B&R prompts new round of economic globalization
The forum on the B&R and global governance at Fudan University in late October Photo: Zha Jianguo/CSST
SHANGHAI—The Belt and Road (B&R) initiative, as a platform for implementing the concept of a community of shared future for mankind, has exerted a profound impact in the international community and is becoming a growth point for a new round of economic globalization, said experts at a forum on the B&R and global governance at Fudan University in late October.
Yu Hongjun, former deputy head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that the integrated development advocated by the B&R initiative is in line with the historical trends of multi-polarization, economic globalization, informatization and the diversification of developments in the world. Upholding the spirit of open regional cooperation, the B&R initiative has become an international public good provided by China to promote the common development of all countries.
The B&R initiative explores a new model of international cooperation, providing a new paradigm for promoting the sustainable development of the world economy and injecting positive energy into regional and world economic growth, Yu said. The initiative is a new choice for a new round of economic globalization. In addition, the B&R initiative also provides a new channel for civilizations to learn from each other.
Donald McKinnon, chairman of the New Zealand China Council, reviewed the cooperation on and development of trade and tourism between China and New Zealand under the B&R. He expressed his hope to strengthen bilateral relations under the B&R initiative; expand cooperation in the supply chain, customs and innovation; facilitate more free flow of infrastructure, goods, services, capital and personnel; and enhance exchanges in biosafety and justice. He said that the B&R initiative will continue to advance and mature, creating more development opportunities for China and New Zealand and bringing the two countries closer together.
Li Junru, former vice president of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, said that the essence of the B&R initiative is to build a community of shared future for mankind. The outstanding contribution of the initiative is to link the inland economy with the marine economy and to make the community of shared future for mankind a reality.
William Overholt, a senior research fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, said that the B&R initiative has shaped China into an advocate for an inclusive and open global economy, enhancing China’s national security and its influence around the world. The United States and the European Union lack a relatively consistent domestic strategy, and China has a significant advantage in this respect. He said that he expected China to further benefit from the B&R initiative in the future.
The key to the B&R’s success lies in its reciprocity, said Jusuf Wanandi, vice chairman of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Indonesia. China’s innovative vision for development, measures to address current global trade issues, policies to protect intellectual property rights, response to global climate change and fulfillment of its commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals will promote economic growth and enhance the international community’s confidence in China’s development.
Eiichi Shindo, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Japan Research Center, said that the initiative is in line with the common interests of the Asian region and is of great significance to the region. The initiative is based on the principle of mutual benefit, which truly enhances the world’s interconnection and strengthens various forms of cooperative development, including political and economic cooperation and partnerships between governments and regions.
The B&R initiative is an inclusive development concept that can accommodate countries and regions with different levels of development and bring new mechanisms of global governance, Shindo concluded.
Jiao Yang, party secretary of Fudan University, said that the research and construction of professional think tanks concerning the B&R initiative must continue to move in a more pragmatic, in-depth, high-level and sustainable direction. It is necessary to focus more on theoretical innovation, decision-making consultation, cooperation and exchange. In addition, it is important to cultivate talent with a deep understanding of the history, culture, policies, laws and customs of the countries along the route.
edited by JIANG HONG