China’s Reform and Opening-up: A Relay Race with No Finish Line - The Road of China's Transformation in My Eyes
"China's Reform and Opening-up are always ongoing and will never end."
By AbdelaZiz Sallam
"Reform and opening-up are always ongoing and will never end." For me, an Arab who has lived in China for more than a decade, this sentence is not just a political slogan. It is a true portrayal of the development of China that I have witnessed and experienced firsthand.
In the eyes of many foreigners, China is a mysterious and ancient country. But for me, China is more like a "modern epic" that is constantly being written. It has proved to the world with practical actions that as long as a country keeps renewing itself and remains open to the outside world, it can create development miracles that attract worldwide attention.
Living the Change: Where Speed Meets Warmth
At the beginning of reform and opening-up, China was faced with the reality of a weak foundation, scarce resources and underdeveloped industries. Today, China stands as the world's second-largest economy, where high-speed trains crisscross the land, modern cities rise rapidly, the internet is deeply integrated into daily life, and technological innovation is accelerating. These achievements are not coincidental.
As someone who has personally experienced these changes, I can say with conviction that reform in China is not just a matter of policy — it transforms everyday life. From rural land reforms to the establishment of market mechanisms in cities, from attracting foreign investment through special economic zones to promoting innovation and the digital economy, China's progress has kept pace with the times and has touched the lives of ordinary people.
I have felt the passion of entrepreneurs in Shenzhen and witnessed the rise of poverty-alleviated villages in Guizhou. Behind these changes is the driving force of reform. Opening-up has enabled China to step into the world and the world to enter China. Countless foreign-funded enterprises, foreign experts and international students have found their own development space in China.
Openness Is Confidence, Not Concession
Many people think that opening-up means passive acceptance or even compromise. However, China's reform and opening-up has made me understand that true opening-up is to take the initiative to communicate and cooperate with the world on the basis of maintaining confidence in its own path, culture and system.
From putting forward the Belt and Road Initiative to joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), from holding the China International Import Expo to proposing the Global Development Initiative, China is not only "bringing in", but also "going out". This kind of opening-up is win-win, respects differences and is future-oriented.
What touches me particularly is that during the process of its opening-up, China has not blindly imitated the Western model, but has embarked on a development path that suits its national conditions. This principle of "confidence in oneself, openness to others" has enabled China to play an increasingly active role in global governance.
A Model of Inspiration for the Developing World
As a journalist from an Arab nation, I am frequently asked: Can China's success be replicated? My answer is always the same: While China's development model may not be directly replicable, it offers a powerful lesson — true progress requires more than slogans. It must rely on the continuous reform of generations of people, and the courage to self-deny and self-surpass.
China's experience is of great reference significance, especially for developing countries. In the face of global challenges, technological changes and social transformation, if a country wants to achieve long-term development, it must have a reform spirit and an open-minded attitude that keep pace with the times.
Reform Never Stops, and the Future is Promising
Today, China is moving from high-speed growth to high-quality development. Reform is no longer just about "breaking the old and establishing the new", but also about "optimization and upgrading". Openness, too, has shifted from simply "bringing in resources" to "sharing wisdom with the world."
As a foreign observer, I sincerely admire China's long-term reform path. I believe that a country that always maintains a reforming posture is invincible, and a nation that always embraces the world has a bright future.
As the Chinese leadership emphasized, "Reform and opening-up is always ongoing and will never end."
This is a runway with no finish line. It is precisely this belief of "no finish line" that has enabled China to always stay at the forefront of the world stage.
AbdelaZiz Sallam is a foreign expert of China Media Group. The views don't necessarily reflect those of BeijingOpinion.