Global@China | British scholar Martin Jacques: I give China’s economy an A+ rating. New energy vehicles are a model of China’s innovation – China Daily

British scholar Martin Jacques (photo by Overseas Network intern Li Yawei)

Overseas Network, November 20th. On November 18, the first “Tongzhou·Global Development Forum” was held in Beijing. Martin Jacques, a well-known British scholar and expert on China issues, attended and accepted an exclusive interview with Overseas Network. He spoke highly of China’s economic performance in 2023, especially its outstanding achievements in the field of new energy vehicles. He also said that the concept of Chinese-style modernization is rich in connotation and provides reference for developing countries to modernize.

“Optimistic about China’s economic performance in 2023”

“The first time I came to China was in 1993. Since then, I may have come to China more than 50 times, but I don’t know because I haven’t counted.” Jacques said with a smile at the beginning of the interview.

Jacques served as a senior fellow at the University of Cambridge in the UK and a columnist for newspapers such as The Guardian and The Independent. Years of field visits and first-hand observations have given him an intuitive and in-depth understanding of the strong resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy.

The latest data shows that China’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.2% year-on-year in the first three quarters. Jacques bluntly said that the overall performance of China’s economy this year is “positive” and if you want to give it a rating, you can give it an A+. He said that as the economy faces many uncertainties after the epidemic, the Chinese government is working hard to achieve the expected goal of GDP growth of about 5% for the whole year, and believes that this goal will be achieved. “China’s economy has achieved rapid growth, growing faster than other Western economies. Few countries have done better than China. China’s GDP growth rate may also exceed 5% in the future.”

“New energy vehicles are a model of innovation in China”

In Jacques’ view, among the achievements of China’s economy, the performance in the field of new energy vehicles is “extraordinary” and the most impressive. According to the latest data, China has ranked first in global new energy vehicle production and sales for eight consecutive years. New energy vehicles provide a new “track” for the transformation, upgrading and high-quality development of China’s automobile industry.

Jacques said that the Chinese government is far-sighted and fully understands the importance of the transition from fuel vehicles to electric vehicles, and encourages Chinese companies to conduct research, development and investment in the field of new energy vehicles. He said that although China once lagged behind Japan, Germany, the United States and other countries in the field of automobile manufacturing, in the past few years, China has developed rapidly in the field of new energy vehicles and has made extraordinary achievements.

“Chinese new energy vehicle companies are great and will play a disruptive role in the world. (Their development achievements) are the result of the continuous innovation of the Chinese people, and new energy vehicles are a model of Chinese innovation.” Jacques praised.

“Chinese-style modernization has rich connotations”

In 2009, Jacques published the book “Great Power Ambition”, which studied the Chinese model, which attracted great attention in both the East and the West. In this interview, Jacques once again elaborated on his unique understanding of Chinese modernization.

“I think it is very important that we understand that Chinese-style modernization is different from Western modernization,” Jacques said. In his view, no matter what achievements China has made, it will surely provide reference for the modernization of other developing countries, and this is what China has been doing from the past to the present.

Jacques believes that Chinese-style modernization pays more attention to the coordination of material civilization and spiritual civilization. He said that compared with the United States and Europe, China has done a better job in strengthening supervision and protecting the online safety of minors. “Modernization is not just a narrow economic phenomenon. It is only related to the quality of life. It is also related to mental health. Therefore, compared with Western-style modernization, Chinese-style modernization is a concept with richer connotations.”

On November 18, the first “Tongzhou·Global Development Forum” hosted by Renmin University of China and co-organized by Renmin University of China and the Tongzhou District People’s Government was held at the Beijing International Wealth Center. More than 400 Chinese and foreign guests, including Martin Jacques, attended . (Li Yawei, intern of Liu Qiang of Overseas Network)

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(Li Yawei)

[Editor in charge: Wan Yueying]