Chinese Association for International Understanding

President Xi Jinping put forward the term “Silk Road Economic Belt” on September 7th, 2013 in Kazakhstan when he proposed in his speech “to forge closer economic ties, deepen cooperation and expand development space in the Eurasian region, we should take an innovative approach and jointly build an economic belt along the Silk Road”. He then suggested enhancing “policy communication, road connectivity, unimpeded trade, monetary circulation, and understanding between our people”. When he addressed the Indonesian Parliament on the 3rd in the following month, he proposed that China is willing to build the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road together with ASEAN countries.
　　
The initiative triggered varied responses. At home, it was written into the decision of the 3rd plenary session of CPC’s 18th Central Committee and upgraded to be a national strategy. But at abroad, the initiative is preceded by the so-called “New Silk Road” program of the United States. Russia was concerned about the possibility of diverting its railway development project, while Indian media begin hyping the myth of “String of Pearls”.
　　
As the initiative of “One Belt One Road” moves to the stage of all-round implementation and pragmatic cooperation, President Xi took the opportunity of visiting Central Asia, South Asia and Mongolia to promote it. During the APEC Beijing summit, China invited leaders of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Tajikistan to participate in the “Dialogue on Strengthening Connectivity Partnership”. The Chinese leader Xi Jinping explained the profound vision in a simple way by likening “One Belt One Road” to a pair of wings and connectivity to blood veins for the rise of Asia. He proposed to build connectivity in three dimensions, namely infrastructure, institutional improvements, and people-to-people exchanges, and to advance connectivity in five different areas side by side. He added that a number of projects involving construction of infrastructure, power plants, roads, ports and shipping centers will be implemented, and measures will be taken to address financing bottleneck, e.g. investing 40 billion U.S. dollars to establish a Silk Road Foundation and signing inter-governmental MOUs to prepare for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He outlined a route map focusing on Asia, supported by economic corridor, transportation infrastructure, financing platforms and people-to-people exchanges.
　　
I think the “One Belt One Road” Initiative is a typical example of “New Diplomacy”. First, the Initiative is the crystallization of China’s successful diplomatic experience in the new period. One piece of experience for China’s diplomacy in the new period is to consider both political and economic interests with the aim to serve the core mission and overall situation of national development. On the one hand, diplomatic work can create favorable external environment for China’s modernization, as economic development is accelerated by opening up wider to the outside would; on the other hand, growing trade and various forms of cooperation enables China to benefit its neighbors and other countries with fruits of its economic development, hence economic relations and trade have become powerful tools of China’s diplomacy and stabilizer of bilateral relations. It is the same whether we are dealing with developed countries or developing countries. Both sides have to meet their fundamental needs and give full play to their respective advantages so as to realize mutual benefit and win-win results. Both political and economic interests need to be taken into consideration. The advantages of our institutions and road must be highlighted to enrich diplomatic resources. Second, the “One Belt One Road” Initiative, especially “connectivity in five areas” is new development of China’s neighboring diplomatic strategy and measures. Since CPC’s 18th National Congress, China has strengthened top-level design and diplomatic planning while maintaining the continuity and stability of its major diplomatic policies. A series of important actions are carried out and strategic thinking about foreign relations are put forward to create new situation and atmosphere. The important role of neighboring area in our development and overall diplomatic program is highlighted with disputes properly settled, exchanges and cooperation increasing and common interests expanding. The concept of “amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness” is applied to guide neighboring diplomacy and a correct view to balance “morality and interests” is emphasized. Third, bilateral and multilateral measures are closely coordinated with activities both at home and abroad to promote the initiative like a set of combination blows.
　　
I was Deputy Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee in charge of relations with political parties in South and Southeast Asia when President Xi Jinping put forward the initiative, and this year I was transferred to the post of the Vice-President of the Chinese Association for International Understanding which mainly deals with people-to-people diplomacy. Both party-to-party and people-to-people diplomacy are parts of public diplomacy. I would like to share four observations about the “One Belt One Road” Initiative in the perspective of a participant in public diplomacy.
