ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) FROM RURAL DEVELOPMENT TO GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS: CHINA’S EXPERIENCE

Written By Ms. Muskan Saleem, a Participant of ICSF-SBBWU Fellowship Programme 2026-2027

ISLAMABAD (Urdu Times) When many countries around the world face poverty and unemployment, China shows investing in villages which can help villages become competitive in the global economy.

China experience covers a development process that lasted four decades. In initial phase China put effort into building basic infrastructure in rural areas. China built roads provided electricity, clean water and Internet making villages connected to cities.

In the second phase China promoted small industries at the village level using Township and Village Enterprises or TVs.

The third step and the important step is technology. China set up thousands of e-commerce villages called “Taboo Villages.” In these villages farmers and local artisans sell handmade items and farm products directly to customers worldwide through platforms. This plan raised incomes many times and helped stop young people from moving to cities.

Experts say three factors are central to China’s model, long term government planning, investment in education and skills development and linking resources to global markets. China can be beneficial in terms of lesson for many countries such as Pakistan, where the main source of economy is agriculture. This experience can also be used by countries like Pakistan to grow rural areas.

China focused on infrastructure, building roads and means of communication making trade very easy. It is focusing on making the farmers capable of sending their products to cities. China provided jobs in villages and engaged people in different ways.

Most of the countries still have issues of unemployment, illiteracy, and lack of basic necessities in villages, in order to have education or needs health consultation they visit cities, which is more costly and expensive for them. By doing so, the burden on cities becomes more thus making it harder to manage. China not only focused on cities but also focused on eliminating poverty from villages.

With passage of time, China included advance technology, digital trade and alleviation of poverty as its main goals. So it is clear that constant effort for investment is necessary. China’s development path is indeed impressive, as the country has risen from a semi-feudal and rural society to a modern and competitive state.

The government has invested significantly in agricultural reform, learned to use new technologies and helped the population gain greater access to food. In addition, they have developed policies to improve the well-being of villagers, allowing them to obtain the necessary benefits and resources. These measures have helped to develop an extensive agricultural sector and rise to the fifth position in the world in terms of agricultural production because it has the resources and raw materials for its domestic needs. At the same time, without the proper reforms and investments in the agricultural sector foundation for the development of the country.

Rural development allowed people to have more opportunities, receive better education and work in the industry. Investments in the industrial sector and its infrastructure, the use of new technologies and the introduction of new working methods have helped China take a place in the world’s industrial powers.

Today, China is one of the most competitive countries in the world, producing light industry products, electric vehicles, telecommunications equipment, solar panels and many other high-tech products. To sums up, in order for a country to develop, it needs to invest in the education and skills of its population, as well as in high-tech technologies.

China invested in connecting farmers to global value chains. Rural development has enabled farmers to accumulate capital, adopt innovations and develop their business further. Cadres and enterprises in rural areas have been assisted in the implementation of various projects, the introduction of new technologies and the use of IT technologies.

China has managed to develop its e-commerce system, which connects farms and businesspeople with the population. China has had tremendous opportunities for development, rising from a poor and backward country to an industrial and high-tech power. Pakistan can benefit from several important lessons including investment in rural infrastructure, modernizing agriculture, promoting rural industries, strengthening Pakistan-China cooperation and ensuring inclusive and sustainable growth.