CHINA is a peace loving country, an international co-operator and a great global responsible power.
By launching mega Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the aim of visionary Chinese President Xi Jinping was shared prosperity and to offer the world to be part of China’ fortune.
Regardless of a few countries which cast aspersions, more than one hundred and forty states and many international organizations have become part of the BRI, which clearly indicates that it is on the path of success and will go a long way in changing the living standards, especially those in the developing world.
Representatives of nine Asian countries at a webinar on Tuesday termed the BRI beneficial for the member states saying the Asian Century needed BRI to progress.
The BRI certainly has provided an alternative development model to the developing countries for promoting human development which before it were dependent on the West and its institutions.
BRI economies account for one-third of global GDP and trade, and close to two-thirds of world population.
For some BRI countries, poverty ratios are high – 25 percent in Kenya, 23 percent in Uzbekistan and Djibouti, and 21 percent in Laos.
If projects launched or envisaged to be launched under the initiative are successful, they stand to benefit a large number of poor people and huge swaths of the world’s economies, with large positive spill-over effects on global welfare.
With focus on connectivity projects, the BRI will really help boosting international commerce, particularly for countries that have been unable to fully integrate in the world economy.
This has also enabled technology transfer between China and partner countries.
CPEC, the flagship project of BRI, envisages establishment of several SEZs in different parts of Pakistan and their operationalization will help the country bolster its exports and address its longstanding economic woes.
Hence, this is an initiative which will change the fortunes of developing and poor countries.
The Chinese leadership really deserves applause for coming up with this development initiative that will change the whole economic landscape especially of the developing countries.
It is also for the BRI member countries to collectively and in an instutionalized manner counter the anti-BRI propaganda emanating from India and the Western countries.
