More than two millennia ago, the diligent and courageous people of Eurasia explored and opened up several routes of trade and cultural exchanges that linked the major civilisations of Asia, Europe and Africa, called the ‘Silk Road’ by later generations.
For thousands of years, the Silk Road Spirit — ‘peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit’ — has been passed from generation to generation, promoted the progress of human civilisation, and contributed greatly to the development of countries along the Silk Road.
Symbolising communication and cooperation between the East and the West, the Silk Road Spirit is a historic and cultural heritage shared by all countries around the world.
When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited central and Southeast Asia in September and October of 2013, he raised the initiative of jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (referred to as the Belt and Road), which attracted close attention from all over the world. The Initiative is a systematic project, which should be jointly built through consultation to meet the interests of all, and efforts should be made to integrate the development strategies of the countries along the Belt and Road.
The Chinese government drafted and published the ‘Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road’ to promote the implementation of the Initiative.
The Initiative aims to promote the connectivity of Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas, establish and strengthen partnerships among countries along the Belt and Road, set up all-dimensional, multi-tiered and composite connectivity networks, and realise diversified, independent, balanced and sustainable development in these countries.
The connectivity projects will help align and coordinate development strategies, tap market potential in this region, promote investment and consumption, create demands and job opportunities, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and mutual learning among the peoples of the relevant countries, and enable them to understand, trust and respect each other and live in harmony, peace and prosperity.
China’s economy is closely connected with the world economy. China will stay committed to the basic policy of opening up, build a new pattern of all-round opening up, and integrate itself deeper into the world economic system. The Initiative will enable China to further expand and deepen its opening up, and to strengthen its mutually beneficial cooperation with countries in Asia, Europe and Africa and the rest of the world.
China is committed to shouldering more responsibilities and obligations within its capabilities, and making greater contributions to the peace and development of mankind.
The Initiative is an ambitious economic vision of the opening up of and cooperation among the countries along the Belt and Road. Countries should work in concert and move towards the objectives of mutual benefit and common security.
To be specific, they need to improve the region’s infrastructure, put in place a secure and efficient network of land, sea and air passages, lift their connectivity to a higher level; further enhance trade and investment facilitation, establish a network of free trade areas that meet high standards, maintain closer economic ties, and deepen political trust; enhance cultural exchanges; encourage different civilisations to learn from each other and flourish together; and promote mutual understanding, peace and friendship among people of all countries.
The China-UAE friendship boasts a long history. The ancient maritime silk road has connected the two countries. Bilateral relationship enjoyed a momentum of fast growth in the 21st century.
Being open and accommodating, the UAE has created miracles in the desert by making vigorous endeavours, thus becoming an important bridge between China and the Arab world. The initiative of building the Belt and Road put forward by Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping coincides with the initiative of rejuvenating the Silk Road proposed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. There is no doubt that we can give play to our respective strengths and expand our cooperation if China’s strategy of open westward is connected with the UAE’s looking-east policy.
The initiative provides a good opportunity for China and the UAE to further deepen the strategic partnership in an all-round manner. China attaches great importance to China-UAE relationship and stands ready to work with the UAE to push forward our cooperation and add new momentum to our common cause of jointly building the Belt and Road.
The writer is Ambassador-Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to the UAE.
