Intervenção Doutora Fernanda Ilhéu_CityUMacau_BRI: Cooperation for Development and Peace

Summary

The speaker congratulates Macau City University for hosting a conference on China's role in world peace, expressing honor at being invited by Prof. John Simon. They discuss the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a new chapter in global development, emphasizing its importance for South-South cooperation and economic growth. The BRI is seen as a pragmatic, high-speed project fostering infrastructure, trade, and investment, with a focus on mutual benefit and respect for sovereignty, aiming to create a harmonious world and society.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker expresses gratitude for being invited to a conference on the role of China in world peace by Professor John Simon and shares their perspective as an economist and expert in international business.
• 🌐 The importance of economic development for world peace is highlighted, with a focus on how developed countries can assist less developed ones in the development process through cooperation.
• 🔄 The speaker discusses the history of foreign aid, particularly since the 1970s, and its significance in areas like education, health care, and food support, but also acknowledges the challenges in initiating economic development in recipient countries.
• 🔄 The failure of Western economic models in these countries is attributed to a lack of consideration for local culture and living conditions, often applied under political and economic conditions that favored the donor countries.
• 🌏 The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is presented as a new chapter in global economic development, aiming to change the world's economic landscape and promote South-South cooperation.
• 🤝 The BRI is seen as a platform for cooperation and development for peace, respecting the principles of the United Nations Charter and focusing on mutual benefit and respect for sovereignty.
• 🛣️ Infrastructure development is a key component of the BRI, with an emphasis on building physical connectivity, digital infrastructure, and fostering innovation and green development.
• 💼 The BRI's approach to global cooperation involves both government and non-governmental economic partners, aiming to reduce barriers and build communication lines for joint development projects.
• 📈 The initiative has seen significant growth and acceptance worldwide, with 154 countries and 32 international organizations signing memorandums with China, and substantial investments and trade growth reported.
• 🌳 The BRI is described as a pragmatic and high-speed action plan that respects different ethnicities, cultures, and political ideologies, promoting peaceful coexistence and cooperation in global development projects.
• 🏆 The speaker concludes that the BRI is not only a development cooperation project but also a peace project, as there is a correlation between development and peace.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the conference organized by Macau City University?

The conference focuses on the role of China in world peace.

What is the speaker's field of expertise?

The speaker's field of research is economics and international business.

How does the speaker view the topic of world peace from their perspective?

The speaker views the topic through the lens of economic development and cooperation between developed and less developed countries.

What is the significance of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) mentioned in the script?

The BRI is seen as a new chapter in global economic development and a driver for cooperation and peace.

What does the speaker believe is the key to resolving global issues?

The speaker believes that economic development is key to resolving global issues and maintaining world peace.

What are the main drivers of the BRI according to the script?

The main drivers of the BRI are development policy coordination, connectivity upgrading, trade and investment increase, financial integration, and people-to-people links.

How does the BRI initiative aim to develop a new model of global cooperation?

The BRI aims to develop a new model of global cooperation by reducing barriers, building lines of communication, and working together on development projects with a mindset based on knowledge, connectivity, trust, and cooperation.

What is the vision for the BRI initiative?

The vision for the BRI initiative is the creation of networks of free trade zones and the interconnection of countries' development strategies to complement their competitive advantages.

How does the BRI approach the cooperation between different ethnic groups and states with different cultures and political ideologies?

The BRI approach is based on the ideal of harmony and uniformity, abiding by a political consensus with moral content, allowing different ethnic groups and states to coexist and cooperate peacefully.

What are the five principles of the United Nations Charter that the BRI respects?

The five principles are mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.

What impact has the BRI had on countries like Kenya, according to the script?

The BRI has transformed Kenya's infrastructure development, injected vitality into its economic growth, and improved the country's regional competitiveness.