Source: Capital News    Published: 2023-12-04

In the past two months, China has hosted several significant diplomatic events on its home turf:

The third Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum saw representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organizations attending in China, with a total registration exceeding 10,000 people.

During the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, official delegations from over 90 countries, regions, and international organizations participated. The forum reached a historic high with nearly 50 defense minister-level and army chief-level representatives in attendance.

The sixth China International Import Expo held in November welcomed guests from 154 countries, regions, and international organizations. Notably, high-level officials from the United States, Honduras, and other countries attended for the first time. The CEO of the American Soybean Export Association expressed that it was the largest event he had ever witnessed worldwide.

Why are so many countries willing to attend events in China? What does the international community hope to hear from China? Surrounded by conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Syrian issue, and intense battles in northern Myanmar, how is China able to enjoy rare peace? What positive signals did the outcomes of the China-U.S. summit send to the world? Can the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting bring new opportunities for inclusive development in the Asia-Pacific region?

Capital News, in collaboration with RDCY, has launched the “Global Governance Talk” section. Ong Tee Keat, the president of Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific (BRICAP) , former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Federal Minister of Transport of Malaysia, shared his views with us on topics such as the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative, global security governance, and China-U.S. Relations.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) I proposed. The BRI, drawing inspiration from the ancient Silk Road and focusing on enhancing connectivity, aims to enhance policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity, inject new impetus into the global economy, create new opportunities for global development, and build a new platform for international economic cooperation. Over these 10 years, we have stayed committed to this founding mission. Thanks to our joint efforts, Belt and Road international cooperation has gotten off the ground, grown rapidly and produced fruitful outcomes.

Belt and Road cooperation has extended from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America. More than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents. We have held two sessions of the BRF before, and have established over 20 specialized multilateral cooperation platforms under the BRI.

When asked about Ong Tee Keat’s impression of the Belt and Road Initiative, he expressed that the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) is a gigantic human endeavor of connectivity, focusing on dimensions of policies, infrastructure, trade, finance and people. It encapsulates the wisdom of trans-border development and partnership diplomacy in global governance. Amid the rising economic nationalism, it is a strident move in support of globalization. From the global perspective, the trillion-dollar initiative was rolled out to help meet the ever-escalating demands for infrastructure investment worldwide, rendering it a timely and thoughtful public good for the entire humanity.

To illustrate the contributions of the Belt and Road Initiative, Ong Tee Keat also provided several examples. For instance, a case in point is the oft-cited China-Laos Rail link that has successfully transformed Laos from a land-locked ASEAN member state to a presently land-linked country. The coming into fruition of the rail service has set into motion the once stalled Pan Asian Railway System that is slated to run across the Peninsular ASEAN. On the other hand, the recent inauguration of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail is another BRI milestone, bringing along quantum leap progress to the livelihood and well-being of the people in Java, Indonesia, alongside inspiring the entire populace in ASEAN. After all, it is the pilot high-speed-rail project in the region. Parallel to this, the on-going East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Peninsular Malaysia, which is scheduled for completion by end of 2027, would serve as a good model illustrating how the ultimate delivery of the BRI project could re-balance the economic disparity between the better developed west coast and the east coast economic backwater as intended.

Ong Tee Keat has long been following China's Belt and Road Initiative, and he believes that the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) marks its coming of age amid rising geopolitical tensions. The ambitious mega endeavor weathered through its first decade of inception with vigor. The multitude of orchestrated disinformation designed to discredit it with such malicious labels as "debt trap" fails to impede the BRI momentum worldwide as the initiative snowballs into more areas, notably in the developing Global South.

He emphasized that, in reality, the BRI is a game-changer in its own right as it seeks to transform the landscape of regional, if not, global connectivity in all respects. It is a multi-dimensional model of human endeavor, dedicated to enhancing multilateral cooperation in pursuit of sustainable socio-economic development and mitigations of global challenges. The underlying principle is rooted in the aspiration of forging a shared future for humanity, more so in the face of increasing existential exigencies. The element of symbiosis inherent in the project may remain incomprehensible to the state actors and the military-industrial-media complex who are habitually obsessed with their narrow geostrategic priorities. The bumpy trajectory of BRI has to a great extent been attributable to such obsessional paranoia against China. The proverbial "burying head in the sand" attitude is now their pervasive response in toeing the "political correctness" of the day in the West.

