Achievements of China’s reform and opening

Illustration: Liu Xidan/GT

The nearly 46 years of reform and opening-up in Chinese history include an impressive chapter of rapid economic development and win-win cooperation with the world, enriched by vivid stories of reform. While grand narratives are essential, it is the details that truly captivate.

China's reform takes daily trivial matters seriously. This highlights the determination, strength and effectiveness of the Chinese government in promoting people-centered reforms, which provide a sense of fulfillment, happiness and security to the populace.

Nationwide, 66,000 projects aimed at renovating urban infrastructure are underway. The Chinese government is transforming old neighborhoods, streets and factory areas into high-quality living spaces, tourist destinations and hubs for emerging industries. 

At the same time, facilities for elderly care, childcare, culture and sports are being upgraded, reflecting the tangible benefits of reform. Governments at all levels across China are continuously optimizing administrative services and improving efficiency to prevent the public and businesses from encountering unnecessary detours or inefficiencies. 

These seemingly minor issues related to people's livelihoods collectively contribute to significant progress in the reform process.

Technological reforms have been integrated into daily life in China. As a result, the country has become a technological powerhouse, with achievements such as the Chang'e-6 lunar probe bringing back samples collected from the moon's far side and the unmanned submersible Haidou-1 completing a 10,000-meter deep-sea dive. Chinese technology has made significant strides in reaching for the sky and diving into the sea. 

Meanwhile, technology, closely related to daily life, continues to advance at a rapid pace. With the Chinese government's support for new energy vehicles, domestic automakers are making ongoing efforts in areas including battery, smart driving and intelligent connectivity. Technologies such as environmental protection, autonomous driving and automatic parking, which lead globally, have transformed everyday driving experiences. Due to the 144-hour visa-free transit policy, many foreign influencers traveling in China have immersed themselves in experiences such as the driverless taxi "Apollo Go" and the monorail train "Optics Valley Photon" in Wuhan. An increasing number of functional unmanned vehicles are becoming part of ordinary people's lives.

Nothing is too small in foreign affairs. In addition to the grand diplomatic vision of building a global community of shared future and the Belt and Road Initiative, there are also smaller, community-focused projects that are taking root. These cooperation efforts are becoming part of daily life for local people, improving their well-being by enhancing living standards and creating sustainable social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits in developing countries. 

One example is the "African Light Belt" project, a collaborative innovation in clean energy between China and Africa which leverages China's photovoltaic industry to provide electricity and lighting to tens of thousands of impoverished households in Africa. Another example is when Chinese experts spared no effort to help restore ancient pagodas in Myanmar that were damaged in an earthquake. As a result, this shared cultural heritage was preserved.

Additionally, China's cultural influence is growing through its self-developed games, which incorporate elements of Chinese festivals, folk art, mythology, aesthetics and cultural heritage, offering international players an excellent window into Chinese culture.

These seemingly small matters continually highlight China's progress in reform and opening-up. 

China continues to serve as a model for developing countries and contributes a new form of human civilization to the world. As reforms cover more areas and become more detailed, China's future reforms and opening-up will increasingly be reflected in the details.

The author is an assistant research fellow at the Institute of Marxism of the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences. [email protected]

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