Chongqing - This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). During the decade, the development of the BRI has been unprecedentedly tremendous. It has covered three-fourths of the world’s countries. So far, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed cooperation documents under the BRI. It plays the role of a locomotive that is leading globalization. Let’s take a look at how it reshapes the world in its unique way.

The Green BRI

Different from the old path of development at the cost of the environment, the initiative focuses on environment-and-climate-friendly projects. For instance, it has facilitated the adoption of clean energy in its member countries by building hydropower stations, wind power plants, or photovoltaic power stations, which will help these countries avoid the pollution associated with Western industrialization.

The BRI boosting unblocked development

 

Poor and backward infrastructures have always been bottlenecks for the development of many developing countries. Another way for the BRI to change the world is to build key infrastructures. For instance, the China-Laos Railway transformed Laos from a landlocked to land-linked hub. The Mombasa-Nairobi Railway is the first modern railway in Kenya, which has created 46,000 jobs and added more than two percentage points to local economic growth. It has also revitalized more than 30 towns along the route, leading to a new wave of urbanization. Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway, the first high-speed railway in Indonesia, has shortened traveling time, overcome congestion and pollution, and provided services to communities.

The BRI for better livelihoods

The BRI has also made unprecedented achievements in improving people’s livelihoods globally. It has created over 3000 projects and 420000 jobs for participating countries. Based on World Bank data, the BRI will help lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty globally in the mid-to long-term. Moreover, under the BRI, China has brought hybrid rice planting technology to African countries, which helps local people improve agricultural yields to solve food crises and meet self-sufficiency. Chinese engineers undertake well-drilling projects there to solve the drinking water problem.

The BRI’s achievements beyond Western false narratives 

Yet, the BRI hasn’t been immune to the Western false narratives. Western nations and their media have painted the initiative’s projects as snares of debt, primarily targeting developing nations. These narratives often omit China’s considerable debt relief efforts. A 2019 Forbes report highlighted that, from 2000 to 2018, China forgave roughly $9.8 billion in debt owed by other nations. Moreover, many BRI projects have tangibly improved the quality of life for local populations, from job creation to infrastructural developments. 

In contrast, what have Western countries brought to developing and underdeveloped countries and even the world?  

Eternal scars left by wars they waged

 

For instance, over 50 years ago,  more than 20 million tons of bombs were dropped on Laos during intense air raids during the Vietnam War, which makes Laos the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world until today. 30% of dropped bombs remain undetonated, leading to casualties every year in Laos.

More pollutions

 Western countries have transferred their industries with high pollution and low value to developing countries and underdeveloped countries. Local people have to tolerate polluted air and contaminated water caused by those industries, while people in Western countries enjoy final products, fresh air, and clean water. What’s worth noting is that US military pollution significantly contributes to climate change. In 2019, a report released by Durham and Lancaster University found the US military to be “one of the largest climate polluters in history, consuming more liquid fuels and emitting more CO2e (carbon-dioxide equivalent) than most countries”. It established that if the US military were a nation-state, it would be the world’s 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases. 

Resources plundering

 For some Western countries, the African continent is a treasure house. Vast natural resources in the continent have been stolen in the form of so-called bank lending, “wars on terror,” and so forth. Western colonialism still causes tragedies and disasters we see in Africa today.