From further improving connectivity to supporting an open world economy, Xi unveiled eight major steps to bring Belt and Road cooperation to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development in a keynote speech at the opening of a high-profile forum.
Xi vowed to speed up high-quality development of China-Europe Railway Express and, together with other parties, build a new logistics corridor across the Eurasian continent linked by direct railway and road transportation.
China will enter into free trade agreements and investment protection treaties with more countries and remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, Xi said.
Both signature projects and “small yet smart” livelihood programs will be promoted with more financing support. Two Chinese policy banks will each set up a 350 billion yuan (48.75 billion U.S. dollars) financing window, and an additional 80 billion yuan will be injected into the Silk Road Fund, according to Xi.
The president also pledged more commitment into green development, scientific and technological innovation, people-to-people exchanges, integrity-based Belt and Road cooperation, and the institutional building for international Belt and Road cooperation.
The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held on Tuesday and Wednesday was the most significant celebration for the 10th anniversary of the BRI.
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Attendees of the opening ceremony spoke highly of Xi’s speech.
“It was an inspiring speech. It delivered clear messages on the future of the Belt and Road cooperation and how China’s robust economic growth will benefit the world as well as foreign investors like us,” said Atakan Bozkurt, chief executive officer of Burger King China.
“President Xi’s vision is appreciated by so many people in the world,” said Vito Rosario Petrocelli, president of Italy BRICS Institute. “The BRI is the best initiative to make the Global South better and can give a lot of opportunities to developing countries and play a very big role in protecting the environment.”
Ismail Hakki Musa, ambassador of Türkiye to China, said few imagined that the BRI would have such influence and force to transform the world in economic, infrastructure and development areas. “Today everyone is aware of the fact that this is an unprecedented achievement.”
Xi consecutively proposed building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in 2013. The pairing later came to be known as the BRI.
Over the past 10 years, the BRI has evolved from ideas into actions and from a vision into reality.
Speeding trains and trucks have become trade symbols in the new era, just like camel caravans in the past. Hydro stations and wind plants have helped in removing the development bottleneck for developing countries. Brand new airports, harbors, and industrial parks have brought fresh momentum to regional growth.
By promoting the Belt and Road cooperation, China is pursuing modernization not for itself, but for all developing countries through joint efforts.
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“Global modernization should be pursued to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation and bring prosperity to all,” Xi said.
So far, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements, with the initiative extending from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America.
Jiri Paroubek, former prime minister of the Czech Republic, said the Belt and Road will help many countries of the developing world to increase their development, and also the living standards of the people.
The BRI transcends differences between civilizations, cultures, social systems, and stages of development, and has opened up a new path for exchanges among countries, and established a new framework for international cooperation, Xi said.
Looking back at the past decade, Xi said the achievements demonstrate that the Belt and Road cooperation is on the right side of history. “It represents the advancing of our times, and it is the right path forward.”
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“China can only do well when the world is doing well. When China does well, the world will get even better,” Xi said, noting that China, opening its door even wider to the world, has become a main trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions and a primary source of investment for more countries.
Xi said that win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all, and that the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit is the most important source of strength for Belt and Road cooperation.
“Ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry and bloc politics are not a choice for us. What we stand against are unilateral sanctions, economic coercion and decoupling and supply chain disruption,” said the Chinese president.
“Today the world needs a common and collective approach to tackle the tremendous challenges we all have, and I think the BRI puts everyone in connection,” said Miguel Moratinos, high representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
The changes brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the past decade have been so transformative that they are not only striking to our naked eyes but clearly visible in the satellite images. Check out the video to get a glimpse from space of this down-to-earth initiative.
[Click this link to watch the video->https://english.news.cn/20231016/829496f3f48842eda8bc19d7f0d64783/c.html]
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua’s China Chat Show, Jacques described the BRI as an “epic project, epic narrative, and epic reflection on Chinese history.”
This grand project is made possible by China’s ability to draw upon its history as a great nation as well as its unmatched ability to think on a grand scale. “No other country would think of something like this, because China thinks big,” he said.
The BRI was initiated by China in 2013 to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. This year marks its 10th anniversary, and the eagerly anticipated third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing from Oct. 17 to 18.
China’s ambitious vision for a new global paradigm is also a reflection of its identity as a developing country itself, argued Jacques.
The developing countries, representing about 85 percent of the world’s population, only made up one-third of global GDP in the 1970s. Today the figure has reached 60 percent, with the BRI contributing to this transformation.
The developing world is “overwhelmingly signed up to the idea,” as the benefits of joining the initiative are clear for all to see, while the BRI has made development “one of the central priorities on the global agenda,” Jacques noted.
Crucially, he said, such a paradigm shift would never have come about were it left to the West, whose relationship with the developing world has been built upon a foundation of colonial exploitation.
This inability to view the developing world in more equal terms has meant that the West was “caught completely flat-footed on the Belt and Road,” he added.
While the West continues to view the world in terms of competing blocs, China is putting forward an entirely different vision for international relations.
