駐美大使崔天凱為《財(cái)富》雜志撰文:不應(yīng)錯(cuò)失“一帶一路”的發(fā)展機(jī)遇
如果中美這兩個(gè)世界上最大,、最具活力的經(jīng)濟(jì)體共同推進(jìn)歷史上最具雄心的發(fā)展事業(yè),其潛力將無(wú)可限量,。中國(guó)的“一帶一路”倡議正是這樣一項(xiàng)前景可期的事業(yè),。“一帶一路”倡議始于近六年前,,將打通廣袤天地,,激活經(jīng)濟(jì)活動(dòng),創(chuàng)造可觀財(cái)富,,并史無(wú)前例地將世界聯(lián)結(jié)在一起,。然而,美國(guó)卻選擇置身事外,,錯(cuò)失了不少發(fā)展良機(jī),,這對(duì)本可從美國(guó)人的勤勞智慧中受益的全球發(fā)展也并無(wú)益處。
“一帶一路”倡議延續(xù)了聯(lián)通亞歐非的古代陸海絲綢之路的足跡,,繼承并發(fā)揚(yáng)了絲路精神,。今天的“一帶一路”已發(fā)展為超大規(guī)模合作平臺(tái)和增長(zhǎng)驅(qū)動(dòng)。已有126個(gè)國(guó)家和29個(gè)國(guó)際組織同中國(guó)簽署了合作協(xié)議,。中國(guó)同沿線國(guó)家貿(mào)易總額超過6萬(wàn)億美元,,對(duì)沿線國(guó)家投資超過800多億美元,上繳東道國(guó)稅費(fèi)20多億美元,,為當(dāng)?shù)貏?chuàng)造了將近30萬(wàn)個(gè)就業(yè)崗位,。
六年的短暫時(shí)間里,“一帶一路”倡議已向沿線國(guó)家證實(shí)了其價(jià)值所在,。例如,,世界最大的內(nèi)陸國(guó)哈薩克斯坦因參與“一帶一路”建設(shè)在中國(guó)連云港找到了太平洋出海口,。中歐班列在物流領(lǐng)域?yàn)榈聡?guó)杜伊斯堡市創(chuàng)造了超過6000個(gè)就業(yè)崗位,。通過共建“一帶一路”,牙買加,、黑山,、烏干達(dá)等國(guó)建起了第一條高速公路,白俄羅斯第一次發(fā)展起了自己的汽車制造業(yè),,斯里蘭卡等國(guó)則解決了困擾多年的電力緊缺問題,。
“一帶一路”如此快速發(fā)展、聚斂人氣,,最重要的原因在于它聚焦發(fā)展這個(gè)根本性問題,。中國(guó)人深諳發(fā)展是解決一切問題的總鑰匙,。我們嘗過“要致富,先修路”的甜頭,,愿從自身經(jīng)驗(yàn)出發(fā),,幫助各國(guó)改善基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施、增進(jìn)互聯(lián)互通,。
當(dāng)然,,有路要有車跑,港口要有船靠,,光有基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施還不夠,,還要有經(jīng)濟(jì)活動(dòng)的支撐。因此我們?cè)诨?lián)通基礎(chǔ)上致力于提振貿(mào)易投資,、改善民生,、增加就業(yè)、促進(jìn)穩(wěn)定,。
為突破投融資瓶頸,,我們?cè)O(shè)立了亞洲基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施投資銀行、絲路基金等,,同世界銀行等合作互補(bǔ),,以填補(bǔ)資金缺口。
“硬聯(lián)通”的發(fā)展還需要“軟聯(lián)通”來維系,,為使“一帶一路”更富韌性,,我們積極促進(jìn)各國(guó)發(fā)展戰(zhàn)略對(duì)接和民意相親。
有人說,,“一帶一路”必定有什么戰(zhàn)略意圖,。如果非要這么說的話,那么從其追求“五通”看,,意圖就是推動(dòng)構(gòu)建人類命運(yùn)共同體,。“一帶一路”開放,、包容,、透明。我們決不靠“一帶一路”搞地緣政治的一套,,從不拉“小圈子”,,也不排斥誰(shuí)或強(qiáng)拉誰(shuí)。
我們也聽到一些人渲染“債務(wù)陷阱”,,這是無(wú)稽之談。很多參與并受益于“一帶一路”倡議的沿線國(guó)家已經(jīng)站出來用事實(shí)和數(shù)據(jù)公開辟謠,。菲律賓財(cái)政部長(zhǎng)多明格斯公開表示,,截至去年底中方債務(wù)僅占菲總債務(wù)的0.65%,。斯里蘭卡駐華大使科迪圖瓦庫(kù)也批駁了所謂中國(guó)“債務(wù)陷阱外交”的說法。
“一帶一路”合作框架下的項(xiàng)目選擇及投融資合作,,都是各方共同商量并進(jìn)行風(fēng)險(xiǎn)評(píng)估和投資可行性分析后,,慎重作出的決策。事實(shí)上到目前為止,,沒有一個(gè)國(guó)家因?yàn)閰⑴c共建“一帶一路”而陷入債務(wù)危機(jī),,相反,很多國(guó)家通過參與“一帶一路”合作走出了“欠發(fā)達(dá)的陷阱”,、“不發(fā)展的陷阱”,,比如肯尼亞??翔F路局代理局長(zhǎng)說,,肯經(jīng)濟(jì)和民眾都從中國(guó)幫助該國(guó)擴(kuò)建升級(jí)交通基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施中受益。
我們?cè)凇耙粠б宦贰苯ㄔO(shè)中還堅(jiān)持己欲立而立人,,己欲達(dá)而達(dá)人的中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)哲思,。例如,我們推動(dòng)自身經(jīng)濟(jì)由高速度增長(zhǎng)向高質(zhì)量發(fā)展轉(zhuǎn)變,,在“一帶一路”建設(shè)中也同樣追求高質(zhì)量,,有關(guān)項(xiàng)目符合國(guó)際法和國(guó)際關(guān)系基本準(zhǔn)則,符合國(guó)際通行商業(yè)慣例和運(yùn)作模式,。
那么美國(guó)在這一互利共贏的合作中去哪兒了呢,?對(duì)美國(guó)公司而言,“一帶一路”處處有機(jī)遇,?;裟犴f爾公司致力于為“一帶一路”沿線的油氣開發(fā)提供支持,通用電氣公司已同“一帶一路”合作伙伴就電力和能源供應(yīng)簽署數(shù)項(xiàng)協(xié)議,,卡特彼勒公司在“一帶一路”框架內(nèi)推動(dòng)解決巴基斯坦電力短缺問題,,花旗銀行積極為“一帶一路”沿線各國(guó)的項(xiàng)目提供融資。我們歡迎更多美國(guó)公司參與其中,。
過幾天,,中方將主辦第二屆“一帶一路”國(guó)際合作高峰論壇,各方將齊聚北京為“一帶一路”倡議走遠(yuǎn)走實(shí)建言獻(xiàn)策,。展望未來,,“一帶一路”倡議必將在前進(jìn)中不斷完善,在務(wù)實(shí)合作中實(shí)現(xiàn)高質(zhì)量發(fā)展,。我們也將加強(qiáng)三方合作,,推動(dòng)“一帶一路”建設(shè)的雙贏、多贏,、共贏,。
我給美方朋友的建議是,,蹈而不可失者,機(jī)也,。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng)) |
Imagine the potential of China and the United States, the world's two largest, most vibrant economies collaborating on the most ambitious development project in history. The scenario is no fantasy: China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which kicked off almost six years ago, will eventually connect a vast swath of the world, creating huge yields in economic activity, and wiring the world together as never before. However, the United States remains on the sidelines, and this has implications not only in terms of missed opportunities for growth in the U.S., but for the cause of global development which needs the ingenuity and the industry of the U.S.
