A distinguished professor of Belt and Road School, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, the world-renowned economist Grzegorz. W. Kolodko wrote a book for the library of Emerging Markets Institute at Beijing Normal University, Can China Save The World? (Volume 15 of the library, published by Encyclopedia of China Publishing House in 2019). The incredible book won the 14th Special Book Award of China, the highest award issued by the Chinese publishing industry for foreign authors. The award ceremony was held in Beijing while Professor Kolodko attended the ceremony online and delivered a keynote speech, and the Polish ambassador to China received the trophy and certificate on his behalf.

The Special Book Award of China was sponsored by The National Press and Publication Administration. It mainly commends the promotion of Chinese publications and related cultural products in contemporary China to overseas and the exchange and mutual learning of Chinese and foreign civilizations contributed by foreign writers, translators and publishers. This award was established in 2005 and is currently in its 14th year.

In his speech, Professor Kolodko pointed out that no country in history has ever achieved social economic development as quickly as China, and China’s experience on this matter can hardly be copied in the future.

He said that his homeland, Poland, is deemed as a country with a prosperous economy. Poland’s GDP per capita in 2020 is nearly 3 times that of 30 years ago, meanwhile China is able to achieve a GDP per capita 11.5 times that of 30 years ago. During the period of extreme economic depression caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the national income of China is still maintaining a growing trend. The size of population living in a extreme poverty continues to grow in some countries, but China has completely lifted its citizens out of poverty.

He pointed out that in 2050, China will join the ranks of developed economies, and it will be more competitive internationally and will develop a greener economy. In the five-year plan for 2021-2025, the new development ideology has been repeatedly stressed. President Xi Jinping has announced China’s development vision in the next 15 years—the average annual GDP growth rate will continue to climb as high as 4.7%, which means that the per capita GDP by 2030 will be nearly 19 times that of 40 years ago.

In his view, the irrational trade war initiated by the United States obviously cannot stop these structural reforms. The realization of these incredible achievements is due to the steady implementation of many pragmatic policies in China's unique political and economic system established by a whole generation after Deng Xiaoping's reform and opening up. This is a brand-new quality system, a unique synergistic effect that exists between the state and market. Equipped with strong elite leadership and great wisdom, the systematic policy guidance has integrated China into the international labor market. China is capable of maintaining its advantages in the latest globalization situation. It actively advocates multilateralism and strives to achieve a win-win situation for globalization in a wider range. In this way, China can bring great benefits to the sustainable development of the world economy. The significant Belt and Road Initiative will also benefit this, so that other countries will eventually benefit from China's success.