"Impressive" is one of the most frequently mentioned words by foreigners, among other descriptions including "miracle," "huge achievement" and "enormous progress," when talking about China's growth over the past decades after the introduction of reform and opening up in 1978. 

Robert David Griffiths, the general secretary of the Communist Party of Britain came to Xiaogang village, east China's Anhui province to attend the recently concluded Wanshou Forum themed "Reform, Development and Modernization of State Governance," under the invitation of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, China's ruling Party. This was his fourth official visit to China.

"Even if you come here every half year, you can feel big changes," said Griffiths, holding that China's development is phenomenal and impressive. The changes, in his view, are not only reflected in the improved infrastructure and growing skyline, but also embodied by the ruling Party's openness and inclusiveness.

"China and its ruling Party are willing and ready to share its experience of state governance and to discuss a range of topics including problems with the outside world as well as its own problems like regional imbalance and the income gap," said Griffiths.

Griffiths visited China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region in 2004. This time he was in Xiaogang, the birthplace of China's rural reform, together with other representatives from 66 international political parties to discuss issues concerning China's reform and opening up.

"More people should come and see China for themselves," he said, adding, "there is always much to see and learn."

Griffiths thought China's story was an inspiration as it demonstrates, with the right planning and intervention, and support from state and public bodies, a small rural community like Xiaogang, which suffered famine for years, can be transformed and turned into a thriving community.

The National Bureau of Statistics data between 2013 and 2016 show that China contributed around 30 percent to world economic growth, surpassing the combined contribution of the United States, the Eurozone, and Japan, ranking first in the world. It also lifted more than 600 million people out of poverty.

China's reform and opening up not only benefits itself but also the developing and developed countries. "As we can see, China has helped build schools, roads and clinics in the countries that they have invested in, such as countries in Asia and Africa," he said. "Its overseas investment not only brings employment, but also facilities for local people."

Griffiths holds that the quality in China's development is in some ways even more impressive than the quantitative achievements as the Chinese government is always putting people first. 

He hoped that there would be more British involvement in China's future economic development.