LONDON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- China has undergone an incredible transformation since its reform and opening-up four decades ago and the country is sure to achieve its long-term target, Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's business networking organization 48 Group Club, has said.

"My father went to China in 1953 when the country was in a terrible state: drought, lack of food, clothes, health, electricity and homes. As I saw China in 1972, it was more secure but still very poor," Perry recalled in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Perry said he had seen China turning from a backward country where most of the population lived in countryside into one where nearly 60 percent of the population now dwell in towns and cities.

During this period, China's grain output has doubled to over 600 million tonnes and modern technology is being developed in various industries, Perry noted.

"It's been an incredible transformation," he said.

China's success has relied on their scientific method of doing things, and the modernization of agriculture, manufacturing and services comes as a result of spending a lot of time preparing, practicing and testing, Perry said.

Just as the country's late leader Deng Xiaoping, who initiated the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, said, "it doesn't matter whether the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice. They will do what works," he added.

The Chinese system is quite robust about developing its long-term plans and checking and changing them to suit the realities, Perry said.

Praising Chinese people for their education, handwork and success, Perry said: "China will achieve its long-term target. There is no doubt in my mind about that."

He noted that he was impressed by the Chinese leadership's clear understanding of their mission.

"The people who run the country know their job is to enable a situation to be there where people could succeed with their business and with their lives," Perry said.