The “China Story” this year discussed the prospects of the BRI for global infrastructure and sustainable development

 

The annual "China Story" reconvened on April 11 at the U.N. headquarter in New York. The theme of the forum this year, organized by the China Energy Fund Committee (CEFC), is "Infrastructure for Sustainable Development", Focused on the "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI), the proceedings discussed the prospects of the BRI for global infrastructure and sustainable development.

 

The forum was divided into two parts: forum presentations and high-level panel discussion. Speakers of the first part included Dr. Patrick Ho, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of CEFC, Liu Qiang, Secretary General of Global Think Tank Forum on Energy Security hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Nie Lei, Dean of School of Traffic and Transportation of Beijing Jiaotong University. Secretary-General of the United Nations Wu Hongbo, China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Liu Jieyi, H.E. Mr. Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava, President of the Economic and Social Council and the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of Tajikistan, the Czech Republic, Afghanistan and other countries also attended the high-level panel discussion and delivered speeches.

 

Dr. Patrick Ho, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of CEFC

Ho gave a lecture on “‘Belt and Road’ Initiative: Globalization 2.0 -- New Global Sustainable Development Model”. He stressed at the forum that as globalization leads to increased social inequality, the collapse of social cohesion and natural disasters, the world has become increasingly aware that globalization 1.0 is not a perfect development model. At present, the world is urgently looking for a new development model that can bring globalization 1.0 into phase 2.0, an inclusive, far-sighted, comprehensive sustainable development model that can respond to the challenges of the 21st century.

 

Liu Qiang, Secretary General of Global Think Tank Forum on Energy Security hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (left); Nie Lei, Dean of School of Traffic and Transportation of Beijing Jiaotong University (right)

Dr. Patrick Ho said that the BRI is the answer we need. The BRI is an inclusive strategic conception. It helps communities create demand and working opportunities through the development of national infrastructure, to maintain social equity and advocate environmental responsibility while promoting economic growth and prosperity. This initiative embodies a new model of global sustainable development, that is, globalization 2.0.

 

Nie Lei, Dean of School of Traffic and Transportation of Beijing Jiaotong University, introduced China's experience in infrastructure development over the past 30 years, especially in transportation, from the perspective of the development of transportation systems. Liu Qiang, Secretary General of Global Think Tank Forum on Energy Security hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, introduced the financing experience of China's infrastructure construction, proposing the "China’s Proposal" to countries lacking of funds. 

 

At the high-level panel discussion, Secretary-General of the United Nations Wu Hongbo said that the BRI covers 60% of the global population, as well as one-third of the world's GDP and trade. It has a great potential to further advance the United Nations 2030 sustainable development agenda. He said that the initiative will be able to provide much support for the United Nations sustainable development goals through the promotion of economic activity, trade, employment, income and infrastructure construction, so as to address issues such as poverty, energy and water use, industrialization, new urban construction, and even global peace and security and cooperation. 

 

Wu Hongbo, Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered his speech on the “Belt and Road” Initiative high-level panel discussion

 

China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Liu Jieyi said that when BRI was proposed in 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China's development is carried out under the framework of an international community and stressed China’s determination to provide more public goods to the international community. The idea behind the BRI is to share China's development opportunities with the world to achieve common prosperity. At the same time, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets an overall framework for global economic development and cooperation. Both are to strengthen global cooperation and promote common development.

 

H.E. Mr. Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava, President of the Economic and Social Council believed that the BRI established a new paradigm of development to create a new regional and even global economic platform. He said that they are happy to see the ancient silk road develop into a modern economic zone, from East Asia, through Central Asia, to West Asia and Europe, then to Africa, to bring cooperation and prosperity across the globe. 

The “Belt and Road” Initiative high-level panel discussion and luncheon were hosted at the conference room of United Nations Headquarters

Representatives from United Nations member states, related departments, international financial institutions, private sectors, civil societies and universities attended the forum and high-level panel discussion, respectively.

 

As an NGO enjoying Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, CEFC has been holding the "China Story" forum since 2013, addressing the world's concerns regarding China. Today, the "China Story" thematic forum series has become one of the signature activities of CEFC, and is widely acclaimed at the United Nations.