This alternative path reflects an increasingly globalized world, one with “wider, broader interests that bring sections of humanity and ultimately the whole of humanity together,” he said.
Of course, with such an ambitious and monumental project, there will be bumps in the road, for as Jacques noted, “If there are no problems at all, then excuse me, but there’s no project.”
Looking at the entirety of the project, the BRI has been remarkably successful, and there is no sign of it slowing down anytime soon. As Jacques put it simply, “I think it’s here to stay, and it will stay.”
Ten years on, the initiative has evolved from a vision into reality through the collaborative efforts of all participating nations, becoming a widely-appreciated public good and a global driver of inclusive growth.
Over the past few decades, the global economy has contended with insufficient inclusivity, imbalances, and increasing wealth inequality. While some countries and regions have made notable strides economically and socially, other parts of the world have grappled with persistent poverty, inequality and developmental obstacles.
A decade ago, and with its strong focus on inclusive growth, the BRI offered the world a timely and practical solution infused with Chinese wisdom to address these very challenges.
As Chinese President Xi Jinping has said, no country or nation should be left behind on the road to the well-being of all humankind. All countries and nations are equally entitled to development opportunities and rights to development.
What exactly is the initiative? Consider it a public road open to all, not a private path owned by one party. All interested countries are welcome aboard to participate and share in its benefits.
As Xi has said, the BRI may be China’s idea, but its opportunities and outcomes are going to benefit the world.
By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and 30 international organizations across five continents.
Contrary to protecting the narrow interests of a group of countries that divide the world, China’s endeavor to promote multilateralism via the BRI helps create a harmonious world, Kostas Gouliamos, former rector of European University Cyprus, once argued.
The BRI has offered more countries a greater say in the global economy.
From 2013 to 2022, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and BRI partner countries was 19.1 trillion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent.
Furthermore, the BRI embodies equitable development, striving to assist countries in overcoming poverty and ushering in an era of development.
Looking back over the past decade, the BRI has addressed the significant bottlenecks restricting connectivity and economic growth in most developing countries by constructing essential railway, highway, pipeline, shipping, energy and communications infrastructure.
From the China-Laos Railway that transformed landlocked Laos into a land-linked hub to Kenya’s Mombasa-Nairobi Railway contributing 2 percent to the African nation’s economic growth, notable impactful projects have effectively reduced the cost for countries to participate in international trade, increased access to the global economy and stimulated development.
The ultimate goal of the pursuit of economic growth, development and prosperity is to enhance living standards. To ensure the benefits of cooperation are as widely available as possible, the Belt and Road cooperation focuses on food safety, poverty alleviation and job creation.
China, a country that has won the historical battle against extreme poverty, has strengthened poverty reduction efforts in BRI countries through agricultural cooperation, expertise and technology transfer.
Additionally, industrial collaboration and job creation through Belt and Road cooperation improve local employment and alleviate poverty. Data from a McKinsey survey revealed that Chinese firms in Africa recruited 89 percent of their employees locally.
“I acknowledge that my story and dreams would be irrelevant, were it not for the BRI, which has truly opened doors for my career,” Mirriam Gakii Kirimi, a young woman who currently works as a translator for Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau under the China Energy International Group which has undertaken road and dam projects in Kenya, told Xinhua.
The BRI’s core principles of “extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits” have become recognized globally, with reference in important documents from international organizations and international bodies like the United Nations and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
As a 21st-century, long-term, transnational and systematic global project, the BRI has succeeded in taking its first step on a long journey. Setting out from this new starting point, the BRI will demonstrate greater creativity and vitality, become more open and inclusive, and generate new opportunities for both China and the rest of the world.
The launch ceremony of the multiple language editions was on Monday hosted by the State Council Information Office and the China International Communications Group and joined by more than 100 attendees, including envoys from BRI partner countries, experts, scholars, and translating and publishing sector representatives.
Noting that this year marks the BRI’s 10th anniversary, attendees of the event said that over the past decade, the BRI cooperation has evolved from a proposal by China to a global practice, from an idea to actions, and from a vision to reality, delivering concrete and fruitful results.
This collaborative endeavor has created new space for world economic growth and actively contributed to the healthy progress of economic globalization and the resolution of global development challenges, they said, adding that the BRI has been welcomed by the international community both as a public good and a cooperation platform.
The book incorporates Xi’s 42 articles between September 2013 and July 2018 on jointly advancing BRI cooperation and records in detail how the BRI has been proposed, enriched, and developed. It also elaborates on the BRI’s principles, connotations, and objectives, providing authoritative interpretations for readers at home and abroad to increase understanding of the initiative.
The book’s English, French, and Russian editions were published by the Foreign Languages Press.
Years before this significant event, Xi, who has served as the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee since November 2012, became the first leader in the Party’s history to propose the idea of cultural confidence.
Xi Jinping Thought on Culture follows thoughts in five other spheres — military, economy, ecological civilization, diplomacy, and the rule of law — all significant components of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Taking note of the latest thought, keen observers have said that it may be the most essential and all-encompassing one to date.
Xi believes that without profound cultural confidence and a thriving culture, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unattainable.
