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China and Britain Are on a Winning Course By H.E. Li Keqiang Many countries have very high expectations of China, some even to the extent of seeing China as a global power. As the premier of China, I do have a good sense of where things stand. Indeed, China has achieved a quantum leap in its development, which is regarded as a remarkable success by the international community. Thanks to the reform and opening-up process started more than 30 years ago, China has substantially improved the livelihoods of its people within a generation. Personally, I do recall vividly my experience of poverty and hunger in my youth, having been sent to work as a farm boy. By 2013, China s grain output had continuously increased over ten consecutive years and basically met the food needs of the 1.3 billion Chinese. Feeding its people has been considered as an issue the size of Heaven since ancient times in China. At the same time, China s urbanisation process is steadily advancing, with more than half of its people now living in cities and towns. Nine-year free compulsory education is provided, covering 160 million students. A nationwide medical service network has been built, covering all its urban and rural residents. The list can go on and on. On the other hand, we should keep in mind an old Chinese saying: One should always be aware of the strength of others and the shortcoming of oneself. China is far from achieving its development goals. Measured by World Bank standards, more than 200 million Chinese still live below the poverty line. Development is quite uneven between urban and rural areas and among different regions, with the per capita GDP of some inland provinces being just one third of the coastal region. | 
