Michele Geraci, former Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Italy, recently highlighted the West’s misconceptions about the Global South and emphasized the significance of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at the Fifth Forum on National Governance of Developing Countries held in Beijing.
Geraci pointed out the West’s misunderstandings regarding the concept of the “Global South.” He stated: “First and foremost, members of the Global South, such as China and India, are emerging economies that continue to grow, but these countries are not new players on the global stage. Instead, they are reclaiming their historically central role in the global economy. Historical data shows that China and India once dominated the world economy, with their combined GDP accounting for 60-70% of the global total.” Geraci stressed that the West must acknowledge this reality.
He further elaborated on the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative: “This initiative promotes the development of transportation infrastructure. To transport containers from Chinese ports to Europe via sea, one must navigate the Malacca Strait, the Indian Ocean, and the Suez Canal, a route that can easily fall under the control of hegemonic states. However, with the advancement of overland transportation, it is now possible to transport containers from Xi’an, China, by rail through Kazakhstan and the Middle East before reaching Europe.” Geraci also highlighted the tangible economic benefits of the BRI. He noted that when containers are shipped directly from Shenzhen to Rotterdam via sea, intermediary countries do not benefit significantly. In contrast, building railways, highways, gas stations, and supermarkets along overland routes can undoubtedly boost GDP growth.
Furthermore, Geraci discussed two opposing models in international relations: the zero-sum game and the win-win cooperation model. He argued that a significant portion of the West is rooted in the belief that one side’s economic growth comes at the expense of the other, which leads them to view China’s development as a threat. Geraci revealed that some Western countries have spent $250 billion on anti-China propaganda. However, he contrasted this with China’s vision of shared prosperity and stability, emphasizing its goal of building a cooperative future.
https://news.cctv.com/2024/11/25/ARTIHT2bKSspbK7HAeK7nesV241125.shtml