His conviction is reflected in his support for significant cultural landmark projects, such as the China National Archives of Publications and Culture and the Chinese Academy of History, which he visited in June.
Speaking at a meeting on cultural inheritance and development following the visit, Xi called for efforts to build modern Chinese civilization.
The emphasis on culture by China’s top leader this year has not gone unnoticed, generating attention from home and abroad. An ancient civilization is experiencing a renaissance through the integration of the fundamental tenets of Marxism with fine traditional Chinese culture, according to many voices.
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Xi’s profound interest in culture has significantly influenced his political as well as private life. Foreign media perceive him as not only possessing the demeanor of a national leader but also the distinctive cultural allure of the East.
He has often mentioned that while he enjoys a handful of hobbies, reading is his “greatest passion.”
In his childhood, Xi was deeply touched by the story of Yue Fei, a Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279) military commander. Yue took “Jing Zhong Bao Guo,” or “serve the country with unreserved loyalty” as his motto and lived up to it. Xi has long remembered these four characters, calling them the pursuit of his entire life.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Xi spent seven years in Liangjiahe, Shaanxi Province, as an educated youth. During this period, he threw himself into studying classic Marxist works and literature — both Chinese and foreign tomes. He read “Das Kapital” three times.
The impact of Xi’s grounding in China’s classic literature has had a profound influence on his political career.
For example, he once wrote a classical poem to commemorate Jiao Yulu, a county cadre known for his selfless devotion to the people. During his tenure as Zhejiang’s provincial Party chief, Xi urged officials to enrich their knowledge of traditional culture. In Shaoxing, where China’s best-known calligrapher Wang Xizhi lived in the 4th century, Xi suggested local cultural officials memorize Wang’s masterpiece, “The Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion.”
After assuming the Party’s top post, during a seminar on literature and art, Xi said that fine traditional Chinese culture forms a solid foundation for China to stand firm amid the tide of global cultural currents.
Xi’s cultural literacy fosters a distinct connection with those close to him, and it’s certainly not a manufactured public image as seen with certain Western politicians. His language style adeptly transitions between simplicity and classical eloquence, effortlessly articulating the governing principles of Chinese Communists and China’s positions and viewpoints.
In the recently published first two volumes of “Selected Works of Xi Jinping,” classical texts were referenced numerous times.
“What a joy to have friends coming from afar!” Foreign guests often hear this line in Xi’s welcome speeches, the well-known line of “The Analects of Confucius.” He often presents the bilingual editions of “The Art of War” and “The Analects of Confucius” as state gifts.
A decade ago, during his visit to Qufu, the birthplace of Confucius, Xi said he should take a closer look at two reference books about Confucian thoughts. Now the two books have been translated into 16 languages, including English, German and Korean, and distributed across the world.
“He is not only an ‘advocate’ of fine traditional Chinese culture but also an ‘ambassador’ for civilizational exchange and mutual learning,” commented a netizen.
In Chinese tradition, personal refinement and a strong character are prerequisites for a qualified leader. Xi epitomizes such a tradition of cherishing rites and virtue.
He demands officials at all levels prioritize family values, often citing philosopher Mencius, who said that the root of the world is in the state, and the root of the state is in the family.
Photos of his family grace the bookshelves of Xi’s office, and often, before attendees of events gather for group photos, he invites senior participants to sit in the front row.
He has also shared ancient stories of upright officials to remind Party members to be humble and cautious in exercising power.
Words like “lifeline,” “fountainhead,” and “foundation” are often used by Xi to describe the significance of fine traditional Chinese culture.
Xi’s political career has taken him across China. Wherever he was sent, he would delve into local history and culture and visit cultural heritage sites to understand the state of cultural preservation in each locality.
In the early 1980s, when he worked as the Party chief of Zhengding County, Hebei Province, Xi first asked local authorities to identify and ensure the protection of two old locust trees and initiated a survey of local cultural heritages. Today, Zhengding, with a history of more than 1,600 years, stands as a renowned historical and cultural site in China.
Xi’s commitment to cultural preservation continued even after becoming the country’s top leader. He pushed for projects to facilitate better preservation of Chinese cultural classics like the “Revitalization Library” project and a comprehensive collection of Chinese traditional paintings.
Xi emphasized “promoting the creative transformation and innovative development of fine traditional Chinese culture.” This signifies that the inheritance and development of culture do not imply a simple return to tradition.
Xi has advocated for “bringing cultural relics to life.” In present-day China, enthusiasm for cultural relics and traditions is on the rise, and digital technology is enriching the cultural experience of all Chinese.
The cultural vitality and creativity of the nation are booming. Between 2012 and 2022, the annual operating income of major cultural enterprises nationwide doubled, increasing from 5.6 trillion yuan to 12.2 trillion yuan (1.7 trillion U.S. dollars).
The core socialist values upheld by China are prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, the rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity and friendship.
In a world where thoughts and cultures are constantly evolving, Xi has creatively integrated the essence of fine traditional culture into these values, presenting a more enriched essence than the “universal values” defined by some Western countries.
