The “Belt and Road” initiative, a development strategy proposed by China, aims to integrate the Chinese dream with that of all other countries around the world while contributing to world peace and development.

The poverty problem in a country may trigger international chaos, which can be fostered by the wealth gap. Today, the rich are getting richer, leading to a yawning wealth gap throughout the world. Turmoil is breeding and spreading in developed and underdeveloped countries alike. Such phenomena as refugee crises, terrorist attacks and extremist ideas are all rooted in these systemic problems.

The proposal of the “Belt and Road” initiative has paved the way for tackling global poverty and eliminating the wealth gap. For China, the “Belt and Road” aims to take advantage of funds and technology to formulate a new infrastructure industrial standard, seize the pricing leverage of staple commodities by building energy pipelines and internationalizing the RMB, and formulate new rules of international investment and trade to promote China’s institutional discourse power in global governance. 

For the world, the “Belt and Road” transcends the colonial system that developed in modern times and the post-war hegemonic system, representing a new model for international relations based on mutual benefit as well as a new pattern of national and regional cooperation in the 21st century. 

Only when a country enhances its national power and takes the development path suited to its national conditions can it grasp the opportunities offered by the “Belt and Road.”

Aiming to eliminate poverty and regional disparity while working to achieve prolonged global stability through common development and common renaissance, the “Belt and Road” initiative is popular with countries along the route.

The world is expecting to share in China’s opportunity, its model and the Chinese plan to push forward historical and cultural inheritance and revival while addressing development problems facing all countries.

Also, China can achieve its stable development only when it realizes common development and common prosperity of civilization, shoulder to shoulder with developing countries. The “Belt and Road” is a bridge for uniting developing countries and linking developing and developed countries. 

The “Belt and Road” initiative is committed to resolving the increasing contradiction between the requirement for international public goods and the backward supply capacity around the world. It helps break away from the theory of superior Western culture as well as the Western-centered theory, promote the common revival of ancient civilization and open up an era of economic globalization.

Globalization under the framework of the “Belt and Road” aims to change traditional technology through the exploitation and application of inclusive technology. It innovates and implements inclusive institutional arrangements to advance fair and rational rules of international trade and investment while carrying forward inclusive culture to achieve the dream of lasting peace and common prosperity.

 

Wang Yiwei is a professor from Renmin University of China.