摘要：Is the world's second-largest economy still a developing country? This question has sparked heated debate in Washington in recent

Is the world's second-largest economy still a developing country? This question has sparked heated debate in Washington in recent years, where lawmakers passed legislation challenging China's status as such.

In this episode of "Diplomacy Talk," Zhou Yongmei, Professor of Practice in Institutional Development at Peking University's Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, provides insight into why China's status as a developing country endures despite its economic prowess.

Zhou acknowledges China's role as a manufacturing and trade giant but emphasizes significant regional disparities and a per capita income that is only a fraction — about one-sixth — of the U.S. figure, supporting classification of China as a developing country.

The professor responds to U.S. claims that China unfairly benefits from being called a developing country. She says China already contributes to development of other nations well beyond expectations through initiatives like the Belt and Road and zero-tariff policies for Africa's least-developed countries.

Zhou also highlights China's dedication to supporting other developing countries in their push for fairer global governance. She points out the need to address existing inequalities within international organizations, where voting rights often favor developed nations.

Following is the transcript of the interview.

Diplomacy Talk: The question of whether China is a developing country has attracted extensive attention and discussion both domestically and internationally. Does the international community have a unified definition and standard for what constitutes a "developing country?"

Zhou Yongmei: In fact, there is no unified definition or standard for the term "developing country." For example, the World Bank uses per capita income levels as a criterion. However, in some organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), members identify themselves as developed or developing countries. Similarly, this approach also applies to certain ecological and environmental conventions. The development status of a country can vary depending on the perspectives. Countries can be classified as "developing" in some contexts and "developed" in others.

Deborah Barros Leal Farias, a senior lecturer at UNSW Sydney, has conducted extensive research on this topic. She found that across all objective definitions and voluntary self-identification, only 20 to 30 nations are "developed countries." In comparison, more than 110 countries are recognized as "developing." Additionally, over 60 countries are classified as either "developing" or "developed" depending on the circumstances, as organizations consider different dimensions. Therefore, the ongoing debates over China's development status are quite intriguing.

Diplomacy Talk: A spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry clearly stated that China's status as the world's largest developing country is grounded in concrete facts and has a solid foundation in international law. Could you please further elaborate on this statement?

Zhou Yongmei: The term "developing country" is primarily defined by about 15 organizations. Whether based on objective standards or self-identification, China is classified as a developing country and is among the more than 110 countries recognized as such.

For example, the World Bank used to classify economies into three income categories: low, middle and high. It defined developing countries as those with low- or middle-income levels, and China would still fall into this category.

In the case of the WTO, members are allowed to self-identify as either "developing" or "developed," and the conditions for their accession are negotiated accordingly. When China joined the WTO, it declared itself a developing country and continues to be so, in line with the WTO rules. Similarly, the Paris Agreement legally recognizes China's status as a developing country.

What's interesting is that the term "developing country" is actually pretty vague these days. For instance, the World Bank no longer uses that label and instead categorizes the world's economies into four income tiers: low, lower-middle, upper-middle and high. This change was made because grouping over 100 countries under the "developing" label has limited analytical value. For example, while China and Somalia can both be classified as developing countries, they have far less comparability than China and a developed country would have.

However, from a diplomatic and political standpoint, the "developing country" label remains widely used because it represents common issues and demands shared among developing countries. In this context, China remains a developing country and is committed to working with fellow developing nations to promote a fair and equitable global governance system.

Diplomacy Talk: As some netizens have indicated, China ranks as the world's second-largest economy, is the leading manufacturing nation, holds the top position in goods trading, and possesses the largest foreign exchange reserves. Additionally, China has achieved a historic victory in eradicating absolute poverty. Given these impressive achievements, do you believe China should still be considered a developing country? Is China underestimating itself by maintaining this status?

Zhou Yongmei: On the one hand, China's development over the past four decades has been truly remarkable. A historical study by the World Bank identified countries that achieved over 7% economic growth for 25 consecutive years post-World War II, and China was among only 13 countries that met this criterion. This is indeed a miracle.

