CAIRO, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China's governance model represents a development path that combines modernization, cultural preservation, and people-centered policies, offering valuable lessons for countries across the Global South, former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf said in a recent interview with Xinhua.
Sharaf, who has visited China many times since 2005, said the country's transformation over recent decades has been reflected in rapid economic growth, upgraded infrastructure, and improved living standards.
He noted that China has evolved from a developing country facing enormous challenges into the world's second-largest economy, equipped with advanced infrastructure, including high-speed railways, modern ports, smart cities, and growing technological capabilities.
"What really matters is how this transformation affected people's lives," he added, pointing to China lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, improving healthcare and education, and raising living standards.
The former prime minister, who is also a member of the Advisory Council of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, said many countries now view China's rise not merely as an economic success story, but as a broader model that balances modernization with the preservation of national identity and civilization.
During his visits to China, Sharaf said he witnessed firsthand the country's rapid development and the people's strong sense of trust in the government.
The Chinese people trust their government and their party and are willing to work hard for their country's future, he said.
In Sharaf's view, Chinese-style modernization has fueled growing interest among developing countries because it preserves cultural roots while pursuing economic progress.
China has advanced its modernization drive without losing its cultural identity or civilization characteristics, he said, noting that this approach carries important lessons for Arab countries and the wider Global South.
He also highlighted China's emphasis on a people-centered approach to governance, saying that this philosophy has drawn growing interest from many developing countries.
Drawing on his background as a transportation engineer, Sharaf said he was particularly impressed by China's advanced transportation infrastructure, especially its high-speed railways.
"China is a huge country, but its transportation system has made it feel like a small world," he said, adding that the transportation system has greatly facilitated the movement of people and goods and contributed to economic and social development.
Sharaf praised China's role in promoting cooperation among developing nations and supporting a more balanced international order.
He also underscored Arab countries' growing interest in strengthening dialogue and cooperation with developing nations through partnerships with China.
"The majority of the world's population lives in the Global South," he said, stressing that stronger communication and cooperation among these countries could help promote a more balanced multipolar order.
"The world today needs more cooperation, more dialogue, and a more balanced international system," Sharaf said, adding that building trust is the key to moving together toward a better future. ■