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The Belt and Road Boat of Hope is to set sail again
The further opening-up of China at a higher level will bring Laos a development environment of high quality.
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China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (China Daily/File)
T
he 2nd Belt and Road Forum for international cooperation has just ended and the Boat of Hope for human progress on social development is to set sail again.
From a “free sketch painting” to a “meticulous painting”, the future of the Belt and Road Initiative will focus more on the major points, place greater emphasis on details, and make continuous progress in the direction of high quality development, which is not only for the fortune and welfare of the whole world, but also brings good opportunities for the future of Laos. High quality development of the Belt and Road delivers high quality development opportunities for Laos.
Upholding the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, the Belt and Road Initiative stimulates advantages and potential for everybody through bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Involvement in the Belt and Road can help strengthen not only Laos-China cooperation, but also cooperation between Laos and other countries, creating more opportunities to attract foreign capital, increase employment, and promote economic development.
Adhering to the development concept of open, green and clean approaches, Belt and Road advocates a way of life that is green and low-carbon producing, incorporating recycling and sustainable production. It also insists on running and operating transparently, jointly carrying out anti-corruption activities with zero tolerance for such misconduct. Laos is rich in land, forests, water and minerals and through the Belt and Road all of these resources could be explored, developed and protected more effectively. The country’s clear waters and lush mountains could become real, invaluable assets.
To achieve the goals of high-standard, livelihood-improving and sustainable development, Belt and Road will yield more useful fruits to the people. Infrastructure construction will not only help achieve the country’s target of inter-communication and connectivity, but also bring interest and convenience to people, creating employment and reducing poverty.
The proposed five connectivity bring more practical and pragmatic good to Laos. Belt and Road strengthens inter-communication and connection among all parties, deepens pragmatic cooperation and brings fortune and welfare to the people of the concerned countries by connecting policies, infrastructure, trade, finance and the people themselves. By following the drive for the above five connectivity, Laos will enjoy more and more benefits.
High quality and sustainable infrastructure construction meets the needs of Laos, and a number of infrastructure projects including the Laos-China railway, the Vientiane-Vangvieng highway etc. would be accelerated, which will push forward the implementation of Laos’ “land-locked to land-linked ” strategy.
More convenient trade and investment will be achieved, which will spur the economic development of Laos. Financial guiding principles and a sustainability analysis framework in relation to debt will tackle difficulties relating to finance-related issues in development. Inter-communication and internet connections will bolster science and technology, which will explore new aspects of economic outcomes, and there will be more and more concrete and practical programmes in culture and exchanges.
This will help more government officials, think-tanks, civil society and young people to forge closer links with the world and learn about advanced cultures and concepts, which will gather the wisdom and strength of all parties to build a beautiful future together.
The further opening-up of China at a higher level will bring Laos a development environment of high quality.
China promises an expansion of market access for foreign capital, the enhancement of international cooperation in the protection of property rights, and a greater increase in the importation of goods and services, which brings new opportunities for cooperation in trade and economic dealings between Laos and China, especially the export of Lao goods to China and investment by Lao enterprises in China.
More importantly, China promises more effective implementation of coordination of international economic macro policies and greater attention to the implementation of opening-up polices, including promoting a strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive increase in economic dealings with the world’s major economies.
It would not adopt a beggar-thy-neighbour currency devaluation but would jointly establish international rules of trade and economics at a higher level, attaching more importance to the fulfillment and implementation of multilateral and bilateral agreements etc., and creating better opportunities for the improved development and construction of Laos.
This article appeared on the Vientiane Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
