According to recent data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, China's gross domestic product in the first half of 2023 was 59303.4 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.5%. In this regard, Kishore Mahbubani, a senior diplomat from Singapore, said that China's economic growth is very important to the world; China's willingness to drive other countries to share development dividends in addition to its own development reflects China's generosity.

Kishore Mahbubani said that in the past 20 to 30 years, China has contributed more to global economic growth than any other country. Against the backdrop of the current slowdown in economic growth in Western countries, achieving such growth results in China is of great significance. China's economic growth is undoubtedly a good thing for the global economy. The 5.5% growth rate in the first half of the year is remarkable. We know that some Western economies have experienced slower economic growth this year, and China's growth will form a hedge against this. The world will be very happy to see China's economy grow faster.

Kishore Mahbubani, former Permanent Ambassador of Singapore to the United Nations and outstanding researcher of Asian studies Institute of National University of Singapore

The Chinese version of Asia's 21st Century includes a series of articles on East West relations written by Kishore Mahbubani, aiming to explore the challenges and difficulties faced by the West and Asia in the increasingly interdependent global village and increasingly geopolitical competition.

The recently concluded NATO summit once again invited leaders of some countries in the Asia Pacific region to participate in the meeting in an attempt to interfere in Asia Pacific affairs. Kishore Mahbubani disagreed with this. He said that NATO refers to the NATO, which is not in Asia. Why does NATO want to expand into the Asia Pacific? I don't understand. It is important for more Asian countries to speak up on this issue. In fact, Asia has a culture of peace that emphasizes inclusivity, unlike Europe, which relies on international organizations related to defense.

At the press conference, Kishore Mahbubani also mentioned the the Belt and Road Initiative. Kishore Mahbubani said that China has made amazing development achievements in the past decades. Instead of being isolated, China has chosen to share development achievements, experience and opportunities with other countries in the world through the the Belt and Road Initiative, which is very generous.

Kishore Mahbubani said that he has a positive attitude towards the the Belt and Road Initiative. China is still a developing country, and if we only care about our own development, the international community will also understand this. But China is willing to share its success with the world. This is exactly what the the Belt and Road Initiative has done.Editor/Ma Xue