Column: The secrets behind China's development and resilience

by Nashwa Abdel Hamid

During a highway journey in China in 2024, I observed signs of progress, sophistication, and prosperity spreading along the Yangtze River, which connects Shanghai with many hinterland cities and regions.

I was particularly impressed by China's advanced and modern infrastructure, including state-of-the-art airports, highways, and high-speed rail networks, as well as the popular use and application of advanced technologies. Notably, these facilities are not limited to major metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai -- they extend across thousands of kilometers deep into the interior and rural areas.

Nowadays, even inland provinces like Sichuan, whose provincial capital, Chengdu, shines like a jewel in the Sichuan Basin at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, have risen to global prominence, with their achievements recognized as far away as the Pyramid Plateau in Egypt.

These remarkable achievements highlight the equitable distribution of development benefits and embody China's economic growth philosophy: putting people first, pursuing high-quality development, deepening reforms, aligning an efficient market with an effective government, and ensuring both development and security for all citizens.

They also demonstrate that President Xi Jinping's vision of inclusive modernization -- narrowing gaps between rich and poor, and between urban and rural areas -- has taken tangible form across China's vast, continental expanse.

CHINA SHOWS RESILIENCE AMID TRADE TENSIONS

Beyond its domestic economic progress, one of the most striking issues facing China is the U.S.-initiated trade conflicts. In my view, at least three key factors have clearly shaped its outcome.

First, China's massive domestic market. China produces tangible goods while prioritizing the well-being of its people, creating one of the world's largest consumer markets. The capacity of this market to absorb Chinese factory output far exceeds the expectations of countries imposing tariffs. China's efforts to build a "unified national market" have proven remarkably successful.

Second, China's transition from manufacturing to innovation. This represents a major shift from quantity to quality, allowing Chinese firms to capture a larger share of the global market. While remaining the world's largest producer of electric vehicles, mobile phones, laptops and other high-tech goods, China now leads in the development of high-end products. For example, Chinese-made economy cars, distinguished by unique features, are favored by Egyptian buyers, and over the past two years, Chinese carmakers have also made a strong entry into the luxury car segment.

Third, the flexibility of China's foreign trade. Markets in Latin America, Africa and the broader Global South have offered China ample room to offset impacts of tariff hikes and other protectionist measures and sustain growth, reflecting the depth of China's network of partnerships. Trade with ASEAN countries and Belt and Road Initiative participants has also expanded, with strong growth in high-tech mechanical and electrical exports.

The latest GDP figures demonstrate how these factors have sustained China's trade momentum, highlighting the strengths of its economy despite the U.S.-initiated trade war.

China's GDP grew 5.3 percent year-on-year in the first half of the year, surpassing international forecasts. Its trade surplus reached about 1 trillion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months of this year despite U.S. tariffs, underscoring the effectiveness of its strategic planning.

CHINA AND GLOBAL SOUTH: PARTNERS IN GROWTH

As a major Global South nation, China's development is deeply intertwined with that of other developing countries.

On the political front, China has actively promoted the establishment of a multipolar world order, giving the Global South greater influence on international affairs. China's initiatives to improve global governance, aimed at strengthening the mechanisms and systems of the United Nations and its agencies, have exerted significant influence. Notably, China's advocacy for greater leadership roles for Global South countries contributed to the selection of an Egyptian to head UNESCO. This helps explain why, despite competition from the West, China's influence and trade in Africa continue to expand, and why it has emerged as a key partner and active participant in numerous regional and global cooperation mechanisms -- from the Pacific to West Africa.

Economically, China's economic growth offers substantial shared benefits to developing countries. China provides high-quality, technologically advanced products at highly cost-effective prices than Western alternatives. This helps developing countries meet their needs with minimal capital expenditure. China offers green products at competitive prices, which has facilitated the influx of electric vehicles into densely populated developing cities like Cairo, Karachi and Jakarta.

To further strengthen win-win cooperation between China and other Global South countries, joint efforts are needed in the following areas.

First, financial flows -- the cornerstone of development. Western capitalism centers on finance as its primary instrument, yet Western financial institutions have consistently failed to adequately meet the development needs of Global South countries. Alternatives like China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS), the national clearing and settlement system for cross-border yuan transactions, are needed to support the broadest possible range of economic activities in the Global South.

Second, investment in agriculture and food production. Deploying advanced Chinese technology and machinery in the Global South, coupled with financing mechanisms that recover costs from production, holds significant potential. This sector offers particularly strong opportunities in Africa, where vast areas remain uncultivated or are farmed using primitive methods with low productivity.

Third, deepening cultural and educational exchange. Though still in relatively early stages, this effort aims to cultivate future leaders committed to participating in the development of the Global South. China is offering scholarships and research grants to the Global South, enabling thousands of Egyptian, Arab and African students, professionals and experts to study at major Chinese universities. These institutions continually expand their programs in cutting-edge fields such as green development, robotics, artificial intelligence and renewable energy. Sustained efforts in these areas will strengthen communication and mutual understanding between China and other Global South nations. Enditem

Editor's note: Nashwa Abdel Hamid is an undersecretary of Egypt's State Information Service (SIS) and head of the central department of the media of Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australia at the SIS.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency.