Preface Ⅱ
A Healthier and Fairer Globalization

I am privileged to be invited to join the Belt and Road Ambassador Interview Program, which impressed me a lot.It is inspiring for me to connect my work with the Belt and Road Initiative.

In China, I believe almost everyone knows this Initiative and it is also quite well-known abroad.As to the meaning of the Belt and Road Initiative, many scholars and key influencers have conveyed their understandings with extensive and profound discussions.My interpretation does not necessarily have many specialties, but I want to express my understandings about the Belt and Road Initiative on the basis of my work.

First of all, on July 21,2015, New Development Bank (NDB) was officially open.Its founding members include Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.Its headquarter is in Shanghai.As a new type of multilateral development bank, its mission is to support the construction of infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging markets and developing countries.It is committed to alleviating the financial bottlenecks that they have faced for a long time and providing new impetus for the accelerated recovery of the global economy, which is consistent with the original intention of the Belt and Road Initiative.The NDB hopes to make its own contribution to the transformation, upgrading, innovation and development in the China's real economy.

Second, the Belt and Road Initiative is quite promising and we should take a long-term perspective.We cannot simply regard it as an initiative that helps to develop more infrastructures for the countries along the Belt and Road.Under the framework of it, to achieve the connectivity of infrastructure is the priority, but the content of it is much more than that.I regard it as a new version of globalization, one that was put forward by China and that is healthier and fairer.It should be a critical aspect of the Initiative to consider how to integrate less developed countries into the globalization process and into global supply chains more deeply through the implementation of the Initiative.In that case, their own potentials and comparative advantages can be fully exploited to lift them out of poverty and enable them to move from low-income to middle-income countries, and then from middle-income to high-income countries, making their economy and society more developed.

Third, we should rationally deal with the different interpretations of the Belt and Road Initiative and achieve more international consensus.The Initiative was put forward by China, but the goal is to promote common development among all countries.In the early days, China can play a more constructive role in building the platform.However, in the later stages, the international supports will be needed.As a global initiative, it can be interpreted differently, but we also need to have a widely-recognized version at the international level.There are different interpretations, even some misunderstandings, which is not surprising.However, if there are negative interpretations, we must do more work and prove our original intentions through facts.The Belt and Road Initiative may bring some tangible benefits to China, but its greater contribution is global, bringing much more benefits to countries and regions along the Belt and Road.At the same time, in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, it should be remembered that many countries along the Belt and Road are less developed countries.Thus, their conditions are quite different from these of today's China and it is impossible to transfer all of China's experience to these countries.We should understand and respect local laws, regulations and culture.Meanwhile, we need to take into account some potential unfavorable conditions and even risks Chinese enterprises and investors are facing due to different situations in some countries.According to different situations and conditions, we should come up with different solutions.The implementation of the Initiative must also bring tangible benefits to the local people.Only in this way will the general public give sincere and full supports.Of course, this also involves how to combine strategy and practice.There are similarities and differences in development visions between China and other nations, and only to gather more consensus can we bring us all together.

Much of the work of the NDB can contribute to the implementation of the Initiative.As mentioned in the interview with me, the members of the New Development Bank are all big developing countries and play a leading role in their respective regions.China, in particular, has gone through an important transition from a planned economy to a socialist market economy, becoming the second largest economy in the world.

My work experience is precisely the reflection of the vicissitudes of China's reform and opening up over the past 40 years.The first half of my career was in China, especially in the Ministry of finance; the latter half was largely in international organizations, including three institutions: the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the New Development Bank.I have personally experienced the continuous development of cooperation between China and international institutions.For example, from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, I also participated in the whole process of game from the suspension of loans to sanctions on China and to restore lending to China by the World Bank.In addition, at the end of the 1990s, at the instigation of the Dalai clique, some foreign people with ulterior motives took advantage of poverty alleviation projects in western China to exert pressure on China, and we faced severe challenges at that time.These challenges have taught me that in the international institutions, in the area of development particularly, we must have our own solid technical capacity and foundation, as well as a keen political sensitivity, in order to be able to effectively defend our national interests.

Today, China has become one of the most influential and successful countries in the world.We can also share our effective experience with other countries.From this perspective, based on some of my experience in international institutions, including the World Bank, I feel that the New Development Bank needs to learn from the successful experience of other mature international institutions and keep pace with the times.China and other developing countries should be able to explore new ways, create new platforms and make new achievements in new areas, which may be an important goal for me personally to serve in the New Development Bank.I hope I will be able to make the bank a new multilateral international institution with different features from other banks.It will have its own brand and characteristics, as well as outstanding performance.

The Belt and Road Initiative is inclusive.Readers from various backgrounds can appreciate the Ambassador Interview, and can be inspired by every decision-maker at home and abroad.Although the initiative is grand, it is closely related to our life.China's development is closely linked to everyone's life, and even the development of the world.This book provides readers and audience with a new perspective to observe China and to listen to Chinese stories through voices from various countries and fields.

When I was working in Washington D.C., I knew Sun Chao, the author of the book.She studied at Harvard University and gained working experiences in different international organizations, including the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund.She is a young professional with international perspectives and practical experiences.I sincerely recommend this book to all the audience at home and abroad.

Zhu Xian
Vice President, COO of the New Development Bank
Shanghai