[GMW.cn]XU Qinhua: China’s Contribution to BRI Green Development

As the saying goes, "It is better to see once than hear a hundred times." In the research process of problems and solutions faced by promoting the development of green BRI, the concept of green “Belt and Road” is relatively vague, especially there is a struggle between the goal and the path of the development path of “green” concept between Western developed countries and developing countries. After investigating the Shaanxi’s China-Europe block train in Xinzhu Station of China Railway Xi'an Group and the Aiju Grain and Oil Industrial Group, scholars have another thought on the perception of green development, for the BRI with historical significance, green development actually has multiple meanings at a broader level.

First, green development is manifested in the fairness of project benefits. For example, in the process of cooperation with North Kazakhstan state, Aiju Group has extended the granary of China to overseas under the principle of extensive consultation, joint construction and shared benefits, and also benefited the people of Kazakhstan in the technology and experience of food planting. Both sides have achieved good economic returns and improved food security in line with national interests.

Second, green development is the wisdom of project cooperation. Countries along the “Belt and Road” include major fossil energy producers and consumers, as well as low- and middle-income countries and ecologically fragile regions. Integrating the green development concept into the BRI to create more green public goods for countries and regions along the route will effectively promote the implementation of the 2030 sustainable development agenda. Both the China-Europe block train and the Aiju Model are the China's wisdom and contribution. Regarding how China can improve its greenness in the process of investing the “One Belt One Road” project, there are three main concerns in foreign countries: who is the key subject of project decision-making, why the green constraints on some projects are not strict enough, and how to solve the above problems. In this regard, it needs to be further explained that China has the ability to meet the real needs of countries along the route for green development and the status and role of China in the “One Belt One Road” green development process.

Third, green development is manifested by the enormous potential of cooperation. The promotion and application of green technology is the critical area with great potential of development. On November 9th, the team of the National Academy of Development and Strategy of Renmin University of China released the Chinese and English versions of “One Belt One Road” Green Development Index (GDI) report. The results of one year of research showed that China’s 2015 GDI score ranked 3rd among the countries along the “Belt and Road”, which is close to the average level of OECD countries in 2016. The green technology sub-index is 71.1, ranking first among countries along the “One Belt One Road”. The increase in the green technology sub-index is the main reason for the significant increase in China's GDI score, which is inseparable from China's great efforts in R&D, demonstration and promotion of green low-carbon technologies such as energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Finally, green development is manifested by the efficiency of project expansion. The preparation of Shaanxi China-Europe block train is only more than 8 months. In the 2018, 5th anniversary of the BRI, the number of round-trip trains has reached 1030, which is about twice the total of the previous four years. We have achieved a lot in implementation of project and development speed.

China’s significant increase in GDI scores in recent years indicates that China, as the largest developing country, is exploring and gradually opening up a green sustainable development path that is suitable for developing countries through innovative development paths, providing other countries for models and experiences that can be used for reference. In the areas of standard setting and construction of green infrastructure, research and development, demonstration and promotion of green technologies, China has great potential of cooperation with countries along the “Belt and Road”.