Xi has consistently prioritized the work of public communication.
He insists on following the guiding role of Marxism in the ideological field, emphasizing the importance of “the overall leadership of the Party.” He calls on the news media to improve the capacity of dissemination, guidance and influence.
Xi himself set an example long ago. During his tenure in Zhejiang, he published over 200 short articles in a dedicated column on the front page of the Zhejiang Daily. With a tone to communicate on equal footing, he promptly addressed the concerns of the public.
Xi pays great attention to new developments and trends in culture. In a country with more than 1 billion internet users, he advocates for cyberspace governance to ensure the internet serves people’s best interests.
“Cyberspace is a common spiritual garden for hundreds of millions of people,” he said.
Xi introduced the great founding spirit of the Party, the great spirit in the fight against COVID-19, the great spirit of fighting poverty and the Silk Road spirit, among others.
He strongly condemned historical nihilism and led the efforts to promote the national spirit with patriotism as the core and the spirit of the times centering on reform and innovation to realize the Chinese Dream.
In the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, Xi proposed building cultural confidence and strength. This vision mirrors China’s economic rise trajectory and is believed to bring about a confident nation with a strong cultural appeal.
Topics like “Why are the Chinese becoming more confident?” trend on social media platforms. “Why shouldn’t they be confident? … They have a history that goes back nearly 5,000 years. Their culture is rich, refined and elegant. Their dominance in science and technology is exemplary,” answered a netizen from the United States.
An uninterrupted civilization of 5,000 years is thriving under Xi’s leadership. While other nations seek to solve lingering problems, Xi shows the world his cultural vision and commitment.
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The CPC has embarked on a significant endeavor to integrate core Marxist principles with China’s profound cultural heritage and implement them in the governance of a nation with over 1.4 billion people.
At the helm is Xi, who depicts the effort as a profound “chemical reaction.”
Xi has employed culture in governance. He has put forward the people-centered philosophy of development by merging the Marxist concept with the ancient Chinese philosophy that underscores people as the foundation of the state. “The people are the state, and the state is the people,” he said.
Xi — a leader who has displayed his commitment by submitting his Party membership application 10 times at his younger age — holds that the well-being of the people is the utmost goal. To this end, he had forsaken the comforts of Beijing to serve in impoverished rural areas and led officials on field visits to address people’s concerns.
Over the past more than a decade, China has achieved remarkable milestones, including building the world’s largest infrastructure network and social security system, forming a sizable middle-income group, eradicating absolute poverty, and advancing toward common prosperity.
Xi’s commitment to putting the people first not only enriches the people-centered Marxist concept but also modernizes traditional Chinese ideas like “the people as the foundation of the nation” and “the people as the highest priority,” said Hong Xianghua, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
Xi is steering China on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, which has its distinct cultural underpinnings.
He has emphasized the importance of maintaining the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC, likening it to a game of Chinese chess, in which the Central Committee serves as the commander and various aides play their roles while adhering to an overarching strategy.
This approach is widely viewed as striking a balance between order and vitality, stability and development, echoing China’s millennia-old tradition of “rule by rites.”
George Magnus, a scholar at Oxford University’s China Center, said China and Western countries may speak to a common agenda of peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, but China uses Marxism and its own ancient culture to define a very different version of what these mean.
Xi has put forward a new development philosophy featuring innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development. The modern concept can also find its roots in China’s profound cultural heritage.
During a high-level meeting, Xi conducted a thorough assessment of the trajectory of global development in modern times, emphasizing the crucial role of innovation in the pursuit of building a strong nation.
Under Xi’s guidance, China has established pilot demonstration zones and pioneer areas for Chinese modernization in places like Shanghai, Shenzhen and Zhejiang to explore top-down institutional innovation.
China has ranked first globally in international patent applications for multiple consecutive years and boasts world-renowned scientific achievements such as the quantum science satellite “Mozi” and the dark matter particle explorer satellite “Wukong.”
Observers have noticed that Xi frequently incorporates medical terms like “preventive healthcare,” “meridian pathways,” and “addressing the root cause, rather than just addressing symptoms” into his governance strategy.
These concepts are drawn from the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), renowned for its holistic and dialectical philosophy. Xi has referred to TCM as the “key to unlock the treasure trove of Chinese civilization.”
As the world’s second-largest economy grapples with significant transformation challenges, Xi has stressed the importance of ensuring the seamless flow of the economic cycle, drawing parallels to regulating the main vessels within the human body.
Under his leadership, China has implemented various measures aimed at addressing bottlenecks, promoting economic circulation, and unleashing domestic demand potential. They include stimulating consumption in key sectors such as home furnishings, automobiles and electronics, and expediting the establishment of a unified national market.
In the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by 5.5 percent year on year, showcasing remarkable resilience and vitality amid concerns about global inflation.
Xi’s emphasis on “humanistic economics” is gaining traction throughout China. This perspective offers a humanistic interpretation of the Chinese economy, resulting in a fascinating blend of the ancient and the contemporary.