Considering that changes of the world, of our times, and of historical significance are unfolding like never before, China is endeavoring to build itself into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. The modernization we are pursuing is not for China alone, but for all developing countries through our joint efforts. Global modernization should be pursued to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation and bring prosperity to all. On our way forward, we will encounter both headwinds and tailwinds. We need to stay focused on our goal, take results-oriented actions, persevere, and keep moving forward until our goal is met. China will work with all parties involved to deepen Belt and Road partnerships of cooperation, usher this cooperation into a new stage of high-quality development, and make relentless efforts to achieve modernization for all countries.

At the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, China’s President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech including eight major steps China will take to support our joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation:

First, building a multidimensional Belt and Road connectivity network. China will speed up high-quality development of the China-Europe Railway Express, participate in the trans-Caspian international transportation corridor, host the China-Europe Railway Express Cooperation Forum, and make joint efforts to build a new logistics corridor across the Eurasian continent linked by direct railway and road transportation. We will vigorously integrate ports, shipping and trading services under the "Silk Road Maritime," and accelerate the building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Air Silk Road.

Second, supporting an open world economy. China will establish pilot zones for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation, enter into free trade agreements and investment protection treaties with more countries. We will remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector. In light of international high-standard economic and trade rules, we will further advance high-standard opening up in cross-border service trade and investment, expand market access for digital and other products, and deepen reform in areas including the state-owned enterprises, digital economy, intellectual property and government procurement. China will hold the Global Digital Trade Expo annually. In the next five years (2024-2028), China's total trade in goods and services is expected to exceed USD 32 trillion and USD 5 trillion respectively.

Third, carrying out practical cooperation. China will promote both signature projects and "small yet smart" livelihood programs. The China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China will each set up a RMB 350 billion financing window. An additional RMB 80 billion will be injected into the Silk Road Fund. Together, they will support BRI projects on the basis of market and business operation. Cooperation agreements worth USD 97.2 billion have been concluded at the CEO Conference held during this Forum. China will carry out 1,000 small-scale livelihood assistance projects, and enhance vocational education cooperation through Luban Workshops and other initiatives. We will also step up joint efforts to ensure the safety of BRI projects and personnel.

Fourth, promoting green development. China will continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as green infrastructure, green energy and green transportation, and step up support for the BRI International Green Development Coalition. China will continue to hold the BRI Green Innovation Conference, and establish dialogue and exchange mechanisms for the solar industry and a network of experts on green and low-carbon development. China will implement the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road, and provide 100,000 training opportunities for partner countries by 2030.

Fifth, advancing scientific and technological innovation. China will continue to implement the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, hold the first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange, increase the number of joint laboratories built with other parties to 100 in the next five years, and support young scientists from other countries to work on short-term programs in China. At this Forum, China will put forward the Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance. We stand ready to increase exchanges and dialogue with other countries and jointly promote the sound, orderly and secure AI development in the world.

Sixth, supporting people-to-people exchanges. China will host the Liangzhu Forum to enhance dialogue on civilizations with BRI partner countries. In addition to the Silk Road International League of Theaters, the Silk Road International Arts Festival, the International Alliance of Museums of the Silk Road, the Silk Road International Alliance of Art Museums, and the Silk Road International Library Alliance that have been set up, China has also launched the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities. And we will continue with the Chinese government scholarship Silk Road Program.

Seventh, promoting integrity-based Belt and Road cooperation. Together with its cooperation partners, China will release the Achievements and Prospects of Belt and Road Integrity Building and the High-Level Principles on Belt and Road Integrity Building, and establish the Integrity and Compliance Evaluation System for Companies Involved in Belt and Road Cooperation.

Eighth, strengthening institutional building for international Belt and Road cooperation. China will work with its BRI partner countries to strengthen the building of multilateral cooperation platforms covering energy, taxation, finance, green development, disaster reduction, anti-corruption, think tank, media, culture and other fields.

