Top: File photo taken in 1958 shows the former China FAW Group Corporation in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province. The first car of iconic Hongqi brand, or Red Flag, was made here in 1958. Bottom: Photo taken on April 9, 2019 by Xu Chang shows technicians checking Hongqi cars at the assembly plant of FAW Group in Changchun. Over six decades ago, China set up its first automobile manufacturer in the northeastern industrial city of Changchun as the country began to beef up its economy, and unveiled the nation's first domestically produced passenger car in 1958. Nowadays, the country has been the world's largest automobile manufacturer and seller in the past decade with 28.08 million vehicles sold last year, accounting for 30.6 percent of the global market. Despite getting a late start, China's automobile manufacturers have been narrowing down the gap between global competitive players and embarked on a journey of becoming a globally popular auto retailer. In 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, the Chinese people faced a devastated country that needed to be rebuilt from scratch after decades of warfare and chaos. After decades of unremitting endeavors and dedication by the Chinese people, China has grown to be the world's second largest economy. In 1952, China's GDP was 30 billion U.S. dollars, while in 2018, its GDP reached 13.61 trillion U.S. dollars, an increase of 452.6 times. A group of combo photos give you a glimpse of what Chinese people did decades ago and what they do right now. Undoubtedly, people from all walks of life in China with hard work and wisdom have made contributions to the country's development. (Xinhua)
