(East Ask) Exclusive丨Xu Qingqi: What new connotations does the “Belt and Road Initiative” have in the post-epidemic era?
China News Service, Beijing, August 8th. Title: What are the new connotations of the “Belt and Road” initiative in the post-epidemic era?
China News Agency reporter Chen Yue and Ma Jiajia
Xu Qingqi.
Photo courtesy of me
At the “Belt and Road” high-level conference on international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region in late June, China proposed that the recovery of the world economy after the epidemic should be a green and sustainable recovery, and that the international cooperation of the “Belt and Road” should place more emphasis on green development. Location, the construction of the Green Silk Road is a priority task.
How do foreign think tank experts view the green development of the “Belt and Road” initiative?
What are your prospects for the “Belt and Road” construction in the post-epidemic era?
Xu Qingqi, Director of the New Asia Strategic Research Center of Malaysia, recently accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Ask about East and West".
The transcript of the interview is as follows:
China News Agency reporter: How do you evaluate the construction of the green "Belt and Road"? What new connotations, new development directions and new growth points can the growth of green attributes bring to the "Belt and Road"?
Xu Qingqi: It
is the original intention and vision of the Chinese government to make the "Belt and Road" a green development road.
The Vision and Actions for Promoting the Joint Construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road issued in 2015 clearly stated that the concept of ecological civilization should be highlighted, and cooperation in the ecological environment, biodiversity and climate change should be strengthened.
In May 2017, the "Guiding Opinions on Promoting Green Belt and Road Construction" and the "Belt and Road Ecological Environmental Protection Cooperation Plan" issued by the Chinese government listed ecological civilization and green development as important content of the "Belt and Road" construction.
The “Belt and Road” international cooperation in the post-epidemic era puts green development in a more prominent position and the construction of a green Silk Road as a priority task, which reflects China’s determination to build a green “Belt and Road” and its commitment to the world. The Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement have made positive contributions.
Faced with the severe challenges brought about by climate change, low-carbon and circular development is an inevitable choice to adapt to the times.
The construction of the “Belt and Road” in the post-epidemic era should focus on energy conservation and emission reduction, and the development of new and renewable energy sources, improve resource utilization efficiency and the use of renewable resources, and integrate the “Belt and Road” construction into global ecological environmental protection and sustainability. The tide of development.
Data map: photo by He Huawen of the wind turbine
Reporter from China News Service: Some people accused the "Belt and Road" initiative to shift polluting industries. What do you think of this statement?
Xu Qingqi:
Large-scale infrastructure projects often involve land and people's livelihood issues, and are easily hyped and politicized by Western media.
In fact, all countries have ecological and environmental risk management mechanisms and laws and regulations, and all "Belt and Road" projects must comply with the ecological and environmental laws and regulations of the host country.
There are no pollution problems in Malaysia's Chinese-owned glass factories, photovoltaic manufacturing plants, and steel plants.
For example, the East Coast Railway of Malaysia undertaken by the China Communications Construction has designed 44 tunnels and 27 wildlife passages to prevent damage to forests and protect the ecological environment.
Another example is the Pakistan Kara Expressway undertaken by a Chinese company. Nearly 300,000 trees were planted along the line and the grass area was more than 5 million square meters.
During the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Kenya, Chinese companies have set up 14 large-scale wildlife passages, 61 bridges and more than 600 culverts across the entire railway line to ensure the free migration of animals.
Facts have proved that the accusation that the “Belt and Road” transfers polluting industries and damages the environment where the project is located is untenable.
China News Agency reporter: What reference can China's transformation of development mode and efforts in green development bring to the world?
Xu Qingqi:
China's experience in emphasizing green development is worthy of reference and learning from other countries.
Developing countries cannot repeat the development path of "pollution first, governance later". They should regard green development as a strategic choice for national development, strengthen the effectiveness of environmental protection laws and regulations, use market mechanisms to protect the environment, and encourage green investment through green finance.
Statistics show that in the past 10 years, China has averaged a net increase of 1.937 million hectares of forest each year.
At present, China is at the forefront of solar energy technology and low-carbon transportation. It is estimated that by 2025, China's renewable energy may account for 20% of its total energy consumption.
I agree with this statement: China, as an important participant, contributor, and leader in the construction of global ecological civilization, building a clean and beautiful China is China's responsibility and contribution to the development of human civilization, which demonstrates China's international moral responsibility.
Data map: The picture shows the photovoltaic base in the desert in Golmud.
Photo courtesy of the Propaganda Department of Golmud Municipal Party Committee
China News Agency reporter: What do you think about the cooperation of countries along the “Belt and Road” in fighting the epidemic and economic reconstruction after the epidemic?
Xu Qingqi:
Under the impact of the new crown epidemic, the “Belt and Road” related projects will inevitably be affected.
Despite this, trade and investment between China and the countries along the “Belt and Road” are still growing steadily, making significant contributions to the fight against the epidemic, the stabilization of the economy, and the protection of the people’s livelihood.
In 2020, China's trade and investment in countries along the “Belt and Road” will grow in reverse, with trade reaching 9.37 trillion yuan, an increase of 1%; non-financial direct investment reaching US$17.8 billion, an increase of 18.3%.
In the context of global shipping and air transportation being hindered by the impact of the epidemic, the number of China-Europe freight trains in 2020 will increase by 50% year-on-year, reaching 21 countries and 92 cities in Europe, reducing the impact of the epidemic on China-EU industrial chain and supply chain cooperation And impact.
