The 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China on October 1 is a momentous occasion. China’s achievements over the past 75 years are truly remarkable and unprecedented. Seventy-five years ago, China’s annual per-capita GDP was around $50. Today, that figure has risen to roughly $13,000, marking the country’s entry into the ranks of upper-middle-income countries.  

China has also emerged as a primary driver of global economic growth, contributing over 30 percent to worldwide economic expansion. Furthermore, it has made remarkable progress in poverty alleviation, having lifted over 800 million people out of extreme poverty as of late 2020— a feat both incredible and inspiring, particularly for countries in the Global South. 

The Belt and Road Initiative, a China-proposed strategy to boost connectivity along and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes, is another testament to China’s growing international influence, thus far having attracted at least three quarters of the world’s countries and 32 international organizations.  Since the initiative kicked off in 2013, at least 3,000 corporation projects have been launched. As a result, about 40 million people worldwide have been lifted out of extreme poverty. This is a remarkable, unprecedented result, offering an inspiring example for humanity, especially for developing nations. 

The author is the former prime minister of Kyrgyzstan, a distinguished professor of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University and author of the book Central Asia’s Economic Rebirth in the Shadow of the New Great Game (Routledge, London, 2023)     

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon  

Comments to dingying@cicgamericas.com