For example, the city of Suzhou, dubbed “Venice of the East” by Marco Polo, has largely preserved its centuries-old city layout. It blends millennia-old pagodas with towering skyscrapers, creating a unique landscape where traditional culture enriches a thriving business environment.
Xi has advocated that ancient philosophical concepts, such as “systematic thinking” and “dialectical thinking,” can be applied to help tackle myriad challenges today. These principles have proven to be essential in striking a balance between reform, development and stability, as well as in preserving the environment and effectively managing natural resources.
In addressing wealth disparities and urban-rural gaps, Xi has called for urban-rural integration and coordinated development in regions like the northeastern provinces, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the Yangtze River Economic Belt. This approach aligns with the Chinese adage that emphasizes a holistic regional perspective: “One who fails to plan for the whole situation is incapable of planning for a partial area.”
To reverse environmental damage, Xi demanded that polluting factories address problems or face closure. The country issued a 10-year ban on fishing to protect China’s longest river, the Yangtze.
Xi issued six instructions to demolish illegally constructed villas in the Qinling Mountains, home to giant pandas, snub-nosed monkeys, and many other rare wild animals.
From the concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” to “humanity and nature make up a community of life,” Xi’s ecological civilization concept embodies traditional Chinese wisdom and resonates with Karl Marx’s vision of Communism in addressing contradictions between humanity and nature.
Chinese people today enjoy improved air quality, with a nearly 60 percent reduction in average PM 2.5 levels from 2013 to 2022 and a significant decrease in heavily polluted days by over 90 percent.
Xi considers change and openness as enduring elements of China’s history. The China International Import Expo, which he planned and promoted, has provided global exhibitors with a significant platform to showcase flagship products and services. It has become a symbol of China’s commitment to openness.
On democracy, Xi stresses that the most reliable and effective systems for a country are always the ones that take root in and draw nourishment from their own soil.
In Jiangxi, villagers gathered in ancestral halls to discuss matters of their concern. In Fujian, fishermen voiced their opinions at mediation stations located on bamboo rafts. In Hainan, villagers held political meetings and took part in democratic processes while sitting on plastic benches under the sun.
Throughout China, people employ age-old practices from their ancestors to resolve everyday conflicts, build consensus, and implement Xi’s concept of whole-process people’s democracy.
Xi’s view on legal disputes may find resonance with the ancient philosopher Confucius, who envisioned a world without the need for litigation. In a similar vein, Xi noted that China’s national conditions determine that China should not rely on litigation as the first and last resort.
Xi has reiterated promoting the “Fengqiao experience,” recognized by foreign media as an “effective social governance plan deeply rooted in Chinese culture.”
During a recent visit to Fengqiao in Zhejiang, Xi stressed the significance of relying on the people, resolving issues at the grassroots level, and addressing conflicts proactively. This underscored his commitment to promoting the “Fengqiao experience” in China.
Xi is unwavering in his stance against those who infringe upon the interests of the people. After the 18th CPC National Congress, he led the Party in elevating inspections into a strategic tool for internal oversight.
The term “inspection” is uncommon in contemporary international political discourse, but it shows the CPC’s commitment to self-reform. This unique Chinese system of supervision, rooted in ancient traditions, serves as a potent instrument, akin to a metaphorical sword of Damocles.
Xi noted that the CPC’s inspections serve as an important tool for the country and the Party, and underscored that they differ from those practiced in ancient times when self-important inspectors wielded unlimited power.
China, a multi-ethnic nation, has long forged a sense of unity among its 56 ethnic groups. Xi has stressed the importance of fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and encouraged all ethnic groups to “unite closely like pomegranate seeds.”
Xi has called for the strengthening of the Chinese spirit, characterized by unwavering determination and confidence. He has emphasized the importance of firmly steering the course of China’s development and progress within its own control.
The results are clear. Chinese astronauts have successfully entered their own space station, and the country has unveiled its plans to land astronauts on the moon by 2030. The burgeoning new energy vehicle sector has also extended its reach globally. These achievements exemplify the indomitable national spirit that has persisted throughout China’s 5,000-year history.
BLAZING A NEW PATH
Xi’s worldview is prominently reflected in his proposition of the concept of building a community with a shared future for humanity. Introduced in 2013, this idea has gained broad international recognition and has been incorporated into documents of international organizations such as the United Nations.
The concept of a community with a shared future for humanity inherits the ideal of a “community of free individuals” from Marxism, and it deeply aligns with the over 2,000-year-old Chinese aspiration for an ideal society where “the common good is pursued for all.”
According to Xi, the Confucian idea of “Ping Tian Xia” does not mean conquering the world or ruling over it; instead, it means enabling the common people to escape poverty and live in peace with ample food and clothing.
British scholar Martin Jacques commented that while China seeks its own modernization, it is also providing opportunities to the world, especially developing countries.
As human society faces severe challenges of deficits in governance, trust, development and peace, Xi has called on the world to enhance solidarity and cooperation, drawing from the traditional wisdom of “acting in good faith and being friendly to others” and “fostering good neighborliness.”
