The
new Chinese "Belt and Road" initiative revives what has been known
historically, two thousand years ago, as the "Silk Road." At that
time, China promoted the "reciprocal trade-cultural thought" with
neighboring countries that had historical, geographical relations and common
interests with it. The “Belt and Road” countries term had emanated from that
initiative, to describe the countries that lied on the new Silk Road and had
trade exchange with China.
For
the initiative’s sake, China has inaugurated six sea-lanes with 65 countries,
to establish a "limitless" cooperation, which includes several areas,
such as education, health, agriculture, industry, commerce, tourism, and sports.
It aims to achieve development in each of them.
One
of the benefits the Belt and Road” countries and their people will gain is
increasing their income from energy sources, having additional sources of
income, attracting investors, purchasing the goods at preferential rates, and having
the necessary experts and efficient labor when necessary.
One
of the main challenges to the Chinese initiative is the US accusations that
China is infringing the global "intellectual property" law and
registering itself as a “developing country” in the World Trade Organization.
The US is also accusing China of causing its financial crises, debts, and
frequent deficits in the public budgets.
The
two countries seek to control world trade in a different manner. China, on the
one hand, has planned its project based on a clear, definite “timetable,” under
the theme “New China 2041.” The United States, on the other hand, seems
helpless in the face of China’s initiative.
Finally,
I suggest that two new departments should be established, the first is the
"Department of Strategic Steps for Economic/Trade Partnership with
China," and the second one is the "Digital and Innovation
Department." The two departments should work together to enable the
communities and people to keep pace with the digital world, fueled by the AI
powered things. The tasks of the two departments should also include
establishing “smart cities” and drafting the “legislations” required for the
new life in the belt countries, taking into account the higher technical
dimensions that will increase the benefit the users are gaining.
I
also call on China’s partners to build a (smart) electronic capital, under the
supervision of an elected "Expert Council,” to provide all the required
consultations for enabling and possibilities. This should include urging the
creation of a "joint market," "support organizations," and sponsorship
organizations and the learning of the Chinese language.
Finally,
our organization, TAG-Global, was leading in taking part in one of the most
important alliances China had built with the “Belt and Road” countries, namely
the “University Alliance,” based in Chenggang, the capital of the Liaoning
Province. We took that step to encourage other educational institution to join the
alliance and achieve cooperation in various areas, such as scientific research,
invention, innovation, cultural exchange, joint management, talent development,
organizing restructuring, and operating mechanisms, in harmony with the
"University Alliance" bloc.