Opinion
A Bold Vision
Reactions to President Xi’s speech at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation
By Sudeshna Sarkar  ·  2017-05-14  ·   Source: | Web Exclusive

Editor's Note: The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation began in Beijing on May 14. President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech. What’s the view of commentators on Xi’s speech?

Suman Bery, former Chief Economist at Shell and current non-resident fellow of Bruegel, a Brussels-based European think tank

I had not understood the scale of ambition, achievement and geographic expanse of the Belt and Road Initiative before I am physically present in China here today. I have learned a lot from President Xi Jinping’s speech. It is a very bold and unusual vision that attempts to break new ground in the relationship between states. There is no major differentiation between developed and developing countries, which is the way of the old world order.

Also, the Belt and Road means a lot of infrastructure projects and that can’t be undertaken without a great deal of finance. President Xi mentioned the principle of non-interference. The conditions for financing will be led by financiers, not governments.

There is a point of tension. How do you ensure there is commitment to certain standards and protocols? That is what China will learn from development of others, particularly from the European heartland.

Liu Xin, Host of CGTN’s talk show The Point

It was a very calm speech in which President Xi Jinping explained what China has been doing to achieve the goals of the Belt and Road Initiative. When you are doing something that is on such a massive scale, people will have questions and you will have to answer them. He addressed the concerns of the leaders and participants. He reassured them that what China wants with this initiative is to develop the economy of the countries involved, it is not seeking hegemony.

Mirzokhid Rakhimov, head of contemporary history and international studies with the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan

President Xi Jinping’s speech was very comprehensive. He outlined the five priorities and mentioned what has been done so far. Uzbekistan has several cooperation projects with China in transport, energy and technology.

He also outlined the issues of stability and peace which are crucial for any reforms. There are challenges in many parts of the world in this aspect. But construction, manufacturing and communication will contribute to peace and stability.

Ikenna Emewu, Kenyan journalist with The Star daily in Nairobi

President Xi Jinping emphasized in his speech that the Belt and Road [Initiative] is applicable to the whole world--Asia, Europe and Africa. I regard his narrative as building a bridge between the past and the present and future and going beyond the economy. It focuses on world peace.

The ancient Silk Road, he pointed out, was born of and for peace and prosperity. It promoted commerce, technology and people-to-people exchanges. But the old Silk Road was destroyed by war and crises. The new Belt and Road is trying to revive peace and stability, with information communication technology and faster modes of transport as its additional tools.

Nigeria is one of the biggest economies in Africa and a transport hub. It is also a party to the Belt and Road cooperation. It hasn’t signed an official document but is still a party because it is interested.

Copyedited by Dominic James Madar

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