Windy Shao windysjf@hotmail.com MUHAMMAD IDREES, a Shenzhen University Ph.D. student from Pakistan, arrived in Shenzhen in January 2023. Expressing appreciation for China’s efforts to attract foreign investment and integrate its economy into the global market, Idrees cited the Belt and Road Initiative, noting its impact in his home country. “The project covered many aspects in my country. It helped solve our electricity shortage, and it built better roads and railways. The most important thing is that the project has provided 236,000 new jobs in my country,” he said. “China’s path forward in economic reform involves a multifaceted approach that balances market liberalization with regulatory oversight, promotes innovation and sustainable development, and ensures social and regional equity. By addressing these key areas, China can sustain its economic growth, enhance its global competitiveness, and improve the quality of life for its citizens,” he said. Idrees said he loves Shenzhen so much that he plans to find a job at a local high-tech company after gradation. | 