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Editor's note: Since its inception in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has transformed ideas into actions, from a vision into reality, and from a general framework into concrete projects. Evaluating the BRI's accomplishments over the last decade raises questions. How has the BRI advanced policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and closer people-to-people ties? "BRI: A Road for the Common Good" is a five-part series that delves into the BRI's achievements of the past decade. The second essay explores infrastructure connectivity.
By Naseem Khan Achakzai
As we stand in the 10th year of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), we see a vision realized, a commitment fulfilled, and a dream which became a reality. Inaugurated by China in 2013, the BRI stands as a transformative force that has left an indelible mark on the global stage.
As a key pillar of the global community of shared future, the BRI has been promoting all-round connectivity in multiple fields. Connectivity of infrastructure is one of the top priorities of the initiative, according to the white paper "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future" China issued this month.
Based on a framework comprising "six corridors, six routes, and multiple countries and ports," a multitiered and multidimensional infrastructure network is taking shape, laying foundations for deeper economic cooperation and bridging developmental gaps among participating countries.
Roads, railways, ports, and energy projects have been constructed or upgraded across Asia, Africa, Europe, and beyond, closing infrastructure gaps between developed and developing countries, and instilling vitalities into local economies.
For example, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has significantly upgraded Pakistan's infrastructure, creating a more efficient trade route to the Arabian Sea. Having brought $25.4 billion investment, created 192,000 jobs, generated 6,000 megawatts of electricity, and built 510 kilometers of highways in Pakistan, the CPEC has won warm applause from local people. The CPEC presents "a historic opportunity for Pakistan," Nikkei Asia quoted Stella Hong Zhang, a China public policy postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School's Ash Center, as saying.
A section of the China-aided Eastbay Expressway of Gwadar port in Gwadar, Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province. [Photo/Xinhua]
Additionally, BRI investments in energy infrastructure such as power plants and pipelines help address energy shortages in participating countries, and thus eliminate barriers for their development. For instance, the construction of natural gas pipelines from Central Asia to China has bolstered energy security and trade. In 2022, the pipeline network supplied 43.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to China, providing gas for more than 500 million residents, according to PipeChina's West Pipeline Company. This has effectively safeguarded natural gas consumption in China and other participating countries.
Zigzagging across 1,833 kilometers from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to northwest China, the gas pipeline features a high degree of economic complementarity. While it has created over 1,600 jobs in oil and gas resource-producing countries, it has also secured resource-consumption countries, including China, a stable access to national gas.
Moreover, new logistics and trade hubs under the BRI framework have streamlined the movement of goods, reduced transportation costs and transit times, and thus boosted economic efficiency in participating countries. The development of ports, such as the Gwadar Port in Pakistan, has increased trade opportunities for landlocked countries. Over the past months, the cargo handling at Gwadar Port has consistently increased, with more than 600,000 tons of cargo being handled, according to Xinhua reports. This has not only reduced costs for local manufacturers but also connects Pakistan with neighboring countries.
COSCO Wellington cargo vessel with containers moored at Gwadar port, Pakistan. [Photo/Xinhua]
The BRI has also supported the expansion of telecommunications infrastructure, including fiber-optic networks and satellite technology. Improved communication links facilitate business transactions and connect remote regions to the global economy. For instance, the BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS-3) provides comprehensive services for the China-Europe Railway Express, and in maritime transport and other fields. For participating countries, this means a new opportunity for growth.
With its ambitious infrastructure projects spanning continents, the BRI has not only reshaped the global development agenda but also propelled China into a prominent position on the world stage. As we delve into the multifaceted dimensions of the BRI's evolution over the past decade, it becomes evident that its ramifications extend far beyond mere infrastructure development, encompassing economic, political, and cultural dimensions that continue to shape the global landscape.
Contrary to the traditional Western-led development model, the BRI prioritizes pragmatic infrastructure and economic development without imposing political conditions related to governance, human rights, and environmental standards. It emphasizes collaboration among all participating countries to achieve common economic goals. This cooperative approach promotes economic partnerships based on mutual interests, a stark contrast to the donor-recipient dynamic seen in traditional development aid.
The author Naseem Khan Achakzai is advisor to the Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly and Executive Director of the Grandview Institution in Pakistan.