With a history of thousands of years, “China will continue to influence the world, but it’ll do that from within its own borders” and “won’t try to control other countries,” said Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain’s 48 Group Club.
Xi has often referenced the concept of “harmony” from ancient Chinese philosophy when engaging with international guests.
In his view, competitive confrontation runs counter to the prevailing global trends of the era and is insufficient to tackle both domestic challenges and the pressing global issues the world is confronting.
When meeting a U.S. congressional delegation in October this year, Xi said the Chinese civilization has been developing uninterrupted for more than 5,000 years. It has all along striven to stay abreast with the times, learned from others in the spirit of inclusiveness, and adhered to the philosophy of peace that highlights cooperation and exchanges.
Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, China has made numerous efforts to promote peaceful settlement. “The more challenging the situation becomes, the greater the need to preserve space for peace. And as problems intensify, our commitment to pursuing dialogue must remain steadfast,” Xi has said.
In March, in response to Xi’s initiative, delegations from Saudi Arabia and Iran held talks in Beijing, reaching an agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and foreign missions.
It is worth noting that China’s cultural confidence is not “exceptionalism” or “isolationism.”
In 2015, Xi put forward humanity’s shared values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom — all of which contain the Chinese nation’s philosophy of benevolence, people orientation, integrity, righteousness, concordance and seeking common ground.
In 2023, Xi proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, which emphasizes inclusiveness and mutual learning over division and conflict. This initiative extends and enriches the age-old wisdom encapsulated in the Chinese saying, “The beauty of harmony lies in diversity.”
It is a strong rebuttal to notions such as the superiority of certain civilizations and the clash of civilizations.
Xi said that Chinese civilization features remarkable inclusiveness, hence why the “Thucydides trap” does not apply to China.
In France, he quoted the Chinese saying, “radish or cabbage, each to his own delight.” In Belgium, he mentioned that the Chinese people are fond of tea while the Belgians love beer; though tea and beer are different, they can both be enjoyed.
“If all civilizations can uphold inclusiveness, the so-called ‘clash of civilizations’ can be avoided and the harmony of civilizations will become reality,” Xi said.
He upheld the banner of common development in a world where trends of unilateralism, protectionism and bullying are on the rise. Metaphorically, he has extended a welcoming invitation to people from all countries to board the “express train” of China’s development.
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by Xi. This modern version of the ancient Silk Road aims to enhance global connectivity and promote common prosperity by fostering closer ties among countries.
Over the past decade, over three-quarters of countries across the world and over 30 international organizations have signed cooperation agreements under the BRI, generating nearly a trillion U.S. dollars in investments. BRI projects have helped 40 million people globally escape poverty.
Xi proposed the Global Development Initiative, which has also received widespread support. Over 70 countries have joined the “Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative” established on the platform of the United Nations.
Xi has a strong resolve to advance global green development. He pushed for China’s ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and set ambitious goals for China to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
This means China, as the world’s largest developing country, is striving to achieve the highest reduction in carbon intensity globally, reaching carbon peak and neutrality within the shortest time.
In the pursuit of modernization, China pushes for material and cultural-ethical advancement, fosters a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, and upholds peaceful development.
London-based long-time China specialist Keith Bennett noted that all these reflect China’s cultural traditions and the adaptation of Marxism to the Chinese context.
For centuries, much of humanity’s modernization experience has been derived from the West, and many believed that modernization equated to Westernization.
However, this “myth” is gradually being debunked. The escalating issues of wealth disparity, social division, and materialistic desires in Western countries expose the limitations of Western-style modernization, while China’s unique approach of integrating Marxism with its fine traditional culture offers humanity a new choice for achieving modernization.
“We always feel the West is superior. We were always told that to progress, we must be one of them. But we realize that this cannot be the case,” Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said in a video message to a forum in Guangzhou earlier this year. “We started looking at our own experience, our own history, and our own contributions of our forefathers.”
Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies in Washington, said China’s rise will not follow the path of the Western powers. Beijing cherishes and advocates for the diversity of world civilizations. It is not so much an anti-Western message as it is a non-Western message to those interested in lending an ear.
A report released by researchers from the University of Cambridge last year stated that 62 percent of citizens in developing countries have a positive view of China. This is the first time since the data collection began that China’s favorability among developing countries has surpassed that of the United States.
The Chinese nation, which once created a splendid civilization, suffered humiliation and misery for more than a century after 1840. Xi has expressed profound distress about this, stating, “This historical tragedy must never be repeated!”
Today, China is showcasing a grand vision where its 1.4 billion people are collectively advancing toward modernization. This signifies not only the aspirations of the Chinese people but also provides an alternative rebuttal to the “end of history” theory, with Xi standing as the leader of this momentous journey.
Over a century ago, Karl Marx proposed the advancement of humanity and the realization of human emancipation. The relay baton of history has been passed to the generation of Chinese Communists represented by Xi.
As he aptly expresses it in his words: “The best inheritance of history is to create new history; the greatest tribute to human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization.”
A once heavily polluted Serbian village has turned into a cleaner and more prosperous place to work and live. This story shows how Chinese investment raised the standards for green mining and transformed an old industrial area in the heart of Europe.