Ong Tee Keat’s outlook on the future development of the Belt and Road Initiative aligns seamlessly with the Chinese government's vision. He emphasizes the importance of high-quality development. He pointed out that as we usher in the second decade for the BRI, its commitment to scaling higher quality development is increasingly relevant and crucial in response to the pressing need for low carbon sustainable development. In this context, green infrastructure calls for the ramping up of digital sustainable infrastructure development. Digital connectivity is all set to dominate the scene as is earmarked in the agenda for ASEAN China Free Trade Area 3.0. Pervasiveness of the cross-border e-commerce would be the order of the day.

Ong Tee Keat also put forward the vision of capacity building. In pursuit of higher quality of BRI development, China has even-handedly given assurances of "capacity building" and empowerment through technical collaboration, alongside the roll-out of more  "small yet smart"  livelihood assistance projects for poverty alleviation. These were clearly outlined by President Xi in his keynote address at the 3rd Belt and Road Forum recently. In other words, the new phase of BRI implementation looks set to place due emphasis on the people-to-people connectivity through Track 2 Diplomacy, in addition to strictly adhering to the green principle of sustainable development.

Besides the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, over the past two months, China has also hosted other major diplomatic events, such as the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, breaking records in terms of the number and level of participating representatives. In November, the sixth China International Import Expo welcomed guests from 154 countries, regions, and international organizations.

When asked why so many countries are willing to attend events in China and what the international community hopes to hear from China, Ong Tee Keat stated that the multitude of diplomatic activities conducted by China on various international platforms has garnered a positive response from the global community. This prominence comes at a time when global governance is struggling, economies are in need of post-pandemic revitalization, and the world is grappling with the challenges of new zero-sum thinking akin to a new Cold War. In this context, nations worldwide are closely monitoring China's actions and potential contributions to charting a new course for the international community.

In other words, China's rise in recent years, coupled with its initiatives to share the benefits of development, has created new opportunities and garnered appreciation from many countries internationally. The Belt and Road Initiative's steady progress, coupled with the business opportunities presented by the International Import Expo, serves as a vital stimulant for the global economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

Ong Tee Keat particularly emphasized the distinctiveness of the Beijng Xiangshan Forum. He pointed out that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum is gaining increasing attention as it signifies the active participation of Southern countries in global security governance. This marks a new starting point for awakening developing countries to establish their own security perspectives, moving away from dominance by stronger nations.

The reporter of Capital News has noticed that there's been a trending map on Chinese social media lately, highlighting crises unfolding across the Eurasian continent, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israeli-Palestinian tensions, the Syrian situation, the Iran nuclear issue, Afghanistan, India-Pakistan conflicts, clashes in northern Myanmar, and the Korean Peninsula issue. Some netizens jokingly refer to it as the 'Ring of Conflicts Around China,' suggesting that peace has become a scarce resource in the world. Meanwhile, China is quite busy—just finished the Belt and Road Summit, currently hosting the tenth Beijing Fragrant Hills Forum, and Chinese netizens are recovering from the Singles' Day online shopping spree. Even countries involved in conflicts and part of the Belt and Road initiative have their embassies in China authorizing online accounts to livestream and promote their local products.

When asked why is China able to maintain this rare peace amidst global turmoil, Ong Tee Keat stated that the peace and stability within China exemplify a governance that aligns with the needs of the people, simultaneously lifting the nation out of extreme poverty and addressing the challenges faced by the populace. This enables the citizens to see a promising future for the country. Even in the face of severe external challenges, China consistently provides a secure and prosperous environment for its 1.4 billion people, offering new hope and opportunities for global governance. In contrast, while not an officially recognized term, the concept of the "Conflict Belt" surrounding China reflects the continuous turmoil in many countries, underscoring the current disorder in global governance. The leadership approach of a superpower monopolizing the international order no longer aligns with the demands of today's multipolar world.

At the invitation of U.S. President Biden, China’s President Xi visited San Francisco from November 14th to 17th for the China-U.S. Summit and attended the 30th APEC Informal Leader’s Meeting. Post-meeting, President Biden shared five tweets on social media, stating, 'We've made real progress.'

