High-quality development: Contributing China's wisdom to the international community

Editor's note: Bao Shujun is a researcher of the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Development holds the key to solving all problems. High-quality development is an essential requirement for adhering to economic laws and sustaining healthy economic growth. It means making innovation the primary driver, coordination an inherent feature, green development the prevailing model, opening up the necessary path, and shared benefits the ultimate goal. From these dimensions, China's economic development demonstrates vivid momentum of qualitative transformation.

High-quality development is driven primarily by innovation. Innovation is the inexhaustible engine for the progress of a country. China firmly pursues innovation-driven development. From the Shenzhou spacecraft in space, to the Chang'e lunar probe exploring the Moon, the Zhurong rover probing Mars, and the Xihe solar observatory chasing the Sun — China's ranking in the Global Innovation Index rose to 11th in 2024, making it one of the fastest-improving economies in innovation over the past decade. Backed by scientific and technological innovation, China's economy is brimming with vitality, showing strong momentum and broad prospects.

High-quality development means making coordination an inherent feature. With solid progress in urban-rural integration and coordinated regional development, China's permanent urbanization rate reached 67 percent by the end of 2024, an increase of 0.84 percentage points from the previous year. The quality of basic public services in areas such as education, healthcare, and elderly care continues to improve, and comprehensive rural revitalization has achieved new milestones. Major regional strategies, including the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, the development of the Yangtze Economic Belt, and ecological conservation and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, are being steadily implemented, continuously activating new drivers of growth.

High-quality development means that green development becomes the prevailing model. China is the country with the largest growth in forest resources and the world's biggest artificial afforestation area. The proportion of surface water with good quality nationwide reached 90.4 percent in 2024, exceeding 90 percent for the first time. The "green quotient" of industries has enhanced the "golden value" of development. In 2024, China's energy consumption per unit of GDP decreased by 3.8 percent year on year. The country's installed capacity of grid-connected wind and solar power exceeded 1.4 billion kilowatts for the first time. China has built the world's largest and most complete new energy industry chain, continuously burnishing the distinct hallmark of high-quality development.

High-quality development means opening up the necessary path. The foreign investment negative lists, which have undergone eight reductions, have decreased from an initial 190 items to the current 29 items nationwide and 27 items in pilot free trade zones. Last year, all restrictions in the manufacturing sector were lifted. The business environment is being enhanced: Recently, the 2025 Action Plan for Stabilizing Foreign Investment was released, specifying measures to expand pilot openings in sectors such as telecommunications and healthcare, optimize the national comprehensive demonstration program for opening the service sector, and encourage foreign equity investment in China.

High-quality development means making shared benefits the fundamental goal. People's living standards have continued to improve. In 2024, the country's per capita disposable income of rural residents reached 23,119 yuan, up 6.6 percent from the previous year. The urban-rural income ratio was 2.34, down 0.05 from the previous year. The social safety net is being strengthened: By the end of 2024, the basic pension insurance had covered 1.07 billion people while the basic medical insurance had covered 1.33 billion. Nationwide, 6.25 million urban residents, 33.62 million rural residents, and 4.39 million people in extreme poverty received support through respective minimum living standards or aid programs.

Currently, the global economy faces numerous complex and severe challenges. In some regions, such as Central Asia and Latin America, the problem of a mono-industrial structure is particularly acute. This lack of diversification renders economic development less resilient and highly vulnerable to international market fluctuations, while traditional energy industries confront the dual challenges of energy conservation and sustainable development. China's practice of high-quality development has provided experience for emerging economies to replicate and extend, presenting China's wisdom and solutions for global economic development. This not only reflects China's profound understanding and grasp of economic development rules, but also demonstrates its commitment as a responsible major country.