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Interview: China leads in ensuring globalization amid protectionism: ex-Thai official

Xinhua,April 08, 2018 Adjust font size:

by Chen Jiabao

BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China is making a leadership role in ensuring globalization, free trade and open economy on the way forward amid rising protectionism, former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiat Sathirathai told Xinhua on Saturday.

Surakiat appreciates the initiative on the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road -- the Belt and Road Initiative.

The initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes to seek common development and prosperity.

The Belt and Road Initiative connects countries through rail and road, airports and seaports, bringing a much easier way for people to do business and creating jobs as well as income, which boosts the economy, said Surakiat before attending the Boao Forum for Asia in China.

"Beyond mega projects, it connects people and promotes cross-culture exchanges as well as good understandings. Most importantly, it includes the digital connectivity. The Belt and Road Initiative aims to foster linkages between countries and people as we enter the disruptive technology era or the fourth industrial revolution," said Surakiat.

It would be a major initiative to counter the sentiment of the rise of protectionism, said Surakiat, the chairman of Asia Peace and Reconciliation Council.

The initiative is a concrete one, he said, hoping China would continue to undertake its leading role in the initiative which does not only belong to China and countries along, but also to everyone.

Surakiat expected the Boao Forum for Asia 2018 to talk out how the international community can work together to ensure that open economy will not be disrupted by the trade war and anti-globalization in America and European countries.

Themed "An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity", the Boao Forum for Asia 2018 annual conference, a high-level forum for leaders from governments, businesses and academia in Asia and other continents, runs from April 8 to 11 in Boao, in China's southern island province of Hainan. Enditem

 

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