Looking from outside We can clearly see that this is a competition between two superpowers that want to win the hearts and minds of the rest of the world.
The comparison picture is clearly visible…Wednesday when Xi Jinping announced the opening of the BRI Forum (BRF) in Beijing. We saw pictures of President Joe Biden flying into the airport in Israel.
They were greeted at the edge of the plane by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Amidst the smell of war between Israel and Hamas.
and widespread anti-Israel protests in many countries. Middle Eastern countries
After a bomb went off on a hospital in Gaza, which killed hundreds of people.
Two stark contrasts reflect the roles of Xi Jinping and Biden, who go in opposite directions.
In his opening remarks in Beijing, Xi Jinping spoke about the project. The “Belt and Road Initiative,” which marks its 10th anniversary this year, said the future will be “small and beautiful.”
In a speech to about 1,000 foreign leaders and businesspeople in Beijing, Xi proposed enhancing connectivity by integrating ports. as well as sea and land routes between Asia and Europe.
“The Belt and Road cooperation has moved from sketch to meticulous painting.”
Originally it was just a plan. But today it has become a reality thanks to a number of major projects.
Whether it is a small and beautiful project that benefits the people.”
Overall, Xi’s plan includes eight points, many of which are closely linked to Beijing’s goal of achieving sustainable growth. “High quality” in the long term, that is.
1.“Logistics Corridor” connecting Europe with Asia
2. “E-commerce zones on the modern Silk Road” with more free trade agreements and investment treaties.
3. Setting up a financial fund worth 47.8 billion US dollars (or approximately 1.7 trillion baht) from various Chinese development banks. together that are ready to support various projects
4.Pushing for “green development”
5.Commitment to the development of science and artificial intelligence
6. More cultural and inter-people exchanges including travel partners
7.More “clean cooperation” to improve transparency
8. Efforts to establish the Belt and Road Institute including the secretariat
The most notable visitor is probably President Vladimir Putin.
It includes approximately 20 heads of government and representatives of approximately 140 countries in total.
The ones that obviously do not want to be involved are probably Western countries.
Including India, which sees China’s BRI as an obstacle to strengthening relations between the two countries.
The same day that this convention was opened. The Chinese official also announced the Chinese economic growth rate for the third quarter…at 4.9%.
This is not a bad number, although it is lower than the 6.2% of the same quarter last year.
But it’s still higher than analysts had expected.
Because China’s economy is growing at a much slower rate than it was a decade ago. Beijing’s willingness and ability to continue pouring money into the BRI is the subject of considerable analysis.
But it must be acknowledged that Xi Jinping has put a lot of effort into this project.
Because it is the “flagship policy” of Chinese foreign policy under his leadership.
The main goal is designed to connect China with Europe and Africa.
and increasing China’s influence and prestige at the international level
At the dinner before the opening of the meeting Chinese leaders pledge “We must proceed with enthusiasm. and enthusiasm for a new journey into another golden decade.”
China has not disclosed total funding for its global initiatives.
But analysts at some US consulting firms estimate that about $1 trillion has been borrowed so far.
Xi announced in his opening speech that the China Development Bank and the China Export-Import Bank would set up a 350 billion yuan ($48 billion) financial facilitation facility.
along with an injection of 80 billion yuan into the Silk Road Fund to support various projects. “Through a market-oriented and commercial approach”
China has refuted Western accusations that countries participating in the project have fallen into a “debt trap” and become dependent on China.
Some analyst houses claim that problem loans or “bad debt” are also piling up alongside the BRI.
with new negotiations $76.8 billion worth of debt restructured or written off between 2020 and 2022
This is according to US research firm Rhodium Group, which originally said the figure for distressed debt was $17 billion over the past three years.
But Xi Jinping insisted on Wednesday that Such initiatives are a matter of “Cooperation and mutual benefits”
Meanwhile, the Western world has warned against this policy and offered to “de-risk” its relationship with China.
That’s called de-risking, which reduces the heat from decoupling.
But China maintains that the spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative is a guideline against the integration of countries for political purposes.
and opposes the use of unilateral sanctions.
Beijing reiterates opposition to Western approaches to economic coercion. and separation from each other
Colors emphasize commitment to various activities. That includes the establishment of pilot zones for e-commerce cooperation.
and increasing free trade agreements with BRI participants.
China’s external trade is expected to exceed $32 trillion between 2024 and 2028, after reaching a total trade value of $6.3 trillion last year.
Besides Putin Other participating leaders from ASEAN besides Prime Minister Settha from Thailand were President Joko Widodo of Indonesia. Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia
from other countries in the Asia-Pacific region include Kassym-Jomart Tokayev from Kazakhstan,
Shavkat Mirziyoyev from Uzbekistan, Thonglun Sisoulith from Laos, UkhnaagiinKhurelsukh from Mongolia, James Marape from Papua New Guinea, Ranil Wickremesinghe from Sri Lanka, Vo Van Thuong from Vietnam, Interim Prime Minister of Pakistan Anwar ulHaq Kakar, Afghanistan’s Taliban regime sent Commerce Minister Haji Nuruddin Azizi.
Looking at the list of participants is enough to get a picture of how polarized the world is becoming.
Even though in many countries, including Thailand, we insist that we will not “choose sides”.
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2023-10-19 17:03:12
