Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley has visited China more than 100 times in 30 years. She says the country has been transformed beyond recognition - and her progress has captivated her 12-year-old grandson, who was born in Beijing.
When Jenny Shipley first landed in China in 1995, she had no idea that she would return more than 100 times over the following decades. "The China I saw then is almost unrecognisable today," says the former prime minister, who was in office from 1997 to 1999.
Her own grandson, now a 12-year-old boy born in Beijing, recently told his mother: "Why did you ever leave?" Despite not having lived in China for long, he perceived it as a mature, progressive and inspiring country - and that impression left a deep impression on Shipley.
"I want my grandchildren to be part of the future - and China is part of the future," he stresses. China's strength, she says, lies not only in its size and economy, but above all in the profound wisdom of its civilisation. She also highlighted the peace and development priorities set by Chinese President Xi Jinping, adding: "This is exactly what people around the world want."
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