The Belt & Road plans may present countries with new opportunities. But they also will have to meet some challenges to take advantage of those opportunities, as they have different cultures and development levels.
The “Belt and Road” initiative has been introduced by the Central Government with the aim to promote economic cooperation between “Belt and Road” countries. This development strategy has been echoed proactively. For these countries along the road, the biggest appeal is to win development opportunities in a peaceful international environment. The One Belt One Road Initiative is conducive to enhancing international relations and to maintain geopolitical stability. Undoubtedly it provides favorable conditions for these countries to enjoy economic prosperity and their peoples to lead happy lives.
The Belt and Road means cooperation. No country can develop without cooperation. Of all the countries involved in One Belt One Road, some have excess capital, others excess resources. Some have sufficient labor, others huge market potential. In short, they have complementary advantages and it is urgent for them to build a diverse platform for cooperation. It is necessary to deepen their understanding of relevant policies of other countries and the international perspective of China and strengthening applied policy research on the initiative so as to deliver more timely and practical information to different sectors of their countries to facilitate better use of the city’s unique advantages to support the construction of the “Belt and Road” initiative.
The Belt and Road” initiative is a very sophisticated systematic project, it features five major areas for cooperation: policy communication, road connectivity, unimpeded trade, money circulation, and cultural understanding. So these countries need to adjust themselves to the updated policy and make proper decisions based upon their own development levels. In order to get mutual benefit from this project, it is better for these countries to dispel doubts about China and trust each other so as to grasp chances to develop themselves. And they need also come up with related policies and establish risk assessment system to protect themselves.
Some worry that China is using the Belt and Road only for its own economic advantage and to expand its influence. OBOR strategy attaches no strings and the collaborative partners are equal. It is mutually beneficial. Rather than dividing the partners, the OBOR plan shall bring Asia and Europe closer. Indeed, China’s OBOR initiative attempts to attain win-win solutions, so China is not going to take without giving. Promoting Eurasian infrastructure interconnectedness would entail resources beyond anyone’s own treasury, so it has to be a co-paying and co-sharing business.
The Belt & Road Initiative is a great initiative of China. It belongs to China and belongs to the world. China’s initiative is based on the need for domestic reform and development and is also a consideration for the common development of all countries alongside. Domestically, since the last century of 70s, China has realized the rapid development through reform and become the world’s second-largest economy. China’s comprehensive national strength and people’s living standards have been improved significantly. The international status and influence has been improving too. All this is due to opening-up, and the active participation in globalization and integration of the world. To achieve sustainable development in the future, China will continue to adhere to these important policies.
President Xi further pointed out that China’s promotion of “One Belt And One Road” will not repeat the old formula of strategic competition, but will create a new model of win-win cooperation. Based on this idea, the initiative is inclusive of all countries, regions and international organizations. According to statistics, more than 100 countries and international organizations have so far participated in or actively supported. It is completely different from some other plan proposed by other countries with the aim of only developing oneself. The initiative focuses on promoting and maintaining the interests of all countries.