China’s ambitious plan will promote trade
CHINA’S willingness to share its experience and economic prosperity with the world, via its Belt and Road infrastructure plan, has attracted not only overwhelming support but also some apprehension as well.
Unlike the West, historically, China hasn’t displayed imperial ambition. The ambitious infrastructure plan is to develop a transnational network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa, which promotes trade in a more efficient manner.
The world should support the Belt and Road initiative, especially since it is officially elevated at a time when United States President Donald Trump is promoting an “America First” policy.
On top of that, Trump has to deal with too many political setbacks in Washington, which may affect his ability to lead his country efficiently.
In view of the current situation, the ambitious infrastructure plan has become even more necessary to be pursued in an aggressive manner, so as to avoid any potential global economic fallout.
For the past three decades, China’s only ambition was to develop its own country and economy, so that it could lift millions of its people out from poverty. Despite social instability during the Cultural Revolution and a prolonged period of closed-door policy during the communist era, the splendid economic progress achieved so far has impressed the world.
After overtaking Japan economically in 2010, China will 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 Belt and Road initiative, formulated in 2013, will pave the way for China to fulfil its role as one of the global leaders in a constructive manner.
When I was on a working trip to Shanghai in 2001, I had an opportunity to discover the great potential of China and its ability to transform ideas into reality efficiently.
On a weekend, I travelled by train from Shanghai to a nearby small town, where I had an opportunity to dine in a crowded McDonald’s outlet there.
According to my rough estimation, the double-storey outlet could easily accommodate more than a thousand customers.
Since then, I have realised why Western companies are investing in China aggressively.
Lest I forget, many mainland Chinese parents are willing to spend big sums of money on their children’s education, particularly in learning English along with Mandarin. They know very well that equipping their children with only Mandarin will not be a step in the right direction.
Jack Ma, being proficient in English and the second richest person in China, is a good example to prove that their foresight is right.
By the same token, I noticed that many Westerners in China have taken a great effort to learn Mandarin. As opined by Dr Martin Jacques, a British journalist and author of When China Rules the World, 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 your children to learn Mandarin as a third language, while they are still young.
If I couldn’t communicate fluently in Mandarin, I wouldn’t have been the one given the opportunity to implement a hotel system in Shanghai 16 years ago.