Editor's note:
Martin Jacques is a senior researcher in the Department of Political and International Studies at Cambridge University. In an exclusive interview with China Focus , Martin Jacques shared his views on a series of topics related to China. The content of this interview is published in two journals. In the first issue, Professor Jacques talked about China's development achievements in the past 70 years, the "Belt and Road" initiative, and how the world will benefit from it.
Editor&39;s Note: Martin Jacques is a senior fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies, University of Cambridge. In this exclusive interview with China Focus, Martin Jacques shared his views on a number of issues affecting China. The interview is set to be published in two parts. In the first part of the interview, Mr Jacques discusses China&39;s development in the last 70 years, the Belt and Road Initiative and how the world has benefitted from China&39;s development.
Focus on China: This year is The 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, what do you think is the biggest change in China in the past 70 years? How does the world benefit from China's development?
China Focus: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People&39;s Republic of China (PRC). From your own experience, what is the biggest change in China over the past seventy years? How has the world benefited from China&39; s development?
Martin Jacques: I think the biggest change in China is reflected in the improvement of people's living standards and the growth of economic scale. To achieve such an achievement in such a short period of time is truly the greatest change in human history. China's population accounts for about one-fifth of the world's population. If China is a poor country, it obviously cannot contribute much to the global economy, and it cannot contribute to other countries in the world.
Martin Jacques: I think the most remarkable change is the transformation in living conditions and the size of the Chinese economy, which is truly remarkable and the most extraordinary change in human history in such a short space of time. China is about a fifth of the world&39;s population. Then if China is very poor, obviously it will contribute very little to the global economy, and therefore the possibilities for other peoples around the world.
Martin Jacques: When China’s economy continues to grow and its status in the global economy continues to rise, China The importance to the world economy has changed. Since 2008, China has been the largest contributor to global economic growth. (Editor’s note: According to a report issued by the National Bureau of Statistics of China in 2013, from 2008 to 2012, China’s average annual contribution to world economic growth exceeded 20%, surpassing the United States and ranking first in the world.) If China’s economic growth slows down or Speeding up will have a direct impact on many economies in the world.
Martin Jacques: But if China grows, just continues to grow its place in the global economy then its importance to the rest of the world economically is transformed. Ever since 2008, China has been the biggest contributor to global economic growth. If China&39; s growth slows down or China&39;s growth increases, it has a direct effect on many economies around the world.
Focus on China: What do you think of China’s participation in global governance?
China Focus: How do you view China&39;s participation in global governance?
Martin Jacques: For a long time, China has lingered outside the global system. However, after China implemented reform and opening up in 1978, especially after China's accession to the WTO in 2001, China became a participant in the process of globalization, although China was relatively passive during this period. At that time, China was still looking for its own way of participation, focusing on domestic development.
Martin Jacques: For a long time, China was outside the global system. But after 1978, in the reform period and especially in 2001 when China joined the WTO, China became a participant in the process, though relatively passive. But it was still finding its way, concentrating on domestic development.
Martin Jacques: I think the turning point occurred during the global financial crisis in 2008, when China implemented a series of economic stimulus policies to prevent the global economy from falling into recession, and made very important contribution. China's actions have indeed saved the global economy and prevented it from falling into a worse situation.
Martin Jacques: I think the turning point was around the time of the global financial crisis in 2008, when China made a really important contribution to ensuring there wasn&39;ta global depression by staging its enormous stimulus program, which actually saved the global economy from something much, much worse.
Martin Jacques: From then on, I think China is more willing to participate in global economic policy coordination. Since then, with the “Belt and Road” initiative and the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Bank, China has played a truly important role in these areas.
Martin Jacques: And from that moment, I think China became more and more interested in the possibility of participating in the policies for the global economy. Ever since then, with the Belt and Road Initiative and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, China has become a really serious player in these areas.
Martin Jacques: In the past, Americans have criticized China for not providing public goods to the world. Now China has obviously contributed a lot of public goods, because the "Belt and Road" initiative is by far the world's largest development promotion plan.
Martin Jacques: And as you know, it used to be criticized by the Americans for not contributing public goods to the world. Well, now China is clearly contributing at a large scale to public goods, because the Belt and Road Initiative is by far the biggest scheme in the world in terms of helping, in particular, development.
Focus on China: Italy became the first G7 country to join the initiative and is also the latest EU member state to join the initiative. What are the attitudes of other EU countries? What do you think of the UK's attitude towards the “Belt and Road” initiative?
China Focus: Italy became the first G7 country and the latest EU member to join the Initiative. What is the attitude of other EU countries towards it? How do you think the UK views the Belt and Road Initiative?
Martin Jacques: Generally speaking, European countries have different responses to the “Belt and Road” initiative. Central and Eastern European countries are very enthusiastic about the “Belt and Road” initiative, so there is a “16+1” mechanism between China and Central and Eastern Europe (Editor’s Note: April 12, 2019, GreeceJoin the "16+1 Cooperation" as a full member. With the entry of Greece, the "16+1" cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries has been officially expanded to "17+1". ) Now, Europe is becoming more and more enthusiastic about the "Belt and Road" initiative, especially Greece, Portugal and Italy have joined it. In Western Europe, especially economic powerhouses like Germany, France and the United Kingdom, they have some doubts about the “Belt and Road” and are reluctant to participate and support it, but they are not opposed to it.
Martin Jacques: Well, I would say that Europe&39;s reaction in general to the Belt and Road Initiative has varied. What you have seen is eastern and central Europe who have been pretty enthusiastic and so you&39;ve got sixteen plus one. Europe has steadily become more enthusiastic and three countries in particular are involved—Greece, Portugal, and now Italy. Western Europe, in particular the highlands like Germany, France, and Britain in terms of economic power, they&39;re the biggest. They all are being a bit &39;iffy&39; about Belt and Road, and somewhat reluctant to get involved and endorse it, but not opposing it.
Martin Jacques: Britain’s support for the “Belt and Road” may be the greatest in some aspects, But politically, we still need to wait and see to see if the current Johnson administration supports the "Belt and Road" initiative. But the worrying point is that Johnson is close to Trump, which may mean more negative.
Martin Jacques: Britain in some ways has been perhaps the most supportive, but I think politically, we have to wait and see whether the present government, the Johnson government, is a supporter or not. He is disturbingly close to Trump, and that would suggest maybe it&39;ll be more negative.
(to be continued)
To be continued…
interview, editing/ Dong Lingyi
review/ Shiraishi
beauty editor/ Gao Ming
