Name: Ghassan Chebaro, President, Arab Scientific Publishers

Title: Media Cooperation and Development Under the One Belt One Road Framework

Abstract

The Silk Road had the upper hand in spreading China's paper-making technology to the world, this great design helped nations along the Silk Road preserve their culture, sciences and history, and, at the same time, to activate a bilateral cultural communication among them. China is invited to reactivate this cultural role it had carried since the year 105 A.D. to acquaint people and governments with the Belt and Road Initiative and to furnish them with the right information, that is the OBOR, a policy of reciprocity which is based on mutual accommodation and benefits. If this information cannot be understood accurately, problems would rise to hinder the advancement of the project. Therefore, media should play a positive role.

Media content is an important issue, bearing in mind of diverse cultures, different age groups, and different walks of life that prevail along the Belt and Road that should be addressed. Messages should be personalized and geared for particular groups using their language. In addition, content distribution is as important as contents since media is the tool that translates ideas into actions.

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to build up a multi-task network of media outlets, portals, journalists and activists to explain and engage citizens and governments along the Belt and Road. Proper contents could deepen their knowledge and understanding of different perspectives of the initiative.This media network should be overseen and directed by a council that is oriented with all political, cultural and economic factors dominating each addressed country and nation, and could be either centralized in China or in cooperation with other local media outlets.

Besides the traditional media, social media is playing an important role in spreading information, and should be addressed through different online platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube. On the other hand, books in different languages should be published and distributed to furnish readers with information about the great Chinese cultural, historic and literary heritage. Other supporting cultural initiatives could be launched to strengthen this cooperation, namely through Olympic sports competitions and theatrical performances. Moreover, supporting development initiatives, like building water dams, roads and electricity power plants, would also be of significant contributions.

I come from Lebanon, a small country where there is a considerable awareness of the Belt and Road Initiative by now. A press conference held recently presented the achievements of the "Beirut to Beijing" project which contributes to placing Lebanon within the newly-revived Silk Road strategy. With the support of both nations, this press conference was organized in collaboration with the China People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Prior to that, Beirut hosted the Arab-China Business Conference under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Lebanon, H.E. Mr. Tammam Salam. The "Beijing to Beirut" conference will be held next November in Beirut, which would promote cultural and commercial exchanges between the two countries. Consequently, a number of cultural activities were in progress. For example, the famous Caracalla Dancing Group staged its yearly show at the Baalback International Festival, where they performed, to gether with 30 Chinese dancers, on the steps of Bacchus Temple, under the title "The Silk Road". Furthermore, Arab Scientific Publishers has translated and published a selection of books from Beijing Publishing Group on the "Silk Road Project" in the Arabic language, which would strengthen Arab readers' understanding of China. Overall, all these measures aim to connect people along the Belt and Road and bring across the idea that prosperity's umbrella benefits everybody.

Therefore, the media should be positive in its support for the Belt and Road Initiative, and encourage development, advocate sound international relations, and promote global governance. Since terrorism finds easy shelters and habitats in poor communities, the Belt and Road would be a blessing sound the poor, counting around 50 percent of the population living along the Belt and Road.

President Xi announced that China would contribute $40 billion to set up The Silk Road Fund, while billions of more dollars are expected from international investors and banks. This initiative, being the largest global economic recovery plan which marks China's contribution to the global governance and peace, aims to promote an efficient allocation of resources, deepen an integration of markets, and encourage countries along the Belt and Road to achieve economic policy coordination.

Turning the One Belt One Road vision into realities involves creating around 60,000 jobs around the world to meet its goals in building transportation infrastructures, rail and highways construction, clean water plants, agriculture plains irrigation dams, and clean energy resources. These sustainable developments will be a blessing to the deprived peoples and areas, which will at the same time enhance their countries' development. Furthermore, they would surely reflect positively on the economy in China and even around the world.

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