From ancient silk road to Xi’s China: Why world looking east again

by Naim-Ul-Karim

For centuries, Asia stood at the centre of global commerce and civilisation. The ancient Silk Road connected China with South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, carrying not only silk and spices but also ideas, culture and knowledge. Chinese admiral Zheng He’s famous voyages to the Indian Ocean in the 15th century reached many parts of Asia and demonstrated China’s long historical engagement with the wider world. History, however, took a different turn during the industrial age, when Western powers came to dominate global politics and economics. For much of the twentieth century, many believed that development and modernisation could only follow a Western path.

Today, that assumption is increasingly being questioned. The latest Pew Research findings, showing that more countries now hold favourable views of China than the United States, reflect a changing international mood. Across Asia, Africa, Latin America and even parts of Europe, many people are looking towards China with increasing interest. This is not simply about geopolitics; it is also about development, economic success and the search for new models in a rapidly changing world. A major reason for this shift has been China’s remarkable transformation under President Xi Jinping. When Xi assumed leadership in 2012, China was already an economic giant. Yet the country still faced considerable challenges, including corruption, regional disparities, environmental concerns and slowing economic growth. Over the past decade, however, China has continued to transform itself at an extraordinary pace. Perhaps the most remarkable achievement has been the elimination of extreme poverty. Millions of people living in remote villages and underdeveloped regions saw dramatic improvements in their living conditions. Entire communities were connected through modern roads, electricity, internet access and economic opportunities. China’s infrastructure revolution has been equally impressive. The country today possesses the world’s largest high-speed railway network, modern ports that rank among the busiest globally and advanced transportation systems that have significantly improved connectivity and productivity. At the same time, China has become a global leader in several advanced industries. From electric vehicles and renewable energy to artificial intelligence and digital payments, Chinese companies are now competing at the highest international level. This transformation has inevitably attracted global attention.

For developing countries such as Bangladesh, China’s experience carries important lessons. Though Bangladesh has reduced poverty, expanded infrastructure and emerged as one of South Asia’s fastest-growing economies. Yet challenges remain, including the need for industrial upgrading, better urban management, improved education and greater technological capacity. China’s development journey demonstrates the importance of long-term planning and national vision. One of the most important lessons from China’s experience is that infrastructure is not merely about constructing roads and bridges. It is about creating the foundations for future growth. Efficient transportation, reliable energy supplies and modern logistics networks attract investment, create jobs and improve productivity. Another lesson is the importance of investing in human capital. China’s rise was not built solely on factories and infrastructure. It was also built on education, skills development, scientific research and technological innovation. Bangladesh, like many other developing nations, can benefit from placing even greater emphasis on science, technology and innovation if it wishes to sustain its economic progress in the coming decades.

The growing international admiration for China also reflects changing perceptions regarding global leadership. For many countries in the Global South, China is increasingly seen as a development partner that focuses on trade, investment and infrastructure cooperation. Through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative, AIIB, Beijing has expanded economic connectivity across Asia, Africa, Latin America and parts of Europe. At the same time, surveys indicate that many people around the world believe the United States has often intervened in the domestic affairs of other countries. Such perceptions have contributed to declining favourable views of Washington in various regions. China, by contrast, has generally projected itself as a supporter of economic cooperation and respect for national sovereignty. Whether one fully agrees with this perception or not, it is evident that many countries find China’s approach increasingly attractive. Perhaps even more striking is that China’s appeal is no longer limited to developing nations. Several developed countries, including Spain, Italy and Greece, have shown growing favourable views towards China in recent years. This does not imply that these countries are abandoning their traditional alliances. Rather, it demonstrates recognition of an undeniable reality: China has become one of the central economic and technological powers of our age. Indeed, many developed countries are now carefully studying aspects of China’s success. China’s leadership in renewable energy offers one important example. The country has become one of the world’s largest producers of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles. As the world confronts the challenge of climate change, China’s experiences in green development have become increasingly relevant. Similarly, China’s advancements in digital technology, e-commerce and modern urban infrastructure have attracted considerable international interest. Many cities and policymakers around the world are examining Chinese experiences in smart cities, transportation and industrial modernisation.

Of course, China’s model cannot simply be copied. Every country possesses its own unique historical, political and social conditions. Bangladesh must pursue its own development path based on its national realities and priorities. Nevertheless, studying successful international experiences remains essential. China’s transformation under Xi Jinping offers an important message: developing countries are not condemned to remain poor or dependent forever. With strategic planning, investment in infrastructure, technological advancement and consistent national goals, remarkable progress can be achieved within a relatively short period. This is perhaps why global perceptions are changing.The findings of the Pew survey should not be viewed merely as a competition between two major powers. Rather, they represent a broader shift in how countries think about development and international influence. For decades, Western nations largely dominated discussions on economic development and governance. Today, however, China’s success has introduced an alternative example—one that many countries are increasingly interested in understanding. China still faces important challenges, including demographic pressures, economic restructuring and complex geopolitical competition. No country is free from difficulties. Yet despite these challenges, China’s achievements during the past decade have been extraordinary and impossible to ignore.

For Bangladesh, this changing global landscape presents opportunities as well as lessons. Situated at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia, Bangladesh can benefit from engaging constructively with all major powers while focusing firmly on its own national development priorities. The central lesson from China’s rise is clear: economic transformation requires long-term vision, investment in people and infrastructure, technological innovation and national confidence. From the ancient Silk Road to the modern era of high-speed rail and artificial intelligence, China has once again emerged as a major force shaping global affairs. As the world becomes increasingly multipolar, more countries are looking east—not merely because of China’s growing power, but because its remarkable transformation under Xi Jinping has shown that new pathways to development and modernisation are possible. For developing countries such as Bangladesh and even for many developed nations, China’s experience has become an important case study of how strategic planning, economic reform and national determination can reshape a country’s destiny in the twenty-first century.

Postscript: The writer is a journalist and this opinion piece is available for publication by any news outlet, nationally or internationally, on a non-exclusive basis. Editors are granted the right to make standard revisions for length, clarity, grammar, and house style. Opinions expressed are solely his own & don’t express the views or opinions of his employer.