When asked what positive signals the China-U.S. Summit and its outcomes send to the world, Ong Tee Keat stated that the successful meeting between the leaders of China and the United States, with initial achievements, is indeed a fact. However, looking at the fluctuating statements from Biden and his White House team on China-related issues, the immediate impression is that Biden is eager to tweet about accomplishments, claiming "we have made real progress," primarily with an eye on boosting prospects for the upcoming presidential election. On the other hand, his administration's containment and even anti-China policy actions align with the populist politics prevailing in the United States.

He also simultaneously warned China not to take it lightly. The U.S.'s "Indo-Pacific strategy" is not expected to be easily abandoned. Its "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" (IPEF), aimed at excluding China from the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation system, is evidently designed to create divisions in regional economic integration.

Proof of The Pudding Is In The Eating

Capital News: We noticed that you were invited to attend the third Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum and also participated in the Think Tank Exchange Forum. Could you please share your impressions of this conference and the Belt and Road Initiative?

Ong Tee Keat：Actually, to my understanding, the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) is a gigantic human endeavor of connectivity, focusing on dimensions of policies, infrastructure, trade, finance and people. It encapsulates the wisdom of trans-border development and partnership diplomacy in global governance. Amid the rising economic nationalism, it is a strident move in support of globalization.

From the global perspective, the trillion-dollar initiative was rolled out to help meet the ever-escalating demands for infrastructure investment worldwide, rendering it a timely and thoughtful public good for the entire humanity.

Amid the prevailing Sino-US geopolitical rivalry in all dimensions, the kick-off of BRI has in a way been instrumental in catalyzing the emergence of several rival initiatives sponsored by the US and its allies.

In the current geopolitical context, the initiation and advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative have, to some extent, spurred several infrastructure initiatives by certain Western countries that can be seen as imitation to the Belt and Road.

Capital News: Why are more and more countries and regions getting on board with the BRI?

Ong Tee Keat: Ten years on, 152 countries across the world, equivalent to over 78 % of the nation states, have been getting on board with the BRI. It is tantamount to a vote of confidence in the BRI's model of multilateral cooperation, underpinned by the principles of extensive consultation, joint participation and mutual sharing of benefits. In this context, model of governance and choice of polity have never been made the criteria for accession to the BRI.

In the implementation of BRI projects, China has defied all the past dictates of the West, where no trans-border infrastructure projects could ever take off without a plethora of attached conditions that serve only the core interests of the West. From this perspective, the Marshall Plan of rebuilding Western Europe by the U.S. after WWII is clearly not comparable to the BRI.

While the alternative choices offered to the world in infrastructure development are largely private-investment driven and political value-oriented as was dictated by the US-led G7 and the EU. Both the Partnership for Global Infrastructure & Investment (PGII) and the Global Gateway, with a much smaller financial scale than the BRI, promise to finance the infrastructure needs as well. As of today, despite the occasional announcements made by the US-led West, the coming into fruition of specific projects under the framework of these two initiatives remains to be seen.

Specifically, the rollout of the Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative by the U.S. and the EU Commission's Global Gateway Initiative are sufficient testaments to such an antagonistic competition. Interestingly, both initiatives target infrastructure development projects under the framework of economic partnership, thus drawing parallels to the BRI. Be that as it may, private investment-driven initiatives initiated by the West appear relatively dormant and less transparent since their respective inceptions. Ostensibly, China's BRI leaves both the B3W and Global Gateway initiatives trailing in the race quantitatively, in terms of a number of infrastructure projects delivered, as well as the quantum of fund allocation disbursed.

Despite the repeated launch of new initiatives by Western countries, the specific outcomes of their projects are still to be observed. So far, they have not been able to escape the predicament of "promising much but delivering little."

Demands for transparency in the fund trials and outcomes of project implementation as required by the West in scrutinizing the BRI projects seem to have been glaringly absent in monitoring the B3W and Global Gateway initiatives.

Nonetheless, the BRI does not resort to hair-splitting over such the practice of double standards. Neither does it seek to respond to the purported waning prominence of the BRI as was played up by the Western media. Instead, it appears more confident and ready to brace for the growing global demand for connectivity, both infrastructurally and socio-culturally.

By now, as the saying goes, proof of the pudding is in the eating. The overwhelming participation of BRI across the world is, in itself, a clear manifestation of outright rejection of the malicious labeling of BRI as "debt trap diplomacy" by the West. It is totally unfounded, albeit still deemed "recyclable" by certain quarters for geopolitical purpose.

