Chargée d'Affaires Sophie Hottat at the Belgian Embassy in China visited the M Woods Museum in the 798 art district, Beijing, to take part in the opening ceremony of the first solo exhibition in China of Belgian artist Ann Veronica Janssens titled "pinkyellowblue."
Ann Veronica Janssens was born in 1956 in Folkestone, the United Kingdom.
Janssens studied at the Brussels National School for Visual Arts of La Cambre, then permanently settled in Brussels where she has since been creating art for exhibitions all over the world. Janssens' works vary from sculptures to installations, videos, and even photos. Hottat noted the role of art in fostering connections between cultures and peoples: Art, and more specifically Janssens's art, does not need a knowledge of any language or cultural background to be understood. As such, it holds the inherent power to build bridges between cultures that are vastly different, especially when cultural and people-to-people contacts are difficult.
The average altitude of the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region in Southwest China is over 4,000 meters above sea level, making it a harsh environment for survival since ancient times. However, today, on the Roof of the World, the picture of a happy life is unfolding, and a new chapter in Xizang's history is being written.
Two years ago, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited the Xizang Autonomous Region from July 21 to 23, 2021 for the 70th anniversary of Xizang's peaceful liberation, the first time in the history of the Party and the country.
During his trip, Xi extended his congratulations for the 70th anniversary of Xizang's peaceful liberation, visited officials and ordinary people from various ethnic groups, and conveyed the CPC Central Committee's care to them.
Xi said that over the last 70 years, Xizang has made historic strides in the social system and realized full economic and social development, with people's living standards significantly improving.
"It has been proven that without the CPC, there would have been neither new China nor new Xizang," Xi said. "The CPC Central Committee's guidelines and policies concerning Xizang work are completely correct."
The Chinese president also stressed fully implementing the guidelines of the CPC for governing Xizang in a new era and writing a new chapter of lasting stability and high-quality development for the plateau region.
Two years later, following Xi's footsteps, the Global Times reporters visited some key spots in Xizang region, witnessed the happy lives of local residents, the practice of Chinese modernization in the region, as well as the maintaining of rich cultures on the plateau.
Tender care
"Who brought the ancient call, and who left behind the millennium's prayers?"
These well-known lyrics in China not only depict the customs and culture found on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, but also express the local people's desire for development.
Xizang, the land that accounts for about one-eighth of China's total land area, was once the region with the highest rates of poverty. It used to be the only provincial-level concentrated contiguous area with extreme poverty in the country.
Through pragmatic and effective measures such as poverty alleviation through production development, relocation of impoverished populations, and ecological compensation, the combination of strategies has been successful in alleviating absolute poverty in the region.
By the end of 2019, all 74 poverty-stricken counties and districts in Xizang had shaken off poverty, and over 620,000 impoverished individuals had been lifted out of poverty.
Dawa Gyaltsen is one of the individuals who gained deep experience from Xizang's transformation.
Dawa, a villager from Galai village in Nyingchi, Xizang, lives in a Tibetan-style courtyard. Over the years, thanks to an increase in income, the small courtyard has become increasingly beautiful.
On July 21, 2021, Xi visited the home of Dawa and chatted with him and his family members in the living room.
Xi said the village epitomizes the economic and social achievements Xizang region has made over 70 years since its peaceful liberation. He also hailed the village as a model of ethnic unity. The president later visited a city park in Nyingchi where he greeted dancing locals and tourists.
"When the president visited my home, he asked very detailed questions about various aspects of our lives. I was surprised by his concern," Dawa told the Global Times, expressing his gratitude for Xi's tender care.
Galai village is situated at an altitude of 2,900 meters. Every spring, more than 1,200 wild peach trees bloom in succession, creating an enchanting landscape.
Leveraging this unique resource, the village has developed its tourism industry. In 2022, the village's tourism income reached 4.6 million yuan ($640,000), and all 33 households in the village received dividends, including Dawa Gyaltsen's family.
In addition to running transportation, which earned him over a hundred-thousand-yuan from 27 acres of leased land and the specialty agricultural and pastoral products from 40 heads of livestock, Dawa Gyaltsen's family achieved an annual income of 350,000 yuan.
Dawa Gyaltsen's two children currently attend a boarding school in the city of Nyingchi, returning home at weekends. The living room wall in their home is adorned with certificates and awards earned by his daughter and son, ranging from academic achievements to handwriting and sports. "My daughter wants to become a doctor, and my son aspires to be a sprint athlete," he proudly shared with the Global Times reporters.
Witness to modernization
During his visit, Xi went to the Nyingchi Railway Station, learning about the overall design of the Sichuan-Xizang Railway line and how the Lhasa-Nyingchi section has operated since June 25, 2021.
Aboard a train to the region's capital of Lhasa, Xi inspected construction along the railway route. He hailed the railway line as a major move to boost Xizang's development and improve people's living standards.
With a designed speed of 160 kilometers per hour, the 435-kilometer railway marks the launch of the country's first electrified railway route operating in the plateau region. As it crosses over the surging Yarlung Zangbo River, the Fuxing bullet train traverses the snowy plateau, bearing witness to Xizang's modernization and the fruitful outcomes of its frontier development and border security efforts.
On the C881 high-speed train from Lhasa to Nyingchi, the Global Times reporters saw not only tourists from across the country, but also many local residents shuttling between cities and counties.
Zhang Kun is a driver who operates Fuxing trains on the Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway line. When asked about his experience being a locomotive driver on the world's highest electrified railway line, Zhang told the Global Times that since he started working in 2007, he has been driving trains on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.
He said that he has operated various trains including domestically-produced Dongfeng-4 locomotives, imported NJ2 locomotives from the US, domestic Hexie bullet trains, and Fuxing bullet trains. He feels that the trains running on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau have become increasingly advanced.
"The Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway crosses the Yarlung Zangbo River 16 times along its route, with over 90 percent of the tracks laid above an altitude of 3,000 meters," Zhang said.
"However, driving on this line is not difficult. Nowadays, locomotives are becoming more advanced, and for locomotive drivers, operations have become more convenient," Zhang explained.
At the end of 2012, the total length of roads in Xizang was only 65,200 kilometers. A decade later, the total length of roads open to traffic in the region has reached 121,400 kilometers. The length of highways and expressways open to traffic in the entire region has increased from just 38 kilometers at the end of 2012 to the current 1,105 kilometers, and the three-hour comprehensive transportation circle centered on Lhasa is rapidly taking shape, the Global Times learned from Dawa Ouzhu, the Party Secretary and Deputy Director of the Xizang Regional Transportation Department.
The length of rural roads in the Xizang region increased from 53,200 kilometers at the end of 2012 to 90,400 kilometers in 2022, and their accessibility and smoothness have been greatly improved, the Global Times learned from the regional transportation department.
The transformation network in Yumai, a small border township in Xizang, is the epitome of how border regions have developed in the last decade under the leadership of the CPC.
