Experts praise China for rapid development

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An expert on China said the era of producing "plastic goods" is coming to an end, as the country’s next economic phase will include the cutting edge developments.

"It’s very clear that China’s next economic phase will not be just about making plastic goods or clothes or furniture or the things that were made in the 1980s or 1990s," said Rana Mitter, director of the China Center at Oxford University, adding that the "phase is coming to a close."

The country already has the "Made in China 2025" plan in place, which was introduced two years ago to enhance the country's production efficiency.

Mitter suggested China would have to expand its economy by having high level, high-tech, the cutting edged developments.

National congress

He was speaking to CGTN about China’s developments in the wake of the most significant event in the country’s political calendar: The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which is to open on October 18.

Party delegates will elect the new leadership of the CPC at the Congress.

Mitter noted that everyone who observes China, including the western specialists, is very excited by the idea of observing the party congress.

It is the most crucial event in the five-year cycle of political change and continuity in China, he added.

China has made significant achievements over the last five years. /VCG Photo‍

As the experts wait to see the changes in the top leadership, he said, they are also trying to work out as to what policy developments and shifts the country would undergo in the next few years.

Technological advances

Mitter lauded China’s embrace of new technology in the last five years.

Five to seven years ago, much of the technology in China was either similar to the West or maybe not quite as advanced, he elaborated.

"But in various areas, I now think China has taken leaps beyond even some countries in the West," the expert said, quoting the use of cashless payments as an example.

China's cashless revolution is spreading. /VCG Photo

China is the world's most populous nation and it is rapidly transforming into a cashless society. Seventy percent of its population currently don’t carry around cash on a daily basis. It has even introduced unmanned grocery stores where consumers buy goods with their smartphones using QR codes.

The industry of cashless payments is booming in sectors such as transportation and dining out.

Mitter appeared thrilled in the interview with CGTN while explaining how in China “basically everybody is communicating through their mobile phones.”

"Anyone knows if you have a Chinese friend, you have to give them your Wechat reference or account. That’s a kind of major social change that’s being enabled by technology in China," he explained.

Speaking of high-tech advances that China would be making in the coming years, he said that many of those are already emerging.

China's Long March-5 Y2 carrier rocket at launch site. /VCG Photo

"If you go to China today as a foreigner, everyone is amazed by people paying with their phones using Alipay and other systems," he noted.

But that is just the beginning, Mitter said, hinting at more developments in the future.

He stated that people would be interested to know how the Chinese government enables the market side of that economic change to develop.

China continuously makes headlines for its tech progress. Some of its most significant achievement this year include the successful launch of both the world's first quantum satellite and the Long March 5 carrier rocket, as well as the maiden flight of the first domestically produced single-aisle passenger jet, the C919.