Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 23. Summary: Promoting Development and Winning the Future – Overseas People Positively Comment on Boao Forum for Asia Consolidating Development Consensus
Xinhua News Agency reporter
The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 ended successfully on the 22nd. The theme of the annual meeting is “epidemic and the world: jointly promoting global development and building a common future”, which has attracted great attention from the international community. Overseas observers believe that in the context of sluggish world economic recovery and a widening development gap, the Boao Forum for Asia is held at the right time, not only to seek a recipe for bridging differences, but also to draw a new blueprint for global governance for sustainable development.
Building an open world economy
Delegates of Boao Forum for Asia discussed in depth the trend of the world economy and the challenges it faces, and believed that all countries should adhere to building an open world economy, strengthen macro policy coordination, maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains, vigorously promote investment and trade recovery, and actively promote green recovery and digital economy development. Overseas people spoke highly of this.
On April 21, the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2022 was held in Boao, Hainan. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Haitao)
Omar Rashidi, a professor at Spain’s Essad Business School, said that this annual meeting covers topics such as political and economic order in the post-epidemic era. He believes that there are two key points: First, after the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, there is a shortage of goods and services, which should be promoted. Supply chain and trade relations should be normalized; second, countries should maintain good coordination to eliminate the negative impact and uncertainties brought about by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Forrest, chairman of Australia’s Futsk Metals Group, said that the forum provided an important platform for further strengthening the connection between Australia and Asia, and was also an important part of the connection between enterprises and Asian business partners such as China. The success of Fortesco Metals Group and Australia’s economic development are built on the powerful engine of Asia. Now, more than ever, these strong trade relationships are helping stabilize the economy.
Kulkarni, former chairman of the Observer Foundation in Mumbai, India, said that seeking common ground while reserving differences and seeking common solutions to global problems is the only way forward, but Western countries have used various excuses to set up obstacles on the road of globalization and global cooperation. If we want to learn from the pandemic, we must accelerate globalization rather than curb it, and expand it rather than shrink it.
Peng Runnian, a senior researcher at Bard College in the United States, said that a multi-polar world needs multi-polar discussions, and Asia needs its own voice. The Boao Forum for Asia has made an Asian voice. China’s promotion of Asian economic integration and the building of an open world economy is not only about economic integration, but also an invitation to jointly build the world. In a time of chaos and confrontation, China’s statement is reassuring and encouraging.
Focus on the urgent needs of developing countries
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the achievements of global poverty reduction in the past 10 years. Uneven recovery has exacerbated global inequality, and the North-South divide has continued to widen. Paying attention to the urgent needs of developing countries is an important part of the forum, which is recognized by overseas people.
On April 21, the 2022 Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia held a sub-forum on “The Belt and Road: New Practices of Cooperative Development”. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Guanyu)
Umar Bhatti, consultant of the Pakistan Institute for Sustainable Development Policy, said that over the years, China has been committed to promoting inclusive global development, allowing more and more people to participate in common development, and countries to share the fruits of economic development, not only for China , but also for the vast number of developing countries.
Joseph Mathews, a senior professor at Belthai International University in Cambodia, said that protectionism and unilateralism are negative energies that destroy the economies of small countries, hinder their development, and exacerbate regional poverty. In contrast, China has vigorously promoted the global economy and free trade through efforts such as jointly building the “Belt and Road” cooperation and promoting the development of the green economy.
Kenyan international relations expert Cavens Adhill said that the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” has become a road of cooperation, health, recovery and growth for countries along the route. In Kenya, the Kenya-China cooperation project has provided employment opportunities for local people and alleviated the economic difficulties caused by the epidemic.
Former UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary Akhtar said that without infrastructure connectivity, both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) would be It is impossible to become a reality, so we appreciate China’s work in jointly building the “Belt and Road”. I have witnessed first-hand the progress of infrastructure financing in countries that were otherwise unable to obtain the required funds, which is the achievement of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Promote the formation of a more open market in Asia
Win-win cooperation is the only way for Asia’s development. Overseas people believe that it is necessary to seize opportunities such as the official entry into force of RCEP and the completion and opening of the China-Laos Railway to promote the formation of a more open market in Asia and promote win-win cooperation in Asia to take new steps.
Hainan Boao Forum for Asia International Conference Center. (Photo taken on April 8, 2021, drone photo)
Hu Yishan, chief consultant of the Malaysian Pacific Research Center, said that Southeast Asian countries expect China to provide broader market opportunities in the process of promoting high-quality development, especially to continue to play an important role in promoting RCEP, and to carry out more extensive cooperation with Southeast Asian countries to further release this global The dividend of the largest free trade area promotes unity, cooperation and common prosperity in Asia.
Ostrovsky, director of the Center for Chinese Socio-economic Research at the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that over the past three decades, the focus of the global economy has gradually shifted to Asia. Asia has huge growth potential. RCEP will provide impetus to regional and global trade and promote the recovery of the global economy after the epidemic. The Boao Forum for Asia will promote cooperation among countries in the region under this framework.
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Suraj Shatin Thai said that Asia is the engine of world economic growth and is crucial to the recovery of the world economy. Under the epidemic, the development of Asian economies may not be synchronized. Therefore, only through solidarity and cooperation can we promote Asian economic integration and inject impetus into world economic growth. (Participating reporters: Wang Xinyi, Chen Ziwei, Du Juan, Xu Yuan, Xie Zhao, Wu Changwei, Li Hualing, Hao Yalin, Mao Pengfei, Wang Lili, Wang Feng, Zhao Xiuzhi, Li Ao, Wang Zhongyi, Jiang Lei, Song Yu, Ren Qian, Feng Junwei, Liu Yanan, Zhang Mocheng, Wang Aona, Jiang Chao)