Rian Maelzer 丨 CCTV.com
Former presidents and prime ministers joined with business leaders, academics and politicians at the World Chinese Economic Summit in Malaysia Thursday.
Optimism about the prospects for greater economic cooperation between China, ASEAN and beyond through initiatives like One Belt, One Road were tempered by worries about growing political tensions and concerns about the US’s possible backtracking on globalisation.
The line up of heavy hitters at the World Chinese Economic Summit included the former leaders of Indonesia, Pakistan, Australia and the Taiwan region.
They shared insights on China’s growing global stature, its economic outlook and the Belt and Road, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank initiatives.
But anxiety about the impact of Donald Trump’s victory in the US elections on trade liberalization was also a common theme.
“With the increasing likelihood that the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP will not be coming into existence it is even more imperative that the regional comp economic partnership, RCEP, with china as the main anchor be expeditiously concluded and possibly expanded.”said Prof. Surakiart Sathirathai,former Thai Deputy Prime Minister.
Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged China to exercise stronger leadership on global issues like climate change, UN reform and world trade.
“We all have much riding on the success of China's economic reforms recently undertaken by President Xi Jinping. China continues to be a driving force that is pulling the world economy today just as it helped pull the world out of the financial crisis in 2008.”said Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,former President of Indonesia.
Speakers were universally enthusiastic about the Belt and Road initiative. But some cautioned that the benefits of individual projects must be seen to trickle down to ordinary people in participating countries.
Pakistan has been among the early beneficiaries of One Belt, One Road.
“The Pakistan-China relationship has always been our strongest and most enduring relationship. It is driven by peace harmony mutual respect and commonality of interests.” said Shaukat Aziz,former Pakistan Prime Minister.
Aside from sharing insights, the summit will also hope to have helped build business connections between the Chinese diaspora and China…ones that will lead to more trade and investment in years ahead.