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SRCIC
Radio Interview: SRCIC's Response to the Belt and Road Initiative
8 Dec 2017

 

On 6 December 2017, SRCIC Senior Advisor Ginger Jiang received the telephone interview by Jeffrey Bingham Mead from Marvels of China: Pathways to the Pacific Rim Show on 1490 WGCH/WGCH.com, a streaming audio show. The interview lasted for 15 minutes and the following topics are talked on.

 

Jeffrey: Welcome to the show. In 2013 Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative. Describe this for us.

 

Ginger: Thank you Jeffrey! I am glad for this opportunity to talk with you about the topic.

 

The Belt and Road Initiative is one notion of two components - the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. So there is also another English version for this, One Belt and One Road, abbreviated as OBOR, which is closer to the Chinese wording 一带一路.

 

The Belt and Road Initiative has taken a gradual process to show a complete version – first, the Silk Road Economic Belt was proposed in September 2013 in Kyrgyzstan when President Xi made his visit there. And then in October, the Maritime Silk Road was added when he spoke to the Indonesian Parliament in October that year.

 

After four years up to now, the Belt and Road Initiative has presented a clear outline for implementation and a vision for win-win cooperation. There have been projects covering a big range of industrial and economic sectors.

 

Infrastructure comes first, railways, high ways and airports. Now we have cargo trains going from China directly to Europe.

 

And there are long-term investments like what Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is doing. So far China has provided USD 50 billion to the B&R projects in different countries.

 

And also the trade expansion among the B&R countries. It is estimated the Belt and Road Initiative has created new employment for 180,000 people in the countries involved.

 

And there are cultural exchanges alongside all the business mentioned above. 

 

Jeffrey: Two years later the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce was founded. Why? What is its mission and goals?

 

Ginger: Obviously it was a strong response to the Belt and Road Initiative. And at the same time, SRCIC has an inborn relation with the Silk Road. The decisive supporter of the SRCIC is the Tang West Market Group in Xi'an China. The company group has its modern business complex built right on the archeological site of the ancient Silk Road starting point in China and they built a national first-class museum there, too, for conservation. The museum is named after the West Market of the Tang Dynasty, the peak period in the Chinese history 1400 year ago.

 

SRCIC's mission is to contribute to the revival and growth of the Silk Road trade and culture. Its goals are to assist its members to take the opportunities in trade and investment in the Silk Road countries for promotion of a free and inclusive economic development, and of course, to promote cross-cultural understanding among the Belt and Road countries.  

 

Jeffrey: Describe for us a sample of your business and cultural programs.

 

Ginger: SRCIC has several professional committees assisting its members for business and cultural exchange.

 

A recent project is to bridge a Chinese wine company with the Georgian wine producer for quantity sales. And another is coordinating China West Airport Group with the Ukrainian counterpart for cooperative project of airport management and building.

 

In cultural exchange, SRCIC always has a cultural activity in each of its constant events - Silk Road museum exhibitions and folk culture shows.

 

SRCIC also has a Silk Road Sunshine Fund to provide scholarship program for 30 Ukrainian students to study in China's colleges for four year, starting this year, and another 30 Arabic students to begin next year.

 

Jeffrey: You are currently celebrating the second anniversary of the SRCIC in Beijing. What is your theme and what do you wish to accomplish?

 

Ginger: This is an interesting and exciting time for both SRCIC members and our friends. The series of anniversary celebration include an Executive Board meeting, a General Assembly, a Belt and Road Seminar, and a special concert in China's top concert hall.

 

(Jeffrey, I wish you can come and join us in Beijing. – Thank you. I hope I could make it next year. )

 

The theme of all the activities is to present SRCIC achievements over the last two years and to plan for the future. The purpose is to impress the central government officials and to expand SRCIC influence for more chambers of commerce to join us in the Belt and Road construction.

 

Jeffrey: What is in store for the future of the Belt and Road Initiative?

 

Ginger: In early 2015, China issued an action plan for the Belt and Road Initiative, which emphasized five dimensions, i.e. policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bond. It is a grand picture for the regional and world development and it takes time. We regard it as part of the global economic governance. SRCIC is trying to play an active role in this grandeur cause.

 

Jeffrey:  How can our listeners learn more about the SRCIC?

 

Ginger: Thank you, Jeffrey, for asking this question! We surely welcome listeners to get to know us.

 

We have an SRCIC website, www.srcic.org, in both English and Chinese. It keeps up with all the activities SRCIC is involved, and it also provides application forms for membership and for the events, say, the current 2nd anniversary celebration in Beijing. You fill in the form and become a member, or, get a ticket to the theme concert.

 

And also there are email addresses for anyone to write in with questions and suggestions. We definitely welcome contacts through all these channels, and SRCIC offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.

 

Jeffrey: Thank you, Ginger, for answering all my questions. We will have this show on either December 23 or December 30. We believe our listeners will become interested in the topics.

 

Ginger: Thank you, Jeffrey! And thank our listeners for their attention! Bye bye!

 

Background Information:

Marvels of China: Pathways to the Pacific Rim provides a colorful, lively international perspective on China and the Pacific Rim. It introduces educational, cultural, business and travel opportunities for Chinese and Americans. The show features news of business, educational and cultural events, and reveals historical and cultural ties between America and China as we promote and strengthen understanding and friendship between the peoples of America, China and the Pacific Rim.