The logic is rather simple if the assertion were to be scrutinized rationally and not viewed under the geopolitical prism, as all BRI projects are virtually host-driven. No unilateral interest dictated by China has ever come into play as could have been opined by the propagandists of the West. In this context, the U.S.-led West is apparently judging China with allegations merely based on its own experience and actions towards others. The oft-cited case of the "debt trap" in the construction of the East Coast Rail Link ( ECRL ) in Malaysia is a classic case of geopolitical hoax in point. The project once stalled after the change of government in 2018 was hyped by the Western media as a purported "pushback" against Beijing's "debt trap".

Yet, in reality, the project was hatched by the Malaysian administration long before the inception of BRI. It only came into being when the latter decided to embark on the bandwagon of BRI. It was entirely Malaysia-initiated without any external coercion, much less dictated by Beijing.

Prior to this, the viability of a Sri Lankan port in Hambantota was first called into question in 2017 with the label of "debt trap diplomacy" debuted in the theatre of geopolitical rivalry. The scenario portrayed has it that the controversial port which is deemed non-viable was shoved down the throat of the then Sri Lankan administration by Beijing under the pretext of BRI.

This was later exposed as a despicable hoax by Sri Lanka, which made its own choice to build the port in Hambantota. The pack of lies aimed at stigmatizing China was debunked by the plain fact that the port project was supported by two feasibility studies conducted by a Canadian engineering firm and then a Danish consulting firm. China only became involved and bankrolled the project after Sri Lanka failed to seek funding from the West and India.

In this regard, intriguingly, specific credible policy institutes from the West, such as the Rand Corporation and Chatham House had unambiguously distanced themselves from the prevalence

Capital News: Could you tell us about the benefits and opportunities that participating in the BRI has brought to Malaysia and Southeast Asia? Could you share some examples of successful and high-quality Chinese involvement in infrastructure projects in Malaysia?

Ong Tee Keat：In my country and my region, the inception of BRI has brought into life the mammoth infrastructure development projects in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, as it offered the much needed solutions to the near insurmountable conundrums like the huge project finance and the lack of technology.

Over the decade, BRI has been proven as a game-changer in reshaping the landscape of logistical connectivity in ASEAN and consequently enhancing the region's economic competitiveness. A case in point is the oft-cited China-Laos Rail link that has successfully transformed Laos from a land-locked ASEAN member state to a presently land-linked country. The coming into fruition of the rail service has set into motion the once stalled Pan Asian Railway System that is slated to run across the Peninsular ASEAN.

On the other hand, the recent inauguration of the Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Rail is another BRI milestone, bringing along quantum leap progress to the livelihood and well-being of the people in Java, Indonesia, alongside inspiring the entire populace in ASEAN. After all, it is the pilot high-speed-rail project in the region.

Parallel to this, the on-going East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project in Peninsular Malaysia, which is scheduled for completion by end of 2027, would serve as a good model illustrating how the ultimate delivery of the BRI project could re-balance the economic disparity between the better developed west coast and the east coast economic backwater as intended.

Capital News: What’s the significance and value of the shared principles behind the 'Belt and Road Initiative' in today's world?

Ong Tee Keat: The emergence of BRI owes much to the ideal that goes beyond "prosper-thy-neighbor ". It is a model of symbiotic cooperation worldwide, underpinned by the cognizance of shared destiny and intertwined interest of humanity, notably in the face of common challenges.

From the Chinese cultural perspective, to my understand, China's proactive global engagement through the BRI is a manifestation of the Chinese ideal of pursuing a global community of shared future where interests of humanity are intertwined. Also, it is consistent with the Mencius philosophical thoughts of " Aiding others when one has the means "（达则兼济天下）. This explains Beijing's willingness to share the dividends of growth accrued from the BRI implementation.

Capital News: What are your expectations and suggestions for the development of the BRI in the next decade?

Ong Tee Keat: As we usher in the second decade for the BRI, its commitment to scaling higher quality development is increasingly relevant and crucial in response to the pressing need for low carbon sustainable development.

