Xinhua | By: Qu Junya | December 26, 2017:
The year 2017 has seen the overland Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road reach more peoples and more lands.
The year may mark a milestone in materializing the Belt and Road Initiative. Both a vision and a solution from Chinese wisdom valuing peace and harmony, the Initiative seeks common prosperity and safeguards globalization amid uncertainties and challenges such as a surge in protectionism, nationalism and isolationism in Western countries.
“China is an inspiring example for many countries,” said Andrei Vinogradov, a political expert with the Russian Academy of Sciences. “Its success and historical experience make it possible to provide the world with a solution based on win-win cooperation.”
Broadening Consensus:
Four years after it was put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Initiative has blended well with the respective development strategies of participating countries.
For example, in mid-March, the United Nations resolution on Afghanistan highlighted the Chinese plan as key to rebuilding the war-ravaged country and boosting regional integration.
The Initiative aims to expand infrastructure, trade and investment networks to connect Asia, Europe and Africa along and beyond ancient Silk Road routes.
Furthermore, the Belt and Road is set to lead the world toward “a common community of a shared future for humankind,” another vision devised by China out of its responsibility to respond to changes in the global landscape, and inscribed in multiple UN resolutions.
The Initiative well serves the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In a message to a November forum in New Zealand, Guterres noted “clear synergies” between them.
Both strive to “stitch countries together in networks of trade and mutual gain,” and aim to “deepen global connectivity,” he said.
The Initiative has in the past year responded to more calls for openness, inclusiveness, innovative growth, and freer and fairer trade at multilateral forums such as the World Economic Forum, G20 summit and BRICS summit. It has pushed for more partnerships and is lauded as a welcomed public good.
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