China-proposed BRI creates win-win fair model for intl relations: Egyptian expert

CAIRO - The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims at creating a new frame for the international relations on the basis of win-win partnership, an Egyptian economic expert said.

"Through the BRI, China provides a fair model for international ties, which is trustworthy for all the world to interact with," Waleed Gaballah, a member of the Egyptian Association for Political Economy, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview.

He pointed out that the BRI will create trade alliances covering more than 68 countries along the land and maritime routes and will represent nearly 65 percent of the world's population.

"The Chinese economy does not present itself to the world as an alternative to its American counterpart," noted Gaballah, who visited China in November.

China wants to extend its hands for cooperation with everyone, increase the global exchange and improve the lives of its partners, the expert said.

He believes that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank could pump large investments to develop thousands of old factories in the BRI countries to boost cooperation.

China could provide more initiatives to boost the small and medium enterprises and thousands of job opportunities along the BRI, the Egyptian economic expert said.

During his 11 days in China, Gaballah was impressed with the progress he saw in the Chinese cities including Beijing, Ningbo and Hangzhou.

"I had good impression about China's fast progress and development before my visit, but once I landed on the country, I found that reality has far exceeded my prior perceptions," Gaballah said.

He described "Beijing as a highly developed and ancient capital, with human diversity, ancient buildings and modern skyscrapers."

"I felt the fruits of the Chinese development and equal opportunities have been reflected on the citizens' happy faces in the streets," he said.

Gaballah praised the high level of the Chinese technology, saying he saw the robot city in Ningbo and was impressed with how the Chinese had developed the robot industry which might eventually replace doctors, musicians, writers and many other jobs.

Gaballah considered Hangzhou "a city of Chinese inspiration," where he saw the advancement of Chinese technology.

"China has an ambitious plan to achieve high-speed tech targets by 2050, and I think they would accomplish it before this date," he said.

The economic expert said the Chinese success in reducing the poverty and improving the lives of its citizens was "extraordinary experience."

What made the Chinese experience "unique" is that it was made by the Chinese hands from scientists to simple workers, he noted.

Egypt is already benefiting from the BRI through Chinese projects in the country, especially in the Suez Canal economic zone and the new capital, Gaballah noted.

He cited the huge Central Business District project in Egypt's new capital city, which is undertaken by Chinese companies, as practical examples of win-win relations between the two countries.