Ma Peihua: Respect and Adapt to the Diversity of Civilizations

Source: CBGG

Published: 2019-04-25 

On April 22, 2019, the 2nd World Finance Forum and the Belt and Road Cooperation Beijing Forum, hosted by the Center for BRICS and Global Governance (CBGG),  the World Finance Forum (WFF) and the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee (RBWC), was successfully held in Beijing. The forum was WFF’s spring meeting in 2019, with the theme of “openness, innovation, development, inclusiveness and sharing”. Ma Peihua, Vice Chairman of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech that started with a congratulating remark on the event.

Ma Peihua said that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an international economic cooperation initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, is centered on infrastructure construction to boost connectivity in an all-round way, tap new momentum for global economic growth, and create a new platform for international economic cooperation. After six years of practice, the BRI is being shaped into a road of cooperation, prosperity, openness, greenness, mutual benefit and integrity for the wellbeing of all peoples.

Ma Peihua pointed out that to implement the BRI, we should follow the Silk Road spirit of respecting the diversity of civilizations in different nations. We should respect and adapt to the values, views of religion and culture, ways of thinking, and language expressions in different cultural contexts, promote people-to-people exchanges, enhance mutual trust, and adhere to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Only on the basis of equality and mutual benefit can we seek common development and prosperity.

Ma Peihua concluded his speech by wishing the 2nd World Finance Forum and the Belt and Road Cooperation Beijing Forum a complete success. He expected the forum to capitalize on the role of think tank in summarizing experience, planning for the future and building consensus, and to effectively promote the Belt and Road international cooperation towards high-quality development.