Zhao Changwen: Digitalization and green transformation have become new driving forces for China’s economic development
From March 24 to 25, 2024, the Annual Meeting of the China Development Forum was held in Beijing, hosted by the Development Research Center of the State Council. Guests at the meeting explored the new opportunities that China's high-quality development presents to the world economy, with a focus on the "sustainable development of China."
During the annual meeting, Zhao Changwen, Dean of the National School of Development at Sun Yat-sen University and Chair Professor of Lingnan College, spoke in an exclusive interview with a reporter from People's Daily Online. He emphasized that China is continuing to promote high-level opening up and strengthen international cooperation to contribute to common and sustainable global development.
The new driving force behind China's economic growth was a major topic of concern for guests at this year's conference. Zhao Changwen highlighted that in 2023, China's economic growth rate reached 5.2%, making it one of the top performers among the world's major economies. As China's innovation capabilities increase, high-level scientific and technological self-reliance accelerates, and the advantages of ultra-large-scale markets are gradually realized, there are favorable conditions and support to achieve the 5% growth target for the year. Consequently, China's economy is expected to continue achieving steady and long-term growth.
"As the world's second-largest economy, foreign investors have high expectations for the Chinese market," Zhao Changwen noted. Despite the complex international environment, the Chinese government has been intensifying its efforts to open up to the outside world. It has launched a series of policy measures to stabilize foreign investment and further optimize the foreign investment environment.
Discussing the high-quality development of China’s economy, Zhao Changwen believes that green transformation and digitalization are key contributors.
Zhao Changwen pointed out that China's economic and social development has entered a stage of high-quality development characterized by accelerated greening and low-carbonization. "In 2023, China's newly installed renewable energy power generation capacity exceeded half of the world's; the production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 9.5 million units, with more than 1.2 million units exported, becoming a new driving force for growth. These are vivid examples of China's promotion of green and low-carbon transformation," he said.
"At the same time, digitalization is also one of the most important symbols of this era," Zhao Changwen added. China's digital economy has achieved remarkable results, and as digital technology further penetrates traditional manufacturing and service industries, it will empower industrial transformation and integrated development, revealing greater potential.
Source: People's Daily Online