Yumai in Shannan, Xizang, was China's smallest township in terms of population. With improved transportation and infrastructure, the remote township has now taken on a new look.
Today, Yumai has become a model village in achieving moderate prosperity, with the complete construction of the highway and its year-round accessibility. The specialized transportation line from Yumai to Shannan city is now operational. The entire township of Yumai has seen improvements in infrastructure, from paved roads and internet coverage, to enhanced education and medical services.
Well-passed traditions, cultures
The publicity and education work of building ethnic unity and progress public awareness should be combined with the education work concerning core socialist values, patriotism, anti-secessionism, history, and Marxist concepts, Xi said after hearing the reports of the Party committee and government of Xizang Autonomous Region on their work in Lhasa on July 23, 2021.
He called for the strengthening of exchanges and interactions among ethnic groups, as well as building a stronger sense of identity tied to the Chinese nation, Chinese culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics.
During a recent visit to kindergartens and schools in Xizang region, the Global Times reporters felt the successful implementation of this principle. Tibetan children in Lhasa were proficient in both Putonghua and Tibetan, skillfully expressing themselves in both languages.
Children at the Lhasa Experiment Kindergarten immerse themselves in the local traditional culture, telling stories in Tibetan, playing traditional board games, learning Tibetan dances, and dressing in Tibetan costumes. They joyfully embrace these activities as a part of their daily life.
At the nearby No.1 Primary School in Lhasa, second graders diligently learn how to read and write Tibetan in addition to mastering Putonghua. The Xizang education system places great importance on ensuring that students of Tibetan ethnic group systematically learn and grasp the local language.
When the Global Times arrived at the Drepung Monastery one afternoon, more than a hundred young lamas were engaged in a scripture debate, an essential part of learning in Buddhist teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist system.
The lamas were dressed in traditional maroon robes, holding prayer beads, and enthusiastically clapped their hands while asking their peers questions or confidently providing answering, and occasionally falling into contemplative silence.
Immersed in their discussions, they were completely undisturbed by the presence of tourists around them. After two hours of scripture debate, the lamas left the debate area with smiles and laughter, walking together in groups.
During his visit to the monastery located in the western suburbs of Lhasa in July 2021, Xi acknowledged the contributions the monastery has made in upholding the leadership of the CPC, supporting the socialist system, and safeguarding national unity.
Xi stressed the full implementation of the Party's fundamental guidelines governing religious work, respecting the religious beliefs of the people, and adhering to the principle of independence and self-governance in religious matters.
At Lhasa's Barkhor Street, Xi visited shops and learned about the development of tourism and cultural industries, as well as the preservation of Tibetan culture. On the street, people from various ethnic groups greeted Xi, who waved back.
At present, Xizang region is at a new historical starting point in its development, and the Party's leadership must be upheld and the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics must be followed, Xi said.
China and Pakistan's "ironclad" friendship has long been characterized by strong diplomatic ties, economic cooperation and strategic collaboration. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project under the BRI. Over the last decade, the CPEC has achieved fruitful results which have not only deepened bilateral cooperation but also opened up new avenues for regional connectivity and economic development. What has the CPEC brought to Pakistan over the last decade? What will be prioritized in the next decade? On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the CPEC, Global Times reporters Xie Wenting and Bai Yunyi (GT) talked to Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque (Haque) on the development of the CPEC. GT: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). How does Pakistan assess the overall impact and achievements of the CPEC on Pakistan's economy and development?
Haque: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marked a new phase in China-Pakistan relations by placing economic cooperation and connectivity at the center of the bilateral agenda.
This year, as we celebrate the CPEC's 10th anniversary, it is an opportune time to review and reflect upon its achievements and successes. The CPEC has been a "game changer" transforming the economic landscape of Pakistan. It has helped Pakistan to develop and upgrade its transport and communication infrastructure and address our essential energy needs. A network of highways and motorways has provided more reliable China-Pakistan connectivity across the Karakoram Mountains and smoother inland communications.
Around 50 projects under the CPEC have been completed with a total investment of approximately $25 billion. The creation of over 200,000 jobs through these projects has helped Pakistan to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty, leading to the economic empowerment of its people.
The CPEC has seen the success of important early harvest projects and has now entered into its second phase which is even more promising as it broadens the scope of cooperation and focuses on socio-economic development, science and technology, agricultural cooperation, and industrialization.
GT: What specific sectors have benefited the most from the CPEC? How has it contributed to job creation and economic diversification in Pakistan?
Haque: Fully aligned with the national development agenda of Pakistan, the CPEC is the key to our socio-economic development and is an excellent example of an open, coordinated, and inclusive development paradigm that benefits all parts of the country and all segments of the society. Governed by the Cooperation Framework, the CPEC is supported by four pillars: Gwadar Port, energy, transport infrastructure, and Industrial Cooperation.
Construction of Gwadar Port is a key CPEC Project, and is now operational and ready to serve as a hub for trade and investment. Phase I of the Gwadar Free Trade Zone has been completed. In order to support these economic activities, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the Eastbay Expressway in June 2022. In a few months' time, the Gwadar New International Airport (GNIA) will be inaugurated. We are confident that all these projects will lend a fresh impetus to the high-quality development of Gwadar Port in the coming years.
Similarly, our energy cooperation, under the CPEC has been satisfactory. Thirteen new energy projects have been completed, injecting 8,000 MW of electricity into the system, boosting industrial output, and thus contributing to steady economic growth.
Transport infrastructure cooperation, under the CPEC, has also achieved significant progress. Signature projects like the KKH-II (Havelian-Thakot), the Peshawar to Karachi Highway (Sukkur-Multan), and the Lahore Orange Line are fully operational. Both sides are also committed to implementing the ML-1 railway and Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) projects, once matured.
Industrial cooperation, under the CPEC is pivotal for the second phase of its high-quality development. In 2022, both sides signed the CPEC Framework Agreement on Industrial cooperation. The Special Economic Zones (SEZs), being developed under the CPEC, are aimed to rejuvenate Pakistan's industrial sector and further spur economic development.
Socio-economic development cooperation, under the CPEC, has also achieved remarkable progress. So far, 27 projects in six areas of agriculture, education, health, poverty alleviation, energy, and professional training have been implemented leading to an improvement of people's livelihoods.
GT: As the CPEC enters its second decade, what are Pakistan's priorities and expectations for further cooperation with China under this framework?
Haque: Building high-quality infrastructure and enhancing connectivity and regional integration would be prioritized in the second phase of CPEC development.
Speaking at an event hosted by Pakistan to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the CPEC, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored that the "CPEC is not merely a collection of different projects but a symbol of prosperity and shared development" for the entire region, including neighboring countries. He added that the first phase of the CPEC was about fixing the "hardware" side of development, and the upcoming second phase would upgrade the "software" of development by focusing on agriculture, science and technology, skill development, innovation, industrialization, economic growth, health, and education.
In that context, Pakistan and China would hold regular meetings of the CPCE's Joint Working Groups (JWGs) to evaluate and review progress made by each side in relevant fields. This would enable us to attain desired results expected from CPEC.
