By CGTN’s Wang Dong
Following the United States’ withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Paris Climate Agreement, China, as the world's second largest economy, is expected to play an even bigger role in international affairs.
China hopes to cooperate with more countries worldwide and fight protectionism and anti-globalist sentiment in trade, with the Belt and Road Initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
Professor Fabio Massimo Parenti of the Italian International Institute thinks China should take even more responsibility in international affairs, especially under the circumstance of the US as the biggest power.
During the financial crisis in Europe, China’s investment was called the savior of the European economy as it bought a lot of European treasury bonds and thus created a lot of investment.
Robert Koepp, director of The Economist Corporate Network, said China deserves credit for helping lift the global economy from the financial crisis started by the West. China should work to forge constructive financial relationships with other world powers, he said.
“I wouldn’t call that any part of nationalism or any kind of savior mentality or complex on China’s part. It was very much welcomed by both the US and Europe. But it would be better if China could get beyond that as well as those regions in the world and think let’s engage in a more constructive financial relations.”