-Chinese companies reach out to the world for digital Silk Road construction
China’s international trade and economic development plan – known as the Belt and Road Initiative – could contribute to a more equitable, prosperous world, and to reversing the negative impact of climate change, United Nations' Secretary-General António Guterres said on Friday, speaking in Beijing, China.
Addressing Chinese President Xi Jinping and dozens of other state leaders at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, Mr. Guterres urged the international community to “come together” in mobilizing resources to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and “to stop runaway climate change.”“China’s leadership on climate action is helping to show the way,” said the UN chief, noting the $125 billion investment made by the Government in 2017, in renewable energy.
He pledged the support of United Nations country teams – which comprise UN agencies, founds and programmes operating in a country - saying the pillars of the Belt and Road Initiative link to the 17 SDGs, which include ending extreme poverty and hunger, and can translate into “real-life progress for people.”
He believed that with the scale of its planned investments, the initiative offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the creation of a more equitable, prosperous world for all, and to help reverse the negative impacts of climate change.
This initiative can also help close significant financing gaps, especially in the developing world. In particular, it can help fulfil the need for about US$1 trillion for infrastructure investments in developing countries.
It also should be seen as an important space where green principles can be put into action.
"Inequality, the climate crisis, and the potential risks of globalization and the Fourth Industrial Revolution are creating deep levels of public anxiety," said Guterres.
"But while we face extreme challenges, we are also seeing promising trends. China's leadership on climate action is helping to show the way," said the secretary-general.
New renewable energy jobs in China now outnumber those created in the oil and gas industries. In 2017, China invested over US$125 billion in renewable.
That means also helping to close the financing gaps for achieving the SDGs, he said noting the nearly $1 trillion needed for infrastructure investments in developing countries.
Looking globally, Mr. Guterres said that countries today need a way to transition from an “unsustainable, fossil-fuelled grey economy to a clean, green, low-carbon energy future.”
Noting that at least 75 per cent of the infrastructure the world needs by 2050 has yet to be built, Mr. Guterres lauded China for its investment in renewable energy job creation and technologies.
“I see the Belt and Road Initiative as an important space where green principles can be reflected in green action,” he told the Forum.
Earlier, noted there was now “a unique opportunity to build a new generation of climate resilient and people-centred cities and transit systems, and energy grids that prioritize low emissions and sustainability.”
While in Beijing, Mr. Guterres, who is joined on the visit by Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), will meet one-on-one with President Xi and other senior officials. On Saturday, he is due to participate in a roundtable on promoting green and sustainable development.
Looking globally, Mr. Guterres said that countries today need a way to transition from an “unsustainable, fossil-fuelled grey economy to a clean, green, low-carbon energy future.”
Noting that at least 75 per cent of the infrastructure the world needs by 2050 has yet to be built, Mr. Guterres lauded China for its investment in renewable energy job creation and technologies.
“I see the Belt and Road Initiative as an important space where green principles can be reflected in green action,” he told the Forum.
Earlier, noted there was now “a unique opportunity to build a new generation of climate resilient and people-centred cities and transit systems, and energy grids that prioritize low emissions and sustainability.”
While in Beijing, Mr. Guterres, who is joined on the visit by Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), will meet one-on-one with President Xi and other senior officials. On Saturday, he is due to participate in a roundtable on promoting green and sustainable development.
Chinese companies reach out to the world for digital Silk Road construction
Addressing a Thursday forum on the sideline of the second #BeltandRoadForum (BRF) for International Cooperation, Sun Pishu, chairman and CEO of Inspur Group, proposed that smart city construction assisted by new technologies like cloud computing, big data, 5G, and AI will provide new driving forces in the global economy.
“China has gained a vast experience in building smart cities after many years of practice, setting up good examples for building smart cities under the Belt and Road Initiative,” he said, adding that enterprises from China and around the world should team up to provide services for the digital Silk Road.
The concept of digital Silk Road was envisioned by President Xi Jinping at the first BRF in 2017, which has hence seen strengthened efforts from Chinese enterprises.
For instance, Inspur provides informationalized services for 120 countries and regions around the globe, including #Thailand Education Cloud Program, #Kazakhstan Smart Railway Program, Zambia Smart Taxation Program, and Curacao Smart City Program.
Also at the Thursday forum, Beijing Qi An Xin Group inked a cooperation deal with #Indonesia’s Artha Graha Network to jointly build a threat awareness platform, marking the first major cyber security infrastructure by a Chinese enterprise operating overseas.
Lothar Herrmann, President and CEO Siemens Greater China, also a representative at BRF, commented that BRI has proven to be a strong force for the development of globalization, connecting peoples and economies.
“High-quality development is the right formula going forward for this fast expanding infrastructure program of our time. It means to construct an open and inclusive playing ground for all participants, to drive practical cooperation and meaningful projects fit for the digital age, and to bring tangible benefits to the society and people under the Belt and Road,” noted Herrmann.
No comments