“Compared to the Belt and Road Initiative, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) is just a framework, not an agreement, and it has not been approved by Congress. In the IPEF, we may want to see more trade-related incentives. terms.” At the World Peace Forum in Beijing on July 4, 2022, Maheb Uzi Zaman, Bangladesh’s ambassador to China, spoke about the differences between the U.S. “Indo-Pacific Economic Framework” and China’s Belt and Road Initiative place.

The 10th World Peace Forum with the theme of "Maintaining International Strategic Stability: Common, Comprehensive, and Cooperation" held a panel discussion on "Promoting High-Quality International Cooperation along the Belt and Road". As representatives of important participating countries in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, Zaman, the new Serbian Ambassador to China Maya Stefanovic and Georgian Ambassador to China Archir Karandia said that participating in the Belt and Road Initiative is a great way for their respective countries It has brought tangible economic benefits. Countries attach great importance to cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and are optimistic about the prospects of this initiative. Compared with some other current global initiatives, the BRI is more specific and more mature in terms of implementation.

Promote Bangladesh as a developed country

2022 is the ninth year since China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative. 149 countries and 32 international organizations have signed cooperation documents on the Belt and Road Initiative, forming more than 3,000 cooperation projects with an investment scale of nearly US$1 trillion.

On June 25, 2022, the Bangladeshi Padma Bridge, built by Chinese companies for nearly eight years, opened. The bridge has a total length of 9.8 kilometers, setting a record for the largest overseas bridge project undertaken by a Chinese enterprise. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Hasina said that the Padma Bridge can contribute 1.23 percentage points to Bangladesh's GDP growth every year, reduce the poverty rate by 0.84 percentage points, attract more domestic and foreign investment, and accelerate the speed of industrialization.

At the forum on July 4, 2022, Zaman said that when Bangladesh joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2016, it had a positive attitude. Bangladesh believes that the Belt and Road Initiative can support its goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041, so as to better promote sustainable development and the common prosperity of both countries. He emphasized that the Belt and Road Initiative was not imposed on Bangladesh.

Serbia's ambassador to China, Maya Stefanovic, came to China shortly after taking office. In Europe, Serbia is an important partner of the Belt and Road Initiative. The partially opened Hungary-Serbia railway is the connection between China's railway technology and equipment and the EU's railway interconnection technical specifications. Serbian President Vucic has repeatedly stated that the Hungary-Serbia railway is a successful cooperation between Serbia, China and Hungary under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Maya said Serbia has been involved in the Belt and Road Initiative since its inception in 2013. Infrastructure and investment cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road have played a vital role in promoting regional connectivity, promoting Serbia's economic development, and enhancing Serbia's international influence. Not only that, Serbia has also carried out cooperation in various fields such as e-commerce, digitalization, customs, police, etc. under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and promoted people-to-people and cultural exchanges such as education and media.

“We applaud the economic achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative. It started as an economic initiative and now it has become a full-scale initiative,” said Maya.

One Belt One Road is more mature

Several ambitious global initiatives have also been launched in recent years. Following the "Rebuilding a Better World" initiative, which involved $40 trillion during the 2021 G7 (G7) summit, US President Biden announced the launch of a $600 billion "global infrastructure and investment" initiative at this year's G7 summit. Partnerships". The EU announced a €300 billion “global gateway” strategy at the end of 2021. In addition to the above-mentioned infrastructure plans, the United States has also announced the launch of the so-called "Indo-Pacific Economic Framework" in the economic and trade field. This framework layout "Indo-Pacific" only excludes China, which means a strong confrontation.

"The 'Marshall Plan' and the 'Schuman Plan' in history are centered on Europe and have political purposes. But the Belt and Road is more focused on the economy, and we think it will achieve win-win cooperation." Zaman pointed out that the Belt and Road is still growing The stage will always exist and continue to grow. Georgia was one of the first countries to respond to the Belt and Road Initiative. The Tbilisi Silk Road International Forum in Georgia, held every two years, is the first Belt and Road International Forum held outside of China.

Georgian Ambassador to China Archil Karandia admitted that compared with other current international initiatives, the Belt and Road Initiative is more mature and experienced in its implementation. Georgia hopes to improve the quality and efficiency of the Belt and Road Initiative, and hopes to participate in more similar initiatives. But it is too early to say how Georgia will participate in those new global initiatives. Georgia is working hard to understand these initiatives. Keywords: One Belt One Road, One Belt One Road News, One Belt One Road Project

Zaman said that in the economic field, the Belt and Road Initiative can benefit Bangladesh in terms of infrastructure, trade, finance and investment. “We also have to see how much other initiatives are helping us compared to the Belt and Road Initiative.”Editor/XuNing