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GUANGZHOU, China — The 2025 Understanding China Conference, held recently in Guangzhou, showcased a consensus among international participants that China’s sustained development provides a distinct, non-Western model for modernization, injecting both stability and momentum into global progress, particularly for nations in the Global South. Held from Sunday to Tuesday, the conference, themed “New Plan, New Development, New Choices — Chinese Modernization and New Vision for Global Governance,” attracted a record 800 attendees, approximately 70% of whom represented developing nations. Discussions focused heavily on the future recommendations for China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) and its broader international implications.

The conference served as a platform for global leaders to assess how China’s advancements offer diverse pathways to prosperity. Former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome emphasized this distinction during the opening ceremony, noting that the Chinese route offers a viable alternative to traditionally perceived Western development models.

“The Chinese path to modernization offers a new choice to the developing countries, particularly to African countries, as well as to the Global South at large,” Teshome stated, adding that China has made significant contributions to global economic growth, poverty eradication, environmental preservation, and reform in global governance. He added that China’s experience challenges the notion that modernization must equate to Westernization, demonstrating that countries can achieve substantial progress based on unique national and historical conditions.

This sentiment was echoed by major international figures. Andrei Bystritsky, Chairman of the Valdai Discussion Club in Russia, acknowledged that China’s rapid transformation proves the existence of multiple routes to national prosperity, fundamentally reshaping the lives of a massive population and altering China’s global role.

Bolstering Global Cooperation and Development

Several speakers highlighted China’s tangible contributions to international cooperation and multilateralism. Erastus Mwencha, former Vice Chairman of the African Union Commission, praised China’s enduring commitment to global institutions. He pointed to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a critical mechanism for promoting trade and infrastructure investment. Mwencha noted that tariff reductions enabled by cooperation have effectively opened the Chinese consumer market to Africa while simultaneously allowing African nations access to a wide array of Chinese products.

Furthermore, multilateral development banks supported by China, such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank, are increasingly seen as crucial instruments for bridging infrastructure funding gaps across the Global South, according to Ong Tee Keat, former Malaysian Transport Minister.

China’s commitment to development aid was also quantified. Under the Global Development Initiative, the nation has increased its Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund to $4 billion. Data from the China International Development Cooperation Agency shows that the country has mobilized over $23 billion in support of development across the Global South and initiated more than 1,800 cooperation projects. Additionally, China has been a long-term provider of medical assistance, having dispatched nearly 30,000 medical workers to 77 countries and regions since 1963, according to the National Health Commission.

Seeking a More Balanced World Order

International delegates also stressed that China’s trajectory is intrinsically linked to the future of developing economies. Essam Sharaf, former Prime Minister of Egypt, stated that China’s Global Governance Initiative reflects the aspirations for justice and equality held by the Global South. Sharaf clarified that this timely initiative aims not to dismantle existing systems but rather to foster a more stable and balanced international framework.

The focus also extended to China’s environmental policies. Rishan de Silva, Executive Director of the Geopolitical Cartographer in Sri Lanka, emphasized that the urgent nature of climate change demands joint action, and China’s green transition presents new opportunities for global collaboration. Ong Tee Keat further underscored the strength of regional cooperation, pointing out that the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area provides a clear model for strong trade ties, specifically noting that Malaysia intends to enhance its green industry cooperation and supply-chain resilience with China in the coming years.

The collective discussions underscored a significant shift in perspective: China is being viewed not merely as a rising economic power, but as a crucial architect offering viable, domestically tailored development blueprints for a diverse and increasingly interconnected world.

HANGZHOU, China—The Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in eastern China’s Zhejiang Province achieved a significant milestone Tuesday, surpassing 40 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in annual container throughput for the first time. This unprecedented volume solidifies the port’s critical role in global maritime trade, even as it continues its long-running reign as the world’s busiest port by total cargo volume.

The achievement, marked by the loading of a brightly adorned container onto a ship at the Meishan port area, underscores the facility’s rapid expansion and enduring strategic importance. According to the Zhejiang Seaport Group, the port’s acceleration in container operations has been remarkable, vaulting from 30 million TEUs to 40 million TEUs in just four years.

Dominance in Global Cargo Processing

While many major ports compete fiercely on container statistics, Ningbo-Zhoushan maintains an unparalleled advantage in overall cargo handling. It remains the only port globally to have surpassed 1 billion tonnes of annual cargo throughput for 16 consecutive years.

Although a comparative latecomer to major container shipping operations, the port’s container growth trajectory has dramatically intensified. It took seven years to grow from 10 million to 20 million TEUs, six years to advance to 30 million, and only four years to reach the current 40 million threshold. This accelerated pace reflects both massive investment in infrastructure and burgeoning global demand for Chinese exports.