China has reached a leading position in some fields, but this is partly due to its large population. China's per capita GDP is only one-sixth that of the U.S., which is why it is still considered a developing country. However, partly because of its large population, China's manufacturing output and trade volumes are indeed significant.

Therefore, it is understandable that some netizens think China has achieved a lot and question whether it should still be categorized as a developing country. However, when you look at the realities in China — such as regional disparities and a significant income gap — there is still much to be done to raise the overall development of the society.

Diplomacy Talk: Some countries believe that China's economic strength and global influence have reached the level of developed countries, so China should no longer enjoy special and differential treatment at the WTO. How do you view this issue?

Zhou Yongmei: China remains a developing country. Internationally, China has endeavored to assist fellow developing countries through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and by proposing the Global Development Initiative. China shares its successful experiences and technologies with other developing countries to promote mutual progress.

However, this does not imply that China has reached the level of a developed country. Within the WTO framework, China is entitled to special treatment as a developing country. In fact, China has voluntarily relinquished some of the special treatments available to developing countries, such as slower market liberalization or not having to provide financial or technical assistance to other developing nations. China voluntarily shares its resources, technology, and experiences with fellow developing countries. But China maintains its status as a developing country and meets the criteria for this classification.

However, in 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "PRC Is Not a Developing Country Act," and many European countries have also reclassified China as a competitor.

China holds a leading position in areas such as new energy, electric vehicles and AI, which has led some Western developed nations to view it as a competitor. These countries are pressuring international organizations to reclassify China as a developed country, whether by establishing relevant standards or by preventing China from identifying itself as a developing country. Their intention is to deny China the benefits that come with being classified as a developing country, both within the WTO and in other international agreements on climate and ecology.

I believe the stance held by China is appropriate. As a developing country, it is entitled to certain treatments, which it may choose to forgo, but legally and under international conventions, it is eligible to receive them.

Diplomacy Talk: President Xi Jinping stated that China has always been a member of the Global South and will always belong to the group of developing countries. How do you interpret this statement?

Zhou Yongmei: China being a member of the Global South means it understands the needs of developing countries, as it is itself a developing nation. Even if China develops more rapidly in the future, with higher income levels and improved development indicators, it will continue to stand with fellow developing countries in promoting a fair and equitable global governance system.

This reflects China's political and diplomatic stance. Over the years, China has progressed as part of the developing world. Since the 1950s, China has established friendly diplomatic relations with many countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In fact, even during the post-WWII period when China was impoverished in the 1950s, it began providing foreign aid — a commitment that won't change.

The concept of the "Global South" is quite broad, including countries that aren't all economically poor. It's more like a community where members share common issues. For instance, this coalition aims to address shared concerns such as having a greater say in global governance, exerting more leadership, and increasing voting and speaking rights in international organizations. Even if some of the countries have higher incomes, their political stance aligns with that of lower-income, less developed nations. I believe the same is true with China.

Diplomacy Talk: President Xi stated, "China has invariably stood in solidarity with fellow developing countries through thick and thin. China has been and will always remain a member of developing countries." Some people might conclude that China will remain a developing country indefinitely, which makes them feel somewhat discouraged as they wonder why they can't live in a developed country.

Zhou Yongmei: President Xi did not mean that China would not progress in the future or that China would not achieve common prosperity for all with superior social security, education, health care, and other public services. China is moving in that direction.

All of China's efforts, such as poverty alleviation, rural revitalization, social security reforms, and healthcare reforms, are aimed at creating a more prosperous, equitable and sustainable economy. This does not contradict President Xi's statement that "China has invariably stood in solidarity with fellow developing countries through thick and thin."

Since the 1950s, China has maintained close relations with countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, and they have grown closer over time. Now, China is the largest trading partner and investor for many countries, so it can continue to do more, such as sharing its development philosophy and experiences and cooperating with these developing countries to adapt measures to local conditions. They can learn from China's development to accelerate their own progress. China can play a significant role in this regard, demonstrating its firm commitment to standing with fellow developing countries.

