Press Trust Of India
Washington, Oct 31: Ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing next month, China’s envoy here has welcomed America’s participation in the One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, saying the two countries can have some practical cooperation on the project.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a demand of the world’s development, and it should follow the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai told reporters here.
The BRI is a development strategy proposed by China’s President Xi Jinping to improve connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries.
“This initiative is not limited by the geographical region, it is open to the world, so we welcome the US to join us. Lots of political experts and entrepreneurs are very interested in it. We already have had some discussion,” he said.
“I hope we can deepen these communication, and China and US will have some practical cooperation with the Belt and Road Initiative,” Cui said in response to a question amidst reports that Japan, India and the US are working on initiatives that would provide alternative financing to countries seeking investment.
Cui said there should be no “strategic competition” between China and the US. The two countries should find a way to co-exist based on a win-win cooperation, he said.
“I think the so-called “China model,” the meaning of China model, shows to the world that the development of a country does not need to follow a specific pattern. Each country should find a development path that suits its own national conditions. Every country should have a custom development model and this is the core meaning of China model. It shows possibility to the world,” he said.
Noting that in Chinese there is an expression: “harmony but not uniformity,” he said “to achieve a harmonious world which is set up on the basis that fully reflects diversity, if China did it, that is to show all other countries of the world that they can follow this way as well”.
“In English, there is a term called “all roads lead to Rome”, and every country can go its own way. China has taken the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics for so many years. It was quite a success so far,” Cui said adding that he believes that that is an inspiration to many nations.
