The vision and actions of the Belt and Road Initiative in the eyes of experts: openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation

Over the past few days, a long hand-painted scroll of the Ming Dynasty, the Great Map of the Silk Road, has become the most popular exhibit in the cultural exhibition area of the Boao Forum for Asia. Chinese and foreign guests stopped to watch and wandered along the "Silk Road" hundreds of years ago.

The silk Road has emerged from the depths of history and become the biggest focus of the Boao Forum. Some media describe: Listening to every discussion, "The Belt and Road" four words are everywhere.

On March 28, a long-awaited national plan -- Vision and Actions for Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road -- was released, arousing increasing interest in the Belt and Road initiative at home and abroad.

From putting forward proposals to exploring, from seeking advice to formulating plans -- Chinese think tanks have never been absent in the evolution of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Today, the Belt and Road, the world's longest and most promising economic corridor, has taken on a clear shape. How to understand its orientation and connotation? How can China and other countries along the Belt and Road jointly build a community of shared interests, shared future and shared responsibilities featuring political mutual trust, economic integration and cultural inclusiveness? Think tank experts began to think more deeply.

"A great cause that benefits people of all countries"

-- Drawing a beautiful blueprint for our community

"Your Excellency President... Kazakhstan is willing to take an active part in the Belt and Road Initiative." On March 28, Kazakhstan's Prime Minister Masimov delivered a speech in Chinese at Boao, winning applause from the audience.

The date goes back to September 2013. During his visit to Kazakhstan, President Xi Jinping first proposed the idea of building a Silk Road Economic Belt. More than 20 days later, in his speech to the Indonesian Parliament, he called for building a 21st century Maritime Silk Road.

Traversing history and meeting the call of The Times, the Belt and Road Initiative has emerged.

"Why the Belt and Road Initiative? It was out of the mentality of a responsible great power, and also because of the special background at that time." Luo Yuze, a researcher at the Development Research Center of The State Council, pointed out that after the 2008 international financial crisis, the international economic and political landscape has undergone major changes, with prominent features of economic multi-polarization and increasing frictions between some major countries. Some scholars even claimed that the international order had returned to the "old normal". How can we achieve lasting peace and lift the international order out of the "Thucydides trap" of "competition, confrontation and war"? Only by strengthening communication and cooperation can we enhance mutual trust and understanding.

Presenting an idea is only the first step. Over the past year or so, China has demonstrated its sincerity with candid and pragmatic actions. "Whether it is the concept, capital or technology of Belt and Road cooperation, China is providing top-level design and resource guarantee." Shen Dingli, deputy dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University, said, "China is already capable of being an exporter of international cooperation."

In this process, China's understanding of the Belt and Road initiative has deepened and become more precise. "For example, the document is not called 'plan' but 'vision and action', which is more in line with international practice." Luo Yuze pointed out.

Wang Wen, executive director of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, believes that vision and Action is a framework and intentional design that will continue to improve. "The document is a crystallization of openness and cooperation and reflects the Spirit of the Silk Road."

Perusing the document, experts at the think tank agreed that it was "clear and pragmatic, providing a 'roadmap' for strategic progress" and "reflecting China's clear judgment on the future of the nation and the world". "Said Hou Yangfang, president of the Fudan-Gansu Silk Road Economic Belt Collaborative Development Research Institute.

Lu Feng, deputy dean of the National School of Development at Peking University, summed up the characteristics of the Belt and Road Initiative as follows: It combines mutual benefit with connectivity, and incorporates the concept of peaceful development into specific strategies; Combine top-level design with grassroots practice, so that planning has practical experience basis; We combined domestic development with international exchanges and successfully stimulated the initiative of all parties at home and abroad. We should combine cooperation with institutional innovation and explore practical ways to improve the global economic governance architecture.

"Accelerating the construction of the Belt and Road, promoting economic prosperity and regional economic cooperation along the routes is the goal, strengthening exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations is the result, and promoting world peace and development is the ultimate goal. Therefore, it is a great cause that benefits people of all countries." Feng Yue, an executive researcher at the Institute of Political Science of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"Creating a New Model for international Cooperation in the 21st Century"

-- Benefiting countries along the BELT and Road and boosting world development

Just like the Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is attracting attention at Boao.

On March 29, Australia and Denmark announced their applications to join the AIIB. This brings the number of countries applying to become prospective founding members of aiib to 42. Since its establishment on The initiative of China in October 2014, this "latecomer" in the global international financial institution has become an existence that cannot be ignored by all countries.

Zeng Peiyan, president of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, is delighted. At the Boao Forum in 2013, he proposed the Asian Infrastructure Cooperation Initiative based on the research results of the Center and suggested the establishment of a specialized multilateral investment and financing platform. Today, this platform has become a "strong magnetic field" that attracts cooperation and gathers strength.

"The key to Asia's structural adjustment and transformational development is the real economy. The AIIB and the Silk Road Fund are an effort to trade today's money for the future of the real economy." Zeng Peiyan said.

Why is the AIIB so attractive? Lin Yifu, honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University, pointed out the reason. "Aiib is good for China, other developing countries and developed countries alike. China has nearly $4 trillion in foreign exchange reserves, and investing in infrastructure will help it gain market share. Developed countries will also benefit from the AIIB, because what they need most is a bigger market with a booming world economy."

More enthusiastic about the Bri are many countries along the routes.

On December 12, 2014, the Development Research Center of The State Council, together with three international think tanks, hosted an international seminar on "Jointly Building the Belt and Road: Historical Enlightenment and Opportunities of The Times" in Turkey. The representatives from a dozen countries and regions in the positive feedback, the State Council development research center director li wei saw the "area" deep roots: "along the countries are willing to promote comprehensive economic and social development, respect each other's core interests, and considering the common interests of all countries as a whole, for economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges between countries to build public platform, create favorable conditions."