[{{Click here to watch the video}}->https://english.news.cn/20231012/47415d3cc1294ff6a78b3d781f8cdfda/c.html]
In an interview with Xinhua, Vice Commerce Minister Guo Tingting said BRI cooperation has delivered mutual benefits over the past decade, featuring deepened trade and investment cooperation, more abundant connectivity projects, and improved cooperation mechanisms.
“China’s super-large market has provided important development opportunities for BRI participating countries, which contributed nearly half of China’s total imports,” Guo said.
As the major trading partner of over 110 BRI countries, China saw its total goods trade with all BRI countries reach close to 2.9 trillion U.S. dollars in 2022. China’s direct investment in BRI partner countries topped 30 billion dollars last year, while BRI countries invested more than 20 billion dollars in China.
This strengthened cooperation has promoted the integration of industrial and supply chains and delivered more momentum to the construction of an open world economy, Guo said.
In terms of project cooperation, the past ten years witnessed an array of projects that have genuinely improved people’s lives, including the China-Laos Railway, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, and the introduction of agricultural technologies such as Juncao and hybrid rice to BRI countries.
“These cooperation projects have helped BRI countries improve infrastructure construction, promote connectivity, enhance people’s well-being, and strengthen their development capacity,” Guo said.
Demonstrating the efficiency of project construction, the actual turnover of Chinese contractors in BRI countries topped 100 billion U.S. dollars each year over the past decade.
Cooperation platforms and mechanisms have also been improved, Guo said. China has signed free trade agreements with 20 BRI countries, with the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement creating the world’s largest free trade area.
A total of 47 memorandums of investment and cooperation in green, digital and marine sectors were inked between China and BRI countries, and the number of countries participating in Silk Road e-commerce cooperation grew to 30.
A series of exhibitions, including the China International Import Expo and the China International Fair for Trade in Services, helped support businesses in seizing BRI opportunities.
{{BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE}}
Infrastructure construction is crucial to BRI cooperation. Guo said China’s construction contracts with BRI countries reached 2 trillion U.S. dollars in the past decade, and the actual turnover of Chinese contractors stood at 1.3 trillion dollars.
These projects covered a wide range of areas from transport to power and water conservancy, featured green development and emerging sectors, and helped improve people’s lives, Guo said, citing some landmark projects including the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, and the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway.
China also carried out more than 1,600 foreign aid projects in BRI countries, in the fields of education, health, environmental protection, and poverty reduction.
Looking forward, Guo said more efforts will be made to build more high-quality projects, improve infrastructure connectivity, encourage the integrated development of investment, construction and operation, and guide businesses to expand green and new-type infrastructure cooperation.
{{DEEPENING TRADE COOPERATION}}
China has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with 28 countries and regions, including 20 BRI countries, Guo said.
In the past ten years, China signed bilateral FTAs with the Republic of Korea, Georgia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, and upgraded FTA agreements with ASEAN, Chile and New Zealand. The RCEP agreement signed in Nov. 2020 took effect in June this year for all 15 members.
China will continue to expand the high-standard free trade area network, work actively towards joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, and push forward negotiations on more FTAs or agreement upgrades, Guo said.
The white paper, comprised of preamble, five chapters and a conclusion, presents the achievements of the BRI over the last 10 years, aiming to provide the international community with a better understanding of the value of the initiative, facilitate high-quality cooperation, and deliver benefits to more countries and peoples.
Since its launch in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative has been welcomed by the international community as both a public good and a cooperation platform. The following are the key takeaways from the white paper, including some of the highlights and major achievements of BRI cooperation over the past decade.
{{ULTIMATE GOAL}}
According to the white paper, the ultimate goal of the BRI is to help build a global community with a shared future. The BRI involves countries in different world regions, at different development stages, and with different cultures. It transcends differences in ideologies and social systems.
It enables different countries to share opportunities, realize common development and prosperity, and build a community of shared interests, responsibility and destiny characterized by mutual political trust, economic integration and cultural inclusiveness.
As a practical means of building a global community with a shared future, the BRI has brought new understanding, inspired the world’s imagination, and contributed new ideas and new approaches to international exchanges.
{{PRINCIPLES, CONCEPTS, OBJECTIVES, VISION}}
The BRI was founded on the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. It advocates win-win cooperation in pursuit of shared interests and the greater good. It emphasizes that all countries are equal participants, contributors and beneficiaries, and encourages economic integration, interconnected development and the sharing of achievements.
The BRI is committed to the concept of open, green and clean cooperation on inclusive and sustainable development. It has zero tolerance for corruption, and promotes steady and high-quality growth.
It aims for high standards and sustainability, and to improve lives by raising cooperation standards, investment effectiveness, supply quality and development resilience, delivering real and substantive results for all participants.
The BRI envisions a path to global well-being. As an initiative working for progress, cooperation and inclusiveness, it pursues development, promotes win-win outcomes and inspires hope. It aims to deepen understanding and trust, strengthen comprehensive exchanges, and ultimately achieve common development and shared prosperity.
