China's successful industrial development model offers valuable lessons for other developing nations, said Cecilia Ugaz Estrada, deputy to the Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Ugaz, also the Managing Director of the Directorate of Strategic Planning, Programming at UNIDO, now is on a week-long visit to China where she participates in various high-level events and forums of this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE).
During Wednesday's interview with China Central Television (CCTV), Ugaz shared insights into China's role in bolstering industrial development of other emerging economies.
Ugaz believes that the CIIE, as a platform for exchanges between international organizations, governments and enterprises, can provide new opportunities for global industrial development.
"I'm very excited to be here at this Expo in Shanghai. I think it's a very interesting bridge between innovation and global markets, and it is extremely vibrant. And it's kind of very, very important to see how technology is evolving, especially with applications on industrial development. So as a matter of fact, what I'm really expecting is really to have in-depth conversations about this and the way actually that these technologies can be really applied in developing countries in order to foster the process of industrialization," she said.
Ugaz, who once visited China as early as 2000, lauded China's rapid development over the past few years, adding that UNIDO member states can learn from China's experience when seeking sustainable and inclusive industrial development.
"We just don't want developing countries to replicate what has happened in the past. We also want to have more horizontal cooperation, let's say among the Global South countries. And this is where also China plays a very important role. China has lots of very interesting experiences. We see them in this Expo. And we also wish that this would be a vehicle to try to be able to convey those messages to our member states who are also looking to get industrialized in kind of a sustainable and inclusive way," Ugaz said.
Ugaz noted that various initiatives put forward by the Chinese government are in line with the expectations of UNIDO, and it is hoped that China will work to foster sustainable industrial development of developing countries and economies in transition via the implementation of these initiatives.
"Through the Belt and Road Initiative, for instance, that also supports developing countries in order to be able to build better infrastructure, because infrastructure, digital infrastructure in particular, is very important for this kind of virtuous process of industrialization that is supposed to be taking place. Also, there is the GDI, the Global Development Initiative, that is contributing in a very particular way to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals," she said.
Running from Tuesday to Sunday under the theme of "New Era, Shared Future," the 7th CIIE has attracted participants from 152 countries, regions and international organizations.
China's experience to boost industrial development of developing countries: UNIDO deputy chief