　　
First, “One Belt One Road” is an important initiative of common construction. The term “Silk Road” was coined by a German traveler Ferdinand von Richthofen. As a term frequently heard and easy to accept, it shall be made to work for us. Needless to say, the initiative meets the demands and needs of China to deepen reform, develop economy and open up wider. In particular, it is an important opportunity for western and border provinces. The focus of the initiative is laid on “common construction” as can be seen from the occasion when it was proposed and the objects it is targeting. It is not only targeting governments and leaders, but also parliamentarians, students, business and the general public. Therefore it suits realities of globalization, enriches the content of diplomacy, shows China’s noble and magnanimous style as a major country and highlights the role and significance of public diplomacy. It demonstrates that China cares for other involved parties and understands their fundamental interests and needs. When further elaborating the initiative, the Chinese leader emphasizes top-level design and voluntarily matches our projects with the other party’s development strategies to support its priorities. Specific measures are taken to provide what is needed most by tackling financing difficulties. If both sides are to give full play to their advantages and cooperate for mutual benefit and win-win results, the initiative can never be a rush for quick results by simply launching one project after another. Since we are engaged in cooperation, we have to consult each other. We need to understand the other side’s consideration, ideas and intentions by increasing communication, and even make compromise or trade-offs if necessary. Understanding and trust can be strengthened by cooperation.
　　
Second, “One Belt One Road” is an important initiative to further develop and exert China’s advantages under the condition of deepening globalization. Although we are nearer to the center of world stage than ever before, in a sense we are not fully prepared. One example is our insufficient recognition of the subjective and objective influence of our behavior. Our “objective” advantages include more cost-efficient labor and huge potential in consumption market, while subjective advantages include our “road and institutions”, which enables us to concentrate resources to accomplish major undertakings. The biggest traditional advantage of the United States is its military strength, and the western countries tend to impose their institutions and values on others. China, on the contrary, treats others as equals, accelerates its development by relying on itself and joining the global value-added chain, therefore forming its unique advantages such as infrastructure construction, medium-level talents of science, technology and education as well as successful development practice. “Connectivity in five different areas” can not only give full play to our advantages, but also meet urgent needs of our partners. In fact, “public diplomacy” itself is an example of our institutional advantage as it demonstrates how China pools resources to handle major undertakings.
　　
Third, the key to promote “One Belt One Road” is to enhance awareness of cooperation and research so as to increase mutual understanding, exploit strength and avoid weaknesses to achieve mutual-benefit and win-win results. In the process of promoting the initiative, we must carefully study each country’s characteristics, history, culture, development stage, strategies and bottlenecks, rather than simply follow our own wishful thinking. Take the selection of investment projects as an example, Chinese usually say “roads bring wealth to people”, but if roads are built too early, the “great passageway” would be “the great empty way” and it would take a long time to recover the investments. The invested country may rather need a power plant, in which case investments are more likely to be recouped. The difficulty lies in establishment of necessary transnational institutions and mechanisms, since sufficient fund alone cannot guarantee success. Institutions, policies, procedures, and standards are needed as well. Successful experience of international institutions like IMF can be drawn to innovate relevant institutions and mechanisms.
　　
Lastly, “One Belt One Road” brings about an important opportunity to push forward public diplomacy. The rising status and role of public diplomacy is an inevitable result of in-depth development of globalization. The objective foundation for globalization is that convenience of transportation and telecommunication triggered by advancement of science and technology created conditions for trade, including supply, industry and value chain to distribute across the globe, and easier international exchanges in fields of education, training, academics and people, and on such basis, increasingly frequent and extensive social and public relations activities as well as public diplomacy. Awareness about “public diplomacy” must be enhanced. Compared with international exchanges and cooperation in a certain field (between governments, political parties, parliaments, militaries, businesses, schools and research institutes), public diplomacy requires wider vision—international and global vision. One must care about his “partners”, the society and the mass base behind the decision-makers as well as the general public. One needs to have broader interest in the systems, institutions, cultures and histories of his partners. One must keep pace with the times and be innovative. Those engaging in diplomacy or other types of international exchanges must have economic consciousness. They should put themselves in others’ shoes to win their heart, trust and friendship by helping them to speed up development. Those working in the field of economy or culture must be good at promoting their own cause through exchanges and cooperation. One must have a bigger picture in mind while doing his own job well, with an aim to serve the overall diplomacy, and, in the final analysis, to subject to and serve the two Centenary Goals i.e. to complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects when the Communist Party of China celebrates its centenary and turns China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious when the People’s Republic of China marks its centennial.