Progressing with the World

Symphony for All

“China will further enhance policy communication with other countries, and expand the convergence of our shared interests and explore possible areas of win-win cooperation under the principle of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a news conference in Beijing on March 8 alongside the annual meeting of the NPC, China’s top legislature.

Wang Yi noted that China’s Belt and Road Initiatives are not its “solo,” but a “symphony” of all related countries, as the vision of the initiatives is “common development,” and the goal is “win-win progress through cooperation.”

“President Xi made this historical decision in the face of profound changes in the pattern of international relations,” said Zhou Hong, NPC deputy and director of the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). “Starting from the fast-developing economic circle in Asia and extending to the developed economic circle in Europe, there is no strategic collusion between the two. With favorable management, a brand-new, equal and mutual benefit cooperation framework will be established, which will not only prolong China’s development opportunity, but also boost economic development along the line,” he added.

“The core of the Belt and Road Initiatives is the link between economy and trade,” said Chen Yao, secretary general of the China Regional Economic Society. Countries along the Belt and Road comprise those who already have frequent economic and trade contacts with China, and also emerging economies with great development potential. Therefore, import and export trade among nations will be the critical point.

Apples and Oranges

China’s Belt and Road Initiatives are nothing like the United States’ Marshall Plan, Wang Yi stressed. “The initiatives are both much older and much younger than the U.S. plan,” Wang said. “Likening the two would be like comparing apples and oranges.”

China’s two initiatives are older, having inherited the spirit of the continental and maritime Silk Roads more than 2,000 years ago, whose aim was improve the livelihood of people in countries along the routes. The initiatives are younger, as the plan is taking form in a globalized world in the spirit of win-win cooperation, the minister explained. Wang also stressed the Belt and Road Initiatives should not be viewed through a Cold War mentality lens.

“China’s Belt and Road Initiatives are a new model of South-South and regional cooperation,” said Lü Xinhua, spokesman at the annual session of the CPPCC on March 2. “It is inappropriate to describe the Belt and Road Initiatives as another Marshall Plan,” Lü said.

The Belt and Road Initiatives seek common development of countries with different ethnicities, religions and cultures, focusing on wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, Lü added. The Marshall Plan has its own historic context and different political intentions with many conditions attached.

China’s initiatives have led to the Silk Road Fund and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which aim to improve connectivity and provide more public services for people in this region, he said. “We expect the early realization of connectivity to benefit people of all countries along the Belt and Road.”