GT: How does Pakistan view its role in the broader context of the BRI and its potential to foster regional economic integration and connectivity?
Haque: Pakistan considers the historic BRI is a win-win proposition aimed at bringing shared prosperity for humankind. It has emerged as a new model for deepening regional connectivity and economic integration among partner countries. The BRI provides a strong impetus for a wave of globalization by boosting bilateral and multilateral trade and foreign direct investment projects.
Through a network of various corridors, the BRI is reshaping the geo-economics of the participating countries and has become a beacon of hope for them.
The BRI has also significantly contributed to stabilizing supply chains along the route while promoting a culture of economic resilience through industrialization, creation of jobs, entrepreneurship promotion, innovation, and advancing technology.
Seventy eight years ago, the Japanese government officially announced its unconditional surrender, signifying the end of World War II and the victory of people worldwide against fascism. Despite post-war efforts by the Allied powers, Japan's war criminals were subjected to appropriate trials and penalties.
However, the specter of Japanese war criminals still looms as they are enshrined in the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, with occasional open visits by Japanese politicians, and attempts by right-wing forces to distort historical facts have never ceased. The Yasukuni Shrine honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from WWII and is regarded as a symbol of past Japanese militarism.
At the same time, in countries that suffered aggression, including China and South Korea, the hardships endured by people during the war and the unwavering spirit of anti-aggression heroes have never been forgotten. Activists have been steadfastly advocating for peace.
"By understanding our history, we cherish peace even more," Luo Cunkang, Party Secretary at the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression, also the secretary-general of the International WWII Museum Association, told the Global Times.
"In the current complex and turbulent international environment, commemorating that period of history holds even greater significance. It will bolster our determination and courage to uphold peace in the face of challenges," he noted.
Never forget
On Sunday, two days before August 15, visitors flooded the Sihang Warehouse Battle Memorial near Shanghai's landmark Huangpu River, to commemorate the 86 anniversary of the Battle of Shanghai - one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).
The memorial was built at the site of the Sihang Warehouse defense battle that took place in downtown Shanghai in October 1937. The defense battle was well known all over China and the world because of China's war epic The Eight Hundred, which once topped the global box office in 2020.
The memorial held a series of commemorative activities on the day to mark the 76th anniversary of the Battle of Shanghai, including showcases of themed choruses, instrumental ensembles, poetry recitations, and a history lecture.
"We hope those who visited the memorial and participated in the activities will know more about and remember the history [of the war]," the memorial's director Ma Youjiong told the Global Times.
Starting from the Japanese-initiated "September 18 Incident" in 1931, the Chinese people engaged in a relentless and arduous struggle against Japanese aggressors for 14 years. The War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was an important component of the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was the earliest to start, the longest-lasting, and latest to end.
Having sustained military and civilian casualties numbering over 35 million, accounting for one third of total casualties during WWII, and suffering economic losses worth $600 billion as calculated according to 1937 rates, the Chinese people finally defeated the Japanese militarist invaders.
In Beijing, students who are in summer vacation pour into the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance against Japanese Aggression, listening to the stories of the wartime history.
The exhibition hall is always bustling with activity. Many parents patiently and meticulously recount the stories to their children, allowing them to better appreciate the iconic artifacts and classic photographs on display. "I believe this is the best form of education," said Luo.
Located near the Lugou Bridge, where the invasion by the Japanese soldiers started in 1937, the museum is an important patriotic education center. It has a series of activities to commemorate August 15, as well as September 3, China's Anti-Japanese War Victory Day.
According to Luo, the museum will also air a live broadcast online, focusing on content related to August 15, 1945, when Japan announced its unconditional surrender and the Chinese people celebrated the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. On September 3, the museum will host volunteer themed musical activities.
The museum is also planning to invite students from the island of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao special administrative regions to Beijing to visit the museum. "During the war, compatriots from all parts of China were united as one. The history of heroic struggle will help to enhance the emotional bond among these young students," Luo said.
Shared recollections
The wars of aggression launched by Japanese imperialists are a source of shared, deeply painful memory in China and the Korean Peninsula.
Chinese and Korean people joined forces to fight against the imperial Japanese army during the years of hardship. There are sites of the Korean Provisional Government in several Chinese cities including Shanghai, which witnessed patriotic Koreans set up overseas Korean Provisional Governments to continue their independence movements against atrocities committed by the Japanese army.
Baek Seo-Hui, a South Korean student studying for a master's degree at Fudan University in Shanghai, visited the site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in the city's downtown Huangpu district earlier this year.
"That day was March 1, the [104th] anniversary of Korea's March First Movement," Baek told the Global Times. The movement was a series of demonstrations for Korean national independence from Japan imperialism starting on March 1, 1919.
Baek met many Korean visitors at the site that day. "The site is a place of historical significance," she said. "There, I felt the spirit of dedication and sacrifice in Korean independence efforts. Occasionally I might think that, there wouldn't be 'me' and 'a peaceful world' today without their [efforts] at that time."
The August 15 anniversary is a memorable day for people in both China and the Korean Peninsula. The day is also called the National Liberation Day of Korea, a day that the peninsula ended 35 years of Japanese colonial rule, Baek said.
"Similar to China, we hold many commemorative activities on August 15, each to mark this special day, such as Liberation Day memorial ceremonies, lectures, and competitions organized for the teens," she added.
In September 2022, the "China-Korea Joint Resistance against Japan" special exhibition opened at the Museum of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. The exhibition serves as a collective remembrance and retrospective of the historical struggle of the Chinese and Korean peoples against the imperialist aggression of Japan. The exhibition showcased events spanning from 1910 to 1945, during which China and Korea fought side by side against Japanese imperialist colonization and aggression, ultimately achieving victory.
Luo remarked that in modern history, China and Korea share a similar destiny, forming a historical narrative of mutual support and united resistance against Japanese imperialism. This chapter of history requires further exploration, organization, and research by both China and South Korea, to be widely disseminated within the societies of both nations.
"We must draw enlightenment from history and ensure that the tragedies of the past do not repeat themselves," Luo said. "Our engagement in providing education on these historical events is not to perpetuate hatred, but the undeniable truth must not be denied, and justice must prevail. Both China and South Korea bear the obligation and responsibility to uphold this."
Undeniable crime
Japan has become increasingly aggressive in recent years in seeking to break free from its postwar pacifism. It actively seeks to revise the constitution so as to exercise the right of collective self-defense, ignoring the exclusively defense-oriented policy and seeking to "acquire the capability to strike enemy bases." In its 2023 Defense White Paper passed last month, Japan labeled China as its greatest security threat.
In May, Japan and NATO vowed to strengthen cooperation in space and cyberspace development to counter both China and Russia, a close interaction between the two sides after NATO said it plans to open a liaison office in Tokyo, the first of its kind in Asia.
