Global Times: High-quality development of BRI in focus as China's two sessions set to kick off

BEIJING, Feb. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Zhang Shuibo, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, and professor at the College of Management and Economics of Tianjin University, has long focused on the development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in his work.

During last year's two sessions, the annual legislative and political consultative sessions during which a slew of social and economic development goals are outlined, Zhang submitted a proposal regarding strengthening vocational education and teacher training at Luban Workshop, a project named after an ancient Chinese craftsman to provide vocational skills training for locals in BRI partner countries. 

This year, Zhang will focus on efforts to promote high-quality development of the BRI.

"After conducting research on more than ten Chinese-funded projects in countries along the BRI such as South Africa, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan last year, I realized that with the constant changes in the international economic and social landscape, investing in and building projects in BRI partner countries currently presents both opportunities and risks," Zhang told the Global Times in an interview.

To ensure high-quality development, Zhang suggested strengthening safety training for personnel dispatched abroad by enterprises, enhancing safety education in aspects such as religious culture, laws and regulations, and incorporating this into business management.

In addition, he said, a "post-evaluation" data platform for related projects should be established, leveraging think tanks or research institutions to organize data on project construction processes, investment decisions, and case studies, enabling BRI investment and construction teams to share information resources and helping new projects avoid risks and proceed smoothly.

Hot topic

As this year's two sessions – the third session of the 14th NPC and the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body – are set to kick off next week, high-quality development of the BRI has again become a hot topic.

This year marks the 12th anniversary of the BRI. Over the years, the BRI has evolved from a vision into reality, and from general framework into concrete projects, becoming the world's most popular international public good and the largest international cooperation platform, according to Xinhua.

The tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference in December, during which economic work for 2025 was arranged, urged solid progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and improvement in the overseas comprehensive service system. 

In line with such an arrangement, NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members also focus on the high-quality development of the BRI.

As a representative from the equipment manufacturing industry, Cao Tianlan, an NPC deputy and engineer at Dongfang Electric Corp, is putting a lot of emphasis on the high-quality development of energy equipment in BRI partner countries, news site scol.com.cn reported on Wednesday.

In recent years, as BRI partner countries have become a key focus in the global equipment manufacturing industry, Cao has focused her efforts to expanding the overseas presence of Chinese equipment, the report said.

In Cao's view, efforts should be made to enhance the export of high-end equipment and leverage the international cooperation platform under the BRI to support leading domestic equipment manufacturers in participating in overseas energy infrastructure projects, creating mutually beneficial outcomes.

Wang Lizong, a CPPCC National Committee member and president of the Guangdong High-tech Industry Chamber of Commerce, said that strengthening deep coordinated cooperation between the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and ASEAN is one way to boost the high-quality development of the BRI, according to a report from the Guangzhou Daily.

"ASEAN is China's largest trading partner, which is undergoing rapid industrialization and digitalization. With the geographical proximity and cultural connections between the two regions, cooperation is highly complementary, offering vast potential for growth," Wang said.

Meanwhile, during local two sessions in various provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, high-quality development of the BRI also remained a key focus in the local government work reports for 2025. 

Some localities have proposed deeper cooperation in transportation, logistics, trade, energy, and cultural exchanges with countries and regions participating in the BRI, while promoting high-level opening-up and fostering high-quality economic growth.

High expectations

Talking about expectations for the two sessions on topics involving BRI development this year, Maya Majueran, director of Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka, a Sri Lanka-based organization focused on BRI cooperation, told the Global Times on Wednesday that this year, the BRI will likely place greater emphasis on strengthening mechanisms to promote high-quality cooperation, with a strong focus on innovation and technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G and renewable energy.

Moreover, with China's growing soft power, the BRI has evolved beyond an economic initiative into a platform for sharing China's vision of global governance, Majueran said. The integration of advanced technologies, such as AI tools like DeepSeek, into the BRI framework can be a game-changer, and these innovations benefit all participating nations, while reinforcing China's role as a global leader in technology and development, Majueran said.

BRI cooperation also gained greater significance amid rising global unilateralism and protectionism, according to Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

"Unilateralism and protectionism are rising, creating global economic uncertainty. In this context, the BRI offers a platform for open cooperation, providing greater stability and certainty for developing nations and fostering regional economic growth," Song told the Global Times.

Looking ahead, she said a key focus should be on unlocking the potential of developing countries and helping them access high-quality development. Song suggested promoting "small but beautiful" projects, such as Luban Workshop, while expanding development financing and deepening cooperation in digital and green industries. This will expand collaboration, creating more win-win outcomes and fostering shared prosperity among nations, Song said.

"Since its inception, the BRI has achieved remarkable accomplishments that have captured the world's attention, not only promoting economic development in countries along its routes but also facilitating a deeper integration between China and the world," Zhang said, while also highlighting opportunities for greater cooperation.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329198.shtml 

SOURCE Global Times