The nation becomes WORLD CLASS

From remarkable economic growth to rapid progress in space and aviation; from hosting numerous international gatherings to building the world's largest high-speed railway network - China has come a long way in the past 70 years. Here, we take a look at 20 aspects of life that have witnessed significant advances.

1. THE ECONOMY

Over the past 70 years, China has experienced remarkable economic growth. In 1952, GDP was $30 billion, while last year it reached $13.61 trillion. In 1978, the country's GDP ranked 11th globally, while in 2010, it became the second-largest in the world, a position it has retained.

2. TRADE AND MANUFACTURING

China's admission to the World Trade Organization in 2001 enhanced the country's standing on the world stage. It became a global manufacturing power, driven by exports, investment and domestic consumption. For years, China has contributed to nearly 30 percent of the world's economic growth and has remained the largest trading nation and exporter, and the second-largest importer.

3. BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE

Unveiled by President Xi Jinping during his visits to Central and Southeast Asia in September and October 2013, the initiative - China's proposal to build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road - has attracted more than 100 countries and international and regional organizations.

4. SHARED FUTURE FOR MANKIND

From the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence to "a community with a shared future for mankind", China has offered its solutions and wisdom to build "an open, inclusive and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity with all humankind".

5. POVERTY ALLEVIATION

In fighting poverty in recent decades, China has made historic achievements and become a major contributor to global efforts to improve people's lives. The country has vowed to eradicate extreme poverty by 2020, and to date, more than 800 million Chinese have cast off poverty, representing more than 70 percent of such reduction globally.

6. OLYMPIC DREAMS

The nation has seen significant sports developments, both at home and abroad, including rapid growth of the National Fitness Program, the further deepening of sports reforms, and Beijing, which hosted the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, successfully bidding to stage the 2022 Winter Olympics.

7. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

A staggering number of multilateral gatherings have been held in China in recent years - from the G20 Summit to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum; from the BRICS Summit to the China International Import Expo. By hosting such key events, the nation has adopted an active approach to diplomacy amid efforts to promote multilateral dialogues and improve global governance.

8. PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE EXCHANGES

Such exchanges between China and the rest of the world have been enriched and extended. The government supports and encourages a large number of study-abroad programs and cooperatively-run schools, as well as cooperation and innovation among Chinese and overseas colleges, universities and scientific research institutions. A total of 536 Confucius Institutes have been set up in more than 150 countries, promoting the language to millions of students.

9. PANDA PROTECTION

Concerted and successful efforts have been made to protect the giant panda. "Pandamania" has spread far beyond the country's borders and captured the hearts of people worldwide - from scenes of awe-struck children at panda enclosures at zoos, to the craze surrounding the Hollywood blockbuster Kung Fu Panda and the countless videos that have gone viral of the animals napping and sneezing in nature reserves.

10. OVERSEAS TRAVEL

In 1949, most Chinese never dreamed of setting foot on foreign soil, while today, some 19,000 trips are made every hour by Chinese travelers going overseas. The country has grown from a travel minnow to a giant. It is the world's biggest outbound tourism market, with nearly 150 million such visits made by Chinese last year.

11. SPACE AND AVIATION

After seven decades of rapid development, the space and aviation industry has made groundbreaking advances that include the Shenzhou manned space flight project and the Chang'e Lunar Exploration Program. China joined the "space club" on April 24, 1970, when a Long March-1 carrier rocket launched the country's first satellite, Dongfanghong-1, into orbit. More than 300 launches have since been carried out by the Long March series.

12. HIGH-SPEED RAIL

China has built the world's largest high-speed rail network, which is continuing to expand rapidly. With a total length of 29,000 kilometers by the end of last year, high-speed railways have been introduced in 30 of the country's 34 provincial-level administrative areas, accounting for more than two-thirds of such rail lines globally. The trains have significantly reduced journey times, attracting millions of travelers with their comfort, convenience, safety and punctuality. China is also sharing this technology with many other countries.

13. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

The plan to develop artificial intelligence marks a major step forward in carrying out China's innovation-driven development strategy and making it a global leader in science and technology. In July 2017, the State Council issued the Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, which envisions China becoming a global innovation center by 2030.

14. RELICS AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

China has made a significant investment in protecting cultural relics, saving a large number of them from destruction. By July, the country ranked first in the world with 55 World Heritage sites. Since joining the Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1985, China has been one of the countries with the fastest-growing number of such sites.

15. APPS AND THE INTERNET

By placing innovation at the center of its overall national development strategy, China now has a booming mobile app market that is continuing to expand globally. The worldwide success of Chinese apps such as TikTok, known in China as Douyin, which has versions in 75 languages, and the app developed by the Palace Museum, which has been downloaded by more than 5 million users globally, are examples of the country's innovative ability.

16. ART

As the nation's economy has grown, the pursuit of art has intensified over the past 70 years, with the emergence of a number of dynamic and internationally renowned painters. Many foreign collections are also increasingly being exhibited in China for the country's art lovers to enjoy.

17. MUSIC

Many Chinese now enjoy music in their spare time, as their lives have been culturally enriched since 1949. Be it jazz, classical, pop, rock, Western or Oriental, there are fans of all types of music in China. Increasingly frequent cultural exchanges between Chinese and overseas musicians, orchestras and theaters in recent decades have further stimulated the diverse tastes of Chinese music lovers.

18. FASHION

The quest for style has driven many Chinese to explore the avenues of fashion. Colorful and diversified clothing has replaced the once ubiquitous blues and grays that could be seen across the country. Many Chinese have been enthusiastic in embracing new fashions, styles and concepts.

19. FOOD

Great achievements have been made in curbing hunger and increasing food security, both domestically and globally. Developments over the past 70 years have also produced a wider choice at the dining table. The pursuit of healthy, organic and diverse food has become a trend among Chinese, and increasing interconnectivity has also enabled them to experience fare from overseas.

20. MOVIES

China now boasts the highest number of movie lovers in the world. Domestically-made films reflect the tremendous changes the country and its people have witnessed, with the nation now having more participation and recognition in the global market. Last year, more than 10,000 cinemas nationwide were visited by over 1.7 billion moviegoers. The world's second-largest movie market also saw box office revenue of 60.98 billion yuan ($8.56 billion), accounting for more than one-fifth of the takings globally.

Contact the writer at panmengqi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/30/2019 page30)