Chinese analysts believe the NATO liaison office in Japan is no longer a symbolic move but a substantial move to build a so-called security defense around China. However, Japan's security can never be achieved by relying on the military support of the US or NATO. In fact, the more closely Japan cooperates with the US or NATO militarily, the less it will obtain the security it wants, and the less likely it will be able to change its image as a "geostrategic dwarf."
Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced in March that South Korea would no longer seek compensation from Japanese companies for the forced labor endured by Korean victims during WWII. The decision immediately sparked strong opposition from anti-war activists within South Korea. A 95-year-old South Korean senior citizen took to the streets once again, stating, "Even though I'm 95 years old, I can't die because it's unfair."
"When it comes to issues of historical understanding, it is reasonable to jointly demand for Japan to clearly acknowledge its wartime responsibilities, engage in continuous self-reflection on its war actions, and offer apologies and compensation. This line of thought aligns with normal expectations under such circumstances," Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
"If the current South Korean government chooses to more closely align with Japan in the future, it might lead to a regression in the acknowledgment of historical issues related to wartime atrocities," he said. "The prioritization of present-day interests could overshadow the recognition of its dark history."
China and Korea were the main victims of Japanese aggression, and were significant contributors to the victory of the world anti-Fascist war. Sentiments shared by many reached by the Global Times on the matter in both countries underline that the two sides can jointly work further in commemorating the victory in war, and urge Japanese right-wing forces to face up to history.
As China, Japan, and Korea are geographical neighbors and share close economic ties, how to smartly deal with diplomatic, economic, and people exchanges among the three nowadays has become an important issue concern, Baek said.
Remembering history doesn't equate to the blind hostility against Japan, noted Ma Jun, a research fellow at the Institute of History at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. Ma also serves as the deputy director of the Shanghai Research Association of War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War.
"While condemning Japanese right-wing forces, we can conduct normal, friendly exchanges with the antiwar people of Japan, which I think consists of the majority of today's Japanese society," Ma told the Global Times.
During the Vietnam War, the US used cluster bombs to carry out airstrikes on targets in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Over a period of nine years - from 1964 to 1973 - the US dropped more than two million tons of bomblets particularly in Laos, of which 80 million tons failed to detonate. Consequently, Laos now holds the unfortunate distinction of being the most heavily bombed country per capita in history.
Many fear that Ukraine, which has received many cluster bombs from the US, will become the next unfortunate casualty to share Laos' fate.
How does a US veteran who fought in the Vietnam War view the US' supply of cluster bombs to Ukraine? What do they feel it means to the legacy of their time on the ground? In conversation with one US Vietnam War veteran, the Global Times learned the answers to this question and more.
This story is a part of the Global Times' series of "Witness to history," which features first-hand accounts from witnesses who were at the forefront of historic events. From scholars, politicians and diplomats to ordinary citizens, their authentic reflections on the impact of historical moments help reveal a sound future for humanity through the solid steps forward taken in the past and the present.
Though more than 50 years have passed, the heavy shower of bomblets dropped from airplanes he piloted on Laos' devastated lands remains a deep scar in retired US Air Force officer Mike Burton's mind. Participating in the extensive bombing of Laos during America's "secret war" in Vietnam War has become one of Burton's deepest regrets and a source of dark memories.
The retired US Air Force officer now is the board chairman of Legacies of War. This organization raises awareness about the history of the bombing of Laos during the Vietnam War, and the organization will lead the US Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions this coming year.
In a recent exclusive interview with the Global Times, Burton expressed regret at dropping the inhumane cluster bombs on Laos, warning that "Ukraine shouldn't want this nightmare."
Burton, citing his own tragic memories, warned that the results will be deadly and disastrous for both the people of Ukraine and the US for decades to come, calling for the US government to be more cautious and accountable in its decision to send an $800-million military aid package which includes cluster munitions to Ukraine, a decision that has sparked widespread condemnation.
Dark memories of war
Burton joined the US Air Force in 1962 and was assigned to the 56th Air Commando Wing (ACW) in 1966. "The primary mission of the units to which I was assigned was to stop the flow of personnel and materials coming from North Vietnam through the Ho Chi Minh Trail to South Vietnam. The trail was located almost entirely in Laos," he explained.
"In my memory, overall, Laos was bombed every 8 minutes, 24 hours a day, for nine years. The aircraft assigned to the 56th ACW were a fixed-wing propellor-driven aircraft. The T-28 was the main aircraft used for interdiction along the trail. They could carry up to a 4000-pound payload. The B-52s dropped the majority of cluster bombs out of other bases. Besides, many bombs remained in the ground unexploded, in an intense land battle. The surface would be littered with a seemingly limitless number of every type of bomb used in ground combat, from cluster bomblets and artillery shells to hand grenades," Burton recalled to the Global Times.
He said that at least 30 to 40 percent of the cluster munitions didn't explode and he felt "so nervous" in using those bomblets, as the bomblets "indiscriminately fell into rice paddies and places that people were making a living."
"We think there are up to 80 million individual bomblets around or spread over the land area, some of them will never be removed," Burton sighed.
Cluster munitions are a type of explosive ordnance that can be launched from airplanes, missiles, or cannons, and can contain hundreds of submunitions, which are dispersed over a large area aerially, causing casualties and damage in a wider area. Cluster munitions do not have a targeting mechanism. What's even more alarming is that if these bomblets land on wet and soft ground, a significant portion of them can become "duds." The "duds" did not explode initially, but will explode later when subjected to external force or environmental changes.
"As one Laotian said, the 'bombs fell like rain,' and villages and entire valleys were obliterated. Countless civilians were killed," Burton recalled in a grave tone.
The US' bombing campaign was conducted in secrecy, only coming to light through a congressional hearing in 1971 and subsequent media reports. However, the true extent of the devastation caused by this "secret war" in Laos remains largely unknown to the American public, according to a report by CNN.
"Later, I came away from the war in Southeast Asia with very bad feelings about what we had and what had happened there. I saw [tragedies] both on the ground and from the air," Burton told the Global Times.
Those bomb bees look about the size of a play thing for a kid and a lot of the deaths occurred as there have been children who picked these things up and ended up losing their lives or arms or eyes, he noted bitterly, falling into solemn silence occasionally.
"I saw this destruction firsthand from the air and on the ground. I have seen Lao children and adults with missing limbs, eyes, and mutilated faces all from unexploded ordnances. The impact of our decision to drop cluster bombs on Laos also found its way to the US with waves of refugees fleeing death," Burton said.
In 1967, when Burton visited a village in Laos and asked a local villager, a school teacher, what he could offer as help, the reply was very short: "To leave."
"They said I'd like you to leave because you're going to get us killed," Burton said. "After two weeks, when I visited again, I was taken down an area where several people were assassinated in the square. And one of those was the school teacher who I talked to two weeks before. He was right. We got him killed."
According to reports, cluster munitions have a higher lethality than conventional ammunition. Since World War II, cluster munitions have caused approximately 56,500 to 86,500 civilian deaths. The US military used cluster munitions in the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Kosovo War, Afghan War, and Iraq War, resulting in significant damage to infrastructure and numerous civilian deaths and injuries.
