China top scholar shares Africa’s modernisation path
CHINA: CHINA’S top economist, Professor Zhong Weiguo has pointed out Beijing’s Reform and Open up approach as one of the instrumental tools that are driving the country’s modernisation worth replicating by developing countries in Africa.
The Reform and Open up approach entails freeing up the mind to embrace innovation and emerging technologies.
It also involves seeking truth from facts grounded in science and innovation.
The approach in China was adopted in the late 1970s.
Prof Weiguo made the statement on Saturday in Shaanxi Pronvice during the 2026 Africa Media Mainstream Workshop which among others enabled African journalists to familiarize with China’s transformation journey.
“If you don’t open up, it will be a dead end to development,” Prof Weiguo said underlining the importance of the global-south countries to continue enhancing strategic partnerahips with the rest of the world.
He said China has translated the approach from the local government to the central government.
“It is the same for people as the same to government officials. Reform and Open Up approach is an ongoing process ,” he said.
He said currently China also reached a consensus on green technologies and emerging technologies.
He noted that China enters into a new stage of development including electric vehicles, solar and wind generations after every five years.
Prof Weiguo noted that the country aims at reaching carbon neutrality by 2060.
However, he noted that China is facing limited resources saying their government is encouraging its investors to seek resources abroad through partnerships to feed new industries back home.
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“We hope at the end we will share benefits with everyone,” Prof Weiguo said.
Spending several days in China as part of the 2026 Media Cooperation Forum on Belt and Road’s tours, I have observed that China is currently undergoing automation even in farming with robots used in irrigation.
