China has gone through tremendous changes and development over the past 30 years and will continue to have a major influence on peaceful development globally, said former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley.
Shipley has visited China over 100 times over the past 30 years. Her latest visit was in late March to attend the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference, which took place in Boao Town in south China's Hainan Province.
In an exclusive interview with China Media Group (CMG) aired on Friday, Shipley said she and her family have seen with their own eyes China's rapid development over the past few decades.
"The China I saw in 1995 is unrecognizable now in some respects, but the development of China speaks for itself. My children, my grandchildren have been here. One of my grandchildren, now 12-year-old, said to his mother: 'Why did you ever leave?' And that's a very interesting lens from a western boy who, while he was born in Beijing, he didn't grow up very much here. But through his eyes he saw China as highly progressive and I think it was a surprise to him, although he had nothing to compare it against," she said.
Noting that her family has formed a strong bond with China, Shipley said that China's path of peaceful development is crucial in today's world of uncertainty.
"I want my grandchildren to be part of the future. China is part of the future. It's not only population-wise, economically, it's also regionally. But there's more to it than this. China is an old society, and I think any civilization that's had so much experience, has a lot of wisdom. But also in these moments of uncertainty, how China moves forward -- and President Xi's speeches are clear: He wants peaceful development, he wants growth to be shared, and he wants prosperity. And in my experience, that's what all citizens want, so China is going to continue to have a very big influence," she added.
China's rapid development 'speaks for itself': Former New Zealand PM
