Can the Two Sessions Decode China's Trillion-Dollar Tech Endgame?

Editor's note: As the U.S. cranks up tariffs on China to 20 percent, the world braces for a fresh wave of trade chaos. Can Beijing's policymakers turbocharge tech self-reliance and steady its economic ship amid roaring protectionism, climate crises and a U.S.-led tariff blitz? China has already slammed the moves as "reckless," warning of global fallout. Economists fear price spikes and snarled supply chains. Against this backdrop, CGTN Opinion's editor, Yasir Masood, sits down with Jeffrey Sachs, Professor at Columbia University, to dissect whether China's legislative blueprint can outmaneuver these headwinds and unleash its next innovation boom. Buckle up as this isn't just about China; it's about the world's economic fault lines. The views expressed here are Sachs' own and do not necessarily reflect those of CGTN.

"China's economy is fundamentally strong," declared Sachs. He anchored his optimism in a trifecta of pillars: its underlying technological base, the skill of the workforce and its global reach. While acknowledging the cyclical challenges inherent to large economies, Sachs emphasized that China's strides in cutting-edge sectors such as AI, quantum computing and renewable energy underscore its structural resilience. "China continues to advance at an extraordinary pace," he noted, "reinforcing its role as the world's foremost trading partner."

Yet Sachs tempered his praise with pragmatic warnings. Domestically, he flagged elevated debt levels in real estate and urban economies as critical vulnerabilities demanding urgent reform. Externally, he lambasted US protectionism, particularly unilateral tariffs, as "a reckless misstep in statecraft" that risks destabilizing global trade. "For over a decade, the US has sought to stifle China's growth," he observed, "forcing Beijing to cultivate new markets in ASEAN, Africa and Latin America." Despite potential escalations under a Trump administration, Sachs remained resolute: "China will rise to this challenge. Its capacity for adaptation is unparalleled."

As the 2025 Two Sessions approach, Sachs championed Chinese-style modernization as the linchpin of Beijing's strategy. He lauded China's dominance in green technologies, including zero-carbon energy, electric vehicles and next-generation nuclear power, framing these sectors as dual engines of domestic growth and global environmental progress. "The world craves affordable solutions to the climate crisis," he asserted. "China is not merely a supplier but the indispensable architect of this transformation."

Sachs juxtaposed China's forward-thinking policies with what he termed America's "regressive obsession" with fossil fuels and trade barriers. "While the US clings to outdated industries, China is redefining competitiveness," he argued, predicting that protectionism would only amplify Beijing's role as the primary provider of green and digital infrastructure worldwide. To sustain this momentum, Sachs urged China to expand its Belt and Road Initiative through long-term financing models, advocating for loan terms spanning three to four decades to foster enduring partnerships in emerging markets. "Patience breeds prosperity," he remarked. "By investing in the Global South, China secures not just economic ties but geopolitical trust."

With the Two Sessions convene to chart China's 2025 agenda, Sachs' analysis resonates as a clarion call for global cooperation. "The technologies China pioneers renewables, 5G and electric vehicles are not national triumphs but global necessities," he concluded.

As Beijing continues to deepen its engagement with emerging markets and cements its role as the global hub for cost-effective climate solutions, the international community faces a decisive moment. The path forward is clear: embrace multilateral cooperation to harness these advancements or succumb to geopolitical fragmentation, risking both economic stability and the planet's future.

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