Just as Edgar Snow did many years ago, Ian Goodrum, an \r\nAmerican communist, has come to China to see why and how the Communist \r\nParty of China works in China.

In Shanghai, he came across Xu Jinfa, a PLA veteran. The 78-year-old \r\ntold him how fast Shanghai had grown over past decades, reflecting the \r\nPRC's rapid growth and development over its 72-year history.

\r\n Ian Goodrum shakes hands with Xu Jinfa in Shanghai in April 2021. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

"I was 7 when Shanghai was liberated. In my childhood, Pudong was a \r\nrural and agricultural place, with grass growing all around," Xu said, \r\nwhile pointing to the bustling skyscrapers in Shanghai's Pudong.

From Tao Wenzhao, deputy dean of the School of Marxism Studies at \r\nRenmin University of China, Ian Goodrum realized the role of the CPC's \r\ncapability to pool resources in its wonders.

"In its early years, New China was weak, with limited resources. \r\nUnder extremely difficult conditions, we achieved something big through \r\nconcentrating national resources," Tao told him.

Cheng Meidong from Peking University summarized three capabilities of the CPC.

"The CPC has a strong capability to lead, a scientific method to make\r\n decisions and a capability to unite people and get support from \r\npeople," Cheng told Goodrum.

And the Party's mature system to select and promote officials also matters a lot.

"Every CPC official that reaches the pinnacle of the leadership \r\nstructure must have been effective in a variety of challenging \r\nassignments, starting in the places most in need," said Laurence Brahm, \r\nsenior international fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.

Brahm said this ensured the officials could make the right decisions \r\nin demanding moments. "It's a huge collection of hands-on experience, \r\nnot just theory."

Tao also mentioned the Party's ability to make and implement both short- and long-term planning.

"The plans China made for modernization last for 50 years or 100 \r\nyears," Tao said. He drew a comparison with some political leaders in \r\nother countries, saying what they cared about are mainly short-term and \r\nlocal interests.

Thanks to all these special traits, the CPC has done an excellent job\r\n in governing the nation. China has created more green area than any \r\nother nation. It is reaching for the stars as it sends missions to Mars \r\nand astronauts to its own space station.

Looking to the future, Ian Goodrum is expecting more.