New Models of International Cooperation: Multiple Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative

At a time when the world is rethinking globalization, when more and more countries are adopting inward-looking policies, China’s The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cannot pass unnoticed by global policy makers. This ambitious initiative aims to establish a new transnational infrastructure network linking Asia, Africa, and Europe to form an interconnected economic space for more than 60 countries, which will make the BRI the core global economic activity for decades to come. The BRI’s budget is estimated at $890 billion, and will be primary allocated to infrastructure development projects. As such, it has the power to create opportunities for reducing economic disparity, poverty, and deprivation across the globe.

The debates around the BRI have gradually heated up in the last couple of years; recent worldwide news has fueled interest to the initiative. Recently it was announced that the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing from May 14 to 15. The Forum, with a theme of “Strengthening International Cooperation and Co-Building ‘the Belt and Road’ for Win-Win Development” will be attended by more than 1,200 officials, entrepreneurs, and representatives of international organizations and financial institutions from more than 100 nations, as well as government representatives from more than 28 countries. During the Forum, the Chinese side hopes to sign cooperation documents with 20 countries and more than 20 international organizations. They also plan to come up with nearly 20 action plans concerning infrastructure, trade, and investment.

Following the expected results of the Forum, the DOC RI Round-table “New Models of International Cooperation: Multiple Perspectives on the Belt and Road Initiative” encouraged international organizations, governments, experts and other interested parties to exchange opinions and to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the BRI, its benefits and potential pitfalls for local, national, regional, and globally-inclusive and sustainable development.

Issues for discussion:

1. The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation: Key Outcomes
2. The Belt and Road Initiative:

• Economic Prospects for Europe, Iran, and Other Partners
• Security Dimension and Cooperation in Central Asia

3. Transnational Infrastructure Projects as a Basis for the Development of a New Economic Model
4. The Role of Dialogue of Civilization in Fostering New Models of International Cooperation

Keynote Speakers:

Dr. Vladimir Yakunin, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, DOC Research Institute

Prof. Zhang Yuyan, Senior Fellow and Director-General of the Institute of World Economics and Politics

The round-table will take place at the DOC Offices in Berlin on 31st May, from 10:00-14:00.

Speakers:
Dr. Parisa Shah Mohammadi, Research Fellow, Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS)
Dr. Mojegan Golchin, Director of East Asia Studies Group, IPIS
Prof. Biliang Hu, Dean, Emerging Markets Institute (EMI), Director, The Belt and Road Institute (BRI), Beijing Normal University (BNU)
Ms. Eva Kaili, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
Ms. Gaukhar Nurgalieva, Head of Eurasia Studies Lab, Moscow School of Management Skolkovo
Mr. Dimitris Psarrakis, Economic & Monetary Policy Advisor at the European Parliament
Dr. Oleg Remyga, Head of China Studies Lab, Moscow School of Management Skolkovo
Dr. Maxim Vilisov, Director General, Center for Crisis Society Studies, Deputy Head of the State Governance Department, Faculty of Political Sciences, Lomonosov Moscow State University
Dr. Thorsten Jelinek, Director of Taihe Global Institute, Europe Center; former Associate Director of the World Economic Forum
Dr. Wang Hui, Researcher, Hertie School of Governance
Prof. Yu Honqyuan, Professor and Director of Institute of Comparative Politics and Public Policy, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies

Event video playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF1usGzxawczbH9k9j1iiMu5KY5pHrFVA

Event podcast

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