On the afternoon of November 6, the panel “International Cooperation and Development in the New Normal: The One Belt One Road Initiative” was inaugurated in the Four Seasons Hall, Bafang Garden, Diaoyutai State Guest House. 

The session began with the opening speech given by Professor Sun Qixiang, dean of the School of Economics at Peking University. Speakers included key practitioners and top scholars in the field: Professor Stefan Dercon of University of Oxford, Chief Economist at the UK Department for International Development; Professor Li Anshan of the School of International Studies at Peking University;   Professor Naoyuki Yoshino of Asian Development Bank Institute; Professor Lina Song at the University of Nottingham; Mr. Wu Zhong, secretary-general of South-South Steering Committee for Sustainable Development Asia Pacific Committee; Mr. Wang Xiaolin of International Poverty Reduction Center of China. Professor Liu Minquan from Peking University. All speakers gave speech surrounding the topics of China-Africa relationship, the One Belt One Road initiative and international poverty reduction cooperation, aging population, infrastructure investment, exchange rate, financing for One Belt One Road, etc. 

After the coffee break, Professor Adrian Wood of the University of Oxford gave the speech on “Lessons from the Past for Effectiveness in the Future”. Professor Wood argued that, some general lessons can be drawn from both eastern and western countries’ experience of international cooperation that could help to improve outcomes in the future. These experiences included using the country-led model; doing more than donor projects; spending more multilaterally; making conditions clear; being beware of isomorphism; aiming for policy coherence; and thinking beyond poverty reduction. However, even with the benefit of these lessons, international cooperation for development will remain a difficult area.
Comments of Mr.Yu Jiantuo from China Development Research Foundation agreed with Professor Wood. He argued that the goal of development should be multidemensional instead of poverty reduction alone. The International Development Aid will only work if it is well received by the people in the recipient country. A well balanced multilateral mechanism will promote the efficiency and effectiveness of International Development Aid.

 

Professor Yoshino Naoyuki

Mr Wangxiaolin gave the Presentation on “Contribute chinese wisdom to international cooperation on poverty alleviation of One Belt One Road”. He introduced China’s achievement and experience in poverty alleviation, stressed “One Belt One Road” would play an important role in international poverty reduction.

Professor Xia Qingjie from Peking University agreed that China’s poverty alleviation has been a great success. He gave the reason why china has successfully reduced poverty. He argued that, in order to succeed in the second economic transmition, China government should provide just market environment, protect intellectual property, promote rule of law.

 

Dr. Wan Guanghua of Asian Development Bank Institute gave the speech on “ One Belt and One Road-The Trade Competition and Competition and Complement of Relevant Countries”. He introduced a late research on the trade relationship between China and other One Belt One Road Countries. He aregued that, based on the results, the relation is much more compensative than competitive. Thus, the future of the cooperation between China and other One Belt One Road Countries is promising.

Comments of Professor Wang Dashu at Peking University was quite brief. He agreed on the conclusion, and argued that the One Belt One Road is the road of common responsibility.

 

After the lectures, the audience engaged actively with the speakers during the Q&A. Both the questions and answers were interesting and incisive.