China News Service, Wuyishan, March 24 (Peng Dawei, Wang Gaofei, Zhao Ligantian) Recently, Benjamin Norton, editor-in-chief of the US "Geopolitical Economic Report" and foreign policy expert, accepted China News Service's global development initiative in an exclusive interview in Wuyishan, Fujian. Expressed high appreciation and believed that the initiative has made important contributions in building development consensus, global poverty reduction and economic development.
From March 21st to 24th, the first Wuyi Forum hosted by Renmin University of China and others was held in Nanping, Fujian. Guests from home and abroad gathered at the Zhuxi Garden in Wuyishan to talk about the Chinese context and diverse civilizations.
Pictured is Benjamin Norton. Photo by Zhao Li, China News Service
Ben Jiemin pointed out that the global development initiative is an important way for China to share its development experience with the world. "This initiative demonstrates the philosophy that China has always adhered to: they are not leaders, but advocate mutually beneficial cooperation. Many countries have experienced colonialism and hegemonism in the past few centuries. But China emphasizes that they do not seek war, nor do they seek war. It does not advocate colonial rule or interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. The Chinese government’s goal is to promote common development through cooperation and peace.”
Ben Jiemin noticed that in the context of frequent geo-risks such as the Red Sea crisis and impacts on global logistics and supply chains, the stabilizer role of China-Europe trains has become more prominent. He said: "China has made great progress in promoting trade and connectivity between Europe and other countries around the world, which has set an important example for other countries."
Public data shows that since the outbreak of the Red Sea crisis, cargo ships traveling to Europe have to detour around the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in significant increases in fees, time and other costs. In this context, the advantages of China-Europe freight trains are highlighted. In 2023, the transportation cost of China-Europe freight trains between China and Europe will be only one-fifth of air transportation, and the transportation time will be about one-quarter of sea transportation. It is punctual, reliable, and has high stability.
Ben Jiemin also noticed that the "Artificial Intelligence +" action was proposed for the first time in the 2024 Chinese Government Work Report. He pointed out that China's science and technology industry has developed rapidly in recent years, and he believes that artificial intelligence will play an even more important role in the future economy. "I hope that 'artificial intelligence +' can help China and other developing countries increase their income levels more effectively and narrow the gap between rich and poor." (End).