The 2025 Understanding China Conference, themed "New Plan, New Development, New Choices -- Chinese Modernization and New Vision for Global Governance," was held in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province, on Monday.
After years of development, the Understanding China Conference has become one of the most influential platforms for the world to understand China.
Based on long-term exploration and practice, China has successfully advanced and expanded Chinese modernization through theoretical innovation and practical breakthroughs.
"Marked by the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the exploration of Chinese modernization has further dispelled the myth that modernization equals westernization, offering a new choice for Global South countries in their path toward modernization," said Zheng Bijian, founding chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, speaking on stage at the event.
Currently, the proposed Five-Year Plan prioritizes significant progress in high-quality development, enhanced technological self-reliance, and steady improvements in people's quality of life.
Speakers at the event also emphasized that China's modernization must be understood within the context of global trends and shifts in the balance of power.
"Today, as we reflect on the shifting global trends, we should focus more on how to help countries around the world -- especially the West -- understand China," said Li Cheng, director of the Centre on Contemporary China and the World at the University of Hong Kong.
Others underscored that China's reform momentum and development prospects may provide new opportunities for Global South countries and for world economic growth through technological innovation and win-win cooperation.
"China has stated the goal of developing new quality productive forces by promoting digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, integration and the digital transformation of traditional industries, which could set a global precedent," said Mulatu Teshome, former President of Ethiopia.
2025 Understanding China Conference highlights Chinese modernization, global governance
2025 Understanding China Conference highlights Chinese modernization, global governance
An art exhibition was held simultaneously on Wednesday aboard China's Tiangong space station orbiting about 400 kilometers above Earth, and at the Capital Museum in Beijing, showcasing teenagers' imaginative visions of the future and their deep respect for role models nationwide.
The event launched its call for entries in July 2025, selecting 80 paintings from a pool of over 15,000 submissions from teens across the country. On October 31, the selected works were sent to the Chinese space station aboard the Shenzhou-21 crewed spacecraft.
It is the fifth painting exhibition held aboard the Tiangong space station.
The artworks frequently highlight figures from China's space industry chasing the space dream, high-speed rail workers striving for excellence, and firefighters braving danger. The young creators honored pioneering role models through their paintings which illustrate their understanding of how personal growth integrates with national development.
The Shenzhou-21 crew members, comprised of mission commander Zhang Lu and astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, have displayed and introduced the teenagers' artworks during their mission aboard the space station.
"'Role Models in My Heart' is the theme of this exhibition. From the paintings, we deeply feel the teenagers' respect for pioneering role models lying beneath their brushstrokes, which shines brighter than stars and stretches wider than the sky," said a crew member of the Shenzhou-21 mission.
Meanwhile, on the ground, the Capital Museum hosted an interactive event featuring representatives from the aerospace, high-speed rail, and firefighting sectors. These role models engaged with young visitors, sharing stories of how they are dedicated to and shoulder the responsibility in their respective fields.
"Seeing the children's paintings about high-speed railway, which are full of imaginative depictions and hopes for the future development of China's high-speed rail, is a great inspiration to us," said Weng Shengyuan from the Institute of Computing Technologies of the China Academy of Railway Sciences Corporation Limited.
"I can't go to space yet, but my painting went to space in my place. I feel very honored. My painting is about winning glory for the country, depicting athletes in a competition. Today we're on the school playground; in the future, we will make breakthroughs in various other fields both in space and on the ground, daring to tackle challenges and win glory for our country," said Li Chongjing, a student participating in the event.
The exhibition at the Capital Museum brings together works displayed in all the five editions of the exhibition, as the first comprehensive showcase of all collections of the event. The exhibition will run through May 24.
Tiangong space station, ground jointly hold fifth youth art exhibition
