Another Vision of Modernization for the Asia-Pacific

BEIJING, Nov. 9, 2026 — A news report from China.org.cn on another vision of modernization for the Asia-Pacific.

Every winter, nearly 100,000 migratory birds fly south from Siberia and land in downtown Shenzhen. Year after year, what kind of city keeps drawing them back?

The answer begins at sea. At Nansha Port in Guangzhou stands the world's first fully automated river-sea-rail multimodal terminal, where unmanned vehicles guided by BeiDou satellites operate around the clock. In the cold-chain center next door, the "Cherry Express" and "Durian Express" bring Asia-Pacific's freshest fruit to Chinese tables, while Chinese-made goods set off from the same shore, for the same ocean.

Take a look inside the factories. In Shunde, Foshan, the world's largest microwave oven manufacturing base — a World Economic Forum "Lighthouse Factory" — runs a single production line that flexibly switches between multiple models, selling to more than 100 countries and regions. In Dongguan, OPPO has filed over 120,000 patent applications worldwide; while an office chair, designed globally and made locally, now seats people in 127 countries. A complete supply chain and an open business ecosystem give manufacturers here confidence.

Now, let's return to where the birds land. The Futian Mangrove Nature Reserve is China's only national nature reserve in the heart of a city. In 2026, the International Mangrove Center began operating right here — the world's first intergovernmental organization dedicated to mangrove conservation. During this year's APEC Ministerial Meeting on Forestry, delegates from 21 economies planted mangrove seedlings to be transplanted into the reserve's "APEC Ministers' Forest." And in nearby Zhongshan, Ming Yang is developing wind power solutions that now reach more than 60 countries. Here, growth and conservation are never mutually exclusive.

What holds all this together is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge: Spanning 55 kilometers, it is the world's longest sea crossing, handling over 107 million passenger trips by the end of 2025. In 2025, trade through the bridge's ports of entry exceeded 300 billion yuan; with nearly 3 million cross-border e-commerce parcels crossing it every day as of July 2026. The bridge has not only boosted trade, but also brought people closer together. Despite occupying less than 0.6% of China's land, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area generates about one-ninth of the national economy —bringing modernization into the lives of millions.

In 2026, as APEC comes to Shenzhen, the world will see China and another possibility: that modernization has no single standard answer, and the fast lane of development can still leave room for the flight paths of migratory birds. As cargo ships set sail, production lines hum, and the birds return on schedule,  this land is writing a practical, warm-hearted new chapter for the Asia-Pacific.

China Mosaic

http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn