On December 20, 2024, the event "Two-Way Efforts, Shared Success: China's Reform and Opening-Up in the New Era" took place.

"Opening-up is a defining feature of Chinese modernization. "We must uphold the fundamental national policy of opening-up, promote reform through openness, leverage the advantage of China's vast market, enhance our capacity for openness through expanded international cooperation, and build a new system for a higher-level open economy." This resolute statement comes from The Decision of the CPC Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform and Promoting Chinese Modernization (Hereinafter referred to as The Decision), adopted at the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.

Over the past 46 years, reform and opening-up have sparked a "two-way effort" between China and the world. While the world has brought development opportunities to China, China has swiftly become a driving force for global prosperity. On December 20, 2024, Global People magazine hosted the "Two-Way Efforts, Shared Success: China's Reform and Opening-Up in the New Era" dialogue at the International Hall of the People's Daily. The event gathered Chinese and international guests to explore how China and the world can continue to move forward hand in hand in this new era.

An Open China of Entrepreneurship

"My university professor said I’m like a ‘thousand-mile horse’ galloping across China, so he gave me the Chinese name Ma (horse) He," shared Wahed, an Afghan entrepreneur born in 1995, as he proudly explained the origin of his Chinese name during an interview with Global People. Having spent 10 years in China, Wahed is now on his third entrepreneurial venture and serves as the Secretary-General of the International Alumni Talent Alliance under the Chaoyang District Overseas High-Level Talent Association in Beijing.

At the dialogue, Wahed quickly demonstrated his keen entrepreneurial instincts: "I completed both my undergraduate and master’s studies at the University of International Business and Economics. During university, I began my first entrepreneurial journey in China. Over the past two years, the number and quality of foreign talents coming to China to start businesses have been steadily rising. Take the international talent entrepreneurship competition I helped organize as an example. This year, over 1,800 overseas projects registered for the competition. Many entrepreneurs view the Chinese market as promising and believe it offers more opportunities for learning and exchange."

In Wahed's view, the goals of foreign entrepreneurs coming to China have subtly shifted in recent years: "This year, I have interacted with and invited the most foreign entrepreneurs to Beijing in recent years. In the past, foreign entrepreneurs came to China mainly to explore the market, seek investment opportunities, or procure products. But in recent years, as China has achieved world-renowned accomplishments in many fields, an increasing number of foreign entrepreneurs are coming to China specifically to learn about China's technology and experiences."

In 2021, Wahed initiated the "International Alumni Talent Alliance" project to provide entrepreneurial and employment guidance services for foreign talents in Beijing. "Many entrepreneurs tell me they are thinking about how to bring China's technology, experiences, and wisdom back to their own countries to promote their own economic and social development. In my eyes, this truly represents a two-way journey between China and the world."

Looking ahead to the future of "China of Entrepreneurship," Wahed is full of confidence: "In the past 10 years, Beijing’s universities have gathered a large international talent community, and I hope to make the most of the value of these talents." Wahed's wish is to provide better and more sustainable resource support for foreign entrepreneurs in China. "We hope to have the entire system in place by 2025 to better leverage the role of international students as ambassadors and bridges."

China Doesn’t Put People in A Difficult Position.

For Chinese netizens, the name "Pharaoh Liu Zhengxi of Egypt" is not unfamiliar. In 2015, he was admitted to the Chinese Language Department of the Egyptian Language Institute, marking the beginning of his deep connection with the Chinese language. In 2023, he graduated from the Communication University of China. During the graduation ceremony, he wore an Egyptian pharaoh costume as he took the stage to receive his diploma, becoming the center of attention. Subsequently, he changed his Chinese social media account name to "Pharaoh Liu Zhengxi of Egypt."

On December 20, 2024, Liu Zhengxi (right) engaged in discussions with Wahed (center), Shi Zhancheng, and others during the conference.

