Maritime Silk Road initiative to reduce friction, catalyze common prosperity
by Xinhua Writer Wang Haiqing
Even a not-so-close scrutiny of the maritime Silk Road proposed by China will allow the observer to know that the route passes large areas in the South China Sea.
With China laying bear its concepts and intentions of win-win development, common prosperity and cultural inclusiveness in initiating such a route, it is believed that the project will also be helpful in solving disputes on the much-hyped “troubled water.”
With its primary function as a trade route, the Maritime Silk Road will promote common development of the region and boost Asia’s role as an important and sustainable engine for the growht of global economy, for the project entails hardware improvements which is crucial for the economic upgrade.
What’s more important, the benefits does not stop there. More frequent exchanges of people, commodities and ideas will lead to better understanding between trading partners, as proven by the original Silk Road that spans Asia, Africa and Europe.
The proposal put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping to rejuvenate the ancient trade route reflects China’s earnestness to spur regional growth and share development opportunities with neighbors and far-away partners as well.
The idea was echoed many times at a two-day seminar that concluded Thursday in China’s eastern coastal city of Quanzhou, once the world’s largest trading port that even dwarfed the glamour of Alexandria in Egypt as showed in historical data and accounts of renowned travellers like Marco Polo.
Refuting irresponsible allegations by China-demonizers that the initiative betrays China’s ambition to dominate the region, many analysts and experts attending the seminar expounded nature of the Maritime Silk Road proposal: what China seeks is not regional domination but win-win situation, not confrontation but cooperation, not hegemony but peaceful co-existence.
The spirit, also manifested in China’s approach in resolving disputes with some neighbors in regard to the South China Sea, deserves applause from media outlets that base their reports on truth rather than bias.
Some Western media outlets have turned a habitual blind eye to the constructive efforts by China to make the South China Sea a sea of peace but tried every trick to play up “China threat,” and there is no exception when it comes to reporting the China-proposed maritime Silk Road.
As noted by Xinhua News Agency’s President Cai Mingzhao at the Quanzhou seminar, the media plays an irreplaceable role in promoting mutual understanding and friendship among countries.
For media outlets that even do not bother to conceal their habitual prejudice against China, they should be reminded that by always casting China in the negative light they do risk their credibility.