Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is a key indicator for measuring a nation’ s level of development. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has set the goal of basically realizing socialist modernization by 2035, which includes reaching the level of a moderately developed country in terms of GDP per capita. While this qualitative description is rich in implications, the current academic understanding of what constitutes a “ moderately developed country ” remains somewhat ambiguous. By examining and synthesizing relevant definitions and criteria from international organizations such as the United Nations, a reasonable comparative range for “moderately developed countries” can be outlined. Furthermore, to achieve the 2035 GDP per capita target, China can benchmark against the current levels of moderately developed countries such as Poland and Portugal. In the process of development, China still faces many risks and challenges posed by the external environment and internal economic and social transformation. Consequently, the government should reinforce its guiding role, making sustained efforts in promoting coordinated regional development, stimulating new growth drivers, ensuring and improving people’ s livelihoods, and deepening global cooperation, thereby advancing modernization in a solid and steady manner.