the world.

Proposed by China, the four global initiatives—the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), and the GGI—together form a system of public goods to address global challenges, laying out a clear framework to advance the reform and improvement of the global governance system.

Each of the four initiatives has its own focus while complementing one another: promoting prosperity through shared development, safeguarding stability through common security, enhancing mutual trust through mutual learning among civilizations, and pursuing greater common good through improved governance.

Together, they point toward an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity, providing clear strategic guidance for building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Concerned with humanity as a whole while also focusing on the concrete needs of individuals, the four global initiatives share a distinctly clear value: putting people first. The building of a community with a shared future for humanity aims to enable people of all countries to share peace, development, and dignity, and to create a better future for human society.

Development—for whom?

The GDI clearly upholds a people-centered approach. It advocates safeguarding and improving people's livelihoods in the course of development, protecting and promoting human rights. It aims to ensure that development is for the people, relies on the people, and that its fruits are shared by the people, so as to achieve all-round human development.

Security—for whom?

Without a peaceful and stable environment, people's well-being cannot be guaranteed. The GSI emphasizes resolving differences and disputes among countries through dialogue and consultation by peaceful means, and respecting the development paths and social systems chosen independently by each country. The purpose is to ensure that all countries enjoy a peaceful and stable external environment, enabling people all around the world to live and work in peace and contentment.

Civilization—to nurture whom?

In the flourishing garden of human civilizations, the dignity of every nation and every individual should be protected, and the value of every civilization should be respected. The GCI calls for promoting the common values of humanity and supports people of all countries to achieve their shared pursuit of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy, and freedom through their own choices.

Governance—whose well-being does it improve?

People of all countries should be the fundamental participants and beneficiaries of global governance. Global governance can only gain widespread support and public consent when it is aimed at improving people's well-being with a real sense of gain.

The GGI explicitly calls for "a people-centered approach." It stresses that global governance system should be reformed and improved to ensure the participation and benefits of all peoples.

By providing new financing channels for global development, promoting global climate governance, and advancing international cooperation on sustainable development, China has taken the lead in driving governance reform in areas such as international financial architecture reform, artificial intelligence, climate change, and trade, fully reflecting a people-centered approach.

The traditional Chinese values believed that the people are the foundation of a country and only when the people lead a good life can the country thrive. It is also convinced that bringing benefit to the people is the fundamental principle of governance. These values are what shape today's China, which responds to people's concerns and pursues the larger interests of all countries.

Chinese modernization remains firmly people-centered, and the global public goods China provides are likewise focused on "people," coordinating efforts around their needs. This is precisely the emotional and value-based foundation upon which the four global initiatives have won broad recognition.

China's Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will officially launch an island-wide independent customs operations on December 18, 2025. This milestone in the development of the Hainan FTP sends a clear and unequivocal message to the world: China remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding high-level opening up, even amid rising protectionist headwinds.

The establishment of the Hainan FTP is a major reform and opening up initiative personally planned and advanced by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Over the past seven years, the FTP has steadily taken shape, leveraging the advantages of China's vast domestic market while aligning with high-standard international trade rules. It has increasingly become a focal point for both domestic and global investors.

As a hallmark of China's reform and opening up in the new era, the Hainan FTP is emerging as a pioneering platform of institutional innovation, a hub for regional cooperation, and a new engine for global economic integration. It embodies China's readiness to share its development opportunities and work in partnership with the rest of the world.

The launch of independent customs operations does not imply isolation; rather, it marks a deeper level of opening up. The number of tariff items eligible for zero-tariff treatment will expand to around 6,600 - about 74 percent of all tariff items - representing a sharp increase of nearly 53 percentage points. A targeted, low-intervention regulatory model will be adopted, featuring streamlined supervision for zero-tariff goods and goods under relaxed management.

Two distinct customs "lines" will facilitate these operations. The "first line" will connect the Hainan FTP with economies outside China's customs territory, enabling the smooth flow of zero-tariff goods through simplified policies. The "second line" will link the FTP with the Chinese mainland, where tailored oversight will help safeguard the broader domestic market. Within the FTP, zero-tariff goods and processed products can be stored without time restrictions, offering businesses greater operational flexibility.

The Hainan FTP will also introduce more favorable tariff policies, simplified trade measures, improved travel and logistics procedures, and targeted regulatory oversight. With both institutional "software" and physical "hardware" in place, Hainan is set to become a modern, globally connected hub of vitality and openness, injecting strong momentum into China's high-quality development and setting a benchmark for higher-level opening up.

Unlike traditional opening-up models that primarily focus on the flow of goods and production factors, institutional opening up - centered on rules, regulations, management, and standards - represents a higher standard of openness. The Hainan FTP is designed to align with the most advanced open economies in the world, providing a more stable and predictable regulatory environment and broader opportunities for businesses worldwide.

The results are already evident. In 2024, despite global economic uncertainties, the number of newly registered foreign-invested firms in Hainan exceeded 2,000, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 20 percent. At the 2025 Global Industrial Investment Promotion Conference for the Hainan Free Trade Port held in April, 265 projects were signed with a combined contract value of roughly 233.6 billion yuan ($32.44 billion). To date, investors from 176 countries and regions have entered the Hainan market, and the province's economic openness has reached 35 percent. This continued inflow of global capital underscores the international business community's confidence in China's high-level opening up.

At a time when unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise and economic globalization is encountering severe challenges, China's determination to remain open is particularly significant.

Since the launch of its first pilot free trade zone (FTZ) in Shanghai in 2013, China has leveraged FTZs and the Hainan FTP to dismantle institutional barriers, reduce trade costs, and enhance the free flow of resources. Institutional opening up has thus become increasingly substantive, providing fresh momentum for global economic growth and creating new opportunities for win-win cooperation.

China continues to shorten its negative list for foreign investment and expand its global network of high-standard free trade agreements. As the breadth, depth, and quality of its opening up increase, the benefits of reform and opening up are being shared more widely with the world.

Time and again, facts have demonstrated that China's pursuit of high-level opening up is not a short-term tactic, but a strategic choice aligned with global development trends and the country's long-term development goals. China was, is, and will remain an attractive, safe, and promising destination for global investors.

The rise of the Hainan FTP offers a vivid testament to China's evolving model of opening up. Looking ahead, China will continue to pursue high-level opening up as a driver of high-quality growth and will contribute even more actively to building an open world economy and a community with a shared future for humanity.