By Chinanews.com, translated by Liao Bowen
“The ‘Belt and Road’ initiative advocates ‘cooperation’, and the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, enjoys immense popular support. The direct effect is to promote common development.” Veronika Sintha, head of China Study Group at the Indonesian Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), expressed her admiration for the practice of “all things are negotiable” in the “Belt and Road”.
“I am currently conducting a research on the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative and the relationship between Indonesia and China,” said Veronika Sintha.
In the view of Veronika Sintha, who has also studied the history of international cooperation in Western countries, unlike some traditional Western powers which tend to use military or religious means to achieve the purpose of “cooperation” when they encounter different opinions, the “Belt and Road” initiative focuses on “mutually beneficial cooperation” and seeks “common development”. The concept of “common cooperation and sharing” is deeply rooted in people’s hearts.
She thinks that Indonesia’s infrastructure is still relatively backward, the level of economic development is not high, and the speed is not fast. At present, it is time to seize the opportunity of promoting “Belt and Road” and seek leaps and bounds to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.
As the first place to propose the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”, Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding with China on promoting the construction of the “Belt and Road” and “Global Ocean Pivot” in 2018, and formally joined the “Belt and Road” circle of friends.
“This is the real scene of common development.” Veronika Sintha said that she could not agree with the “China threat theory”, “debt theory” and “trap theory”. She believes that these are deliberately discredited. She said that in the past six years after the initiative proposed, China’s cooperation with countries along the Silk Road has embodied the essence of “mutual benefit” and “common development”.
She said that whenever there is an opportunity, she will lead or accompany some Indonesian influential officials and scholars to China and introduce them to the true and objective China she knows.
“Those who have been to China changed their one-sided view on China after return.” Veronika Sintha said that although the two countries have a long way to go, she’s determined to make unremitting efforts.
China Report ASEAN 