Long road of redemption
In 2022, Burton, as the chair of the Legacies of War Board, had an opportunity to return to Laos and again felt deep sorrow when gazing down upon the land filled with many giant craters while on the plane.
"The scarred land is a reminder of America's deadly mistake, a reminder of the lives we took, and the ancient sites we obliterated," he suggested.
The veteran told the Global Times how he has suffered mentally and psychologically in dealing with his guilt after his return from the war, and had 14 months of therapy with the assistance of the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
"A lot of these young people came back, got into alcohol, drugs, anger, and the statistics from the Vietnam veterans is pretty bad with everything from suicide to just broken marriages and broken homes, and that sort of thing," he said.
This year marks the 50th year since the last American bombs were dropped in the Vietnam War. But the scars in Burton's heart have never been erased.
According to the Laos government, less than 10 percent of the deployed munitions have been destroyed.
"I have much to regret about the time I spent in the war; many things I try not to remember," said Burton, adding that he is now driven to make amends in any way that he can and speaks out to prevent future atrocities.
Burton later took part in the detonation of some of the unexploded ordnances in 2022 - work that is tedious, time consuming, and dangerous. He also started the Immigrant and Refugee Committee Organization, which serves a diverse group of immigrants and refugees from all over the world, including Ukraine.
Ukraine assured the US in early July that it wouldn't use cluster munitions in civilian areas, but once cluster munitions are deployed, no one can provide a definite answer as to whether such a promise will be strictly adhered to.
At least 38 human rights organizations have publicly opposed the US providing cluster munitions to Ukraine. These organizations state that since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the numerous unexploded cluster munitions left behind by the war have posed a significant threat to the people of both Russia and Ukraine, causing great harm to many civilians.
"Now, the arms manufacturing people are probably already at Pentagon's doors saying, hey, we're here with a new contract you need to build. You just sell all of our reserves to Ukraine. I want to stop them from doing that," Burton said.
"If the US is really thinking and leaning toward doing that, I wish they would also sign a public document that said they will stand by the consequences of that. So that when the war is over, we will take care of clearing alarms. We will take care of caring for the children and the people who lose their arms and legs and eyes for the rest of their lives. And I want us to take responsibility for that," Burton concluded.
"To have such a successful neighbor and not learn from them is like starving in a wheat field." This is how a Tajik scholar describes the desire of Central Asia to expand cooperation with China in the field of talent training.
From the professional construction of vocational education systems, to local teacher training, to cultivating the local social development need for talent ... In recent years, China and Central Asian countries in the cooperation of training professional personnel have been pressing the "accelerator button" under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Recently, Global Times reporters visited the "Silk Road" International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage (Silk Road University) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and the Kazakh Luban Workshop project to see how China is helping Central Asia cultivate professional and technical talent, and building an important bridge for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two sides.
New university on ancient Silk Road
On September 2, the opening ceremony of the China-Uzbekistan Belt and Road International Laboratory, a joint archaeological and scientific laboratory for the technical protection of cultural heritage, was held at the Silk Road University. This was a major event that Zou Tongqian, the first Chinese vice president of the university, who came from Beijing International Studies University, attached great importance to.
The initiative to open the Silk Road University was proposed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit in 2018. China has provided strong support for the establishment and construction of the university. For a long time, the university has closely cooperated with Chinese universities such as Beijing International Studies University and Northwest University.
In late August, Global Times reporters visited the Silk Road University and found that although the campus is not large, every detail is carefully arranged. On the walls of the main teaching building, there is a map of the ancient Silk Road and silhouettes of camel caravans, evoking the prosperity of the Silk Road in the past. In the corridor, there are paintings by students from various countries, depicting their understanding of the Silk Road.
Alysher Shamshidinov, a teacher at Silk Road University, told the Global Times that there are about 2,000 students at the university, mainly studying majors such as hotel management and logistics. It is worth mentioning that there are 85 international students, including 10 Chinese students pursuing master's degrees, as well as a number of renowned professors from world-famous universities.
In the past few years, China has played an important role in the construction of Silk Road University and the cultivation of local talent. In the library of Silk Road University, the Global Times saw a "China Corner" filled with Chinese books. In 2022, the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan donated more than 550 books and audiovisual materials in Chinese, English and Russian, covering topics such as Chinese culture, art, literature, history, tourism and Chinese language learning.
Since Zou took office as vice president in 2022, he and other Chinese colleagues have helped the university introduce a series of scientific research platforms, including the "One Belt and One Road" International Laboratory. They have also applied for the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Heritage Tourism, invited globally renowned professors, and organized scholars from China, Central Asia, India, ASEAN and other countries and regions to conduct important research projects.
Cultivating more 'Lubans' of New Era
In August, during the summer vacation, the campus of Tianjin Vocational Institute is quiet and peaceful. However, one classroom is filled with lively discussions, sometimes interspersed with applause and laughter. In this classroom, 15 professional teachers from the East Kazakhstan Technical University (EKTU) are earnestly seeking advice from their Chinese counterparts on automotive repair techniques.
These foreigners are the first group of Kazakh teachers to come to China for training at the newly established Kazakh Luban Workshop. During the China-Central Asia Summit in May this year, Tianjin Municipality signed a cooperation agreement with East Kazakhstan Region to establish the Luban Workshop in Kazakhstan, officially launching the project.
"Can anyone tell me the different methods for replacing brake fluid in a car?" Guo Jianying, professor at the Automotive College of Tianjin Vocational Institute, vividly asked and demonstrated to the Kazakh teachers at the Luban Workshop how to replace brake fluid in a car. He also mentioned the management standards and procedures for waste oil in China. For this lesson, Guo prepared meticulously for a long time.
In the classroom, everyone eagerly raised their hands, expressing their opinions and engaging in lively interactions. They didn't even want to take a tea break. "We are very interested in the Luban Workshop training. Chinese teachers have a high level of expertise!" Murat Muzdybayev, a leading researcher at the School of Mechanical Engineering at EKTU, excitedly told the Global Times.
Muzdybayev noted that Kazakhstan has a great demand for automotive repair technicians, and they believe that the cooperation of the Luban Workshop, training equipment and resource sharing from China will greatly enhance the vocational training level of relevant majors at EKTU and promote the development of the local automotive repair industry.
The Luban Workshop is an international brand of vocational education created and led by Tianjin Municipality under the guidance of the Chinese Ministry of Education. It is named after Lu Ban, a legendary craftsman and inventor who lived 2,500 years ago in China. It combines academic education with vocational training, aiming to help countries along the BRI cultivate professional technical talent.
The Global Times learned that the specialties taught in the Luban Workshop are the most needed technologies for local industrial development, aiming to cultivate the most useful technical and skilled talent for local economic and social development.
Taking the Luban Workshop project in Kazakhstan as an example, Kazakhstan is a typical landlocked country with a high demand for land transportation. However, the country lacks a complete industrial chain in the automotive field, and there is a shortage of corresponding technical and skilled talent.
