UK sees China leading on globalization

China has a great opportunity to take the lead on advocating for globalization and greater openness during a time of uncertainty in the West, says Richard Graham, a British MP and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary China Group.

"The danger of 2017 is the world closes in on itself. The question is what can be done to maintain globalization and retract protectionism," says Graham. So China's role is particularly important because of the size of its economy and her ambitions overseas."

Graham was speaking to China Daily ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, which will be attended by China's President Xi Jinping.

The top-level Chinese presence at Davos comes at a time when China is advocating in favor of globalization. Xi led a forum of Asia Pacific leaders in Peru in November that vowed to fight protectionism, just days after Donald Trump won the US election after pledging to pull out of the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership.

Graham says China has a chance to spearhead growth through large umbrella projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative in order to enhance trade and investment between Asia and Europe through infrastructure spending.

"That benefits wide parts of the world, and influences economic expansion," says Graham, adding that the UK can become an important partner for China on the Belt and Road Initiative and on other projects in third countries.

The UK can contribute valuable cultural understanding in parts of Africa and the Commonwealth, he said. The UK's expertise in project management, planning and design could also be useful in infrastructure projects in Belt and Road countries.

Graham said the two sides discussed collaboration on infrastructure projects in Afghanistan when Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi met Prime Minister Theresa May in London in December.

The British government has announced it will invest up to $50 million in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank for a fund to help the Belt and Road countries to prepare infrastructure programs.

This month saw another milestone with the launch of a new Chinese rail freight service along the Belt and Road route.

Graham says China has in recent years shown increased international leadership due to its growing ambitions and confidence. Xi's attendance at Davos is "another symbolic step forward in China's presence on the global stage".

"China's presence on the global stage has been accelerating considerably, partly as a result of the growth in confidence, continued economic success and very stable political situation, against a situation in the West where we've had a major financial crisis, from which many countries are still recovering," he says.

The 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath have led to some in the West to question the benefits of globalization, leading to support for protectionism. But in China outward expansion and domestic market liberalization momentum are continuing, Graham says.

"I think there are opportunities for nations like the UK who believe in free trade and openness to engage more and more with China," he says, referring to proposals for a UK China Free Trade Agreement raised by British Chancellor Philip Hammond in July.

Graham says the UK still sees bilateral collaboration between China and the US as very important, especially to help multinational organizations such as the UN Security Council become more effective. "We really want to try to work constructively with both of our partners."