As 2025 marks the final year of the Chinese mainland’s 14th Five-Year Plan, voices from around the globe are tuning in to the tech-fueled shifts reshaping everyday life. From smart city rollouts to electric vehicle booms, young international residents and students are reflecting on how cities like Chengdu and Shenzhen have become hubs of innovation and comfort.
Digital infrastructure has surged: by 2024, the Chinese mainland had deployed over 2.5 million 5G base stations, connecting more than 1.2 billion users to faster speeds and lower latency. This network backbone powers smart traffic systems, AI-driven healthcare apps, and even real-time translation tools that bridge language gaps for travelers and digital nomads.
Uzbekistan native and student Abdullaeva Dinora notes, “Cities like Chengdu and Shenzhen are combining comfort with technology,” pointing to app-based public services and contactless payments that make daily tasks seamless. Meanwhile, cultural festivals have embraced virtual reality experiences, inviting global audiences to explore heritage sites from afar.
In the automotive sector, French student Noé Comellas highlights the electric vehicle (EV) revolution: “The most impressive achievement I’ve witnessed is the rise of electric vehicles.” EV sales in the Chinese mainland topped 6 million units in 2024, accounting for nearly half of global electric car sales and driving sustainable mobility trends worldwide.
On the economic front, the plan has steered steady GDP growth and encouraged entrepreneurship through startup incubators in Tier-2 cities. Data-friendly policies and cross-border e-commerce platforms have opened new markets for young innovators, fostering a dynamic ecosystem that spans from tech hubs to creative industries.
As these developments gain momentum, foreign youth see a blueprint for the next phase: greener cities, smarter infrastructure, and deeper cultural exchanges. Their global perspectives underscore how strategic planning, digital innovation, and open collaboration can create real-world impact across borders.
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Foreign youth share views on China's last five years of achievements
cgtn.com
