Indonesian Sinologist on China's 'One Belt, One Road' initiative

Do you know the "One Belt, One Road" initiative unveiled by president Xi Jinping in 2013? What's your take on that?

Yes. I think this is an initiative to connect China to its neighboring countries and civilizations, and at the same time to relive the ancient trade routes to the current global setting. One Belt One Road is a Chinese initiative to maintain its growth, as well as sharing the benefit of Chinese growth with the neighboring countries and the world in general. The purpose is to have a common sustainable prosperity.

In your opinion, what are the historical and practical significances for China to put forward such a development strategy at such a time?

For the historical significance, China is trying to emphasize its role in the global economy, as it used to be during the years of the Silk Road when China was the main hub and generator for the world’s trade business. Meanwhile, China in recent years has experienced drastic transformation from a poor country to a developing country to one of the world’s economic leaders. The growth of China has been a role model for many other developing Asian countries. China has also played more significant roles in the development in the least developing countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Americas. By taking this initiative at such a time, China is trying to gain a leadership position among developing countries, and at the same time, China is trying to prove that China’s growth can be beneficial to the whole world.

Meanwhile, for practical significance, it's important for China to gain resources and market to sustain its own growth. By helping economic development in areas covered by the One Belt One Road initiative, in fact China is also helping itself and its people to survive under the pressure of transforming its own economy.

The China threat theory has been around for many years, though China has been claiming that it is a "peaceful rise". What signals do the "One Belt, One Road" initiative send to the world?

One Belt One Road signifies that Chinese growth can be beneficial to other countries and to the world, and China is not threatening but instead supporting the development of its neighboring countries. Of course the program touches some sensitive areas, like the maritime border issues with the ASEAN countries in the South China Sea and some border and social issues with the Central Asian countries. But these disputes between China and its neighboring countries are discussed and solved in the framework outside the One Belt One Road. At the same time we can see clearly that by promoting One Belt One Road in countries with disputes, China is attempting to emphasize economic cooperation and using the economic cooperation with those countries as part of the solution to its political and border disputes with them.