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Another major step of Silk Road diplomacy

Editor: Li Shouen 丨CCTV.com

06-17-2016 14:58 BJT

By Gu Jianjun, post doctorate of Central Compilation and Translation Bureau

Chinese President Xi Jinping is paying state visits to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan on June 17-24 to attend the 16th SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Summit held in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, which would promote the Belt and Road Initiative.

The Central and East Europe (CEE) is a bridge and major hub between Europe and Asia. Central Asia is essential to the Silk Road Economic Belt, while the SCO holds a unique bond to the Belt & Road and European-Asian economic union.

In September and October 2013, Xi put forward proposals for building the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "21th Century Maritime Silk Road," known as the Belt & Road Initiative, which had captured the world's attention.

For the past three years, the Belt & Road has transformed from a blueprint to reality, which runs across the Asia-Europe-Africa continents, linking a vibrant East Asian economic circle and the developed European economic zone with extensive networks in Central-East Europe and Central Asia regions.

Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan are among the first round of countries to respond to the initiative and to have participated in its docking process.

Serbia is carrying out a strategy of "reindustrialization" to lure in more foreign investments via the Belt & Road.

Poland, as the only member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) among CEE countries and the one with the maximum GDP (gross domestic product) among them, hopes to become a European portal for China with its unique geographical and regional advantages.

Additionally, Uzbekistan is strong in the energy and agriculture sectors, but with a weak industrial base. Still it has huge potential for interconnections and capacity cooperation.

Beijing has already made some achievements with the three countries, such as building the Hungary-Serbia railways, Danube Bridge in Belgrade, Kostolac power plant, Central European Express from Piraeus to Budapest, China-Europe Railway express, Angren-Pappu railway tunnel, China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline and so forth. All three countries have a strong desire and potential for cooperation with their special geopolitical and industrial cooperation advantage to make them more pivotal players in the Belt & Road.

President Xi Jinping is expected to infuse new powers to the Belt and Road Initiative in his visits to the Czech Republic last March and other CEE nations within a three-month time-span and then Central Asia for the past four successive years.

This time, Xi would discuss with leaders of the three countries about new measures to promote the Belt and Road and to conclude development direction proposals for future implementation.

Xi will also attend related public events to draw a new impetus for the initiative intended for a grand economic vision built together by the countries and peoples alongside.

The SCO would serve as a driving force to provide systematic support and guarantees as a major docking platform for development programs and mechanisms within the Silk Road Economic Belt.

Meanwhile, the Belt & Road Initiative in cooperation with the SCO can accelerate the pace of regional infrastructure project construction.

At this year's SCO Summit, Xi aims to get a closer relationship between the Belt & Road and SCO to transform the latter into a new type of regional cooperation platform.

The Belt and Road Initiative remains a road of mutual respect, trust, win-win cooperation, and learning among civilizations. As long as the countries along the route can pull together for a common cause, it will usher in a new chapter to benefit all people involved.

 

( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

 

 

Panview offers a new window of understanding the world as well as China through the views, opinions, and analysis of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

Panview offers an alternative angle on China and the rest of the world through the analyses and opinions of experts. We also welcome outside submissions, so feel free to send in your own editorials to "globalopinion@vip.cntv.cn" for consideration.

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