PROSPERITY THROUGH COOPERATION

By Yuan Yanan

On September 7, the Forum on the Practice and Prospects of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Asia-Pacific Region,co-hosted by the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Kingdom of Thailand, was held at the National Defence College of Thailand in Bangkok. The forum was supported by several think tanks and media outlets including the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Center at the National Research Council of Thailand, the Asia-Pacific Think Tank, the Center for the Asia-Pacific of China International Communications Group, The Leader Asia, and Bangkok Today.

About 200 delegates from governments, think tanks,media outlets, business communities, and colleges attended the forum, including Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang,former Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, Director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, former President of the National Assembly of Thailand Bhokin Bhalakula, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Chair of the Korea-China City Friendship Association Kwon Ki-sik,Director of the Asia Research Center at the National University of Laos Bouadam Sengkhamkhoutlavong,Director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia Kin Phea, and Director of the Center for Indonesian Studies at the Asia-Pacific Think Tank Anthony.

In a world undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping has changed the world profoundly over the last 10 years. Connectivity projects have brought the world closer together, making land-locked countries land-linked. The BRI has offered new development concepts for Asia-Pacific countries. The BRI brought the China-Laos Railway and the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway to the Asia-Pacific region. It has also brought expressways to Cambodia, and Chinese-made new energy vehicles to countries all over the world. The decade of BRI practice in the Asia-Pacific region has contributed greatly to an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

Abhisit Vejjajiva,former prime minister of Thailand

Abhisit Vejjajiva, former prime minister of Thailand,delivered a keynote speech titled “Belt and Road Cooperation for Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region.” His speech recounted how Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the initiative 10 years ago as a major diplomatic move. Its benefits to ASEAN, the Asia-Pacific region, and the rest of the world over the decade have been apparent, he said.The BRI has become a crucial booster for regional openness and connectivity. Over the last 10 years, China has made significant achievements in several aspects such as economic growth and poverty alleviation, creating miracles that have impressed the world. As a central driver of world economic growth,China has invested in many infrastructure projects in the countries along the routes which have enhanced people’s livelihood and boosted crossborder trade and people-topeople communication. We are now facing a changing world with complex risks and challenges. The initiative has provided a historic chance to fight for a brighter future in the next few years. China is leading many countries to seek a peaceful development road for win-win results. Countries involved in the initiative have specific responsibilities to give feedback and support as required to enrich the connotation of the initiative.Thailand should seize the great opportunity to accelerate construction of the Thai section of the China-Lao-Thailand Railway to achieve high-quality sustainable development.

Han Zhiqiang,Chinese ambassador to Thailand

Han Zhiqiang, Chinese ambassador to Thailand,delivered a keynote speech titled “The Practice of the BRI for Win-Win Cooperation.” The BRI was first proposed by President Xi Jinping 10 years ago,he said. It has turned from vision into reality and become the most popular international public good and the largest platform for international cooperation by bringing tangible benefits to the people in partner countries.The progress in the five major areas of policy coordination,facilities connectivity,unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-topeople bonds has been obvious,which has consolidated mutual trust among relevant countries. Over the last decade,the BRI has been welcomed by many partner countries. The fruitful results highlight the spirit of win-win cooperation for a shared future. Looking ahead, China will remain committed to working with other countries and international organizations to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to bring benefits to the people of all countries in the world. He expressed hope that all parties would build consensus on development, better promote high-quality development,and work together against external interference to ensure the initiative is a “road to happiness” for the people of the world. China will work with the international community to promote sustained Belt and Road cooperation, continue to provide new opportunities for the world with its own new development, and add new impetus for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The BRI has turned from vision into reality and become the most popular international public good and the largest platform for international cooperation by bringing tangible benefits to the people in partner countries.

Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee,director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative

Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee,director of the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative, commented that the development of history, the flourishing of civilization, and the progress of humanity cannot be achieved without the guidance of advanced vision.President Xi Jinping answered the question of the times by identifying that the aspiration of all peoples for a better life is the goal. The ideas of the BRI, the Global Development Initiative, and the community with a shared future for humanity have pointed the way forward for human progress. The BRI has embraced the guiding principles of inclusiveness, mutual benefits,and win-win cooperation,which broke through the limitations of zero-sum games.It has enabled unprecedented connectivity across all countries in the world and fostered true participation from developing countries on global governance. The BRI has offered the Asia-Pacific countries new ideas of development. It brought the China-Laos Railway and the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway to the Asia-Pacific region. It has also brought expressways to Cambodia and Chinese-made new energy vehicles to countries all over the world. The decade of the BRI in the Asia-Pacific region has contributed to construction of Asia-Pacific, China-Thailand, and China-Laos communities with shared futures.

