Many Kiribati friends probably have read my previous articles about China’s development and known what China’s development achievements are and how China accomplish them. You may wonder how does China’s development benefit the world and Kiribati. Here is my answer:
China’s development brings cooperation and prosperity to the world. China’s development has benefited from the world, and China has contributed to the world’s development. Over the past years, China’s annual average contribution to global economic growth has stayed above 30 percent, exceeding the combined total of the United States, Europe and Japan. This year, although deeply influenced by COVID-19, China is estimated by IMF to be the only major economy who can achieve GDP growth. China’s development will continue to forge ahead like a fast train. More importantly, as President Xi Jinping stated, China pursues a win-win strategy of opening-up and welcomes other countries to aboard this fast train of China’s development.
By boarding this fast train, countries can take advantage of the huge market in China. With a population of nearly 1.4 billion, China’s middle-income group has exceeded 400 million, which makes China the largest market in the world. Early next month, the 3rd China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai, China. Products around the world will be presented and promoted during the Expo, more importantly, will be known and purchased by Chinese consumers. In the next 15 years, China’s imported goods and services will respectively exceed US$30-trillion and US$10-trillion in value, and more opportunities will be created for the world to share “China’s dividend.”
To board this fast train, countries can take advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A few people smear the BRI as a “debt trap”. Actually, they are missing the “economic pies” of BRI. The BRI follows a high-standard, people-centered, and sustainable approach, pursues open, green and clean cooperation, and promotes policy communication, facilities connectivity, smooth trade, unimpeded financing and people-to-people ties. So far, China has signed 200 BRI cooperation agreements with 138 countries and 30 International Organizations. In April 2019, Over 6,000 foreign guests from 150 countries and 92 international organizations participated in the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation(BRF). Why did so many countries and international organizations join the BRI Forum? Because the BRI has become the largest platform for international cooperation and the most welcomed global public goods. The fungus grass in Fiji, Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Kenya, fruit cooperation on Egypt’s desert, Faleolo International Airport in Samoa, are all good examples of BRI cooperation, in the spirit of extensive consultation, joint efforts and shared benefits. In a word, just as H.E. President Maamau once put, the BRI will strengthen the bilateral ties and lead Kiribati to a better life.
China’s development brings peace and security to the world. There is a mindset in the western world that a great power is bound to seek hegemony. However, this does not apply to China. China is committed to the path of peaceful development and firmly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace. The Chinese government and people believe that we all live in a community with shared future for mankind, the more developed members shall shoulder more responsibility and share more benefits with others in need. Guided by the philosophy, instead of seeking hegemony, China is devoting itself to better global governance and public affairs. China is actively engaged in international arms control, and opposes arms races, trying to maintain global strategic balance and stability. China has established a ten-year, 1-billion-U.S. dollar China-UN peace and development fund, deployed around 40,000 Chinese peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping missions around the world, the highest number among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. China is faithfully fulfilling its Climate change obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. We promise to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China has joined the COVID-19 vaccine global collaboration, COVAX, made extensive progress in vaccine development, and committed to make it global public goods when available. China is utilizing its capital, technology and experience to build a better world where there is less fear of war, terror, disease and rising of sea level.
China’s development brings experience and a new option to the world. In the past 71 years, more than 850 million people were lifted out of poverty in China, contributing more than 70 percent to the global poverty reduction endeavor. The key to this achievement is the strength of China’s state systems and good governance. In the past 40 years, China was transformed from a poor and backward country to the second largest economy in the world and world factory. The path for this transformation is reform and opening up policy. In the past 10 months, Chinese people suffered huge loss in the battle against COVID-19 but prevailed rapidly and thoroughly. During the Chinese National Day holiday early this month, More than 600 million people travelled inside China in 8 days. The secret to the victory over COVID-19 is upholding the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China and people-centered principle. China has paved a right way of development based on its national conditions. We are open to share the experience with other countries according to their needs, assisting but not forcing them to find a suitable way to realize their development dreams.
Kiribati is a great marine country. Kiribati people are kind and friendly. Chinese and Kiribati people share genuine and strong sentiment bonds and a long history of friendship. As a member of the global community, Kiribati is entitled to the benefits mentioned above, enjoying a peace, secure, green and healthy world environment. What’s more, as an important partner of China, Kiribati can achieve more through bilateral cooperation with China. Since the resumption of China-Kiribati relations September last year, both sides have already achieved a long list of early harvests in the fields of transportation, energy, medical service, trade, livelihood, education, people-to-people exchanges, etc. With the zero tariff agreement in place, Kiribati products including fish and copra are able to be sold in China at a more competitive price. Upholding the people-centered principle, both sides had and shall have more livelihood projects like water and hygiene facilities. As innovation and entrepreneurship is one of the secrets of China’s fast development, the Embassy is working with relevant Ministries and organization to hold a nationwide Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition(IEC), encouraging Kiribati people to present their brilliant ideas and turn them into reality. The Chinese Corner in the National Library and Achieves was officially opened recently, we welcome Kiribati friends to know more about China in the Chinese Corner through reading books and watching videos. We will invite more Kiribati friends from all walks of life to visit China, see China’s development with your own eyes and exchange views with Chinese friends. China is more than happy to work hand in hand with Kiribati, to further enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields including infrastructure, sustainable development and livelihood, sharing our development outcomes and achieving prosperity together.