Darren Smith：Understanding of Chinese Modernization and the 15th Five-Year Plan

Darren Smith is a professor of Geography at Loughborough University in the UK, a Fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences（FAcSS）, an adjunct professor at Hunan University, China; A high-level foreign expert introduced by the Chinese State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs. He currently serves as the Chair of Commission on Population Geography at International Geographical Union (IGU), and as the Editor-in-Chief (co-) of Population, Space and Place, Wiley (SSCI Q1) and Journal of Rural Studies, Elsevier (SSCI Q1).

In your view, what is the core essence of "Chinese Modernization"? How does it primarily differ from Western models of modernization?

As a population geographer, my immediate thought is that China, with its population of over 1.4 billion, is undergoing a modernization process on an unprecedented scale in human history. Enabling such a massive population to achieve a moderately prosperous life, universal basic education, and establish essential healthcare protection—all while improving living standards under resource constraints—and simultaneously advancing the coordinated development of industrialization, informatization, digitalization, and green initiatives, involves exponentially growing complexity and challenges. The Chinese government has implemented a series of public policies, making substantial investments in basic public services, education, and public health. Through technological innovation and institutional optimization, absolute poverty has been eradicated, the number of higher-educated individuals has expanded, the urbanization of rural populations has accelerated, and life expectancy has increased. These achievements have laid a critical intellectual foundation and provided an ample labor force for Chinese-style modernization, while also making significant contributions to global population sustainability. By constructing a governance system tailored to the modernization of a massive population, China has integrated population development with policies on education, employment, elderly care, and housing. Through the equalization of basic public services, it has narrowed regional, urban-rural, and group disparities, achieving win-win development in the context of an ultra-large population. The modernization of China's massive population holds positive significance, demonstrating that an ultra-large population can serve as a vital driver of economic development. Chinese-style modernization is not an imitation of the West but an innovative practice rooted in China's national conditions. With a people-centered approach, it balances the inclusivity and sustainability of population modernization, reflecting unique value orientations and governance wisdom, and contributing Chinese solutions to the global modernization process.

How do you believe the international community, including Western nations, should objectively perceive and respond to the rise of Chinese Modernization? What are the main cooperative opportunities and potential challenges that need addressing?

I believe the international community, particularly Western countries, should view China's modernization process through a more rational and objective lens. In my view, Chinese modernization presents tremendous opportunities for global cooperation, representing an expansion of new paradigms in humanity's modernization journey. It essentially injects new momentum into global development, rather than constituting a so-called "challenge." Achievements in areas such as housing security, public service provision, employment expansion, and the enhancement of well-being serve as vivid examples of high-quality demographic development globally. China's ultra-large market of 1.4 billion people provides stable demand and a source of high-quality goods for the world, creating cooperation opportunities for enterprises globally and for developing countries. Simultaneously, consumption upgrading "will vigorously propel sustained development of the world economy" and offer a stable market for global businesses. On the governance front, the experience China has accumulated in managing its ultra-large population—in urban-rural governance, poverty alleviation, and the equalization of basic public services—provides valuable references for developing countries addressing urban-rural development challenges. It also offers new perspectives for Western countries dealing with issues like aging populations and regional imbalances. For instance, China's urban-rural governance experience offers insights for countries worldwide. China has not only provided housing for its 1.4 billion people, along with supporting facilities for education, elderly care, healthcare, and transportation, but has also created diverse employment opportunities, continuously enhancing the well-being of its residents and achieving high-quality demographic development.

Looking ahead, what role do you foresee Chinese Modernization playing in shaping the global landscape in the next decade?

Since the end of the pandemic, I have visited China multiple times and have been amazed by the rapid development of its digital economy and society. The government plays a crucial guiding role in the growth of the digital economy, while fully leveraging the advantages of its ultra-large market to promote the deep integration of digital technology with the economy and society. In particular, through the construction of digital infrastructure and platforms, high-quality educational, medical, and financial resources have transcended urban-rural and regional boundaries. Technology-enabled inclusivity has significantly enhanced the sense of fulfillment among the people. I believe that in the next decade, China will become a key global provider of digital infrastructure and spatial information systems, offering critical technological support for global urban planning, disaster management, and climate change response. Furthermore, in the field of emerging artificial intelligence technologies, China will serve as a major engine for the global intelligent economy. AI technology, combined with the massive data generated by economic and social activities, can provide dynamic adjustment solutions to improve the allocation efficiency of labor, capital, technology, knowledge, and other factors. This will help address regional development imbalances and facilitate a shift from uneven and inadequate development to increasingly coordinated regional progress. The AI economy will become widely across China, driving advancements in computing power and innovation in future industries. It will improve public services, create new forms of employment, promote cultural preservation and innovation, and enhance the intelligence and refinement of urban governance. Ultimately, this will reshape global production and lifestyles, positioning China as a global leader in manufacturing, information technology, energy, and other fields.