Today, more than 60 countries and international organizations along the Belt and Road have expressed positive views on the Initiative. "The Belt and Road initiative fully considers the interests of countries along the routes and adheres to the principles of mutual trust, equality and friendship in major-country diplomacy. It will win wide support." Wang Huiyao, director of the China and Globalization Think tank.

Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University of China, pointed out that the Belt and Road initiative has three missions: to explore ways for global economic growth in the post-crisis era; Rebalancing globalisation; Create a new model for regional cooperation in the 21st century. "It emphasizes extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, bringing new ideas and creating new models for international cooperation in the 21st century."

"The Belt and Road initiative is not limited to the economic and trade field, but all-round cooperation in culture and ecology. It will build a solid bridge for peaceful development and dialogue among civilizations." Guangdong Academy of Social Sciences industrial economics institute director to Xiaomei think.
"Promoting regional economic restructuring and unleashing greater potential"

-- Bring a better tomorrow to China

The Belt and Road Initiative is also having a profound impact on China's development.

Zhao Jinping, head of the Foreign economic research Department of the Development Research Center of The State Council, pointed out that the Belt and Road initiative will significantly boost outbound investment, accelerate the upgrading of domestic industrial structure, promote the development of producer services and other industries and export growth, and provide lasting impetus for China's economy.

"To solve domestic economic problems by developing export-oriented economy is the experience of industrial upgrading and maintaining economic prosperity in developed countries, and also a good opportunity to solve the problem of unbalanced development between east and west in China." Wang Huiyao thinks.

"The Belt and Road Initiative is also a grand strategy for regional economic restructuring in China. It can enable provinces to complement and promote each other and unleash greater potential." Li Yang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said.

Under the Belt and Road Initiative outlined in the Vision and Actions, 18 Chinese provinces have become strategic priorities, and inland or frontier provinces and regions such as Shaanxi, Ningxia and Xinjiang will soon become "new heights" for opening up. "They will be pushed to the forefront of opening up, integrating with the international division of labor, repositioning themselves in the new value chain system, and forming a new economic system that is bigger and mutually beneficial." Xu Hongcai, minister of information department of China Center for International Economic Exchanges, pointed out.

The opportunity is in front, each province already active action. Xi 'an launched the first batch of 60 key projects of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Xinjiang has made plans to accelerate the construction of the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, and new achievements have been made in tourism cooperation along the Silk Road Economic Belt...

Economic benefits fall on people's livelihood, bringing a real "sense of gain".

"With improved infrastructure connectivity and enhanced international cooperation in tourism, education and culture, people will enjoy more convenient travel, richer cultural life and more job opportunities." "Xiang xiaomei said.

"It's going to be a tough climb."

-- Addressing challenges and moving toward a common vision

"China already has world trade routes, why revive the Silk Road?" "Is the Belt and Road Initiative China's Marshall Plan? Wang Yiwei has often been asked this question when introducing the Belt and Road Initiative abroad.

As soon as the Belt and Road initiative entered the international community's vision, various misunderstandings arose, and how to enhance mutual trust became the primary challenge.

Xiang xiaomei believes that to resolve misperceptions, the government should play a less important role, emphasize the role of the private sector, and promote the market under the principle of all-win. Xu hongcai was more optimistic: "The initiative has received positive response from most countries along the belt and Road. The next step is to make solid progress and win more understanding with actions."

Planning for a rainy day is the only way to achieve stability and success. Experts analyze challenges one by one and propose countermeasures.

Reciprocity is the original intention of the Belt and Road Initiative. However, countries differ in their level of development, economic distribution and population distribution, and their priorities are different. How to maximize the interests of both sides? Xiang xiaomei said, "We should fully understand the needs of the other party and connect with its existing development plan." Lu Feng pointed out that the project design should take into account market profit and social responsibility, avoid short-term behavior and drain fishing; In carrying out the transfer of labor-intensive manufacturing to foreign countries, we should give full play to its positive role in promoting employment and economic development in the host countries.

Infrastructure development is a priority of the Belt and Road Initiative, but the funding gap cannot be ignored. Luo Yuze suggested: build a large platform and mechanism for cross-border investment and financing, and design the basic framework with global and systematic thinking. This framework should have the characteristics of common project selection, diversified fund channels, pattern combination design, clear division of responsibilities, and multi-layer system guarantee.

The belt and Road Initiative also faces a shortage of international talent. How to meet the demand? Beijing Foreign Studies University is leading the way -- "In the next five years, bfSU will expand its language programs to more than 100 and open language programs related to all countries with which China has established diplomatic relations, so as to serve the Belt and Road Initiative." Peng Long, president of Beijing Foreign Studies University and president of beiwai Silk Road Research Institute.

Hou yangfang agreed with the vision and Actions of "expanding the number of students studying in each other's countries, carrying out cooperation in running schools, and China providing 10,000 government scholarships to countries along the Belt and Road every year". "This is exactly what is needed to build the Belt and Road. Comprehensive universities should make a long-term plan to break the existing discipline classification layout and realize interdisciplinary training of talents. The government-sponsored scholarship fund should also lean towards countries along the Belt and Road and cultivate talents who are willing to learn and actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road."

Despite the difficulties, think tank experts are confident. "The potential space of the Belt and Road is full of new opportunities, but there is still a difficult climb ahead." Zhao jinping said.

Lu Feng believes that China's economic revival will inevitably bring about the restructuring of the global pattern, and "One Belt and One Road" is the realistic expansion of this logic. There are difficulties, but hope for more. For enterprises, the Belt and Road Initiative may become another "wind outlet". "If you have strong enough wings, you can fly higher and farther."