Key meeting puts focus on citizens, innovation, opening-up

Last month, President Xi Jinping announced the hallmarks of China's new vision while concluding the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Offering citizens high global standards of enjoyment, education and healthcare will become central to the CPC's policies and plans. This follows significant success in improving the standard of living of the people, cleaning the environment through aggressive green initiatives which controlled air pollution, cleaned up rivers and restored balance in agricultural landscapes, and building super modern cities that are connected by a network of high-speed trains and highways.

The second pillar is shifting to high-tech industries and science-based economy, thus creating millions of jobs in other developing nations. This will offer an unprecedented opportunity to the Belt and Road Initiative countries, which will benefit from this transformation by attracting new Chinese investments in industrial activities. China will finally be moving from population dividend to talent dividend powered by its well-educated and highly motivated young generation.

The third admirable feat is the decision to open up to the world by boosting people-to-people interaction, easing visa requirements and promoting tourism in inland cities.

During my first visit to China to attend the 7th China-Africa People's Forum in late July 2024, meetings were held in three less-known cities of Changsha and Chenzhou in Hunan province and Luoyang in Henan province, before heading to Beijing. I was impressed by how China has successfully managed to merge deep-rooted traditions and history with modernization.

Meeting warm locals who were excited to greet me and ask for a group photo to commemorate our encounter was both heartwarming and a reflection of how eager they were to welcome foreigners to their cities. Their smiles and traditional dresses made me want to come back as a tourist to see more of China beyond its cosmopolitan cities of Hong Kong and Shanghai.

During my stay in Beijing, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni was in town meeting with President Xi. On the agenda was closer economic cooperation and a reset of bilateral relations following Italy's withdrawal from the BRI.

Several deals were signed paving the way for Chinese manufacturers to build plants in Italy with a view to increasing access and market share in European markets including in photovoltaics, wind turbines and electric vehicles. These deals were a testament to China's indispensability to the growth of global trade and to the future of a healthy European economy despite trade arguments and tariff talks. It is also a testament to China's farsighted policies and the historic opportunities created by the BRI.

Another remarkable trend taking place in China is electrification. During my 10-day tour of Hunan, all small transport means were electric, and cars with green plates were everywhere. Recent statistics in China indicate a 31 percent increase in EV sales since last January, which is 10 percent higher than the global average. On my visit to the SANY wind turbines plant, automation was central to their global success. The plant was producing a wind turbine every three hours with almost no technicians involved in the production process.

The world community will be watching how China articulates the balance between its aspirations and challenges.

Having seen firsthand how China has successfully modernized itself while remaining anchored to its core and rich traditions, I am confident that we will witness a remarkable reinvention that will usher in the emergence of the new China, a developed and modern power that is central to world peace and economic stability.

The author is an ambassador member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs and a member of Egyptian-Chinese Friendship Association.