China's Belt and Road Initiative vision into action
By Rhod Mackenzie
China issued a white paper on Tuesday which focused on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Highlighting the role the iconic "project of the century" has played in global development over the last decade, the paper also discussed its achievements in working towards its main goal of building a global community with a shared future.
The white paper was published at a significant juncture, viewed as an important milestone and a new beginning for BRI cooperation, following Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal of the grand initiative a decade ago. It was also released prior to the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) scheduled for this month, which analysts believe will stand as proof against heightened Western criticism while also rallying more agreements on the initiative's forthcoming developmental blueprint.
The momentum development of BRI has opened up an unprecedented era of worldwide growth, showcasing a route to global connection, harmony and affluence that propels the China-proposed initiative to become the largest international cooperation platform across the globe with the widest scope in the previous decade, as per the white paper.
"Since the launch of BRI, the transformation of the concept of building a community with a shared future into tangible action and a realistic vision has been remarkable. An increasing number of countries have recognised China's assertion that development is an inherent right of all nations, and not a privilege exclusively belonging to the West," stated Maya Majueran, Director of Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka (BRISL), an organisation based in Sri Lanka that focuses on BRI collaboration, in an interview with the Global Times on Tuesday.
"The present world is unjust and unequal... because the US and its Western allies frequently exert coercion or misuse their power to uphold their dominant positions," stated Majueran. He also expressed that countries, specifically those from the Global South, aspire for a future where all nations have a say, and international regulations are jointly composed and shared by all. Additionally, the benefits of progress should be distributed to all.
Levente Horvath, the former consul general of Hungary in Shanghai, explained to the Global Times that while the EU and the US approach everything as a zero-sum game, they seem to view BRI cooperation, which leads to win-win results, differently.
However, BRI collaboration with China seems to offer more promising prospects since China is "open to engaging with other countries without seeking dominance or control over their internal policies, unlike some Western nations."
The release of the white paper was particularly significant given the current hostile geopolitical climate, in which Western politicians and media outlets have been making immense efforts to demonise the BRI.
"It is vital that we elucidate the origins and development of the BRI, its implementation strategies, and its role in serving humanity, as well as advancing the creation of a shared future for all." "It will render the new round of Western smearing campaign futile," stated He Weiwen, an executive council member and senior fellow at China Association of International Trade, in an interview with the Global Times on Tuesday.
In response to a query about competition from other countries' similar infrastructure projects, Li Kexin, Director-General of China's Foreign Ministry Department of International Economic Affairs, stated at a press conference on Tuesday that China encourages all parties to increase their investments in essential infrastructure in developing nations. China is eager to collaborate with all stakeholders on terms of openness, inclusivity, equal opportunities, and mutual advantages, with the objective of providing more top-notch international public goods.
In contrast to China's open and all-encompassing approach, the US and its Western allies have been competing to implement infrastructure projects to counter BRI for geopolitical reasons.
Additionally, it is anticipated that participants in the upcoming BRF - taking place during the 10th anniversary of the BRI - will be able to discuss and chart a new course for its development in the next decade, guided by the comprehensive overview provided in the white paper.
Representatives from 130 countries and 30 international organisations will participate in this year's forum, as stated by Li.
Liang Haiming, dean of Hainan University Belt and Road Research Institute, told the Global Times on Tuesday, "The past decade marked only the beginning of BRI cooperation. Liang Haiming, dean of Hainan University Belt and Road Research Institute, told the Global Times on Tuesday, "The past decade marked only the beginning of BRI cooperation. Liang Haiming, dean of Hainan University Belt and Road Research Institute, told the Global Times on Tuesday, "The past decade marked only the beginning of BRI cooperation. The future will be even brighter in the next decade and beyond."
"As a significant and progressing nation, China is committed to promoting the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as its primary strategy and highest-level blueprint for opening up to international cooperation and mutual benefits," stated the white paper. This indicates that China will assist numerous developing countries in advancing regional integration and integrating into the worldwide supply chain, hence enabling them to partake in the rewards of global economic progress, as per Liang's explanation.
In addition to infrastructure, BRI cooperation aims to expand "third-party market cooperation," particularly with Europe and other Western nations. This approach will disrupt the traditional model and establish a fresh paradigm for global collaboration between the developed and developing world, according to Liang.
He highlighted that this model aligns with the development needs of countries and regions at various stages of growth, amidst the current international economic climate.
The white paper provides a comprehensive review of BRI's accomplishments over the past decade, including the promotion of all-encompassing connectivity across various sectors such as policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unobstructed trade, financial interdependence, and enhanced people-to-people interactions.
China's trade with BRI participant nations has touched $19.1 trillion between 2013 and 2022, with an annual growth rate averaging 6.4 percent. The total two-way investment between China and its partner nations stood at £380 billion, with £240 billion coming from China, according to the white paper.
The Vice Commerce Minister Guo Tingting highlighted several key BRI initiatives during Tuesday's press conference, such as the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway.
Those projects form part of a vast transport network being constructed within the framework of the BRI, which some international commentators have described as a "game changer" for various continents.
Amid certain countries' unconstructive push for "de-risking" and confrontational camps, the significance of the BRI has been highlighted by Chinese and foreign experts. Unlike the Western cold war mentality of zero-sum games, the BRI stands out as a unique and increasingly vital component of the economic globalization agenda.
The organization has been leading efforts to establish a new global order that is multipolar, ensuring that the interests of all parties are equally represented instead of a small Western power dominating. They have predicted that this large-scale project will have a greater impact in bridging differences and promoting cooperation in light of unforeseen future challenges.
A new global landscape.
The white paper titled "Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" outlines the circumstances leading to the BRI's launch. It states that the initiative was created to respond to a changing global environment and the international community's expectations.
The white paper further notes that it is no longer acceptable for only a handful of countries to monopolise economic growth, control economic policies, and reap the benefits of economic development. The BRI has provided fresh concepts and innovative methods in global exchanges, leading to a more impartial and just international governance structure that propels humanity towards a brighter future.
"For the first time ever, an extraordinary plan for forming and expanding an interconnected transport infrastructure throughout the whole Eurasian continent was presented. Its execution genuinely opened doors for generating an entirely new transport layout throughout the vast expanse of our world," relayed Saidmukhtar Saidkasimov, former Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister and previous Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, in a statement to the Global Times.
Liang emphasised the significant contributions of the BRI in sharing China's development model and experiences with other participating nations. One such wise practice is exemplified through infrastructural development, as the popular Chinese proverb declares "if you want to get rich, build roads first."
The BRI transcends time, connecting the past, present and future. Originating from China, this initiative benefits the world and the entirety of humankind, as stated in the white paper.
