The first Belt and Road Initiative Science and Technology Exchange begins today

The First Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange will begin today in China’s Chongqing Municipality.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a Chinese global outlook strategy adopted in 2013 to facilitate Chinese investment in infrastructure projects throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. The conference will focus on advances in science and technological innovation in pursuit of BRI cooperation. Specifically, the meeting will highlight intergovernmental cooperation and people-to-people exchanges regarding science and technology.

Today’s forum comes after Chinese President Xi announced significant steps to support BRI cooperation, including promoting green development and advancing innovation in science and technology. More specifically, China recently launched the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Initiative. This move promotes the development of fair security of AI rather than the US’ harsh restrictions.

Although this progress is promising, China continues to struggle with slow economic growth, high youth unemployment, and a shaky property market. Nonetheless, China acknowledges that it is time for something to change, and the BRI seems to be its tool to assert itself in a multi-power world order. However, China has asserted that its initiatives are towards a symbiotic world connection, mutually aiding others in their success while seeking its own. Expect discourse between pursuing mutual connectivity or globalization and China’s emergence as a world power leader.