In recent years, the Kazakh government has also increased its new-energy vehicle (NEV) development plans, creating an urgent need for NEV maintenance technology and related talent. They hope to strengthen talent training in this area with China to "take the lead" in the field of NEVs, observers noted.
The curriculum of the Luban Workshop training for Kazakhstan has fully considered these factors. The training includes three modules: fuel vehicles, NEVs and intelligent connected vehicles, with a total of 20 training courses. During the training, the Tianjin Vocational Institute also arranges for teachers from EKTU to visit Chinese NEV and intelligent connected vehicle companies.
Samat Baigereyev, deputy dean of the School of Mechanical Engineering at EKTU, told the Global Times that the visit to Chinese car manufacturers such as Great Wall left a deep impression on him. He is very interested in China's technology in the field of NEVs and hopes to pass on these technologies to more Kazakh students.
Unlike many other international vocational training projects, in the Luban Workshop, Chinese teachers do not directly teach local students but train local teachers. Through such a flexible and down-to-earth form, the rich teaching resources, high-quality technical standards and more advanced experimental equipment in China's vocational education system can be more efficiently integrated into the national academic education system of the partner country in a more localized way.
Attractive talent training cooperation models
In recent years, China and Central Asian countries have witnessed rapid development in their cooperation in the field of talent cultivation, with the Luban Workshop and the Silk Road University serving as representative programs. At a recent seminar held in Beijing, Abdukhalil Gafurzoda, Director of the Centre for Friendship and Cooperation in Tajikistan expressed a strong interest in expanding cooperation with Chinese educational and research institutions, citing several key reasons.
First, Chinese universities are highly attractive to students from Central Asia, as Chinese diplomas are considered to be of high value. The number of Tajikistani students studying in Chinese universities has increased nearly 20 times in the past 15 years, reaching close to 4,000. This is not a coincidence, said Gafurzoda.
Second, the rapid expansion of economic cooperation between China and Central Asia in recent years has created a significant demand for local talent. Gafurzoda revealed that there are about 500 Chinese companies operating in Tajikistan, and Chinese enterprises have also participated in the implementation of 14 major investment projects in the country. Chinese investment accounted for 34 percent of Tajikistan's total foreign investment over the past decade.
"The establishment of the Luban Workshop in Dushanbe a year ago was, to some extent, aimed at addressing this issue," said the Tajikistani scholar.
With three projects already underway in Central Asia in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, where the Luban Workshop's talent cultivation standards and professional construction quality have gained wide recognition. Currently, 14 international professional teaching standards have been approved by the education ministries of cooperating countries and incorporated into their national education systems.
Why have the Luban Workshop and other personnel training cooperation projects?been able to make such good and fast progress in Central Asia?
"Our cooperation with another party does not come with any political conditions. We genuinely want to cooperate with Central Asian countries in the field of vocational education, help them improve their professional skills education level, and promote local industrial development. Through these collaborations, our teaching staff's capabilities and the internationalization level of our school can also be enhanced. It is a win-win situation," Meng Zheng, deputy director of the International Exchange Department of Tianjin Vocational Institute, told the Global Times.
Meng also noted that China's vocational education system is very complete and powerful, which includes technology, standards, resources, equipment and facilities,
"There are more than 1,300 vocational education institutions in China, and the improvement in scale and quality has been rapid. I believe that the level of vocational education in China is not inferior to internationally renowned vocational education models such as Germany and Australia. This creates a strong attraction for countries in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan," he said.
Over the last four years, China-Solomon Islands cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has achieved fruitful results, bringing profound benefits to both nations. In a recent interview with the Global Times, the first Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands expressed confidence in the future cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands.
"The Solomon Islands will undoubtedly become a magnet for Chinese business investments," Li Ming, who served as the Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands from September 2020 to September 2023, told the Global Times.
According to Li, the development of China-Solomon Islands relations has been multifaceted. At the highest level of engagement, Prime Minister Sogavare has made two official visits to China, establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development for a new era. Head-of-state diplomacy has charted a grand blueprint for high-quality joint construction of the BRI and provided strategic guidance for bilateral relations.
In terms of infrastructure connectivity, China has become the Solomon Islands' largest infrastructure cooperation partner. China-aided facilities like the Pacific Games' main stadium and the Solomon Islands National University dormitories have become local landmarks, providing essential support for the hosting of major sporting events, promoting economic and social development.
Regarding trade facilitation, China has been the Solomon Islands' largest trading partner for several consecutive years. China provides 98 percent tariff-free treatment to products from Solomon Islands in nearly all categories, and both countries are steadily advancing cooperation in inspection and quarantine, creating favorable conditions for the expansion of exports of agricultural and fishery products from the Solomon Islands to China, leading to an increase in incomes for its people.
In terms of financial connectivity, an increasing number of Chinese companies are turning their attention to the Solomon Islands. During Prime Minister Sogavare's visit to China in July, a "China-Solomon Islands High-Level Enterprise Exchange Meeting" was held in Beijing, at which Chinese enterprises in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, energy and mineral resources, infrastructure, telecommunications, and tourism engaged in in-depth communication with representatives from the Solomon Islands. It is believed that in the next phase, the Solomon Islands will become a magnet for Chinese business investments.
In terms of people-to-people exchanges, China has established friendly relations with multiple provinces and cities in the Solomon Islands. More than 100 young students from the Solomon Islands have come to China to further their studies under government scholarships. China also continues to be committed to improving the Solomon Islands' medical and healthcare conditions by donating a large quantity of medical and epidemic prevention supplies, and Chinese medical teams have alleviated the suffering of many patients in the country. When the Chinese navy's Ark Peace hospital ship visited the Solomon Islands, it treated tens of thousands of patients in just one week.
In September 2019, the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with China, becoming one of China's newest diplomatic partners. Less than a month after establishing diplomatic ties, Prime Minister Sogavare visited China and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on jointly building the BRI, media sources reported.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the friendly cooperation between the two countries has steadily advanced and has been at the forefront of China's relations with Pacific island countries, becoming a model of solidarity, cooperation, and joint development among large and small countries and developing countries.
In a previous interview with the Global Times in May, former ambassador Li said, "As the first Chinese Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, my most prominent impression after arriving in the Solomon Islands was the enthusiasm and expectations of the Solomon Islands' government and people for China-Solomon Islands relations."
He told the Global Times that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, both governments and peoples have been committed to promoting friendship, expanding cooperation, and have achieved fruitful results, proving with practical actions that the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Solomon Islands is on the right side of history.
"Various sectors of the country's society have shown significantly increased enthusiasm for cooperation with China, with a more resolute attitude toward upholding China-Solomon Islands relations, and support for the One-China principle has become a common consensus among various sectors," he said.