At the dialogue session, Liu Zhengxi described China using two words: "colorful" and "inclusive." "As an Egyptian, one thing I feel especially proud of recently is the success of the 'Pyramids of Egypt: The Great Exhibition of Ancient Egyptian Civilization' held in Shanghai." In his view, China's cultural confidence is not only about pride in its long history but also about respecting the diverse cultures of the world. Liu Zhengxi has always been deeply interested in China-Africa cooperation and has personally felt China's genuine respect for African countries during the China-Africa Cooperation Forum. "Today, Africa's largest green energy power plant and the fastest high-speed rail are all in collaboration with China. China is committed to multilateralism, respecting the opinions of every country, regardless of their size or power. China will never put people in a difficult position just because it is a large country. This is also the magnanimity of China as a major power."

Liu Zhengxi believes that to further achieve two-way efforts between China and the world, it is necessary to break down cultural differences and tell China’s story well. "In my view, there is a huge difference between 'telling China’s stories well' and 'telling good China’s stories' even though there is only one word difference. Some people misunderstand us, thinking we only say good things about China. But in reality, when we tell China’s stories, we do so with our own reflections, making sure to tell them well." He also expressed hope that China could introduce more policies that make it easier for foreign friends to live and work in China, further promoting exchanges between China and the world.

Linden, the founder of the Linden Centre Hotel in Dali, Yunnan, has been connected with China for nearly 40 years. Over the years, he has not only helped develop tourism resources in Xizhou, Yunnan but has also worked with American schools to promote cultural and educational exchanges in China. Linden said that the original purpose of the Linden Centre Hotel was to facilitate the two-way efforts between China and the world. Through the guesthouse, he hopes to help people from around the world "travel through time and space" to China’s ancient villages and personally explore and understand China’s rich culture, charm, and wisdom. In his view, Chinese culture does not need to be dressed up in "foreign clothes" to go global; its original, authentic form is the most attractive.

"China's Prosperity Means The World's Prosperity!"

The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee outlined new plans for deepening reform and opening-up, including steadily expanding institutional openness, optimizing regional opening-up layouts, and improving the high-quality "Belt and Road" initiative.

During the dialogue, Mahoney, a U.S. professor at East China Normal University, emphasized that as the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee pointed out, the first period of China's reform and opening-up was about reforming to promote opening. At that time, China understood that national rejuvenation required both "going out" and "inviting in." "But at the same time, China ensured that opening-up would not harm the achievements already made by the New China and would not weaken China's future growth and development."

Mahoney further explained his viewpoint: "Now, we have entered a new era. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee proposed that openness should promote reform. On the one hand, China has re-emerged as a great power, possessing one of the most advanced industrial systems in the world. On the other hand, China is still a developing country. To ensure that China achieves a higher level of national rejuvenation, experience tells us that only by further expanding openness and promoting the vision of a community of shared human destiny can this goal be achieved and its results sustained."

On December 20, 2024, Shi Zhancheng (left) gave a speech at the event.

Shi Zhancheng, General Manager of Zhejiang Jieliya Network Technology Co., Ltd., voiced the sentiments of Chinese entrepreneurs at the dialogue: As foreign trade cross-border e-commerce in developing countries and the East Asia region matures, opportunities for Chinese brands to go global are increasing. As a Chinese company, Jieliya has shifted its strategy by launching the new slogan "Quality Xinjiang Cotton, China Jieliya" and leveraging overseas short video platforms and social media for promotion. He hopes that under the backdrop of the new era of reform and opening-up, Chinese companies will use high-quality products to make the world experience the beauty and excellence of "Made in China" in the most direct way.

Financial writer Cui Chuangang remarked at the dialogue that, in the long run, reform and opening-up is not only crucial for China's long-term stability and healthy development, but also vital for the global economic development and world peace. China’s openness is a win-win approach, while the self-enclosed and isolationist policies of some countries in the world are a "lose-lose" approach, especially harmful to developing countries. In this context, developing countries should unite more effectively and promote mutual openness, inclusion, and free trade, which is crucial for the prosperity of both China and the world.

The Decision states, "Reform and opening-up is always in progress, never completed." The "two-way efforts" that bring prosperity to China and the world will continue as reform and opening-up deepen and develop.