Xi provides enlightened leadership at BRF

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Editor's Note: Adam Garrie is director of the UK-based global policy and analysis think tank Eurasia Future and co-host of a talk show "The History Boys." The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

While it is crucial to highlight the challenges and opportunities facing the world today, it is all the more important to develop solutions to these shared challenges while offering new avenues of opportunity to peoples across all continents.

During his keynote speech at the opening of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing, Chinese President Xi Jinping made it clear that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can offer countries at all stages of their development a clear and flexible path towards an elevated material condition.

In his speech, Xi articulated the importance of designing, delivering and maintaining sustainable high-quality infrastructure in BRI partner nations. The surest way to secure an improved economic future for any developing country is for such countries to actively pursue the creation of a modern infrastructure which can act as the primary conduit for sustainable future economic growth.

As such, in order to become increasingly independent in terms of generating revenue, a solid infrastructural base is necessary as the first step in any developmental roadmap.

Xi stated that in addition to high-quality infrastructure that can serve as a sustainable foundation for future growth, such infrastructure should be constructed using modern environmentally-sound methods so that highways of international connectivity can be green in terms of their environmental impact.

Xi further explained to his audience of world leaders, dignitaries and business operators that a solid infrastructural background must be well suited to create long term employment for local people in all BRI partner countries while the proceeds of economic development should be used to strengthen a people-centered approach to high-quality development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Second BRF in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

These statements come at a crucial time for both the developing and the developed world. Developing countries are approaching the challenges of the 21st century with the same level of commitment as that which defined national liberation struggles of the last century in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

The challenges of this century for the developing world are focused on modernizing infrastructure in order to create a new era predicated on a balance between domestic revenue generating projects and the wealth that can be generated from free trading agreements with valued partners.

The BRI is unique in that it provides developing countries with the infrastructural knowhow necessary to kick-start high-quality development, access to flexible financial agreements and investment capital, as well as giving such countries new opportunities to trade freely and transparently with major economies throughout the world, including China.

The BRI is also unique insofar as it does not place economic, trading, military or political conditions on any participating country.

By stressing a people-centered no-strings-attached approach to BRI partnerships, Xi Jinping has affirmed that the global initiative is designed to help countries make the most out of sovereign development and respectful win-win partnerships that are entered into on a free and voluntary basis and that can be amended on flexible terms over the course of growing bilateral relationships.

By giving developing countries the ability to harness their natural resources and improve their industrial production, engaging in free trading agreements with new partners will be a great asset to countries ready to enter the world market as major exporters.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and foreign leaders walk to attend the opening ceremony of the Second BRF in Beijing, April 26, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

This is why Xi's emphasis on both trade and internal development in BRI countries represents a complementary phenomenon designed to allow developing countries an opportunity to be exposed to key export markets while decreasing the costs of imports to populations achieving better employment levels due in large part to BRI projects.

Xi's speech comes at a crucial time for the world. Multiple nations are embracing a cooperative rules-based approach to trade and development and because of this, a nation as large and influential as China can provide guidance to its partners that wish to take advantage of modern trends in economic growth and global trade.

BRI's all-inclusive nature makes it clear that for China, the BRI is not about exporting Chinese governmental characteristics to other nations and it is also not about creating a geopolitical bloc of nations.

The BRI is instead about pooling together the natural, industrial and human resources of the globe together so that a moderately prosperous future in all respects can be shared as widely as possible.

Voices of multiple nations will be heard at the BRF and Xi Jinping's keynote speech helped to clearly communicate an enlightened, far-sighted yet pragmatic and respectful approach to modern multilateralism.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the BRF in Beijing, April 26, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)

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