Even though a decade has passed, Grace Jessica can still vividly recall the moment when she read about Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal on the "Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)" made during his visit to the Indonesian parliament in the newspaper. She referred to it as a crucial moment for herself because, since then, she has sensed Indonesia's increasing desire to connect with China, just like many other developing countries. From that moment on, her curiosity about China began to grow.
Almost a decade on, in 2019, Jessica, as a fresh university graduate, took a job as an assistant director at the Tegalluar Station, the end point of recently unveiled Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR) line, a landmark project under the China-proposed BRI. Her participation in such an important national infrastructure project has become a point of pride for her family, and has made her a celebrity among Indonesian people.
"For us, mentioning China means 'more bridges, more roads, and more opportunities.' The rise of China is marked by its increasingly strong economic power, which is reflected in visible and usable roads and bridges," said Jessica.
Jessica's summary of China is a microcosm of what China represents in the minds of many young people, especially Gen-Zers in Southeast Asian countries.
In a recent visit to Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, it was evident to the Global Times that despite West-led chatter and misinformation regarding China, many in these Southeast Asia countries have a rational understanding of China. They see more of China's friendliness, its mutual benefit philosophy, and positive regional influence rather than as an alleged threat.
Embracing China means embracing hope
Unlike previous generations, the younger generation in many Southeast Asian countries positively views China's market and technological strength. Jessica told the Global Times that Indonesians see better career development opportunities through the BRI. "I see embracing China as embracing hope both personally and nationally. The BRI infrastructure project in Indonesia means shorter distances to reunite with family, national pride, and expectations for rapid development."
Gen-Zer Rizka Anggraini, a provincial top scorer in Indonesian national exam from South Sumatra Province, Indonesia, shares the same viewpoint. After graduating from high school, she applied for a Chinese government scholarship and chose to study in China instead of traditionally popular Western countries. Even before graduating, she had secured a place at a Chinese state-owned enterprise investing in energy projects in Indonesia. Some of her friends envy her proficiency in Chinese and her background of studying in China, which means a future income, especially as Chinese companies gradually expand their presence in Indonesia.
In February, the ASEAN Studies Centre of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore released "The State of Southeast Asia: 2023 Survey Report," showing that China continues to be seen as the most influential economic (59.9 percent) and political-strategic (41.5 percent) power in the region. In comparison, the percentage of respondents who believed that "the US has the greatest influence" in these two areas were 10.5 percent and 31.9 percent respectively.
Another survey by Pew in 2022 showed similar trends, as a median of 66 percent across 19 countries believe that China's influence on the world stage is growing stronger, while just 32 percent say the same about the US. In each country surveyed, more than half of adults say China's influence in the world is strengthening.
The expansion of this influence is driven by the increasing presence of Chinese brands and China's burgeoning soft power on the global stage.
Soft power promotes people-to-people ties
When journalists from the Global Times interviewed young people on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand, and asked what they were most interested in about China, their answers were mostly Chinese idols and TV dramas, Chinese cuisine, and "Made in China" products.
In many Southeast Asia cities, Mixue, a Chinese store chain offering fresh ice cream and tea, for example, has become trendy on social media platforms. Social media users post about their daily cravings for Mixue products and make jokes and memes. Global Times reporters can often see the queue at the door of its shops.
Not only are Chinese brands popular in Thailand, but in 2020, Super Poll, a pollster in Thailand, conducted a survey on the "Sino-Thai friendship during the pandemic." In response to the question of "who is Thailand's closest friend during the pandemic," 73.3 percent of the respondents chose China, while Japan, the European Union, and the US were chosen by 8 percent, 4.4 percent, and 3.4 percent respectively. Noppadol, the head of Super Poll, stated that the survey shows the trust that Thai people have in China.
The Global Times' visit to the Confucius Institute at the Chulalongkorn University revealed that in Thailand, Chinese has gradually replaced Japanese as the second-largest foreign language after English, which reflects young people's increasing enthusiasm for Chinese and interest in China.
When discussing the impressions of young Malaysians toward China, former Malaysian ambassador to China Dato Abdul Majid emphasizes a division between them - those who have traded with or visited China usually hold a more positive perception, while those who have never been to China and only learn about the country from the media do not have a true understanding of the real China.
Majid hopes for more opportunities for communication to allow these people to see an objective and authentic China in order to eliminate misunderstandings.
The recent 15th BRICS summit arrived at a critically significant economic and political juncture in the Arab and global history. The successful completion of the summit is a major milestone in the journey toward multipolarity; it was BRICS' most important summit since its inception in 2009. Inviting three Arab nations, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to join the group has positive implications for the region and the world.
Most of the world, including the Arab world, is interested in multipolarity and multilateralism and is against protectionism and unilateralism. The region and the world are already beyond unipolarity and hegemony; they are in the process of establishing a new order, preferably through meaningful structural changes to the current security and governance architecture. Therefore, expanding BRICS to include six more nations will add impetus to the critical mass gathering behind the push for reform and change at global and sub-global levels. The expected high-level policy coordination among the BRICS+ members will facilitate the birth of multipolarity in the world, including in the Middle East.
There is no question that the Arab world is becoming one center of power in the rapidly changing world. Out of more than 40 countries that have officially applied or expressed an interest in joining, three important Arab countries have been selected to join BRICS. This demonstrates the strategic, economic and political significance of the Arabs' role in forming a new world order. In BRICS, the three Arab countries do not only represent their individual national interests, but also the aspirations of more than 450 million Arabs. Those three countries are the nucleus for Arab unity, integration and development. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have been trying to rally the Arabs behind a new vision for their region and the world; they work toward uniting the Arabs as one important pole in the emerging multipolar world.
The decision to include the three Arab nations was not surprising. The UAE is one of the largest trading nations in the region and the 11th largest exporter in the world. Also, the UAE is one of the largest six oil exporters; it holds about six percent of global oil proved reserves. Saudi Arabia is the top Arab economy and the biggest oil exporter in the world, holding more than 17 percent of the world's oil-proved reserves. Saudi Arabia is a significant member of the G20 and the leader of OPEC. The Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) of the UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the top 10 in the world. Egypt is geographically strategically located at the intersection of three continents and in the heart of global trade routes. It overlooks and administers some critically strategic waterways such as the Suez Canal, through which around 12 percent of global trade and 30 percent of global container traffic pass annually. Egypt is the most populous Arab country with high economic growth and consumer market potential. There is no doubt that the Arabs will be a net positive addition to BRICS.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the top three economies in the Arab world; their combined GDP is around $2 trillion. Equally important is the fact that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the top oil exporters; the current BRICS members such as China and India are major energy consumers and the main drivers behind global oil demand growth. Hence, having the UAE and Saudi Arabia, in addition to Russia, in the BRICS grouping will help better coordinate energy policies among some key oil producers and consumers, boding well for oil market stability and predictability.
For the Arabs, the BRICS platform provides a great opportunity to deepen and diversify their partnerships with the Global South countries which account for around 80 percent of the world's economic growth. Arab nations are gradually plugging into the new emerging economic blocs, especially those in Asia. The UAE and Egypt are already members of the BRICS' New Development Bank (NDB); Saudi Arabia is expected to join the bank soon. Arabs' top two trading partners and largest oil markets are in BRICS, namely China and India.
