Star still rising in the east

Realised 4.7% GDP growth rate for the second quarter this year.

- Brian Sokutu

Whether at work, on skateboards, scooters, bicycles, in vehicles or jogging, the country of 1.4 billion Chinese looks like a nation at peace with itself.

With clean streets, manicured gardens, well-maintained infrastructure, impressive architecture in residential and commercial skyscrapers, one is unlikely to encounter a beggar in the Chinese capital Beijing - a far cry from Johannesburg.

Despite being the world's second-most populous country after India, China eliminated extreme poverty in 2021.

It's multitrillion-rand economy is the second-largest globally.

It is driven by hard-working people prepared to go to sleep late at night and wake up early in the morning.

This is at the core of what has seen the country realising 4.7% gross domestic product growth rate for the second quarter this year, having reported an estimated $17.7 trillion in 2023.

Behind what has become known as "socialism with Chinese characteristics", President Xi Jinping's key areas of intervention, which have propelled economic growth levels, included: