Business leaders and experts hailed China's achievements over the past 70 years and discussed how the world can benefit from the country's development at a sideline forum of this year's Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference in China's southern island province of Hainan. 

Former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo first visited China in the 1970s and has long been involved in fostering good relations. She said the seven decades has demonstrated to the rest of the world that there's not only one mode of development. 

"China has shown the rest of the world, that every country can find its own way to develop according to its own historical experience and own development reality," she said. "In the past 40 years, we have realized that China's development is actually a very good one. China actually taught us a lot in this area." 

Progress has not occurred in a straight line. The pace of economic change in China has been extremely rapid since the start of China's reform and opening-up over 40 years ago. Former Secretary-General of BFA Long Yongtu said that one of China's biggest achievements was that the country had built the world's largest factory. 

"We are very proud that Made-in-China could become a high-quality manufacturing brand in the next few years," said Long, who was also former vice minister of China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. 

Dong Mingzhu, chairperson of China's leading appliances maker Gree Electric Appliances, said that the 40 years reform and opening-up had shown the world how excellent the Chinese people can be. She stressed how the Chinese not only care for China's development but also for a better world. She proposed that Chinese manufacturing industry should foster creativity, and change the world with creativity."We share our creativity, the fruits of our harvest with the world," Dong said. 

Former French President François Hollande talked about four challenges that China needs to face. He noted the problems that had occurred during the fast development and listed a number of challenges the world and China needed to face. 

According to Hollande, China, due to its advanced technology, is not like other developing countries. Therefore, there are more requirements and expectations for China. Another challenge for China is its emerging status as a global power, which will bring new pressures and challenges. He also praised China's efforts in environmental protection. Finally, he called for the need to boost domestic demand and also mentioned the aging problem that China and other developed countries need to face. 

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