Chinese-style modernization continuously expands humanity's imagination of the future (Understanding China · Understanding Chinese-style modernization)

From green and low-carbon to technological innovation, from inclusive development to high-level opening up, from dialogue among civilizations to global cooperation—Chinese-style modernization is continuously expanding humanity’s imagination of the future. In recent years, more and more international friends have come to China. After closely and firsthand observing Chinese-style modernization, they have reached this conclusion: seeing China means seeing the shape of tomorrow in the world; understanding China means understanding the possibilities of humanity’s future.

Industrial-system leapfrogging showcases a spirit of taking the initiative in history

Bao Shaoshan (Australia)

For a country and a society to truly move at the forefront of the times is not only because it can respond to real-world challenges; more importantly, it can achieve innovation in the process of responding to challenges. It is not because it was the first to put forward concepts of the future, but because it was the first to create the conditions to achieve it. Over the past 10-plus years, China’s development practices that have driven industrial-system leapfrogging clearly demonstrate a spirit of taking the initiative in history: China is not waiting for the future; it is creating the future with today.

Today in China, whether in big cities or in smaller cities, electric mobility, intelligent delivery, and digital platform services are no longer “future scenarios,” but everyday ways of life that ordinary people can directly feel. For ordinary people, digitalization shows up as cashless payments, e-commerce, and the convenience of “anytime, anywhere.” For businesses, digitalization shows up as logistics optimization, production automation, agricultural yield increases, and supply-chain coordination. These changes mean that the future is no longer something confined to vision; through infrastructure development, the evolution of industrial systems, and the accumulation of technical capabilities, it has truly taken root as part of the fabric of real-world order.

China is also actively laying out plans in a range of cutting-edge technology fields. From friction-driven nano-generators to new materials such as graphene, and to technological breakthroughs such as ferroelectric field-effect transistors—these explorations all point to a common trend: making sensing, computing, and connectivity more efficient, and enabling them to enter real-world scenarios in a more distributed and more embedded manner. The result is not only improved system efficiency, but also spatial empowerment. Many smaller cities and remote areas will be drawn more deeply into modern economic value flows, gaining new industrial opportunities and room for income growth.

Modernization is not the piling up of isolated technologies; it is the growth of system-wide capabilities. Whether a country can truly build a future-oriented system hinges on whether it has the ability to integrate technology, industries, institutions, and infrastructure. Facing the combined challenges of energy transition, climate change, and overlapping geopolitical risks, what humanity needs is stronger capability for energy upgrades and higher-level modern industrial capability.

China’s formation of large-scale production capacity is an important material foundation for the global shift toward a sustainable future. China is not simply推进 energy transition; it starts from national conditions and coordinates development with security, efficiency with stability. China is building not a single-energy replacement, but a more efficient, more resilient, and more sustainable integrated energy system. China has built the world’s largest power grid, and this network is continuously evolving toward greater intelligence, more distribution, and higher efficiency.

More and more, China’s development experience shows that a truly strategically minded country must start from the entire process—production, circulation, and use—and continuously improve the efficiency of the entire social system while enhancing the integrated capability to support modernization. China’s practice shows that whichever side can more effectively advance electrification, digitalization, and systemic industrial upgrading is more likely to take the initiative in future development, and is more capable of improving people’s living standards. This is one of the most important lessons China offers to the world—especially to the broad developing countries.

China has not waited for the future; it is building the future in reality. It has not confined itself to abstract visions; it is shaping the future step by step across industry, infrastructure, technology, and institutions. This future is no longer monopolized by a handful of countries’ modernization pathways; instead, it provides concrete references for more countries to explore development routes that fit their own national conditions. The future is not far off—it is already taking clearer shape in China today. China has been creating the future with today, and this future belongs not only to China—it is also creating new possibilities for the world.

(The author is a part-time professor at Queensland University of Technology, Australia)

Expand high-level opening up and build a world-class business environment

Ye Hongmu (France)

In today’s world, as economic globalization develops in depth, open cooperation has become an important driving force for global prosperity. China is continuously expanding high-level opening up, bringing opportunities not only to multinational enterprises, but also providing a broader space for global cooperation. To go hand in hand with China means to participate in building a future world that is more open and more interconnected.

As an “all-attendee” for eight consecutive years exhibiting at the fair, L’Oréal has launched more than 10 brands and hundreds of new products at each session of the China International Import Expo (CIIE). Last year, I personally attended the CIIE for the first time and witnessed, firsthand on site, the unprecedented scale of the exhibits and the tremendous innovative vitality. This experience deeply exhilarated me, and helped me understand that the CIIE is not only a showcase platform, but also an important window through which global companies share China’s opportunities and deepen cooperation—reflecting China’s determination to promote open cooperation and foster global economic connectivity.

