Top experts discuss China's new development paradigm

As the global pandemic situation continues to evolve, the world keeps asking how will the global economy achieve a steady recovery? At a forum held on fostering a new development paradigm from Sept 23 to 24, experts and scholars from different countries spoke highly of China's 14th Five-Year Plan and the country's efforts to promote international win-win cooperation and accelerate global economic recovery.

With the theme of "Accelerating the Shaping of a New Development Paradigm", the 2021 Forum on National Affairs was co-hosted by the Counsellors' Office of the State Council, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China Association for Science and Technology and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The forum discussed accelerating the development of scientific and technological innovation, promoting the positive interaction between supply and demand sides, facilitating the coordinated development of urban and rural areas and improving the opening-up to a higher level. The Counsellors' Office of the State Council had also organized a nationwide article solicitation on relevant topics with a total of 152 government counselors participating in it and 134 research reports submitted.

In his keynote speech, Gu Shengzu, vice-chairperson of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, emphasized that establishing a dual-circulation new development paradigm is an important strategic choice. China should focus on effective domestic development and cope with the uncertainty of international circulation by the certainty of domestic circulation. The construction of the new dual-circulation development paradigm will also bring more opportunities for the development of private enterprises.

Gao Yu, deputy secretary-general of the State Council and director of the Counsellors' Office of the State Council, said that fostering a new development paradigm is a major strategic decision made by the Communist Party of China Central Committee for the new development stage, new historical tasks and new environmental conditions. At present, the international environment is becoming even more complex, and China faces arduous tasks in reform and development. By collecting valuable advice, the forum will gather suggestions for accelerating the construction of a new development paradigm, contribute to making a good start for the 14th Five-Year Plan and help to achieve this year's development goals.

Wang Zhijun, vice-minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stated that to promote the high-quality development of industry and information technology, efforts should be made on four aspects. First, make sure the proportion of manufacturing is basically stable, when building the modern industrial system. Second, upgrade the industrial base and modernize the industrial chain to make the industrial chain and the supply chain more stable and competitive. Third, speed up digital development and improve the efficiency of economic circulation. Fourth, open wider to the outside world at a higher level and integrate more deeply into the global industrial and supply chains.

Xu Yanhao, the vice-chairman of the Chinese Association for Science and Technology, said that it is an important mission to entrust scientists and engineers to adhere to the four directions: enhancing originality, pioneering scientific and technological breakthroughs, resolutely winning the battle on the key and core technologies and accelerating the self-reliance and self-improvement of high-level science and technology. China Association for Science and Technology plays an important role of a bridge by uniting the scientific and technical workers and conducting in-depth consultation and research for the country's scientific decision-making.

Gao Yan, chairperson of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, emphasized that the new development paradigm is not a closed domestic circulation, but an open domestic and international dual circulation. Foreign trade is a strong support for the domestic circulation, an integral part of the international circulation and a key hub connecting the domestic and international circulation. It plays an essential role in building a new development paradigm. As the world's largest trading country, China should continue to ensure steady growth, promote innovation, strength connectivity, expand cooperation, strive to keep foreign trade within an appropriate range and continuously contribute to the stable development of the national economy and the recovery of international trade.

Wang Binying, deputy director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, said: "China's 14th Five-Year Plan for development will open a new phase for the growth of a more robust ecosystem that incentivizes innovation and creativity in China's increasingly innovation- and digital-driven economy."

Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations resident coordinator in China, said that China's ongoing rural revitalization is in line with the Decade of Action, which aims to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and the commitment to "leave no one behind", which highlights the commitment to building an inclusive society and caring for the marginalized and vulnerable communities.

Geoffrey Okamoto, first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said that China is also a key contributor in supporting multilateral trade—including through WTO reform. Its leadership role in global climate efforts including the co-chairing of the G20 Sustainable Finance Study Group and cooperation with the EU on green investment standards contributes to a greener recovery.

Zou Ciyong, managing director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, stressed that faced with a set of new development tasks, China started implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan this year. The construction of a new development paradigm with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulation reinforcing each other will further propel the country forward in the coming years.

Martin Raiser, World Bank country director for China, said: "China's success in keeping COVID-19 under control, its administrative capacity and ample macroeconomic policy space, and its technological capabilities put it in a position to lead the world in the transition to a greener and more resilient future."