Bouadam Sengkhamkhoutlavong,director of the Asia Research Center at the National University of Laos

Bouadam Sengkhamkhoutlavong,director of the Asia Research Center at the National University of Laos, delivered a speech titled “BRI Connectivity Through High Mountains for Development.” The BRI has promoted connectivity between Laos and China, he said. It has promoted passenger flow, improved logistics, and boosted the development of tourism between Laos and China. In the future, the China-Laos-Thailand Railway will be a golden passageway connecting the three countries and contributing to the economic development of the Asia-Pacific region. For Laos, the China-Laos Railway is not only a source of pride, but also a road to development and prosperity by transforming land-locked Laos into a land-linked country.

The BRI has embraced the guiding principles of inclusiveness, mutual benefits, and win-win cooperation, which broke through the limitations of zero-sum games.

At a roundtable themed “The BRI and the Asia-Pacific Miracle of the Future,” delegates from governments, media outlets, think tanks, business communities, and the cultural sector of the Asia-Pacific region exchanged views on the past and the future of the BRI.

Yukio Hatoyama, former Japanese prime minister,delivered a speech titled “The Achievements of the BRI and the Future of the Asia-Pacific Community with a Shared Future.” The BRI has inspired the world to address livelihood problems in developing countries from the global sphere and promoted stability and progress in the Asia-Pacific region. China has signed cooperation documents with many countries and international organizations to ensure the initiative serves as a global solution. He predicted the BRI would bring prosperity to all countries in the future.

Kwon Ki-sik, chairman of the Korea-China City Friendship Association, said that the BRI has promoted exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations.It has been an important driver for the progress of human civilization and world peace and development. In the new era, the initiative will continue to glow with vitality as a new engine of common prosperity for the world.

Ma Haiyang, general manager of GAC Aion’s sales subsidiary in Thailand,addressed the audience on behalf of the Chinese new energy vehicle industry.Chinese new energy vehicles are evidence of the achievements of Chinese modernization. The BRI has created opportunities for the world to cooperate on technological innovation.Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturers will continue to promote cooperation on the Green Silk Road and enhance scientific and technological innovation to bring more benefits to the people along the Belt and Road.

The Forum on the Practice and Prospects of the Belt and Road Initiative in the Asia-Pacific Region held at the National Defence College of Thailand in Bangkok was attended by delegates from governments,think tanks, media outlets, and business communities.

Bhokin Bhalakula, former president of the National Assembly of Thailand,noted that a decade of Belt and Road cooperation has brought the international community closer together.Thai-Chinese cooperation has reached an era of highquality development. The BRI has won the recognition of the international community, and building a community with a shared future for humanity has become the common aspiration of all developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Piriya Khempon, former Thai Ambassador to China,commented that the BRI has contributed to closer exchanges between Thailand and China in areas of economics, trade,education, and culture. China’s new energy vehicle and e-commerce industries have developed rapidly in Thailand.The initiative has created a guarantee for building a more stable, prosperous, and sustainable Thailand-China community with a shared future.

Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that the BRI has promoted cooperation between Cambodia and China in various fields, resulting in valuable development opportunities for Cambodia.The initiative’s philosophy of mutual benefits and winwin results for all has won the support of the people.Cambodia looks forward to working with China across another decade of Belt and Road cooperation.

Anthony, director of the Center for Indonesian Studies at the Asia-Pacific Think Tank, noted that the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway,a landmark project of Belt and Road cooperation, is going to open to traffic soon. As the first Chinese-standard high-speed railway system in Southeast Asia, it will significantly improve the efficiency of public transport in Indonesia. The BRI has enabled connectivity in many Asia-Pacific countries,injecting strong impetus into the development of the region.

Lin Chuqin, chairman of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, commented that the BRI has facilitated more Chinese investment in Thailand and a greater volume of Thai agricultural exports to China. He expressed belief that the BRI would build a closer regional industrial chain and supply chain to facilitate more trade and investment.

Attending the roundtable were Fan Xuewei, counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, General Surasit Thanadtang, director of the Thai-Chinese Strategic Research Center at the National Research Council of Thailand, Piriya Khempon,former Thai Ambassador to China, Lin Chuqin, chairman of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Ma Haiyang,general manager of GAC Aion’s sales subsidiary in Thailand, and overseas Chinese students attending Dhurakij Pundit University of Thailand.

The university students presented Ambassador Han Zhiqiang a design work titled “Interwoven New Lives.” Celebrating mutual learning and cultural integration among the Lancang-Mekong countries and the countries’ joint efforts to create a diversified future,the work was honored with an award of excellence at the 2022 LMC International Design Competition.