Key Infrastructure and Connectivity:

• Deep-Water Capacity: The port boasts over 210 berths capable of accommodating vessels of 10,000 tonnes or more. Crucially, more than 135 of these berths are designed for vessels exceeding 50,000 tonnes, positioning it as a world leader in accommodating large and ultra-large deep-water ships.
• Global Network: The facility operates an extensive maritime grid, featuring more than 300 container shipping routes that connect with over 600 ports across more than 200 countries and regions worldwide.

Strategic Anchor for Regional Development

The port’s enhanced capabilities directly support China’s national economic strategies and the expansion of the regional economy in Zhejiang Province. As an economic powerhouse on China’s eastern coast, Zhejiang has actively promoted efforts to boost the port’s competitiveness and global influence.

The Zhejiang Seaport Group highlighted that the continuous strengthening of the port’s capacity is key to serving national strategies, fueling regional economic development, and meeting the complex logistical needs of global clients. Through sustained investment in automation, efficiency, and capacity expansion, the authorities are ensuring the infrastructure can handle ever-increasing trade volumes.

The achievement of 40 million TEUs is not an end point but rather a signal of intensifying future competition among Asia’s largest ports. Analysts expect Ningbo-Zhoushan to leverage its superior cargo volume and deep-water infrastructure to consolidate its position as a central node in international supply chains. Future efforts are likely to focus on further integrating smart logistics solutions and digital customs processes to streamline operations and further shorten port times for global carriers.

As global trade patterns evolve, the continued robust performance of facilities like the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port offers a critical barometer for the health and dynamism of China’s export-driven economy. This newest container throughput record firmly establishes the port as a permanent, indispensable pillar of global maritime commerce.

China is actively steering its vast automotive sector toward a future dominated by Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICVs), aiming to leverage the technology to unlock 1 trillion yuan (approximately $141.3 billion) in consumer spending by 2027. This ambitious drive, announced in a new national plan designed to bolster domestic demand, identifies ICVs as one of three priority sectors slated for rapid expansion and trillion-yuan scale growth.

The core of Beijing’s strategy represents a significant pivot: manufacturers are urged to move beyond sheer production volume and focus on precision alignment between supply and evolving consumer demand. This sophisticated approach mandates a transition from merely producing more vehicles to producing superior ones that cater to diverse and rapidly changing market preferences.

Shifting from Volume to Value

Under the new roadmap, authorities plan to foster this adaptation by cultivating approximately 100 signature products and innovative enterprises, launching technological pilot scenarios, and significantly expanding New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sales into rural markets. Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xie Yuansheng described this transformation as a necessary move from quantity to quality, ensuring a high-grade supply meets sophisticated consumer needs.

This policy push arrives at a historic moment for China’s auto market. As of October 2025, NEVs accounted for 51.6% of all new car sales, marking the first time electric and hybrid vehicles outsold traditional internal combustion engine cars. This milestone reflects an extraordinary production surge, escalating from about 1.4 million units in 2020 to over 13 million in 2024.

As the market matures, consumer demands have become markedly specialized. Families are increasingly seeking spacious, multi-purpose vehicles, while younger demographics view cars as mobile living spaces, prioritizing features like voice interaction and smart cockpits. Simultaneously, a booming outdoor lifestyle segment is driving sales of electric off-road vehicles, some boasting combined ranges of 1,000 kilometers and advanced climbing capabilities.

Innovation Drives Market Maturity

This market diversification is underpinned by a robust supply chain and improving economics. Official data indicates that more than 60% of new passenger vehicles sold now incorporate Level 2 driver assistance systems. Furthermore, battery cell costs have decreased by 30%, and charging speeds have more than tripled in recent years, making ownership increasingly attractive.

Domestic automakers are already executing this precision strategy. Leapmotor, for instance, is targeting the personalized youth market with its affordable Lafa5 compact electric coupe. Zeekr is integrating advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and numerous sensors into its 9X model to prioritize safety, while Nio continues to expand its energy services ecosystem, which includes over 8,400 battery-swap and charging stations globally.

To fully maximize the sector’s potential, the strategy extends beyond new sales. The Ministry of Commerce has committed to expanding the used car market and crucial aftermarket services, including rentals and support for RV camping.

Fu Bingfeng, executive vice president and secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, emphasized the long-term view. “The path forward relies on deepening the industrial application of intelligent connected technologies,” he stated. “Using innovative supply to unlock broader market potential is key to this economic growth.”

By focusing on high-quality, high-tech ICVs and adapting supply to nuanced demand, China aims to solidify its position as the global leader in automotive technology, simultaneously generating substantial domestic economic stimulus through focused innovation.