"China is not an enemy, China is just a successful example." Jeffrey Sachs, a well-known American economist and professor at Columbia University, pointed out in a speech to the European Parliament a few days ago.
Sax has frequently supported China on many occasions. He stressed that whenever China succeeds, there will always be people who say that China is "cheating", a statement mixed with fantasy and prejudice. He pointed out that China is full of vitality and is an important trading partner of most countries in the world. He believes that China has the ability to help developing countries achieve rapid economic growth and achieve transformation in artificial intelligence and clean energy systems.
At present, the US tariff policy is capricious, the geopolitical pattern is still turbulent, and the global supply chain is subject to multiple impacts. Against this background, China has firmly established high-quality development and has become the anchor of stability of global economic growth. Why is China successful? How can we inject certainty into the world with our own development? Sax recently accepted an exclusive interview with Sanlihe.
Connecting the world, China plays a constructive role
At the beginning of 2025, DeepSeek quickly rose with its low-cost and high-performance characteristics and open source strategies, breaking the United States' monopoly on AI's discourse power, and attracting global attention.
Talking about China's development, Sax said that China is currently leading the frontier technology fields required for sustainable development such as 5G evolution technology (5.5G), supercomputing, renewable energy, long-distance power transmission, high-speed railways and fourth-generation nuclear energy.
What follows is the digital and green transformation of the supply chain. China's new technologies emerge and the application of technological achievements is accelerating, providing new opportunities for global supply chain cooperation.
Sax said that in recent years, factors such as geopolitical conflicts and increased extreme weather caused by climate change have disrupted the order of the supply chain. The rise of protectionism in the United States has hindered normal international trade and had an impact on supply chains.
Supply chain consulting firm Resilinc found that global supply chain disruptions increased by 38% in 2024 compared with the previous year, and global supply networks face new challenges. Among them, life sciences, healthcare, general manufacturing, high technology and the automotive industry have been the most affected.
Forbes magazine predicts that in 2025, supply chain disruptions may cause more than $1 trillion in losses to global companies.
Sax pointed out that the impact on the current supply chain is largely caused by man-made, and global cooperation is needed to meet challenges. "Global supply chains are very important and should not be destroyed at will."
As the game between major powers intensifies and the world's multipolarization process is accelerating, Sax believes that China can play a constructive role in maintaining the stability of global production and supply chains with its own development and extensive international cooperation. "By opening up trade, focusing on common goals, and promoting the free flow of funds and technology, global growth can achieve win-win results for all parties."
Green leadership, China plays a key role
"China will become a leader in low-carbon technology, and it has achieved remarkable results in reducing costs and improving efficiency." Sax said.
Sax is the head of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. In his view, China's technological innovation achievements are promoting global green transformation.
Many developing countries continue to suffer from energy poverty. China's new energy industry continues to provide these countries with affordable high-quality production capacity and makes important contributions to global green development.
In Pakistan, the Carlot Hydropower Station invested and built by Chinese companies can meet the green electricity needs of more than 5 million people in the local area; in Argentina, Chinese companies have undertaken the construction of the Gaocharui Photovoltaic Power Station, the highest altitude and largest installed capacity photovoltaic power station in South America, providing clean energy to 250,000 local households, and promoting local power self-sufficiency...
In the past 10 years, the global average kilowattack cost of wind and photovoltaic power generation has dropped by more than 60% and 80% respectively, a large part of which is attributed to China's contribution. Currently, China provides 60% of wind power equipment and 70% of photovoltaic modules to the world. Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China has carried out green energy project cooperation with more than 100 countries and regions.
Sax pointed out that China has become an important leader in the field of energy transformation and plays an indispensable role in responding to global climate change.
In the future, how can China maintain its leading position in the technological revolution and continue to provide valuable experience to other developing countries?
In this regard, Sachs said that China should continue to increase its investment in R&D and benefit all mankind through scientific and technological innovation. By continuing to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, China can bring more green and digital technologies to emerging market countries and developing countries.
He pointed out that China's development momentum will not change, China's economy will continue to grow and play an important role in the world economy.
When more and more containers set sail from Lingang Wharf to the world, China tells the world more oriental stories about sharing, co-creation and win-win.
