China's services: A window into China's new momentum of opening up

Editor's note: Muhammad Zamir Assadi, is director, China Desk, at Lord Media Network, Pakistan, and Liu Xinran is a CGTN editor.

The article is an account by Mr Assadi, who had the opportunity to explore Jinan, Jilin province, and Beijing recently.

He notes various aspects of his China experience that left an indelible mark.

His co-author Liu Xinran places his learings in the broader context of China's services boom, which is showcased at the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS).

The article reflects the authors' opinions and not necessarily that of CGTN.

Zamir's China experience: A first-hand account My recent visit to China provided me with a great opportunity to explore Jinan, Jilin Province, and Beijing, giving me the perfect chance to make an impactful visit to these areas of the country that has emerged as the second-largest economy in the world and a technological central hub of global inventions.

Beyond meaningful debates, Jinan left a very good impression on me about its green urban environment, efficient transportation, and combination of historical heritage and modern development.

One of the very important and impressive aspects that I noted was the convenience offered by China's digital ecosystem.

Digital payments have become very deeply integrated into daily life, making transactions remarkably convenient and fast.

From shops and restaurants to transportation and everyday services, technology appears to be working quietly in the background, allowing people to save time and energy and enjoy greater convenience.

Transportation was another remarkable feature.

Traveling within and between cities, I was able to experience the efficiency and scale of China's transport network integrated with digital services.

High-speed rail, modern urban transportation, and very well-organized public facilities made traveling across vast distances surprisingly convenient.

The experience of traveling between Jinan, Changchun and Beijing strengthened my impression that connectivity is not only an infrastructural concept in China, but it is an integral part of daily life.