The Belt and Road Initiative A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future.docx

TheBeltandRoadInitiative:AKeyPillaroftheGlobalCommunityofSharedFutureChina'sStateCouncilInformationOfficeonTuesdayreleasedawhitepapertitled,TheBeltandRoadInitiative:AKeyPillaroftheGlobalCommunityofSharedFuture."TheBeltandRoadInitiative:AKeyPillaroftheGlobalCommunityofSharedFutureTheStateCouncilInformationOfficeofthePeople,sRepublicofChinaOctober2023ContentsPreambleI.ProposedbyChinabutBelongingtotheWholeWorldILPavingtheWayTowardsSharedDevelopmentandProsperityIILPromotingAll-RoundConnectivityinMultipleFieldsIV. InjectingPositiveEnergyintoWorldPeaceandDevelopmentV. PursuingSteadyandSustainedProgressinHigh-QualityBRICooperationConclusionPreambleOvertwomillenniaago,inspiredbyasincerewishforfriendship,ourancestorstravelledacrossgrasslandsanddesertstocreatealandSilkRoadconnectingAsia,EuropeandAfrica,leadingtheworldintoaneraofextensiveculturalexchanges.Morethan1,000yearsago,ourancestorssetsailandbravedthewavestoopenamaritimeSilkRoadlinkingtheEastandtheWest,beginninganewphaseofclosercommunicationamongpeoples.Spanningthousandsofmilesandyears,theancientsilkrouteswerenotonlyroutesfortradebutalsoroadsforculturalexchanges.Theymadeagreatcontributiontohumanprogress.Inthe1980s,theUnitedNationsandsomecountriesbegantoenvisagetheEurasianLandBridge,theSilkRoadInitiative,andotherplans,reflectingacommonwishtoengageincommunicationandcooperation.InMarch2013,PresidentXiJinpingproposedthevisionofaglobalcommunityofsharedfuture;inSeptemberandOctoberthatyear,heraisedtheinitiativesofjoiningwithotherstobuildaSilkRoad氏OnOmiCBeltanda21stCenturyMaritimeSilkRoad(BeltandRoadInitiative,orBRI).TheBeltandRoadInitiativeisacreativedevelopmentthattakesonandcarriesforwardthespiritoftheancientsilkroutes-twoofthegreatachievementsinhumanhistoryandcivilization.ItenrichestheancientspiritwiththeZeitgeistandcultureofthenewera,andprovidesaplatformforbuildingaglobalcommunityofsharedfuture.Sinceitslaunch10yearsago,thankstothecombinedeffortsofallparties,cooperationundertheBRIframeworkhasexpandedbeyondthebordersofChinatobecomeaninternationaleffort.Ithasevolvedfromideasintoactions,fromavisionintoreality,andfromageneralframeworkintoconcreteprojects.Ithasbeenwelcomedbytheinternationalcommunitybothasapublicgoodandacooperationplatform,andhasachievedsolidresults.Overthepastdecade,BRIcooperationhasdeliveredrealgainstoparticipatingcountries.Ithascontributedtothesounddevelopmentofeconomicglobalizationandhelpedtoresolveglobaldevelopmentchallengesandimprovetheglobalgovernancesystem.Ithasalsoopenedupanewpathforallhumanitytorealizemodernization,andensuredthattheeffortsofbuildingaglobalcommunityofsharedfuturearedeliveringrealresults.TheChinesegovernmentispublishingthiswhitepapertopresenttheachievementsoftheBRIduringthepast10years.Itwillgivetheinternationalcommunityabetterunderstandingofthevalueoftheinitiative,facilitatehigh-qualitycooperationunderit,andultimatelydeliverbenefitstomorecountriesandpeoples.1.ProposedbyChinabutBelongingtotheWholeWorldTheworldtodayisgoingthroughprofoundchangeonascaleunseeninacentury.Problemsandchallengescontinuetothreatentheprogressofhumancivilization.Inresponsetoachangingglobalsituationandtheexpectationsoftheinternationalcommunity,andwiththefutureandoverallinterestsofhumanityinmind,ChinaproposedtheBeltandRoadInitiative(BRI).CommittedtotheSilkRoadspirit,agreatheritageofhumancivilization,theBRIconnectsthepast,thepresent,andthefuture.ThisinitiativewaslaunchedbyChina,butitbelongstotheworldandbenefitsthewholeofhumanity.1. Rootedinhistory,theBRIcarriesforwardtheSilkRoadspiritAtaround140BCduringChina,sHanDynasty,ZhangQian,aroyalemissary,madeajourneytotheWestfromChang,an(present-dayXi,aninShaanxiProvince),openinganoverlandroutelinkingtheEastandtheWest.Centurieslater,intheyearsoftheTang,SongandYuandynasties,silkroutesboomedbothoverlandandatsea,facilitatingtradebetweentheEastandtheWest.Intheearly15thcentury,ZhengHe,thefamousChinesenavigatoroftheMingDynasty,madesevenvoyagestotheWesternSeas,whichboostedtradealongthemaritimesilkroutes.Forthousandsofyearstheancientsilkroutesservedasmajorarteriesofinteraction,spanningthevalleysoftheNile,theTigrisandEuphrates,theIndusandGanges,andtheYellowandYangtzerivers.TheyconnectedthebirthplacesoftheEgyptian,Babylonian,IndianandChinesecivilizations,thelandsofthebelieversofBuddhism,ChristianityandIslam,andthehomesofpeoplesofdifferentnationalitiesandraces.TheseroutesincreasedconnectivityamongcountriesontheEurasiancontinent,facilitatedexchangesandmutuallearningbetweenEasternandWesterncivilizations,boostedregionaldevelopmentandprosperity,andshapedtheSilkRoadspiritcharacterizedbypeaceandcooperation,opennessandinclusiveness,mutuallearningandmutualbenefit.SymbolizingcommunicationandcooperationbetweentheEastandtheWest,themillennia-oldsilkroutesdemonstratedthatbyupholdingsolidarityandmutualtrust,equalityandmutualbenefit,inclusivenessandmutuallearning,andwin-wincooperation,countriesofdifferentethnicgroups,beliefsandculturalbackgroundscouldsharepeaceandachievedevelopmenttogether.TheSilkRoadspiritisconsistentwiththeidealof"allStatesjoiningtogetherinharmonyandpeace,9longupheldbytheChinesenation,withtheChinesepeople,sprinciplesofamity,goodneighborlinessand“helpingotherstosucceedwhileseekingourownsuccess”,andwiththecallofthetimesforpeace,developmentandwin-wincooperation.TheCommunistPartyofChinaisamajorpoliticalpartywithaglobalvision,andChinaisamajorcountrypursuingpeacefuldevelopment.TheBRI,whichcarriesforwardtheSilkRoadspiritinthenewera,evokesthepleasantmemoriesofthepastandhasfiredmanycountries9enthusiasmforconnectivity.TheBRIpaysrespecttohistoryandtriestorecreatethebustlingscenesofuntiringenvoysandbusinessmenoverlandandcountlessshipscallingatportsalongtheancientsilkroutes.ItisalsonavigatingawaytothefuturebydrawingwisdomandstrengthfromtheancientsilkroutesandtheSilkRoadspirit.Enlightenedbyhistory,wewillcontinuetomoveforwardandintegratetheChineseDreamwiththeworld,sdreams,inordertorealizetheaspirationofallpeoplesforexchangesbetweencivilizations,peaceandtranquility,commondevelopment,andbetterlives.2. Inresponsetoreality,theBRIresolvesproblemsindevelopmentDevelopmentholdsthemasterkeytosolvingallproblems.Economicglobalizationhasgivenstrongmomentumtotheworldeconomy.Over500yearsago,aftertheancientsilkrouteshadbeeninterruptedformorethanahalfcentury,theAgeofDiscoveryarrived,fundamentallychangingthecourseofhumansociety.Sincetheadventofmoderntimes,technologicalrevolutionsanddevelopmentoftheproductiveforceshavemadeeconomicglobalizationasurginghistoricaltrend.Inparticular,sincethe1990s,therapidadvanceofeconomicglobalizationhasgreatlyfacilitatedtrade,investment,flowsofpeople,andtechnologicalprogress,makinganimportantcontributiontotheprogressofhumansociety.However,theeconomicglobalizationdominatedbyafewcountrieshasnotcontributedtothecommondevelopmentthatdeliversbenefitstoall.Instead,ithaswidenedthewealthgapbetweenrichandpoor,betweendevelopedanddevelopingcountries,andwithindevelopedcountries.Manydevelopingcountrieshavebenefitedlittlefromeconomicglobalizationandevenlosttheircapacityforindependentdevelopment,makingithardforthemtoaccessthetrackofmodernization.Certaincountrieshavepracticedunilateralism,protectionismandhegemonism,hamperingeconomicglobalizationandthreateningaglobaleconomicrecession.Itisimperativetoaddresssuchglobalproblemsassluggisheconomicgrowth,shortcomingsineconomicgovernance,andimbalancedeconomicdevelopment.Itisnolongeracceptablethatonlyafewcountriesdominateworldeconomicdevelopment,controleconomicrules,