From poverty alleviation and community development to artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced healthcare, China’s development journey reflects an approach that seeks to place people at the centre of economic and technological progress.
A group of Bangladeshi journalists recently had the opportunity to observe different dimensions of this development model during a visit to China. Their experiences across several projects and institutions in Chongqing and Kunming offered a glimpse into how infrastructure, technology, environmental protection and social welfare are being pursued together.
One example is the Chongqing Sanfeng Environment Group Corp, which operates in the waste-to-energy sector. Its work demonstrates how environmental challenges can be addressed through technology while generating energy and supporting sustainable development.
The Baihetan Hydropower Station offers another example. Primarily built for electricity generation, the project also serves flood-control and navigation purposes while contributing to local economic and social development. Such large-scale infrastructure projects illustrate how China seeks to combine energy security, environmental management and wider public benefits.
China’s efforts to improve living standards are also visible in its resettlement programmes. The Maojiawan Resettlement Area in Kinming, for instance, comprises six communities established for people relocated from impoverished areas. It currently accommodates 9,741 households, or 41,543 people.
The programme goes beyond providing housing. It is designed to create opportunities for employment, skills development and access to better education and healthcare. The per capita disposable income of relocated residents rose from RMB 7,316.05 in 2020 to RMB 16,730 by the end of September 2024.
The experience illustrates how resettlement can be linked with livelihood opportunities and efforts to improve the economic conditions of people who previously lived in poverty. Similar initiatives in different parts of China form part of the country’s broader poverty-reduction and development efforts.
Community participation is another important feature of the model. In Houbao, Nanping, a neighbourhood in Chongqing, grassroots self-governance provides residents with platforms to discuss and resolve local issues.
The area has densely populated residential buildings and residents with diverse needs. Rather than relying solely on top-down administration, the community encourages people to take part in decisions concerning local services and living conditions. Residents consult one another to resolve disputes, identify priorities and carry out neighbourhood renovations.
This approach highlights the role of local participation in community development, allowing people to have a say in decisions that directly affect their daily lives.
At the same time, China is investing heavily in advanced technology and intelligent manufacturing. The Chongqing Robotics and AI Application Exhibition Centre showcases a range of applications, including industrial robots, educational robots for children, interactive robotic systems, humanoid robots capable of musical and dancing performances, and machine-vision technologies.
These innovations are not confined to exhibitions. They are increasingly being integrated into industrial production and services, including automobile manufacturing and healthcare.
A visit to Changan Automobile offered a closer look at how advanced technologies are transforming manufacturing. The company uses digital twin technology, automated guided vehicles and highly automated welding systems, with automation reportedly exceeding 90% in welding operations. These systems demonstrate how robotics and digital technologies can improve production efficiency and quality management.
China’s development, however, is not limited to its ambitions for the future. The country also places importance on preserving its history and revolutionary heritage.
The Hongyan Revolutionary Memorial Hall in Chongqing is one such example. The site commemorates the activities of the Communist Party of China during the country’s resistance against Japanese aggression and the early period of the War of Liberation.
From 1938 to 1946, Hongyan served as the headquarters of the Southern Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Chongqing Office of the Eighth Route Army. Under the leadership of veteran revolutionaries, including Zhou Enlai, Dong Biwu and Ye Jianying, the site became an important centre for political, diplomatic and united-front activities.
The preservation of the site reflects China’s effort to maintain its historical memory while pursuing rapid modernisation.
Healthcare is another area in which China’s development has an international dimension. Hospitals in the country are increasingly attracting patients from abroad, including Bangladeshis seeking treatment in cities such as Kunming and Guangzhou.
Healthcare facilities serving international patients offer services designed to address their specific needs. These include interpreter support and arrangements for halal food, making treatment more accessible and convenient for Bangladeshi patients. The availability of such services, alongside comparatively affordable treatment options, has contributed to China’s growing appeal as a healthcare destination.
The experience of the visiting journalists also highlighted the importance of access to medical services. While the range of services and eligibility arrangements may vary among hospitals, the facilities catering to international patients demonstrate China’s growing capacity to provide healthcare beyond its borders.
Taken together, these examples offer a broader picture of China’s development priorities. The country is seeking to raise living standards through poverty alleviation, resettlement and community participation while investing in human capital, technological innovation, industrial modernisation and environmental protection.
There are lessons in this experience for developing countries, including Bangladesh. China’s model cannot simply be replicated elsewhere, as every country has its own economic, social and institutional realities. However, elements such as linking resettlement with employment, involving communities in local decision-making, using technology to improve public services and making healthcare more accessible could be adapted to local needs.
Ultimately, the most striking aspect of the development model observed by the Bangladeshi journalists was the effort to connect economic growth with improvements in people’s everyday lives. The challenge for any developing country is not merely to achieve higher growth or build advanced infrastructure, but to ensure that the benefits reach ordinary people.
