Win-win initiative

EMBRACING the principles of inclusiveness and openness, the Belt and Road Initiative is in striking contrast to the unilateralism and trade protectionism adopted by some countries.

Proposed five years ago by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the initiative epitomises China’s understanding of what a globalised world should be and its vision of shared development. In contrast to the “America first” policy of the Trump administration of the United States, what the Road and Belt Initiative stresses is that all countries can co-operate in a fair and reasonable manner, and by doing so all can benefit.

That is exactly what the Belt and Road Initiative seeks to achieve by helping the countries involved with their infrastructure construction programmes, as greater connectivity promises to inject vigour into economies and regions.

And with an increasing number of economies getting involved, it will create more engines for the development of the global economy and create conditions for the reform of global governance to make it fairer and more all-embracing.

There are voices that speak ill of the initiative, labelling it new colonialism or a means to extend China’s influence.

However, what the initiative has achieved in the past five years and how it has been welcomed by an increasing number of countries speaks volumes for China’s sincerity in its efforts to bring in, as well as go out and realise co-operation for mutual benefit.