Let’s Clear Up Some Myths About China’s Belt and Road Initiative
请正确认识中国“一带一路”倡议
Ambassador Lu Shaye Published a Signed Article on the Belt and Road Initiative
驻加拿大大使卢沙野发表署名文章
2 May 2018
2018年5月2日
On May 2, The Hill Times published an article written by Chinese Ambassador in Canada Lu Shaye, illustrating the contents, purposes and achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative and welcoming Canada to play an active role in it. Here is the full text:
2018年5月2日，驻加拿大大使卢沙野在加《国会山时报》发表署名文章，介绍“一带一路”倡议的内容、宗旨和成果，呼吁加方积极参与“一带一路”建设。全文如下：
In the five years since China proposed the Belt and Road initiative, it has been transformed from concept to action, and from vision to reality, yielding fruitful outcomes and bringing substantial benefits to many countries.
“一带一路”倡议提出5年来，已从理念转化为行动，从愿景转变为现实，建设成果丰硕，给很多国家带来了实实在在的利益。
However, the initiative is also misunderstood. Some people say it is a tool China employs for geographical and strategic expansion, and others say that it increases the debt burden of some countries. What is the truth? Here are my thoughts:
然而，这个倡议也受到一些误解。有人说它是中国进行地缘战略扩张的工具，有人说它加重了一些国家的债务负担。事实究竟是怎样的呢？下面是我的一些看法。
First, what is the Belt and Road initiative? It is the abbreviation for the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road.” The core content of the initiative is to strengthen complementarity of the national policies and development strategies between China and relevant countries, deepen their practical cooperation, promote coordinated and interconnected development, and achieve common prosperity. The priorities of cooperation are policy communication, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds.
首先，“一带一路”到底是一个什么样的倡议呢？“一带一路”就是“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的简称。这一倡议的核心内容是对接各国政策和发展战略，深化务实合作，促进协调联动发展，实现共同繁荣。合作的重点领域是政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通和民心相通。
The initiative covers the countries and regions along the routes of the old Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road, but it is far beyond a “belt” or a “road” in terms of geography. It focuses on the Asian, European, and African continents, but is also open to other countries across the globe. It is an international public good provided by China to promote the development of the global economy in a new era.
这一倡议涵盖历史上陆上丝绸之路和海上丝绸之路行经的国家和地区，远远超出地理意义上的一个“带”或一条“路”，重点面向亚欧非大陆，同时向世界各国开放，是新时期中国为推动世界经济发展提供的一项国际公共产品。
Since it began, more than 100 countries and international organizations have supported and participated in the Belt and Road construction actively, scoring remarkable early achievements. A number of major infrastructure projects, including railways, ports, and pipe networks, are under construction.
自该倡议提出以来，全球100多个国家和国际组织积极支持和参与“一带一路”建设，并取得丰富的早期收获。一批铁路、港口、管网等重大基础设施项目正在建设。
Second, why did China propose the initiative? History is the best teacher. The ancient silk routes opened the window for friendly exchanges among countries involved, making tremendous contributions to human progress and development. This left us with a spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, and mutual learning and mutual benefit, which is the precious legacy of human civilization.
第二，中国为什么要提出“一带一路”倡议？历史是最好的老师。古丝绸之路打开了各国友好交往的窗口，为人类的进步发展做出重大贡献。古丝绸之路给我们留下了以和平合作、开放包容、互学互鉴、互利共赢为核心的丝路精神。这是人类文明的宝贵遗产。
In this era, the international community is confronted with challenges such as an insufficient drive for growth in the global economy, a disparity of regional development, increasing regional hotspot issues, and raging terrorism. Therefore, the world needs a new platform to pool the strength of all countries to seek common development and safeguard world peace. It is against this backdrop that China’s President Xi Jinping, by learning from the spirit of ancient silk routes, started the Belt and Road initiative in 2013.
在当今时代，国际社会面临着各种挑战，世界经济增长动力不足，地区发展不平衡，地区热点持续动荡，恐怖主义蔓延肆虐。因此，世界需要一个新的平台，以汇集各国力量，共谋发展进步，维护世界和平。正是在这种背景下，中国国家主席借鉴古丝绸之路精神，在2013年提出了“一带一路”倡议。
Third, how is construction carried out? Instead of being created out of nothing, the Belt and Road initiative is based on existing development strategies of all countries involved. It promotes common development through policy coordination and taking advantage of complementarities among relevant countries.
第三，“一带一路”建设是如何开展的？“一带一路”不是“无中生有”，而是基于各国现有的发展战略，通过相关国家间的政策协调，优势互补，推动共同发展。
It also sticks to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, which is to say that the players involved consult together, work together, and enjoy the benefits together.
“一带一路”坚持共商、共建、共享的原则，就是说，大家一起商量，一起做事，一起受益。
As for specific cooperation, Belt and Road adheres to a government-led, enterprise-operated, and market-based pattern. All projects have been examined by a feasibility study and market-based argumentation to ensure due economic and social benefits. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which consists of 84 members and provides important financing support for Belt and Road construction, is an international financial institution with international environment, social, and energy standards. It is impossible that borrowing countries are overburdened with debt and manipulated by China.
在具体合作上，“一带一路”坚持政府主导、企业主体、市场运作，所有项目均经过认真的可行性研究和市场化论证，以确保应有的经济和社会效益。为“一带一路”提供重要融资支持的亚洲基础设施投资银行，有84个成员，完全是一个国际性的融资机构，采用国际通用的环境、社会和能源标准，不可能出现东道国债务负担过重，受中国操纵的现象。
Fourth, what role does China play in Belt and Road construction? To put it simply, China is not only the initiator, but also an equal collaborator in the project. China will neither capitalize on the initiative to conduct the expansion of geographical strategies, nor think about taking full charge of the cooperation. Instead, China always provides assistance for related cooperation within its capacity, and encourages corresponding support from other sides.
第四，中国在“一带一路”建设中扮演什么样的角色？简单来说，中国是“一带一路”倡议的倡导者和推动者，也是平等的合作者。中国既不会利用这一倡议进行地缘战略扩张，也从未想过对“一带一路”合作大包大揽，而一直是对有关合作予以力所能及的帮助，并激发其他合作方的相应支持。
China invested in and set up the Silk Road Fund in 2014. By the end of 2017, 17 projects in different countries had been signed with the promise of investing US$7-billion. At present, the AIIB has approved more than 20 investment projects with a total amount of more than US$4-billion. As of today, China has signed cooperation agreements on Belt and Road construction with 86 countries and organizations, and established 75 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in more than 20 countries, creating large amounts of tax revenue and jobs for relevant countries.
2014年中方出资设立了丝路基金，截至2017年底，已签约17个项目，承诺投资70亿美元。亚洲基础设施投资银行至今批准了总额40多亿美元的20多个投资项目。迄今，中方已经同86个国家和组织签署了“一带一路”合作协议，在20多个国家建设75个境外经贸合作区，为有关国家创造大量税收和就业岗位。
As an important country in the Asia-Pacific region, Canada boasts its own advantages in such aspects as transportation, communication, clean energy, financial services, and personnel training. Canada has joined the AIIB, thus it could enjoy benefits by participating in Belt and Road construction. China welcomes Canada to play an active role in it.
加拿大是亚太地区重要国家，在交通、通讯、清洁能源、金融服务、人才培训等方面有自己的优势。加拿大已加入亚洲基础设施投资银行，这为加拿大参与“一带一路”基础设施建设提供了有利条件。中方欢迎加积极参与到“一带一路”建设进程中来。