Social Sciences in China (Chinese Edition)

No.8, 2018

 

 “The Belt and Road Initiative” and the New Trend of Globalization

(Abstract)

 

Ouyang Kang, Liu Zhibiao, Wu Fuxiang, Li Xiangyang,

Zhang Shucun, Gu Chuntai and Wang Fan

 

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, China has adhered to the positioning of the world’s largest developing country, and to the basic national policy of opening to the outside world. Following the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, it is active in promoting the “Belt and Road” international cooperation, adding new momentum for common development, and pushing forward the building of a community of shared future for mankind. In recent years, the Social Sciences in China Press has held Sino-American, Sino-German and Sino-Latin American high-level academic forums. In this issue, domestic scholars are invited to discuss the construction of the “Belt and Road” and the new trend of globalization from the perspectives of global governance, global value chain, Asian regional cooperation, industrial cooperation path and major changes in geopolitics. Professor Ouyang Kang from the Institute of National Governance and the Institute of Philosophy, both at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, pertinently replied to various doubts and misunderstandings about the Belt and Road Initiative, raising questions and suggesting countermeasures from the perspective of the two-way construction of national and global governance, proposing to scientifically and rationally take both the domestic and international situations into consideration, and actively respond to changes in global governance. Professors Liu Zhibiao and Wu Fuxiang, both from the Department of Industrial Economics at the School of Business of Nanjing University, believe that enterprises, when embedded in the global value chain by means of manufacturing clusters, need to build value, technology, innovation, talent and employment chains that make countries along the Belt and Road co-exist and co-prosper. Through a matching model of differentiated factor skill levels and technical complexity, and the introduction of a quality utility equation and a population competition model, these two proposed a theoretical framework of Chinese enterprise dual embedment. Li Xiangyang, Researcher at the Asia-Pacific and Global Strategy Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has analyzed “shortfalls” and imbalances in Asian economic cooperation. Driven by the global value chain, Asian processing, production and trade is mainly in intermediate goods, and the region does not have a final consumer market; underdeveloped countries are excluded; the region lacks unified free trade zone arrangements promoted by major regional powers; and it does not have an independent security guarantee that supports Asian economic cooperation. This new-type development-oriented Belt and Road regional economic cooperation is based on interconnectivity and marked by pluralist cooperation. The greater good and self-interest is the principle underlying its construction, and it aims at the establishment of a community of shared future for mankind. Belt and Road will redress “shortfalls” in Asian regional economic cooperation. Researcher Zhang Shucun and Associate Researcher Gu Chuntai, both from the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences, have made Shandong their example in exploring the industry choices and implementation strategies of the powerful union of “German technology” and “Made in China.” Professor Wang Fan, of the China Foreign Affairs University holds that globalization is entering a transitional period in which the hegemonic powers, faced with loss of control, “are shifting their responsibilities but refusing to let go of their power,” exacerbating the risks involved. As an emerging large country, China should take a calm and rational attitude to this transition and should actively assume international responsibilities consistent with its national strength. It should work with the majority of countries to reshape multilateralism, promote cooperation and win-win solutions, and enhance the sustainable growth and inclusive development of economic globalization.