andenjoydevelopmentfruits.TheBRItargetsdevelopmentnotonlyforChinabutfortheworldatlarge.Economicglobalizationremainsanirreversibletrend.Itisunthinkableforcountriestoreturntoastateofseclusionorisolation.However,economicglobalizationmustundergoadjustmentsinbothformandsubstance.Itshouldbemademoreopen,inclusive,balancedandbeneficialtoall.Chinahasnotonlybenefitedfromeconomicglobalizationbutalsocontributedtoit.Asanactiveparticipantineconomicglobalization,Chinahasachievedrapideconomicgrowththroughpositiveinteractionswiththerestoftheworldandexploredauniquepathtowardsmodernization,expandingtheoptionsforotherdevelopingcountriestoachievemodernization.China,srapideconomicgrowthandsteadyprogressinreformandopeninguphasprovidedastrongdrivingforceforglobaleconomicstabilityandgrowthaswellasanopenworldeconomy.Chinahasbeenafirmadvocateanddefenderofeconomicglobalization.TheBRIdovetailswiththeUN2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentinconcept,measuresandgoals.AmajorsteptakenbyChina,theBRIaimstopromotehigher-qualitydevelopmentthroughhigher-standardopeningup,andshareChina,sdevelopmentopportunitieswiththerestoftheworld.TheBRIisalsoaChinesesolutiontoglobaldevelopmentissues,whichaimstoadvancemodernizationinparticipatingcountriesintandem,makeeconomicglobalizationmoredynamic,inclusiveandsustainable,andensurethatmoreofthefruitswillbesharedmoreequitablybypeopleacrosstheworld.3. Orientedtowardsthefuture,theBRIcreatesabetterworldToday,theworldismovingeverclosertowardsgreatermultipolarity,economicglobalization,andculturaldiversity,andbecomingincreasinglyinformation-orientatedintheprocess.Countriesaremorefrequentlyconnectedandcloselyinterdependentthanatanytimeinthepast.Itisincreasinglyclearthathumanityisacommunityofsharedfutureinwhicheveryone,sinterestsareinseparablyentwined.However,agrowingdeficitinpeace,development,securityandgovernance,togetherwithinterwindingconventionalandnon-conventionalsecurityissuessuchasregionalconflicts,armsraces,foodsecurity,terrorism,cyber-attacks,climatechange,energycrises,majorinfectiousdiseases,andartificialintelligenceproblems,posesagravethreattothebeautifulplanetonwhichallhumanslive.Inthefaceofemergingglobaldifficultiesandchallenges,humansocietyneedsnewideas,newconcepts,andamorejust,equitable,balanced,resilientandeffectiveglobalgovernancesystem.Whatkindofworldtobuildandwhichwaytotaketocreateabrighterfutureareissuesthathaveabearingoneverycountryandeveryperson.Wemustrespondtothechallengespresentedbythetimesandmaketherighthistoricchoice.Asamajordevelopingcountrythatmeetsitsresponsibilities,Chinakeepsinmindthefutureandthecommoninterestsofhumanity.Chinahasthereforeproposedbuildingaglobalcommunityofsharedfuture,withthegoalofcreatinganopen,inclusive,cleanandbeautifulworldthatenjoyslastingpeace,universalsecurityandcommonprosperity,chartingabrightfutureforhumandevelopment.TheultimategoaloftheBRIistohelpbuildaglobalcommunityofsharedfuture.Asanimportantpublicgoodforimprovingglobalgovernance,theinitiativeprovidesaplatformforturningthevisionintoreality.TheBRIinvolvescountriesindifferentregions,atdifferentdevelopmentstages,andwithdifferentcultures.Ittranscendsdifferencesinideologiesandsocialsystems.Itenablesdifferentcountriestoshareopportunities,realizecommondevelopmentandprosperity,andbuildacommunityofsharedinterests,responsibilityanddestinycharacterizedbymutualpoliticaltrust,economicintegrationandculturalinclusiveness.AsapracticalmeansOfbuildingaglobalcommunityofsharedfuture,theBRIhascreatednewunderstandingandinspiredtheimaginationoftheworld,andcontributednewideasandnewapproachestointernationalexchanges.Itwillproduceafairerandmoreequitableglobalgovernancesystem,andtakehumanitytoabetterfuture.ILPavingtheWayTowardsSharedDevelopmentandProsperityTheBRIisinalignmentwiththeconceptofaglobalcommunityofsharedfuture.Itpromotesandputsintoactionideasthatarerelevanttothepresentera,theworld,development,security,openness,cooperation,civilization,andgovernance.Itprovidesnotonlyaconceptualframeworkbutalsoapracticalroadmapforallnationstoachieveshareddevelopmentandprosperity.1. Principles:extensiveconsultation,jointcontribution,andsharedbenefitsTheBRIisfoundedontheprinciplesofextensiveconsultation,jointcontribution,andsharedbenefits.Itadvocateswin-wincooperationinpursuitofthegreatergoodandsharedinterests.Itemphasizesthatallcountriesareequalparticipants,contributorsandbeneficiaries,andencourageseconomicintegration,interconnecteddevelopment,andthesharingofachievements.TheprincipleofextensiveconsultationsignifiesthattheBRIisnotasoloendeavorbyChina,butacollaborativeeffortinvolvingallstakeholders.Thisprinciplepromotesandactivatesauthenticmultilateralism,encouragingcollectivedecision-makingwhilefullyrespectingthevaryinglevelsofdevelopment,economicstructures,legalsystems,andculturaltraditionsofdifferentnations.Itemphasizesequalparticipation,effectivecommunication,collectivewisdom,freedomfromanypoliticaloreconomicpreconditions,andvoluntaryengagementtofostermaximumconsensus.Irrespectiveofsize,strengthandwealth,allcountriesparticipateonanequalfootingandcanprovideopinionsandproposalsinbilateralandmultilateralcooperation.Underthisprinciple,economiesatdifferentstagesofdevelopmentwillreinforcebilateralormultilateralcommunication,jointlyidentifyandestablishinnovativecooperationmechanisms,andprovideaplatformfordialogue,cooperationandparticipationinglobalgovernance.TheprincipleofjointcontributionhighlightsthattheBRIisnotoneofChina,sinternationalaidprogramsorgeopoliticaltool,butacollaborativeeffortforshareddevelopment.Itaimstoalignwithexistingregionalmechanismsratherthanbecomingtheirsubstituteandleveragecomplementarystrengths.Thisprincipleemphasizestheparticipationofallpartiesinvolved,substantialcoordinationwiththedevelopmentstrategiesofrelevantcountriesandregions,andtheidentificationandutilizationoftheirrespectivedevelopmentpotentialandcomparativestrengths.Theobjectiveistocollectivelycreatenewopportunities,drivingforces,anddevelopmentspacewhileachievingcomplementaryandinteractivegrowthbycapitalizingoneachparty,sstrengthsandcapabilities.Topromoteextensiveparticipation,thisprincipleencouragescountriesandbusinessestoengagethroughvariousformssuchasbilateralcooperation,third-partymarketcooperationandmultilateralcooperation,therebycreatingsynergyfordevelopment.Thisprinciplevaluesmarketforcesandpromotesmarket-orientedoperationstofurthertheinterestsandmeettheexpectationsofallpartiesinvolved.Inthiscontext,businessesplayacentralroleasthemainactors,whilethegovernment9sresponsibilityliesinbuildingplatforms,establishingmechanisms,andprovidingpolicyguidance.China,skeyroleinBRIcooperationstemsfromitseconomicsize,marketscale,experienceininfrastructureconstruction,capacitytoproducelow-cost,high-quality,high-performanceequipment,andcomprehensivestrengthsinindustry,capital,technology,talentandmanagement.Theprincipleofsharedbenefitsunderscorestheimportanceofwin-wincooperation.Itaimstoidentifycommoninterestsandgroundsforcooperation,meetthedevelopmentneedsofallparties,andaddresstherealconcernsofthepeople.Thisprincipleemphasizessharingdevelopmentopportunitiesandoutcomesamongallparticipatingcountries,ensuringthatnoneofthemisleftbehind.Mostparticipantsaredevelopingcountries,allseekingtoleveragecollectivestrengthstoaddresschallengessuchasinadequateinfrastructure,laggingindustrialdevelopment,limitedindustrialization,insufficientcapitalandtechnology,andashortageofskilledworkers,topromotetheirowneconomicandsocialdevelopment.UndertheBRIframework,Chinapursuesthegreatergoodandsharedinterests,withtheformertakingprecedence,b