Initiative seen as tool to promote balance

The Belt and Road Initiative can be an important conduit for a new globalization that promotes balanced development, a top adviser in the field said.

"The initiative not only concerns roads and infrastructure but is about development," said Zhao Baige, chairwoman of the advisory committee of the Belt and Road Initiative International Think Tank under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"It emphasizes not only business but also humans. It can help solve the challenges globalization is facing, such as uneven development and growing gaps between rich and poor," said Zhao, who also served as vice-chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the 12th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, from 2014 to 2018.

Globalization not only belongs to superpowers and big countries but should belong to every country, and people in all countries should benefit from it, she said.

Since the initiative was proposed about six years ago, consensus has been reached among more people on the importance of peaceful and more equal development, Zhao said. "I feel very happy that an increasing number of people have recognized the BRI as an important international initiative and are participating in it."

Through the initiative, Chinese businesses, including State-owned and private enterprises, have invested in other countries, bringing their expertise, technologies and products to the world, and have helped improve the livelihoods of people in Africa, Southeast Asia and elsewhere, Zhao said.

"The initiative offers a great opportunity for Chinese businesspeople to share their technology and resources with international society," she said. "I hope it will serve as an important platform that helps bring technology and businesspeople and resources together to serve the whole world."

Zhao, who is also former vice-chair of the Red Cross Society of China, said that with the implementation of the BRI, China has intensified its international humanitarian assistance, including offering disaster relief and medical assistance to relevant countries and regions, which has contributed to enhanced connectivity between different nations.

"Many countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative tend to suffer natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods or drought. War and conflict continue to exist in some countries, while others are short of doctors and medicine, and they all need various humanitarian assistance," she said.

Zhao said the Chinese government, the Red Cross Society of China and other Chinese NGOs have done a lot of work in delivering humanitarian assistance to people in need.

For example, the Chinese Red Cross has established an emergency rescue center in Gwadar, Pakistan, to help improve disaster relief and emergency rescue. A number of impoverished patients with cataracts in Uzbekistan have regained their eyesight after free surgeries provided by Chinese doctors in a program organized by Research and Development International, a think tank established by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

In addition, some Chinese enterprises have carried out various programs in countries involved in the BRI, such as conducting agricultural and employment assistance programs to benefit local people.

"The Red Cross Society of China is helping train a great number of humanitarian staff, such as medical volunteers, for many countries, so that they can play a more important role in the future development of the Belt and Road Initiative," Zhao said.

Q&A with Zhao Baige

Would you please share with us your thoughts after attending the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation?

As I've mentioned, we have to think very carefully about the whole world. I think the new globalization will become the great trend whether you like it or not. The whole world will definitely go in the right direction.

The new globalization means balanced development, so the benefits will come to every country and everybody. This is the first point I want to mention. The second is about the fourth industrial revolution. I think it will bring humans to a new stage and will change people's lives, change our attitudes and change the world. I think after the Belt and Road forum, we should bring the three elements together - new globalization, the fourth industrial revolution and the Belt and Road Initiative, as that's the right way.