IN the middle of many cordial handshakes, friendly high-fives, and sometimes what even seemed like group hugs, the People’s Republic of China in its picturesque capital Beijing unveiled the third session of the Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation yesterday (Tuesday, 17th October). With over 130 nations and 30 international organizations in attendance, this year’s forum could have changed its heavy-sounding title of ‘High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity’ to being called the Oscars of Global Togetherness!
While to many the forum and its coming together seemed like yet another culmination of leaders and policymakers just for optics, especially after BRICS, G20, and UNGA meetings within the last few weeks, the BRF, in short, proved otherwise. Filled with lively discussions on sustainable development to a deep dive into the world of digital economies, it seemed the forum was on a mission to leave no stone unturned. Trade negotiations, anti-corruption charades, and people-to-people mingling continue to keep the forum abuzz with activity beyond its inaugural day.
While the session is still ongoing in real-time and the analysis is based just on day 1, those in attendance i.e. those that make up the guest list include a long list of important, influential people… when I say the list is long, it would not be
wrong to make a comparison to a library catalog. While the list may be elaborate, it is an important one and those that made it to the forum signify just how important this Beijing meeting is for the entire globe. What makes this specific meeting and the outcomes of it even more significant is no secret: while the world is tangled in a web of global geopolitics, the BRF stands as a lighthouse of stability, a promise of not a better tomorrow but that of today!
While yesterday did and today will further unveil the third edition of the BRF, a celebration of collaborative Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, it also commemorates 10 successful years of the BRI’s grand idea. The timing could not be more ideal for those attending and those hosting. The BRI is what many call the world’s most ambitious construction project. Encompassing land, sea, air, and even cyberspace routes, the project is proving to be a marvel in recent human history. Despite the curveball that was COVID-19, the BRI has returned with a vengeance, showcasing resilience and adaptability.
The Belt and Road Initiative propels China to become the world’s MVP (Most Valuable Partner). It’s not just about erecting physical infrastructure; it’s about pitching a shared future. In this ongoing endeavour, the world bears witness to the transformative power of global collaboration. At the end of the day the world is changing and changing fast. With these changes, there will appear a different world order. Will China lead that order or not is a question that is multifaceted but holds an answer that is straightforward. While I don’t intend to answer that question in this article, I do mean to ask another; who wouldn’t want to be part of this epic journey that the People’s Republic of China is on?
—The writer is contributing for national press, based in Islamabad.
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