The Belt and Road story: Achievements and responsibilities
- By Wang Xiaohui
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 12, 2017
2. What outcomes have been achieved in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative?
The Belt and Road Initiative is a grand system with top-level design, international consensus, cooperative agreements, varied construction projects and supporting mechanisms. Thanks to the concerted efforts of the Chinese government and its international partners, an initial outcome has been achieved in implementation over the past three years.
High-level visits promote policy communication. Over the past three years, Xi has left his footprints in Central Asia, West Asia, Africa, Europe and America. Wherever he has been, he has promoted the Belt and Road Initiative. Led by the Chinese government and top officials, academia, think-tanks and enterprises have participated in its promotion. Up to now, it has been positively received by over 100 countries and many international organizations. More than 50 inter-governmental cooperation agreements and over 70 such agreements between organizations have been signed. The Initiative has been included or reflected in the wording of resolutions and other documents of the U.N. General Assembly, the U.N. Security Council and APEC. All this is the result of successful policy communication.
Facilities connectivity is being achieved in civil aviation, land and maritime transport, as well as in postal services. Xi has observed that, if the Belt and Road can be likened to the two wings of a bird in the shape of soaring Asia, then connectivity is their skeleton and arteries. In the past three years, China has signed over 130 bilateral or regional transport agreements with countries along the Belt and Road covering railway, highway, air and maritime transport, as well as postal services. The six economic corridors (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, New Eurasian Land Bridge, China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor, China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor) that the Chinese government has promoted have begun to take shape and realize their enormous potential.
Buoyant investment fuels trade links. Economic and trade cooperation is vital for the Belt and Road as it was for the ancient Silk Road. Ministry of Commerce statistics show China's direct investment in countries along the Belt and Road totals US$14.5 billion, and Chinese enterprises have invested US$18.5 billion in establishing over 50 economic and trade cooperation zones in more than 20 countries and regions. A great number of infrastructure projects are progressing steadily, with "Made-in-China" goods and "Chinese Services" enjoying widespread popularity. Meanwhile, technologies, services and capital from countries along the route is flowing into China, injecting vitality into its economy.
Capital is flowing smoothly based on a strong financial network. China has joined hands with countries and international organizations along the route in setting up a financial network and innovating the ways of offering financial services so as to ensure the wherewithal to advance the Initiative. Since its inauguration in January, 2016, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has gained 57 members and issued loans totaling US$1.73 billion to support infrastructure development in seven countries including Pakistan and Bangladesh. In the past two years since the Silk Road Fund was founded, it has invested US$4 billion to support infrastructure and energy projects in Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Russia and Central Asia. The China Development Bank has lent US$110 billion to finance projects along the route, covering industrial-capacity cooperation, infrastructure and financial cooperation. A financial network across regions is obviously taking shape.
Cultural exchange helps build a bridge for greater understanding between people in different countries. When Xi first announced the Belt and Road Initiative, he put "strengthened people-to-people ties," providing vital public support for implementing the Initiative, among its five prioritized objectives. Over the past three years, China has made great efforts in promoting cultural exchanges with countries along the Belt and Road. As the national team of China's international communications cause, China International Publishing Group (CIPG) has published "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" in various foreign languages and held activities such as the series of photo exhibitions with the theme of "Beautiful China, Beautiful South Korea," "Beautiful China, Beautiful Russia" in countries along the route. These activities have helped promote China's national image, spread Chinese culture and enhanced mutual understanding between people in China and countries along the Belt and Road. Short video programs and new media applications such as China Mosaic, produced by China.org.cn, the news website ran by the CIPG, have become significant channels for overseas users of social media to know about China.
Even mountains and seas cannot separate people with common aspirations. Propelled by the Belt and Road Initiative, various types of bridges leading to strengthened people-to-people ties are being built between China and countries along the route.
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