WORLD SHOULD SUPPORT INITIATIVE
CHINA’s willingness to share its experience and economic prosperity with the world, via its One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, has garnered not only overwhelming support but also apprehension.
Unlike the West, historically China hasn’t displayed any imperial ambition. The ambitious infrastructure plan is to develop a transnational network connecting Asia to Europe and Africa to promote trade more efficiently.
The world should support OBOR, especially as it is initiated at a time when United States President Donald Trump is promoting the “America First” policy. In view of the current situation, OBOR has become even more necessary to be pursued aggressively to prevent any potential global economic fallout.
For the past three decades, China’s only ambition was to develop its country and economy so that it could lift millions of its people out of poverty. Overshadowed by social instability during the Cultural Revolution and prolonged period of a closed-door policy during the Communist era, the splendid economic progress achieved so far has impressed the world.
Overtaking Japan economically in 2010, China would probably forge ahead to overtake the US as the world’s largest economy by 2020, as projected by Goldman Sachs. With such an impending achievement, China cannot avoid playing a more important role on the world stage.
The OBOR initiative formulated in 2013 would pave the way for China to fulfil its role as one of the global leaders in a constructive manner.
During a working trip to Shanghai in 2001, I discovered China’s great potential and ability to transform ideas into reality.
Many Chinese parents invest in their children’s education, particularly in learning English. They know that equipping their children with only Mandarin is not enough. Business tycoon Jack Ma, who is proficient in English and the second richest person in China, is a fine example.
I also noticed that many Westerners in China took great effort to learn Mandarin. Dr Martin Jacques, a British journalist and author of When China Rules the World, has said China is going to change the world by virtue of its rapid economic growth supported by a huge population.
I urge parents not to overlook the importance of English in their children’s education and, at the same time, encourage them to learn Mandarin. If I couldn’t communicate fluently in Mandarin, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to implement a hotel system in Shanghai 16 years ago.