Unlike Western development models that rely heavily on free-market capitalism and liberal democracy, China utilizes a state-led, top-down model that attempts to balance rapid economic expansion with some degree of social control and equitable wealth distribution to achieve what it calls a moderate progress in the living standard of the people.
The core philosophy behind China's system is called people-centered development. In official doctrine, the primary objective of the state has shifted from pure, high-speed GDP expansion to "high-quality development"—focusing on social stability, sustainability, and human well-being over the absolute maximization of capital returns. The travel is component of his recent academic exchange in China.