In this context, green infrastructure calls for the ramping up of digital sustainable infrastructure development. Digital connectivity is all set to dominate the scene as is earmarked in the agenda for ASEAN China Free Trade Area 3.0. Pervasiveness of the cross-border e-commerce would be the order of the day.

In pursuit of higher quality of BRI development, China has even-handedly given assurances of "capacity building" and empowerment through technical collaboration, alongside the roll-out of more " small yet smart " livelihood assistance projects for poverty alleviation. These were clearly outlined by President Xi in his keynote address at the 3rd Belt and Road Forum recently.

In other words, the new phase of BRI implementation looks set to place due emphasis on the people-to-people connectivity through Track 2 Diplomacy, in addition to strictly adhering to the green principle of sustainable development.

Capital News: You once mentioned that the ultimate goal of the 'Belt and Road Initiative' is not just the modernization of China, but the modernization of the world. Could you please explain your viewpoint in more detail?

Ong Tee Keat: In terms of modernization, we understand that all nations follow a trajectory. China is on a path of reconciliation, extending even to its relationship with ASEAN. Looking at past outcomes, it is clear that some developing countries are heavily reliant on infrastructure development projects to boost their competitiveness and achieve modernization. This is not an overstatement.

When I mention being a catalyst in an embassy, it means experiencing the pains of development and modernization. In many countries, this is a direct result of a willingness to share the dividends of progress and contribute to the appearance of inspired modernization over the past few decades. This is what I mean.

All Eyes on China

Capital News: Over the past two months, China has hosted several major diplomatic events, such as the Third Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit, which saw representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organizations attending with a total registration exceeding 10,000 people. Another event was the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, breaking records in terms of the number and level of participating representatives. In November, the sixth China International Import Expo welcomed guests from 154 countries, regions, and international organizations. Why are so many countries willing to participate in events in China? What does the international community hope to hear from China?

Ong Tee Keat: The multitude of diplomatic activities conducted by China on various international platforms has garnered a positive response from the global community. This prominence comes at a time when global governance is struggling, economies are in need of post-pandemic revitalization, and the world is grappling with the challenges of new zero-sum thinking akin to a new Cold War. In this context, nations worldwide are closely monitoring China's actions and potential contributions to charting a new course for the international community.

In other words, China's rise in recent years, coupled with its initiatives to share the benefits of development, has created new opportunities and garnered appreciation from many countries internationally. The Belt and Road Initiative's steady progress, coupled with the business opportunities presented by the International Import Expo, serves as a vital stimulant for the global economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.

The Xiangshan Forum is gaining increasing attention as it signifies the active participation of Southern countries in global security governance. This marks a new starting point for awakening developing countries to establish their own security perspectives, moving away from dominance by stronger nations.

Capital News: There's been a trending map on Chinese social media lately, highlighting crises unfolding across the Eurasian continent, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Israeli-Palestinian tensions, the Syrian situation, the Iran nuclear issue, Afghanistan, India-Pakistan conflicts, clashes in northern Myanmar, and the Korean Peninsula issue. Some netizens jokingly refer to it as the 'Ring of Conflicts Around China,' suggesting that peace has become a scarce resource in the world. Meanwhile, China is quite busy—just finished the Belt and Road Summit, currently hosting the tenth Beijing Fragrant Hills Forum, and Chinese netizens are recovering from the Singles' Day online shopping spree. Even countries involved in conflicts and part of the Belt and Road initiative have their embassies in China authorizing online accounts to livestream and promote their local products. Why is China able to maintain this rare peace amidst global turmoil?

Ong Tee Keat: The peace and stability within China exemplify a governance that aligns with the needs of the people, simultaneously lifting the nation out of extreme poverty and addressing the challenges faced by the populace. This enables the citizens to see a promising future for the country. Even in the face of severe external challenges, China consistently provides a secure and prosperous environment for its 1.4 billion people, offering new hope and opportunities for global governance.

In contrast, the continuous conflicts in the so-called "China conflict zone" among multiple countries reflect the current disorder and lack of coherence in global governance. The leadership style of dominant superpowers monopolizing international order no longer conforms to the demands of the current multipolar world.

