Anna Yuschenko came to study at Tsinghua University from Russia. As China begins its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), she's watched the country change around her. For her, the clearest signs are found in everyday life: how much easier it's become for foreign visitors to get around, and how quickly new technologies are being adopted in places ranging from factories to desert greening projects she has followed in northwest China's Gansu Province.

Anna sees a country focused on practical solutions that make a difference in people's lives. She believes young people in Russia could learn from China's experience, while recognizing that its approaches must be adapted to Russian conditions. Development, she believes, is not a destination but an ongoing process.