Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jenny Shipley has visited China over a hundred times in the past 30 years. According to her, the country has undergone a remarkable transformation, and its progress has even captivated her twelve-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 there more than a hundred times in the following decades. "The China I saw then is almost unrecognizable today," says the former Prime Minister, who served from 1997 to 1999.

Her own grandson, now a twelve-year-old boy born in Beijing, recently told his mother, "Why did you ever leave?" Despite not having lived in China for an extended period, he perceives it as a developed, progressive, and inspiring country – and this impression has also left a deep impact on Shipley.

"I want my grandchildren to be a part of the future – and China is a part of that future," she emphasizes. According to her, China's strength lies not only in its size and economy, but primarily in the deep wisdom of its civilization. She also highlighted the peaceful and developmental priorities that Chinese President Xi Jinping promotes, adding: "That is exactly what people around the world desire."

CMG