After effectively controlling the epidemic, China quickly resumed production, provided urgently needed medical supplies and dispatched medical teams to countries along the “Belt and Road”, and carried out vaccine research and production cooperation with countries along the route.
The “Belt and Road” initiative possesses resilience and vitality, and has become a stabilizer for the global economy under the epidemic and an impetus for economic reconstruction after the epidemic.
Cooperation in the ecological field is the key content of the “Belt and Road” construction.
The new crown epidemic has made people realize that the earth is the common home of mankind. The “Belt and Road” initiative provides green innovation momentum for post-epidemic recovery. Relevant countries should strengthen cooperation in green infrastructure, green energy, green finance and other fields to promote fairness and reasonableness. , A win-win global environmental governance system.
The epidemic has accelerated the development of the digital economy and related industries.
According to a survey of more than 2,000 companies around the world, the new crown epidemic has advanced the global digitalization process by at least 5 to 7 years.
E-commerce trade, smart manufacturing, distance education and medical care, digital finance, etc. have provided new impetus for the economic recovery and development of countries along the “Belt and Road”.
Data map: The picture shows the China-Europe train (Qilu).
Photo by Sha Jian Long
China News Service reporter: How do you understand the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits under the “Belt and Road” initiative?
Xu Qingqi:
"One Belt One Road" is a transnational economic cooperation mechanism based on the principle of "common
consultation
, joint contribution and shared
benefits
". It is mainly the bilateral cooperation between China and participating countries, and cooperation with third parties or multiple parties is not excluded.
The "Belt and Road" is a new form of international economic cooperation, not China's foreign aid project.
Promote adherence to market operations and follow market laws and internationally accepted rules.
The “Belt and Road” project was proposed by the participating countries, not imposed by China on the host country.
"One Belt One Road" infrastructure projects, such as railways, ports, power stations, highways and industrial parks, have not only promoted the economic development of the host country, but also benefited China's international trade and investment, and promoted China's economic development.
Some projects under the “Belt and Road” framework, such as the China-Central Asia Natural Gas Pipeline, the China-Myanmar Oil and Gas Pipeline, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the new international land-sea trade corridor, have reduced China's dependence on the Strait of Malacca for oil and gas and cargo transportation.
China has indirectly gained strategic benefits from participating in the construction of these projects. The accusation that the "One Belt One Road" has strategic goals is putting the cart before the horse and confusing cause and effect.
In contrast, the U.S. Senate passed the "Better Utilization of Investment-Guided Development Act" for the “Belt and Road Initiative” in October 2018. The Center for International and Strategic Research, a well-known American think tank, unabashedly pointed out when commenting on the bill, “ The new U.S. Development Finance Institution (DFI) will help developing countries prosper, while advancing U.S. foreign policy goals and enhancing U.S. national security interests.”
The G7 summit held in June adopted a new global infrastructure plan initiated by the United States, and wanted to fight against China's "Belt and Road" initiative.
In this regard, I think that China need not be too concerned about the intentions of the United States. There is a huge funding gap for global infrastructure construction. Developing countries welcome any international initiative that can provide reasonable financing for infrastructure projects.
China News Agency reporter: What are your expectations and prospects for how China and other countries along the route will promote international cooperation under the “Belt and Road”?
Xu Qingqi: The
new crown pandemic has changed the world. The "One Belt One Road" under the new international pattern needs to have new connotations. It can focus on the development of economic cooperation projects that have immediate effects on accelerating economic recovery, improving people's livelihood, and promoting people-to-people bonds.
The newly released "Sustainable Development Goals Report 2021" shows that the new crown epidemic has erased decades of development achievements, and the number of poor people will increase by 119 million to 124 million in 2020.
"Poverty alleviation" can also become a new connotation of the "Belt and Road" construction in the post-epidemic era, and China's experience in poverty alleviation can be useful for reference.
The epidemic has highlighted the important role of information and communication technology, big data and artificial intelligence, and the digital transformation of industries has accelerated.
In the post-epidemic era, we can vigorously promote the construction of the "digital'One Belt and One Road'" and strengthen cooperation in cross-border e-commerce, smart cities, telemedicine and education, and smart manufacturing.
Climate change and the new crown epidemic have sounded the alarm for world food security.
China and some countries have strong complementarities in the field of food and agricultural production and can strengthen cooperation in the field of agricultural science and technology.
In particular, Southeast Asian countries are rich in herbal medicine resources. With the development of China's aging population and increasing market demand for health products, there is a huge potential for cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in the field of Chinese herbal medicine.
(Finish)
Xu Qingqi is currently the chairman of the New Asia Strategic Research Center, the director of the “Belt and Road” Business Center of Malaysia Tianzhi Consulting, the director of the ASEAN Research Center of the Community of Shared Future for Mankind, and the joint vice chairman of the International Advisory Committee of the “Belt and Road” Green Development Research Institute.
Xu Qingqi has been concerned about China's political and economic development for a long time. As early as 1989, he was appointed as a special consultant by the Beijing Institute of Asian and Pacific Economics.
In recent years, he has conducted in-depth research on the "Belt and Road" initiative, and has given many keynote speeches on the "Belt and Road" in chambers of commerce, banks, investment funds, universities and international seminars at home and abroad.
He has extensive contacts with international "Belt and Road" think tanks and academic institutions, and was invited as one of the keynote speakers at the inaugural meeting of the "Belt and Road" International Think Tank Cooperation Committee in April 2019.