Senior Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Dr. Chhem Kieth Rethy, commended the accomplishments of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) during a side meeting at the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. Dr. Rethy highlighted the remarkable success of the BRI, pointing to key projects like the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway, which has significantly improved connectivity in Cambodia.
The Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway, a vital link connecting the Cambodian capital with Bavet, a border town in Vietnam, has drastically reduced travel time and enhanced road safety. Before the expressway’s construction, the journey to the border used to take five to six hours on congested and unsafe roads. Thanks to the BRI, Dr. Rethy stated that “it is not only about saving time, but saving lives,” as the reduced traffic accidents have made a significant impact on the well-being of the region’s residents.
Furthermore, the expressway has also led to cost savings for Cambodian and international businesses operating in the region. Dr. Rethy emphasized that these cost reductions have significantly boosted their profit margins.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, which drew participation from 151 countries, 41 international organizations, and over 10,000 delegates in Beijing over the course of two days. The strong attendance demonstrated the growing popularity and influence of the BRI, effectively countering a decade of criticism.
Despite its significant contributions to the development of partner countries and regions, the BRI has faced repeated scrutiny and criticism from Western media, revolving around accusations of creating a “debt trap,” environmental concerns, and Chinese companies’ dominance in the projects. In response to these criticisms, Erik Solheim, co-chair of the Europe-Asia Center and former under-secretary-general of the United Nations, dismissed the “debt trap” narrative as “anti-Chinese propaganda.” He emphasized that developing countries owe more debt to Western lenders than to China, with African governments owing three times more debt to Western banks and private lenders.
Solheim also projected a bright future for the BRI, identifying green development as a key focus area, particularly in renewable energy like solar and wind power, as well as hydrogen. China is poised to play a pivotal role in promoting green corridors, such as rail corridors in Africa and the connection between Laos and China’s Yunnan.
The forum highlighted the potential for cooperation in education, arts, culture, heritage, and healthcare. Experts also stressed the importance of addressing climate change and advancing artificial intelligence technologies through international cooperation.
Solheim acknowledged that criticism of the BRI would persist but suggested that the West should explore complementary strategies rather than direct competition with China. He pointed out the significant gap between China’s high-speed rail construction and the United States, emphasizing that cooperation and technology sharing could benefit developing countries.
In summary, the Third Belt and Road Forum celebrated the achievements of the BRI, while experts offered a positive outlook for its future and proposed alternative approaches to criticism and competition.
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