China’s emergence as a major player on the development stage creates new opportunities for many developing countries but also potentially challenges some established practices of the development community. This In focus policy Briefing discusses China’s rise and its possible implications for international development. It first examines China’s domestic development path and considers what lessons, if any, we should draw from this distinctive experience. second, it addresses the questions of what role China can play, and how traditional donors should engage with China, in order to meet current global development challenges.