On March 11, China's annual “Two Sessions” concluded successfully. Two days later, on March 13, the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China was officially released. As a crucial blueprint connecting China's journey toward the goal of basically achieving socialist modernization by 2035, the 15th Five-Year Plan provides strategic guidance for the country's economic and social development over the next five years and beyond, attracting widespread attention both at home and abroad.

Tungamirai Eric Mupona (Chinese name: Milai), a Zimbabwean Ph.D. student at the School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, shared his observations. As a young Sinologist dedicated to studying China's development, he believes that the 15th Five-Year Plan not only marks a new chapter in China's development but also offers fresh inspiration for China-Africa cooperation and the modernization of the Global South.

The year 2026 marks both the launch of the 15th Five-Year Plan and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries, as well as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. In Mupona's view, the convergence of these milestones is highly significant, signaling a new phase in China-Africa relations centered on the themes of development and modernization. He noted that the Plan's priorities—including infrastructure development, green industrial parks, and digital transformation—closely align with Africa's most pressing development needs and represent key areas where China's experience can be shared.

 “Chinese modernization is rooted in China's national conditions and centered on improving people's well-being. It offers the world—especially developing countries—a new model of development.” Mupona's article, “Chinese Modernization and Rural China's Experience,” was included in the book Witnessing China's Modernization, published in January 2026. He argues that China's development miracle is grounded in its unique path to modernization. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, he is particularly optimistic about China's continued commitment to the principles of coordinated development, green growth, and shared prosperity, which he believes provide valuable lessons that African countries can draw upon.

Note: Witnessing China's Modernization, edited by Dr. Miao Lü, was published in January 2026. The book aims to present a global perspective on China's people-centered development philosophy and the continuous improvement of people's livelihoods. It brings together diverse perspectives from 18 contributors—including economists, anthropologists, senior professionals, and graduate students—who have lived, worked, or traveled in China. Mupona's chapter, “Chinese Modernization and Rural China's Experience,” appears in Part II, “Chinese Modernization and Its Implications for the World.” The book also features a contribution by Neli Akhobadze, a Zhejiang University alumna from Georgia and a researcher at the Caucasus Chinese Studies Association.

Mupona's understanding of Chinese modernization is shaped not only by academic research, but also by firsthand experience. In recent years, he has conducted field visits to rural communities in Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, and other provinces, witnessing how Chinese modernization is taking shape at the grassroots level. These experiences have strengthened his belief that China's development path offers practical lessons and valuable references for other developing countries.

As one of the young Sinologists who received a letter of encouragement from President Xi Jinping, Mupona has always regarded himself as a bridge for civilizational exchange. At this new starting point marked by the 15th Five-Year Plan, he believes that strengthening mutual learning on development experiences and expanding people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa are more important than ever. His story reflects the spirit of mutual learning and shared development that continues to shape the China–Africa community with a shared future in the new era.