Capital News: In his keynote address at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in April last year, President Xi Jinping introduced the Global Security Initiative for the first time. The initiative advocates for a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security approach, promoting a new path of security that emphasizes dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliances, and win-win outcomes instead of zero-sum games. What, in your opinion, are the current challenges facing global security? How can the Global Security Initiative contribute to alleviating the current global security predicament?

Despite these efforts, some Western media outlets adhere to ideological biases, distorting reports on the Global Security Initiative with narratives like 'China shaping a new global security framework' or 'China challenging the free international order.' They often provide excessive interpretations or deliberately misinterpret the initiative. The U.S. has even accused China of being a 'source of threat,' asserting that 'China is altering the distribution of power in the international system, changing the fundamental principles of global governance, and controlling international rules in an ongoing, systematic transformation.' Why do you think there is such a negative perception in the West regarding the Global Security Initiative?

Ong Tee Keat: The resistance of the United States and the Western world against China's involvement in global governance is an undeniable fact. The so-called "ideological differences" serve as a convenient excuse, but it is evident that global governance has never explicitly dictated the exclusive adoption of a particular governance model. The notion of the "liberal international order" is, at best, a governance model shaped by the United States and the West after World War II, leveraging their victorious narrative, and does not align with the aspirations of newly independent nations that emerged in the post-war period. When China advocates for a more inclusive global governance, challenging the monopoly held by the United States and the West, it essentially ignites a spark.

As China actively engages in international affairs and presents its solutions for global governance, it is perceived as an unprecedented challenge to the existing international order. The frequent accusations from the West, particularly the United States, claiming that China challenges the "rules-based order," specifically refer to the order formulated by the West based on their own interests, with no room for questioning or input from other nations.

Taking the example of the international security perspective, China's Global Security Initiative argues that security concerns of all parties involved in a conflict must be considered comprehensively and equally, rather than being dominated by one's own interests. This contradicts the long-standing international security perspective of the United States and the West, which dictates that the security considerations of all nations must conform to the security concerns of the United States and the West.

In this context, the inclusiveness of China's global security initiative naturally clashes with the security framework led by the United States and the West, driven by their own interests.

Outcomes Hinge on Deliberation, Decision, Action, and Results

Capital News: At the invitation of U.S. President Biden, President Xi Jinping visited San Francisco from November 14th to 17th for the China-U.S. Summit and attended the 30th APEC Informal Leaders' Meeting. Post-meeting, President Biden shared five tweets on social media, stating, 'We've made real progress.' What positive signals do you think the China-U.S. Summit and its outcomes send to the world? Do you believe the APEC meeting can achieve substantial results and usher in new opportunities for inclusive development in the Asia-Pacific region?

Ong Tee Keat: The successful meeting between the leaders of China and the United States, with initial achievements, is indeed a fact. However, looking at the fluctuating statements from Biden and his White House team on China-related issues, the immediate impression is that Biden is eager to tweet about accomplishments, claiming "we have made real progress," primarily with an eye on boosting prospects for the upcoming presidential election. On the other hand, his administration's containment and even anti-China policy actions align with the populist politics prevailing in the United States.

Nevertheless, the United States cannot remain inactive on issues of common concern in global governance. Therefore, seeking cooperation with China on the topic of climate change became a focal point in this diplomatic engagement between the leaders of China and the United States.

Examining the positive signals sent out, including: * Cooperation between China and the United States on climate change and the governance of artificial intelligence technology. * The U.S. not seeking to launch a Cold War against China and having no intention to curb China's modernization process. * The U.S. opposing Taiwan independence, among other points.

Whether the APEC meeting can achieve substantial results depends on whether there is meaningful discussion, decisive action, and concrete outcomes. All of this hinges on the sincerity and determination demonstrated by the participating countries. Referring to past examples, it is not uncommon for international conferences to pass resolutions or issue joint communiqués that may initially seem promising but are ultimately disregarded, leading to self-abandonment of commitments.

As for whether the APEC meeting can bring about new opportunities for inclusive development in the Asia-Pacific region, it is premature to be overly optimistic. The U.S.'s "Indo-Pacific strategy" is not expected to be easily abandoned. Its "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" (IPEF), aimed at excluding China from the Asia-Pacific economic cooperation system, is evidently designed to create divisions in regional economic integration.