By firmly and unswervingly expanding high-level opening up and continuously improving the market system, China has not only become fertile ground for stable development of multinational enterprises, but also provided a more open cooperation platform for global industrial chains, supply chains, and innovation networks. In today’s world full of uncertainty, China’s high-level opening up provides multinational enterprises with stable and prosperous investment prospects. In recent years, a series of breakthrough policies have been steadily implemented, continuously expanding market access space and injecting fresh vitality into industrial innovation. China has made efforts to build a world-class business environment, which has become an important support for multinational enterprises to develop long term in China—and a solid foundation for us to achieve mutual success.

Over the past 30 years, L’Oréal has witnessed China’s consumption market flourish and rise to become a strategic high ground for creating global value. China has become L’Oréal’s second-largest market worldwide, which further reinforces our long-held belief: investing in China means investing in the future. To meet the market demands bursting with energy, we are continuously expanding our operational footprint. We have established the group’s first intelligent operations center worldwide in Suzhou, Jiangsu, and we will also carry out investment in Nantong, Jiangsu.

Today, China is growing into an important source of supply for future industries and innovation models. New technologies, new business formats, and new consumption scenarios are constantly emerging, making China a key window for multinational enterprises to observe future trends and participate in future development. Chinese consumers not only pursue high-quality products, but also pay close attention to green, technology-driven, personalized, and sustainable development. Innovative products and consumption trends that originate in China are increasingly moving into the world, becoming an important reference for global markets.

The L’Oréal China Research & Innovation Center, located in Shanghai, has been in operation for 21 years, vividly reflecting our R&D strategy of “Global brain, Chinese heart, and Future drive.” Here, a team of nearly 400 scientists deeply decodes local consumer needs, providing guidance for global innovation trends. The “supramolecular” technology that we have co-developed with Chinese partners has been widely applied across L’Oréal’s international brand product portfolio. We also spearheaded in China the first open innovation challenge— the “BIG BANG” beauty tech co-creation program—working with Chinese start-ups to explore future directions for beauty technology, accelerating the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies and enabling them to scale into industry.

In today’s complex and ever-changing international environment, the importance of open cooperation has become even more pronounced. China continues to promote high-level opening up, releasing priceless certainty to the world while revealing more deeply a simple truth: future prosperity is never a closed-door “self-made” endeavor; it is deep integration in mutual achievement. L’Oréal’s development story in China is a vivid illustration of multinational enterprises and China seeking to achieve “mutual benefits and shared growth.” We look forward with great sincerity to writing a new chapter of “in China, with China, for China” here. Our confidence is stronger than ever. We believe that winning in China is winning in the future.

(The author is the Chief Executive Officer of L’Oréal Group)

Promote common prosperity and achieve inclusive development

Men Du (Cameroon)

Walking across China’s vast land has made me firmly believe: to look ahead at a country’s future, one must see how it treats the most ordinary people; to judge a development model, one must see whether it can truly benefit all the people.

At this year’s Two Sessions of China’s National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, “common prosperity” remains a keyword throughout. From increasing income for urban and rural residents, to raising the minimum standard of basic pensions, to further strengthening social safety net and expanding the equalization of basic public services—what I not only saw was the solemn commitment of the Chinese government to the Chinese people, but also found the answer to “why today’s China is the world of tomorrow.”

For a long time, modernization has seemingly been labeled as “exclusive to a few countries and enjoyed by a few groups.” China broke this spell with concrete actions. Not only did it complete, over decades, the industrialization process that Western developed countries took hundreds of years to go through, it has also consistently adhered to the philosophy of “not leaving anyone behind.” With strong planning, long-term timelines, and tough implementation, China achieved leapfrog development while avoiding the dilemmas of widening gaps between rich and poor and divisions between urban and rural areas.

I have visited and conducted research in more than 20 provinces and dozens of villages across China, witnessing the vivid practice of Chinese-style modernization taking root at the grassroots level and benefiting the broad public. In Shahaou Village, Lüliang City, Shanxi, income, employment, education, and health for farming households all have concrete落实, and there is a response to every concern. In Shenshan Village, Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi, residents of a once-poor village lifted themselves out of poverty by developing farming and breeding industries and e-commerce live-streaming. They are now living better lives. In Xiao Gucheng Village, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, the philosophy of “clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” resonates in sync with people’s happy lives… During my research, I often heard a saying: “Modernization is not a one-act play by a few people; it is a grand chorus sung by hundreds of millions.” This seemingly simple statement is, in fact, a guiding maxim for humanity’s future development.