{{MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER LAST DECADE}}
BRI partners — By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations across five continents, yielding a number of signature projects and small-scale yet impactful projects.
High-level forums — China has hosted the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation twice, providing an important platform for participating countries and international organizations to expand exchanges, increase mutual trust and strengthen ties. China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation from Oct. 17 to 18 in Beijing.
Infrastructure connectivity — substantial progress is being made in the construction of six economic corridors: the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor, the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor. And in Africa, railways such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway are now operational and have become important drivers of in-depth development in East Africa and across the entire continent.
Maritime connectivity — The Maritime Silk Road network has continued to expand. By the end of June 2023, it had reached 117 ports in 43 countries, and more than 300 well-known Chinese and international shipping companies, port enterprises and think tanks, among other organizations, have joined the “Silk Road Maritime” association.
Air connectivity — China has signed bilateral air transport agreements with 104 BRI partner countries and opened direct flight routes with 57 partner countries to facilitate cross-border transport.
International inter-modality transport — The China-Europe Railway Express now reaches more than 200 cities in 25 European countries. By the end of June 2023, the cumulative volume of the China-Europe Railway Express had exceeded 74,000 trips, transporting nearly 7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) and over 50,000 types of goods in 53 categories, including automobiles, mechanical equipment and electronic products, with a total value of more than 300 billion U.S. dollars. Rail-sea freight train routes on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor cover 18 provinces and equivalent administrative units in central and western China, transporting goods to more than 300 ports in over 100 countries.
Trade and investment — From 2013 to 2022, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and BRI partner countries was 19.1 trillion U.S. dollars, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent. Cumulative two-way investment between China and partner countries came in at 380 billion U.S. dollars during the period, including some 240 billion U.S. dollars from China. By the end of August 2023, more than 80 countries and international organizations had subscribed to the Initiative on Promoting Unimpeded Trade Cooperation Along the Belt and Road, which was proposed by China. And China had signed 21 free trade agreements with 28 countries and regions.
Industrial cooperation — By the end of June 2023, China had signed agreements on industrial capacity cooperation with more than 40 countries. These countries have promoted cooperation on industrial capacity, expanded cooperation in traditional industries such as steel, non-ferrous metals, building materials, automobiles, engineering machinery, agriculture, and resources and energy, and explored cooperation in emerging industries such as the digital economy, new energy vehicles, 5G, and nuclear energy and technology.
Financial cooperation — By the end of June 2023, a total of 13 Chinese-funded banks had established 145 first-tier offices and branches in 50 BRI partner countries, some 17.7 million businesses in 131 partner countries had opened UnionPay banking services, and 74 partner countries had opened UnionPay mobile payment services. China has signed bilateral currency-swap agreements with 20 partner countries and established renminbi (RMB) clearing arrangements in 17 partner countries. China has funded the establishment of the Silk Road Fund (SRF) and opened the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with other participating countries. By the end of June 2023, the SRF had signed agreements on 75 projects with committed investment of about 22 billion U.S. dollars, there were 106 AIIB members, and the bank had approved 227 projects with a total investment of 43.6 billion U.S. dollars.
Culture and tourism cooperation — By the end of June 2023, China had signed cultural and tourism cooperation documents with 144 BRI partner countries.
Green development — China has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Environment Programme on building a green Belt and Road for 2017-2022, reached environmental cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries and international organizations, launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development together with 31 countries, and formed the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition with more than 150 partners from 40-plus countries.
Scientific and technological innovation — By the end of June 2023, China had signed intergovernmental agreements on scientific and technological cooperation with more than 80 BRI partner countries. Since 2013, China has hosted more than 10,000 young scientists from partner countries to carry out short-term research and exchanges in China, and trained more than 16,000 technicians and management professionals for partner countries. China has established nine cross-border technology transfer platforms targeting ASEAN, South Asia, the Arab states, Africa, Latin America and other regions since 2013, assisted 22 African countries in building 23 agricultural technology demonstration centers, and established over 50 joint BRI laboratories in areas such as agriculture, new energy and health.
The Digital Silk Road — By the end of 2022, China had signed MoUs on the construction of the Digital Silk Road with 17 countries, on e-commerce cooperation with 30 countries, and on closer digital economy investment cooperation with 18 countries and regions.
Poverty reduction — China has signed more than 100 agricultural and fishery cooperation documents with almost 90 BRI countries and international organizations. It has dispatched more than 2,000 agricultural experts and technicians to over 70 countries and regions, and introduced more than 1,500 agricultural technologies and crops such as Juncao grass and hybrid rice to many of these countries. It has aided rural poverty reduction in Asia, Africa, the South Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, developing modern agriculture and helping increase farming incomes.
Boosting employment — In the process of BRI cooperation, China has helped participating countries construct industrial parks and provided guidance for Chinese enterprises to create jobs for locals through high-level industrial cooperation. A McKinsey survey has revealed that Chinese firms in Africa recruit 89 percent of their employees locally, effectively contributing to local employment. The World Bank has estimated that by 2030, BRI-related investment could lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty.