Between 2018 and 2022, the UAE-BRICS trade was $677 billion. In 2022, the bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and BRICS countries exceeded $160 billion. The two Asian giants, China and India, are the key contributors to global oil demand growth just as they are the main drivers behind global economic growth. Trade between the Arabs and BRICS countries is expected to grow even more in the coming years. China and India are expected to remain the main oil markets for the Arabs in the foreseeable future. These trends are not expected to change any time soon.
The Arabs are acutely aware that the current fluid regional and global landscape presents a myriad of opportunities and challenges. Geopolitically, the Arabs understand that, by joining BRICS, they will have a powerful and useful platform through which they can protect their strategic autonomy and sovereignty, while contributing to shaping the future of their region and the world. Although BRICS has focused primarily on economics so far, the fast-changing and increasingly complex world requires it to tackle subjects beyond the realm of economics. Some key BRICS members are also included in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is mainly about security. The work of the two groups dovetails nicely together; the three invited Arab nations are already involved in SCO as Dialogue Partners. Perhaps, soon, the work of the two groups will be synergized so that the members can discuss and deal with issues more holistically.
As BRICS becomes more institutionalized and as strategic coordination among its partners becomes more effective, the group is expected to be a stronger advocate of multilateralism and a real force behind the push for a renewed world system. All BRICS countries, including those who have just been invited, have been on the receiving end of destructive unilateralism and protectionism. Therefore, they all know the harmful impact of unilateral and protectionist policies and actions. However, for the common prosperity of most humanity, the BRICS countries are expected to boost global multilateralism and multipolarity in various areas, including but not limited to economics, diplomacy, culture, politics, technology and conflict resolution.
The large number of countries interested in joining BRICS proves that the group is growing in influence, power and attractiveness. The newly invited countries largely share the same vision for the world as that of the current BRICS nations. As outlined in the Johannesburg II Declaration, the BRICS nations want to establish a fair, equitable and balanced world order; they are against unilateralism, fragmentation, coercion and protectionism. This vision is appealing to most countries in different regions of the world. The rapidly rising momentum behind BRICS shows that there is a dire need and clear urgency for reform. The BRICS grouping is viewed as the vehicle through which the current broken global system can be improved, democratized and fixed.
BRICS is proving that it is not all bark and no bite. More than 45 percent of the global population, 30 percent of global GDP, and more than 40 percent of global oil production are included in BRICS+; no other grouping or gathering has such a massive heft.
The world is in transition; it is slowly but steadily moving toward deeper, yet to be institutionalized, multipolarity. The expanded BRICS is expected to accelerate global multipolarity and enhance multilateralism. The Arabs are confidently carving out an important place for themselves in the new emerging world. This is truly a historic moment for the Arabs and the Global Majority; they must rise to the occasion, take their fate in their own hands, and shape the future.
Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), following the guiding principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, has grown into a global platform where countries along the route work together to promote people's well-being and give a further boost to global development amid daunting challenges. As the BRI celebrates its 10th anniversary, Global Times reporters Xia Wenxin and Lin Xiaoyi interviewed former officials and diplomats from three Eurasia countries - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Belarus - to learn about the cooperation under the BRI over the past 10 years in their respective countries and their expectations for the initiative's future.
Bolat Nurgaliyev, chairman of the board of the Foreign Policy Research Institute and former secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
I remember when President Xi was presenting his vision for the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan. Although it was in its initial stage at the time, it was received very positively here in Kazakhstan and among the potential participants of the initiative, because it was seen as the invitation for cooperation.
Having served in China and understanding how seriously this kind of initiative is being prepared, I expected the BRI to be implemented stage by stage, with the involvement of all potential participants depending on the terms and benefits generated. 10 years later, the initiative has met my initial expectations in every aspect.
The circle of the participating states in the BRI is expanding. The initial focus of the BRI was on the immediate neighborhood - Asia, specifically. Now, we see that it is expanding beyond Asia, to Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. The wide participation in the BRI is a clear indication that everybody sees it as a win-win situation, and together we can set ambitious goals and achieve them on the strong foundation of China's economic success. The BRI is truly a global initiative.
Saidmukhtar Saidkasimov, president of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and former Uzbek deputy prime minister
It is no exaggeration to say the initiative proposed by President Xi 10 years ago generated tremendous interest around the world from the very beginning. It was not only a very bold, unprecedented large-scale interregional project, but also has gained wide attention mainly because of its practical and applicable orientation, covering all the direct economic interests and benefits of many countries.
For the first time in history, an unprecedented plan for the formation and development of an interconnected transportation infrastructure across the entire Eurasian continent was presented. Its implementation truly opened up broad prospects for the creation of a fundamentally new transport configuration across the vast expanse of our planet.
From the very beginning, Uzbekistan was one of the first countries to highly appreciate and support the BRI for many reasons. On the one hand, the idea of active trade permeates the entire centuries-old history of our region. Uzbekistan and Central Asia have had practical trade relations with the whole of Eurasia for many years. On the other hand, geographically, Central Asia has been the center, the main route of the legendary Silk Road for centuries, being a strategically important trade hub.
The idea of reuniting peoples and countries of Eurasia into a single belt of mutually beneficial cooperation was proclaimed by China, where the Silk Road historically originated. China itself demonstrates to the world a great example of successful social development. In a historically short period, a huge number of Chinese people were able to get rid of poverty and backwardness and achieve a fairly high level of development. This achievement of the Chinese people is a rare and unique phenomenon in world history.
Anatoly Tozik, chairman of the Belarusian-Chinese Friendship Society and former deputy prime minister of Belarus
The Republic of Belarus was one of the first countries to support the BRI. The development of cooperation with China in all areas without exception fully meets the strategic national interests of Belarus, and participation in the BRI implementation offers significant opportunities for Belarus.
This, in particular, includes our cooperation with China within the framework of the Silk Road Economic Belt, where Belarus is geographically located. Such a status makes it possible to utilize all the potential of our country in the implementation of this initiative, including trade and economic, scientific and technical, humanitarian, transport, law enforcement, and so on.
An important characteristic of the BRI is that when China invites countries to participate in this project, it does not impose any conditions or requirements. Each country has the right to determine its own format of participation in the initiative. China offers the countries along the Silk Road Economic Belt interconnection and integration projects that will help them reconcile and coordinate their development strategies, unlock the potential of regional cooperation, boost investment and consumption, create demand and jobs, and expand humanitarian exchanges between peoples and the mutual enrichment of cultures.
In Belarus, we view the BRI as an exceptionally timely proposal to the world community for a new model of international cooperation and global management. This model can serve as an alternative to the alarming phenomena and trends in the modern system of world economic relations.
A lot has been done in the past decade. But much more could and should have been done. I would very much like to believe that the global community will listen to and understand China more and join forces with it for better development.
