The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is a hope for many peoples nowadays as it offers a unique opportunity for development and social progress, said a Lebanese expert on China.

With world-class initiatives of this kind, China has the potential to become a "locomotive" for the world's development, Mahmoud Raya told Xinhua in a recent interview in the run-up to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

As dozens of countries have joined the Belt and Road Initiative, China has become "a major center of attraction" for all the peoples who wish to achieve development, said Raya, who runs a news website called "China in Arab eyes."

Put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

China can play a bigger role in the world through its bilateral cooperation with other countries as well as its involvement in international affairs, he added.

Raya also spoke highly of China's experience in handling its internal affairs.

"Most of the countries admire the Chinese experience and that's why China will always be an inspiration for all the countries looking for peace, security and advancement," he said.

Raya said the CPC has come up with "a unique formula of government" -- socialism with Chinese characteristics, which proves to be successful and inspiring.

It is brilliant in dealing with problems of a nation with a population of 1.3 billion and meeting the needs of the Chinese people in a record time, he commented.

Besides, China has been carrying out timely and comprehensive reforms, which marks a huge success, said Raya.

"That experience should be a motive for all the countries of the world, especially those willing to learn from the experience of others," he added.

Speaking of China's anti-corruption efforts, Raya said, "The Chinese leadership was aware of the dangers of corruption and worked from an early stage to confront them and get rid of them."

"Corruption is one of the worst obstacles to the development process of any country in the world," he noted.

Raya said China's effective and strong actions to eradicate corruption will lead the country toward achieving its goals in a faster and more efficient way.

"If this campaign succeeds fully, China will be one of the first countries in the world to eradicate this dangerous cancer," he said.