Over 2,000 years ago, the ancient Silk Road was explored and opened for the people of Eurasia. Since then, this road has contributed greatly to the prosperity and development of the countries along its routes both on sea and on land. It has played a key role in bridging the major civilisations of Asia, Europe and Africa.
Against the backdrop of a stagnant world economy and complex international and regional situations today, it is opportune for us to inherit and promote the Silk Road spirit, which features peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit.
In September and October 2013, during his visit to Kazakhstan and Indonesia, President Xi Jinping put forward the initiative of building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (known by the abbreviation ‘belt and road’). To date, more than 60 countries and international organisations have shown interest in taking part in the development of the belt and road.
To promote the implementation of the initiative and take mutually beneficial cooperation among Asian, European and African countries to a new height, the Chinese government has published ‘The vision and actions on jointly building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road’.
The new Silk Road has mapped out the new future for China-Malta relations
This is a blueprint for the building of the belt and road and elaborating its objective, framework, priorities and principles.
The belt and road initiative aims to promote the connectivity of Asian, European and African continents and their adjacent seas, establish and strengthen partnerships among the countries along the belt and road, set up multi-dimensional, multi-tiered and composite connectivity networks and realise diversified, independent, balanced and sustainable development in these countries.
The Silk Road Economic Belt focuses on bringing together China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe (the Baltic); linking China with the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea through Central Asia and West Asia; and connecting China with Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Indian Ocean.
The 21st Century Maritime Silk Road is designed to go from China’s coast to Europe through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in one route, and from China’s coast through the South China Sea to the South Pacific in the other.
As an ambitious programme, the belt and road stresses five priority areas: policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds.
Policy coordination: countries along the belt and road may fully coordinate their economic development strategies and policies, work out plans and measures for regional cooperation.
Facilities connectivity: we should improve the connectivity of infrastructure construction plans and technical standard systems and form an infrastructure network connecting all Asian sub-regions between Asia, Europe and Africa step by step.
Unimpeded trade: we should endeavour to enhance investment and trade facilitation and remove investment and trade barriers for the creation of a sound business environment within the region and in all related countries.
Financial integration: we should deepen financial cooperation by expanding the scope and scale of bilateral currency swap and settlement with other countries along the belt and road, and make joint efforts to establish the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
People-to-people bonds: people-to-people exchange is the foundation of this initiative. We should carry forward the spirit of friendly cooperation of the Silk Road by deepening cooperation in areas such as culture, education, sports, tourism, academia and the media.
To sum up, as the belt and road initiative meets the development needs of China, countries along the routes and region at large, will serve the common interest of relevant parties and answer the call of our time for regional and global cooperation.
The belt and road initiative will be an open and inclusive one. As the President said, it will be a real chorus comprised of all countries along the routes, not solely for China itself. We welcome all countries, including Malta and other Mediterranean countries, to take part in these endeavours.
The Maltese government has shown readiness to be part of the new Maritime Silk Road. It has made it clear on several occasions that Malta strongly supports the Silk Road projects and is committed to work hand in hand with China in the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road that runs through the Mediterranean.
Malta has for ages been a hub of economic and trade exchanges in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, facilitating trade between Africa and Europe.
China and Malta have enjoyed a long-standing friendship. The relationship dates back to 1972, when the two countries established diplomatic ties. Over the years, China-Malta relations have been moving forward steadily. Last year, the two countries signed the first ever memorandum of understanding on medium-term cooperation.
Both economic relations and people-to-people exchanges have been growing rapidly. Malta has been and will continue to be an important partner in China’s diplomacy in the Mediterranean.
China welcomes Malta’s involvement in the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which will serve the interests of both the Chinese and Maltese peoples by consolidating and furthering the economic links and people-to-people ties.
The new Silk Road has mapped out the new future for China-Malta relations. Let’s seize the opportunity and raise bilateral cooperation to a new high.
Cai Jinbiao is the Ambassador of China to Malta