by Kin Phea
Chinese modernization over the past four decades has stood as one of the most remarkable development achievements in human history.
It is a people-centered process that preserves national autonomy in policymaking and resists external imposition, leading the Chinese people to uphold independence and self-reliance. This modernization emphasizes collective welfare, social harmony and ecological balance, while promoting gradual reform and respecting national sovereignty.
In just over 40 years, China lifted 800 million people out of poverty, contributing to more than 75 percent of global poverty reduction in the same period. This transformation reshaped not only China's domestic economy but also global patterns of trade, investment and production.
China has transitioned from a largely agrarian society to the world's second-largest economy, from a labor-intensive manufacturing hub to an innovation-driven economy at the frontier of technology.
Infrastructure development has been a cornerstone of this transformation. High-speed rail networks, expressways and digital connectivity have enhanced national integration and regional development.
Technological innovation has emerged as another defining feature. China now leads in renewable energy, electric vehicles and digital finance, reflecting a structural shift toward sustainable and knowledge-based growth. The concept of ecological civilization underscores a commitment to harmonizing economic development with environmental stewardship, integrating green principles into modernization policy.
What distinguishes China's modernization, however, is its institutional resilience -- the capacity to adapt through evidence-based governance, long-term planning and policy experimentation, ensuring continued evolution within an ever-changing global environment.
Chinese modernization proves that nations can achieve economic progress while preserving the Chinese people's cultural identity and political independence, tailoring their modernization paths to their own unique conditions.
For developing economies, China's experience offers valuable lessons. Cambodia, for instance, which aims to achieve upper-middle-income status by 2030 and high-income status by 2050, can learn from its approach to implementing long-term national development goals effectively.
Cambodia can also draw from the Chinese experience in mobilizing resources, strengthening institutional capacity, reforming public administration, and fostering a merit-based bureaucracy capable of executing complex development strategies. Furthermore, it can also learn from China's efforts in balancing growth with equity, reducing income inequality, bridging rural-urban divides, and expanding access to essential services such as education and healthcare.
Inclusive modernization is vital for maintaining social stability and fostering a shared national identity.
China's experience demonstrates that successful transformation depends not only on economic strategy but also on cultural confidence and policy autonomy.
For Cambodia, modernization should remain anchored in Cambodian cultural values, historical continuity and sovereign decision-making, while engaging constructively with regional and global partners. By doing so, Cambodia can modernize without losing its cultural essence or national independence.
Ultimately, Chinese modernization offers not a model to be replicated, but a source of intellectual inspiration and practical guidance. It exemplifies how a country can modernize according to its own logic, harmonizing tradition and innovation, national particularity and global engagement.
Editor's note: Kin Phea is director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency.