The future the world needs has never been a lopsided arrangement in which prosperity is monopolized by a few countries while most countries remain left behind for the long term. It is not a cold picture of widening income gaps and marginalized vulnerable groups. Rather, it is a good future in which countries join hands, cooperate, and develop together. China’s development practice with common prosperity as its underlying color provides an answer to the challenges of the times—only by placing the people at the highest position in people’s hearts, integrating fairness and justice into development, and combining long-term planning with steadfast implementation, can China chart a path of modernization that both develops itself and inspires the world.

Chinese-style modernization moves the world not only because it is fast and on a large scale, but also because it has redefined the value core of modernization—development is for the people, development relies on the people, and the fruits of development are shared by the people. Common prosperity is by no means egalitarianism. Instead, it is rooted in high-quality development, so that everyone has development opportunities, access to life security, and real drive to strive. Common prosperity is not a one-time initiative; it is a long-term pursuit that runs through the entire process of national development. This people-centered development philosophy injects confidence and points a direction for many developing countries that long for development and pursue fairness.

For the global South countries—including African countries—China’s today is precisely the tomorrow we yearn for and strive to reach. We hope for development, but we also hope for inclusive development in which everyone participates and everyone benefits. We pursue modernization, but we also pursue localized modernization rooted in our own national realities and aligned with our own circumstances. China’s practice fully proves that modernization has never had a single path. Development does not have to come at the cost of sacrificing fairness. All countries can, on the premise of maintaining unity and stability, chart their own paths of leapfrog development that fit them.

I firmly believe that common prosperity is not only a story of China’s development, but also the ideal form of humanity’s development. A China that does not leave anyone behind, upholds happiness for all people, pursues peaceful development, and is committed to benefiting the world—that is the future most worth looking forward to in this era.

(The author is a PhD in law from Peking University and Director of the International Exchange Department of the China-Africa People-to-People Association/Chamber of Commerce)

Exploring ecological civilization and building harmony between people and nature

Walid Gaidan (Egypt)

Since entering the新时代, China’s efforts in building ecological civilization have achieved remarkable results. By firmly establishing the concept of ecological civilization and vigorously advancing the building of a Beautiful China, China has redefined the relationship between economic growth and environmental protection, offering important inspiration for humanity as it explores the future of harmony between people and nature.

My observations of China’s ecological and environmental protection began with my research on rice genetics at the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences. In my scientific research practice, I came to deeply understand that China’s agricultural research not only pursues higher yields, but also places emphasis on the long-term stability and sustainable development of ecosystems. Chinese researchers are committed to developing crop varieties with stronger resilience and lower dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides,推动 agriculture to transition toward greener, more efficient, and more sustainable directions. This development thinking shows that modern agriculture can protect the environment while meeting humanity’s needs.

A year working and living in Haikou, Hainan, gave me a more three-dimensional understanding of China’s ecological civilization initiatives. Here, environmental protection is reflected not only in farmland and forests, but also extends to the ocean and coastal wetlands. The mangrove protection and restoration projects left a deep impression on me. Within protected areas, elevated boardwalks allow people to get close to nature while avoiding interference with ecosystems. This approach, which combines ecological and environmental protection with sustainable tourism, reflects positive interaction between development and protection.

I gradually came to understand the core logic behind China’s ecological transition: development must respect the carrying capacity of nature, and ecosystems’ resilience must be continuously strengthened. From delineating ecological protection red lines, to large-scale afforestation, desertification control, and biodiversity protection, and to the rapid development of renewable energy such as solar and wind power—China is promoting a green transition through systematic planning, forming positive interaction between environmental protection and economic growth. China has demonstrated that environmental protection and economic development are not opposing relationships; they can be coordinated and unified. By combining long-term planning, technological innovation, and social participation, China has explored a feasible path that both advances modernization and protects the environment.

China’s practices in sustainable agriculture, ecological restoration, urban planning, and clean energy provide globally referable experience, and also offer a practical path for building the future of harmony between people and nature. New-energy buses running through city streets, green spaces integrated into urban planning, waste sorting and resource recycling becoming voluntary public actions… When I saw local residents actively throw themselves into these environmental initiatives, I realized that the future of sustainable development depends not only on macro-level institutions and policy guidance, but also on broad participation and concerted efforts from all sectors of society—and all of this is happening right in front of my eyes in China.

