Global screen丨 British well-known scholar Martin? Jacques on the Belt and Road Initiative: The Road to Innovation and the Road to Poverty Reduction

In 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative was first proposed. In the past eight years, the "Belt and Road" has shown strong resilience and surging vitality, and cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results, becoming a popular global public good.

At present, with the century-old changes superimposed on the new crown epidemic, how can the "Belt and Road" better serve the countries along the route? What references does the wisdom achievements of China's initiative provide for countries along the Belt and Road?

In this regard, the well-known British scholar Martin Jacques said in an exclusive interview with CCTV News that the various achievements produced by the "Belt and Road" initiative are likely to invisibly affect the world.

A "road" of innovation

What kind of "road" is the "Belt and Road"? Martin Jacques believes that this is a "road" of innovation. In terms of its global impact, the Belt and Road Initiative is a bold new venture, with an unprecedented nature and concept.

"We should see the BELT AND ROAD as a long-term project," he said. At present, although it is inevitably affected by the epidemic, the pace of development has not stopped. At the same time, the Belt and Road Initiative is also a young project with unlimited potential. When the initiative was first proposed eight years ago, it consisted of two routes: one by land and one by sea. Today, what is more and more important is the digital 'Belt and Road'. In the past decade, China's scientific and technological progress is particularly important for the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. ”

A healthy "road"

Under the epidemic, how can the "Belt and Road" play a better role?

Martin Jacques pointed out that "Taking vaccines as an example, this is a very important part of the belt and road construction process, and it has played an important role in the fight against the new crown pneumonia epidemic. ”

At present, China has become the country that provides the largest number of COVID-19 vaccines to the outside world, and most of the vaccines obtained by developing countries so far come from China. China has also launched the Belt and Road Vaccine Partnership Initiative with more than 30 countries and carried out joint vaccine production with 19 developing countries.

In response, Martin Jacques said, "In this special period, some countries may have retreated and wanted to deal with the new crown virus alone. This has separated countries and regions around the world from each other, and the interconnection of the 'Belt and Road' has also encountered difficulties. The fight against the pandemic is a global issue. Fortunately, relations between China and East Asian countries, including with ASEAN, remained quite positive during this period. I believe that this is effective cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. ”

A "road" to poverty reduction

According to the relevant World Bank report, by 2030, the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" is expected to help lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million people out of moderate poverty around the world.

How will the Belt and Road Initiative help countries and regions along the route eradicate poverty?

Martin Jacques said: "There is no doubt that the Belt and Road Initiative comes from China's successful experience: how to lift large-scale people out of poverty? How to achieve economic growth? The achievement of these goals must be put into action. I

Source: CCTV News Client