Diplomacy Talk: In January of this year, then-U.S. Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio said during a Senate hearing that China pretends to be a developing country and wants to become the most powerful country in the world at the expense of the U.S. What do you think about his statement?

Zhou Yongmei: I disagree. By the rules of all the international organizations, including those allowing member states to declare their own development status, China is classified as a developing country. Therefore, his claim is not accurate. He wants to categorize China as a developed country so that China will take on more global responsibilities and receive fewer benefits typically extended to developing nations. By doing so, the U.S. hopes to limit China's advantages that make it more competitive.

Diplomacy Talk: Some U.S. lawmakers have also suggested that China uses its status as a developing country to avoid international responsibilities. Do you think China's fulfillment of these responsibilities aligns with its own stage of development?

Zhou Yongmei: In fact, China is doing more than what is expected of a country at its level of economic development. For example, the BRI involves substantial Chinese investments, some with preferential conditions, to help countries develop infrastructure, such as energy projects. The investment scale is quite substantial. Additionally, China has been providing foreign aid since it was a poor nation, such as sending medical teams and promoting Yuan Longping's hybrid rice. China has contributed a great deal within its capacity and economic strength. Under existing rules, China is fulfilling its responsibilities and, in many cases, exceeding them.

I hope China will develop at a faster pace and make more contribution within its capacity. However, to date, China has contributed more than most developing countries. For example, last year, China granted zero tariffs to Africa's least-developed countries to promote opportunities for them to sell their products in China.

Diplomacy Talk: What do you think China's insistence on its status as a developing country means for the broader community of developing countries?

Zhou Yongmei: On the one hand, developing countries don't really care about how a country labels itself; they care more about its actions. On the other hand, China's clear diplomatic stance may give them confidence. Developing countries are motivated by China's firm political and diplomatic stance and expect China to stand with them in international negotiations to promote a fair and equitable global governance system. Moreover, in addressing climate change, they seek financial and technical support from developed countries for those severely affected by climate change. China's status as a developing country might enhance their confidence.

Diplomacy Talk: As the world's largest developing country, what role should China play on the international stage?

Zhou Yongmei: First, China has a wealth of developmental experience. As I mentioned earlier, only 13 countries have achieved over 7% economic growth for 25 consecutive years following WWII, and these are "miracle economies." China is the largest among them, so its developmental experience is very meaningful and inspiring. China should do more to share its successful experiences with other countries.

Second, China should become more open in trade, especially with fellow developing countries, not just in terms of tariffs but also by supporting their industrial development. We can facilitate investment, improve their vocational education systems, and help them train skilled workers who can secure good jobs in Chinese companies.

Third, China should exert more leadership in global governance. Developing countries have common pursuits. For instance, in the World Bank, China, as a large economy, holds around 3% of the voting rights, slightly up from about 2% due to many efforts. However, the U.S., with its 17% voting rights, possesses veto power. This represents an unfair global governance system. Developing countries have been discussing the reforms for many years, and China has been advocating for a fairer distribution of the rights. They should continue to push this forward.

By establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and creating the New Development Bank with other BRICS countries, we have the opportunity to create a more equitable governance system in these new institutions. I believe this is what China should do.

The world is in chaos now. Since Trump came into office, he's been withdrawing the United States from various groups, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Agreement, immediately creating confusion in international rules and cooperation worldwide. So, when China says that it still believes in international rules and multilateral cooperation, it is a very important stance.

Moreover, China should persist in its green transformation. It shouldn't let a 180-degree turn in U.S. government policy suddenly throw it into disarray. Its green enterprises have opportunities not only domestically but also internationally. The transformation of certain sectors within China's economy might be painful, but it is necessary in the long run. Therefore, China should continue on the path of reform and set an example for both developed and developing countries.

Presenter: Gao Anming

General supervisor: Wang Xiaohui

Producer: Li Xiaohua

Production supervisor: Zhang Liying

Editors: Zhang Ruomeng, Zhang Heling, Jiao Yuan, Lyu Yiyi, Xia Fangting

Produced by chinadiplomacy.org.cn

来源：中国网一点号