The BRI in its second dynamic decade

Editor's note: Zheng Yin is an international affairs observer. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

In the 12 years since its inception, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a milestone in international development. An evolving and vital response to a world grappling with profound change and uncertainty, it has matured into a crucial engine for connectivity, resilience, and common progress, especially when the world urgently needs collective solutions.

The BRI champions a collaborative global model rooted in the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits. This approach has attracted over 150 countries and 30 diverse international organizations, leading to over 3,000 cooperative projects.

From the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia turbo-charging regional connectivity, to crucial port developments in Africa facilitating the wheels of trade, and energy networks in Central Asia bolstering energy security, the BRI has delivered tangible benefits – improving infrastructure, stimulating industrial growth, creating employment and uplifting livelihoods.

More than a portfolio of projects, the BRI is a dynamic platform for nations to foster long-term partnerships based on equality and mutual respect. It enables countries to align development strategies, enhance both hard and soft connectivity, and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Recent efforts have cleverly balanced landmark infrastructure projects with small yet impressive livelihood initiatives – think local agricultural programs or vocational training centers – ensuring that BRI cooperation directly uplifts communities and reflects grassroots aspirations.

Concurrently, the BRI is pushing forward on two transformative frontiers: the Green Silk Road and the Digital Silk Road.

As the global momentum for sustainability picks up, the BRI is committed to green development. Following a pledge to cease new overseas coal power investments, China and its partners are championing renewable energy projects, developing low-carbon transport systems, and rolling out environmental protection initiatives. From vast solar farms contributing to Pakistan's energy mix to collaborative ecological restoration projects in Southeast Asia, the Green Silk Road is tangibly supporting partner countries as they shift towards more sustainable futures.

Simultaneously, the Digital Silk Road is working to bridge the global digital divide. This means expanding access to broadband infrastructure, supporting the development of smart cities, fostering e-commerce platforms, and promoting cooperation in cloud computing and artificial intelligence applications. These digital partnerships aim to empower developing nations in the digital age, enhance governance, inspire innovation and improve public services, with a sharper focus on data security and open, fair digital governance frameworks. Together, these green and digital dimensions are integral to the BRI's evolution into a model of sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking international cooperation.

To support this evolution, China and its partners are stepping up their cooperation by enhancing systematic and institutional mechanisms. These include establishing coordinated planning frameworks, fostering international cooperation in emerging sectors, and promoting diversified and sustainable financing models. Leveraging these mechanisms, the BRI is poised to deliver not just growth but high-quality, secure, and inclusive development.

The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2023 underscored this commitment by outlining eight priority actions to guide future cooperation, including enhanced connectivity, green development, scientific and technological exchanges, and partnerships. These priorities reflect a growing international consensus that sustainable development can't be achieved in isolation – it demands collective ambition and coordinated action.

As the BRI charges into its second dynamic decade, its development blueprint remains consistent: a shared vision, propelled by sustained effort, and built on a foundation of common objectives.

As the world navigates increased unilateralism, protectionism, and tricky geopolitical complexities, alongside pressing development disparities and climate threats, the BRI offers more than just infrastructure. It acts as a stabilizing force, a conduit for resilient connectivity, and a strategic opportunity for cooperation to win over confrontation. It champions cooperation over confrontation, connectivity over division, and shared development over zero-sum competition.

While the BRI was initiated by China, its benefits and future are increasingly co-created and shared by all who participate. Looking ahead, by deepening mutual trust, refining collaborative mechanisms, and fostering genuinely win-win outcomes, the BRI will continue to contribute significantly to a brighter, more interconnected, and prosperous future for all.

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