Political advisor Huang Youyi said on Saturday in Beijing that China should tell other countries the "Belt and Road" initiatives are not threats but rather strategies to help boost the regional economy.

Huang Youyi, a member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, speaks to a China.org.cn reporter in Beijing on March 7, 2015. [China.org.cn]

"Belt and Road" refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives proposed by China in 2013 to improve cooperation with countries in vast sections of Asia, Europe and Africa.

"The initiatives are proposed because everything in the development of the Chinese economy and society is mature. China's domestic and international conditions and situations are also mature, so China is in a position to and is qualified to raise the strategy," Huang said. He pointed out, however, that though more than 50 countries along the "Belt and Road" have voiced their support for the strategy, there are also still voices of doubt.

"In my survey and research, I found there are voices saying China may want to grab foreign resources, or that China is competing with the United States to win over the Central and Western Asia regions. Some countries are also worried about whether they will be controlled and manipulated by China," he said. "So now it is the Chinese media's job to help foreigners understand our intentions and ease their worries."

Huang also suggested that, "Since the strategy will affect many countries and is significant in the world, we can also rely on help from foreign think tanks and research institutes to elaborate on the strategy."

Huang recalled that he had talked to many foreign experts and felt that many were hungry to get more information about China. He also said that when exchanging views and information with other countries, China should first know what its counterparts want to know.

For example, he said, Kyrgyzstan is short of energy resources, and their national think tank told him that Kyrgyzstan's priority is energy security. The nation also has underdeveloped highway, railway and electric power grid networks, so Kyrgyzstan is hoping that Chinese companies will invest in infrastructure construction in the country. When speaking with Oman's think tank experts, they told Huang they want China to buy more products from them.

Huang Youyi said that different countries are in different phases of development and have different cultures and national situations, so China's "Belt and Road" initiatives are actually open and inclusive concepts that benefit the various needs of various countries. "But the Chinese media alone cannot explain every aspect of the strategy, so we should consider cooperating with foreign media and think tanks to do so. We can also organize seminars in foreign countries."

He believes the strategy will help China form closer relationships with the countries along the "Belt and Road," countries that already have a great desire to know more about China's policies, economic conceptions and culture. "Omani officials have also asked me whether I can help build a Confucius Institute in their country," Huang said.

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