Editor's note: The sixth plenary session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) highlighted the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC’s 100 years of endeavors. iChongqing conducted a series of exclusive interviews with foreigners in Chongqing to share their reflections on modern China.

Chongqing " I can actually witness that the Chinese people's knowledge base has grown, and I feel much more comfortable here now as a foreigner," said Schanelle Brooks, a student from Jamaica in the school of Management Science and Real Estate at Chongqing University(CQU).

Since its founding 100 years ago, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has led China to achieve great development and prosperity. Among the numerous foreigners who have witnessed China's rapid progress are international students from Chongqing University.

Booming China offers more opportunities

Having been in China for more than six years, Brooks noted that the economic ability of the individual Chinese has grown. "The entrepreneurial capacity of the Chinese people has grown, and there are much more businesses open now than before, especially foreign businesses."

The number of foreign-funded companies newly established in China in the first 11 months of 2021 came in at 43,370 and rose 29.3 percent year on year, adding to evidence of improving the business environment and injecting vitality to the domestic and global economy, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Taking China's logistics development as another example, Brooks added that parcels would be delivered to customers within three days. "That's actually very commendable, and there aren't many countries that I can think of that has accomplished that," said Brooks.

Most express companies would move the hot items most favored by consumers ahead in warehouses or deliver the commodities to the nearest stations in advance after consumers have made the first payment to ensure efficient delivery and distribution. 

According to the State Postal Bureau of China, China's parcel delivery sector has beat a record by delivering more than 100 billion parcels in 2021, ranking top globally for the eighth consecutive year.

In the view of Aylale Garatayeva, a student from Turkmenistan in the school of Public Policy and Administration at Chongqing University, Chongqing's metro system allow her to reach destinations in the most timely and efficient manner.

She said that commuting in Chongqing through the metros is convenient regardless of one's final destination and serves all generations well.

The sprawling megacity of Chongqing is one of China's most important manufacturing hubs, and it is involved in the national plan to build the Chengdu-Chongqing economic circle as a new pole of economic growth in China's vast and land-locked southwest.

"There is a chance for foreign students here in Chongqing," she said.

Putting people's well-being at heart 

China has introduced unprecedented measures and won the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, said Garatayeva. She added that the Chongqing University teachers would constantly remind her to take precautionary measures such as wearing masks and taking body temperature to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Brooks also applauded China's remarkable control of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that she was most impressed with how much the Chinese people trusted the government. 

"The nation was actually so obedient and so trusting in their government to have their well-being at heart and control the virus," she added. "Not many places can emulate that or copy that.