The BRI, which echoes the geographic footprint and spirit of the ancient land and maritime Silk Roads that linked Asia, Africa, and Europe, has indeed become a massive platform for cooperation and an engine of growth, with 126 Countries and 29 international organizations having signed BRI cooperation documents with China. Total trade between China and other Belt and Road countries has exceeded $6 trillion, and China's investment in these countries has surpassed $80 billion, with Chinese companies generating over $2 billion in tax revenue and 300,000 jobs for locals.
In six short years, the BRI is already proving its value to our partners. Consider the example of Kazakhstan. As the world's largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan has-as a direct result of the BRI-gained access to the Pacific Ocean through the Lianyungang port in China. Regular China-Europe Railway Express freight services have created more than 6,000 jobs in Duisburg, Germany's logistics sector. Through BRI cooperation, countries such as Jamaica, Montenegro, and Uganda now have their first expressways, Belarus has developed its own car industry, and Sri Lanka has seen an end to its longstanding power shortages.
The key to BRI's success and popularity is that it focuses on addressing the development issue. The Chinese know too well that development holds the master key to all problems. As the Chinese saying goes, building the road is the first step to become prosperous. Therefore, learning from our own experience, we are ready to help others improve infrastructure and connectivity.
Naturally, there is no sense in building roads where there is no traffic. Indeed, once roads, bridges, ports, railways, electricity, and the like are in place, new waves of commerce shall follow. So, in addition to being a massive infrastructure project, the BRI is a force for development that will boost trade and investment with our partners, create more job opportunities for local citizens, and improve stability and quality of life.
Since financial bottleneck often proves to be a major challenge, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund have been established to complement organizations such as the World Bank and help narrow the funding gap.
Furthermore, Belt and Road countries have enhanced the coordination of development strategies and people-to-people amity, because hardware connectivity alone, short of software connectivity, is inadequate to ensure the resilience of the BRI.
Critics say that the BRI must have an underlying strategic aim or agenda. If so, then building a community with a shared future for mankind is the agenda, as first and foremost, the BRI aims to promote connectivity. The BRI is open, inclusive and transparent. It is not a geopolitical tool, nor is it designed to form an exclusive clique or impose any terms on others.
Some people have errantly characterized the BRI as a potential debt trap. But countries who have participated in and benefited from the BRI have debunked such assertions. Finance Secretary of the Philippines Carlos Dominguez publicly stated that debts owed to China accounts for only 0.65% of the country's total debt. And Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, Sri Lanka's ambassador to Beijing, dismissed the idea of "debt-trap diplomacy."
Decisions made through the BRI framework, from project selection to investment and financing cooperation, are all based on full consultation between all parties involved, and backed by arduous risk assessment and investment feasibility studies. As a matter of fact, no country has become trapped in a debt crisis since its participation in the BRI. Quite the contrary, it is through participating in BRI cooperation that many countries have emerged from the trap of underdevelopment or no development. Consider the example of Kenya: Philip Mainga, acting managing director of Kenya Railways Corporation, said that the Kenyan economy and citizens have benefited from China's contribution to the expansion and upgrading of transport infrastructure in the country.
Traditional Chinese wisdom states that a man of virtue will seek to establish others while establishing himself. In this sense, as we are currently moving China's economy from a phase of rapid growth to a stage of high-quality development, we also pursue quality development in BRI cooperation. The projects are designed to conform with international laws and norms governing international relations and meet international business practices and operating models.
So where is the U.S. amid all of this winning? There are countless opportunities to U.S. corporations available through BRI projects. Honeywell International is already working with partners to further oil and gas development along the Belt and Road. General Electric has signed a number of deals with partners of the BRI which will help to provide reliable power and energy to critical regions across the world. Caterpillar is working with China's initiative to help solvePakistan's severe power shortages. Meanwhile, Citibank is actively providing financing for projects through the markets along the Belt and Road. We certainly welcome more taking part.
In a few days, the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will be held in China, gathering representatives from around the world to draw up a blueprint for future cooperation. Looking forward, we will continue to progress towards high-quality development through global pragmatic cooperation. We will enhance trilateral cooperation and encourage cooperation among all participating countries in third markets, achieving win-win results for all.
My suggestion is that the U.S. embrace this opportunity. |