What I see in China is not only improvement in the ecological environment, but also a development philosophy oriented toward the future. Here, scientific research, government governance, and social action form a synergy, turning environmental protection from vision into reality. Practice has proven that when environmental responsibility is placed at the core of development, humanity can fully chart a sustainable path of modernization. I have always believed that “a Beautiful China” is a country’s development vision, while “a Beautiful World” is the future vision that all humanity pursues together. A China that respects nature, protects ecosystems, and advances green development is currently drawing the shape of the future of harmony between people and nature for the world. And this practice and experience will also inject lasting confidence and strength into humanity’s sustainable development.

(The author is an associate professor at Egypt’s Agricultural Research Center, specializing in plant breeding and molecular biology)

Advocating exchanges and mutual learning to light the way forward for humanity

Hai Er (Greece)

As a Greek scholar who has lived in China for a long time, researched there, and truly loves Chinese culture, I have profoundly felt that the balance between material abundance and spiritual fulfillment has become the core proposition for the sustainable development of human civilization. In recent years, the path of Chinese-style modernization formed in China’s development practice is advancing alongside the Global Civilization Initiative, offering a brand-new approach—using wisdom from the East—to address the challenges of this era. It is not a simple return to tradition, nor a blind pursuit of modernity. Instead, it advocates learning from one another through dialogue among civilizations, so as to jointly move toward higher-level prosperity.

My connection with China began in my youth. When reading the works of the Greek writer Kazantzakis, I saw his appreciation for Chinese culture and his discussion of similarities between the cultures of the two countries. These deeply moved me, leading me to learn Chinese, study in China, and become the first Greek person to earn both a master’s and a doctoral degree at the University of International Business and Economics. This choice completely changed my life trajectory, transforming me from an observer of China’s development into a participant.

Since reform and opening up, China has not only achieved rapid economic takeoff, but also—within cultural confidence—carried forward traditional arts, developed creative industries, and treated cultural vitality as an important part of living quality. Cultural undertakings and cultural industries have flourished; spiritual and cultural products have been rich and diverse—from celebrating traditional festivals to contemporary arts and literary creation, from “museum fever” to digital cultural communication. While the Chinese people pursue material abundance, their spiritual world is increasingly filled—matching the happiness view of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.

In recent years, I have been actively introducing the cultures of the two countries to the Greek and Chinese people. I have come to understand that exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations are not a one-way output, but a two-way nourishment. Chinese-style modernization rejects the one-way narrative that “modernization equals Westernization.” It insists on pursuing both material civilization and spiritual civilization with equal efforts and equal strength, providing the world with a new paradigm of coordinated development of material and spiritual civilization.

In the face of complex and shifting international circumstances, strengthening dialogue among civilizations and increasing mutual understanding are seen as important ways to promote world peace and development. The Global Civilization Initiative is precisely an elevation of this concept at the international level. The initiative advocates respect for the diversity of world civilizations, upholds shared values of all humanity, emphasizes preserving civilization heritage and innovation, and strengthens international people-to-people and cultural exchange cooperation. It provides the world with a new view of civilization today: diversity is not the root of conflict, but a wellspring of creativity; dialogue and mutual learning is not an optional choice, but the only way forward for humanity.

Human civilization progress should not be measured solely by industrial and high-tech indicators. It should also be judged by the question of “what kind of people we become together.” More than 2,000 years ago, two major civilizations—Greece and China—shone in reflection across the ends of the Eurasian landmass, making foundational contributions to the evolution of human civilization. Today, my greatest wish is to promote deeper exchanges between the young people of the two countries, and between young people in the East and West—by carrying out more joint training, field research, and collaborative research projects—so that more young Greeks can experience Chinese wisdom firsthand, and so that the civilizations of the two countries can shine with new brilliance through mutual learning and mutual learning.

Today, China is using the vivid practice of building spiritual civilization to draw for the world the future shape of human civilization—the concept of mutual learning among civilizations advocated by China has already transcended borders and become a guide for humanity’s advancement. It will help every civilization develop lasting vitality in coexistence and shared prosperity, and lead the entire world to jointly write a new chapter in human civilization progress.

(The author is the Director of the Greek–China Institute of Economic and Cultural Studies and a part-time professor at the University of International Business and Economics)

(Text in this edition was compiled from interviews by Bai Ziwei, Che Bin, and Xie Yahuihong, reporters of People’s Daily)