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4. Wednesday, September 28, 2016 “ Developing nations in Central Asia, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and other regions need to have our news perspectives and voices heard.” Wilson Flores, columnist at the Philippine Star newspaper > @¢ 4} CHINA DAILY COMMERCE Trade initiative is ‘direction of future’ Expert: Belt and Road strategy will be applauded years from now as visionary By TANG YUE in Xi’an tangyue @chinadaily.com.cn The first US presidential debate might have been the most-watched event around the globe on Monday night local time, with the expected protectionist remarks made by candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Yet, at the same time, across the Pacific Ocean, the Belt and Road Initiative, launched by China three years ago to foster economic ties, gained momen- tum as media from China and abroad expressed support. “T know many people think the most important event today is the debate, which is TRANSPORTATION going on right now,’ Robert Kuhn, a US expert on China and a host on China Central Television, said on Tuesday at the media session of the Inter- national Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. “However, looking back in 50 years or 100 years, I believe this is a more important event than the debate because it pushes forward an important initiative that is the direction of the future,’ Kuhn said at the two-day seminar. China Daily is a co-organizer. In 2013, President Xi Jin- ping proposed the Silk Road Economic Belt, = which includes countries situated Robert Kuhn (right), a US expert on China and a host on China Central Television, speaks at the media session of the International Seminar on the Belt and Road Initiative in Xi'an, Shaanxi province on Tuesday. HUO YAN / CHINA DAILY on the original Silk Road, passing through Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East and Europe, as well as the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which covers Southeast Asia, Oceania and North Africa. By the end of June, China had signed cooperation agree- ments with more than 30 countries regarding the initia- tive and is working with anoth- er 20 on capacity building projects in the manufacturing sector, according to a report by Renmin University of China. “Some countries that start to turn inward, start to talk protectionism, seem to be more skeptical about trade. This initiative is moving in the opposite direction. It pro- motes cooperation and busi- ness across the border,’ said Jason Eugene Subler, Greater China bureau chief of Reuters. Some 100 media representa- tives from about 20 countries attended the seminar and reached a written consensus to be “a champion of the Silk Road Spirit’) referring friend- ship and cooperation through- out history, and to be “an active supporter of the initia- tive” Wilson Flores, a columnist at the Philippine Star newspa- per, said the initiative allows the media in participating countries to better cooperate and to enrich the diversity of media voices, which has long been dominated by Western news organizations. “AS we evolve into a more diverse and multipolar world, developing nations in Central Asia, Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa and other regions need to have our news perspectives and voices heard” Kang Bing, deputy editor-in- chief of China Daily, suggested that media organizations along the route can jointly identify topics to cover, devel- op applications together, co-produce microvideos and Jaunch = special columns, reports and web pages on the platform of other countries. Final section of bridge to Hong Kong, Macao completed By ZHENG CAIXIONG in Zhuhai, Guangdong and SHADOW LI in Hong Kong Installation of the final 35-metric-ton piece of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge — an expansion joint — was com- pleted on Tuesday, marking the start of the next phase of the gigantic bridge project. Zhu Yongling, director of the bridge authority, made the announcement in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, on Tues- day after the installation was completed. “This means construction of the 22.9-kilometer-long bridge, which is a major com- ponent of the project, has been completed,’ Zhu told media. Experts said the bridge, which is expected to open before the end of 2017 will play a significant role in enhancing economic ties between Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong. Chen Guanghan, vice-dean of the Research Institute of the Development of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, said the bridge will help Hong Kong further expand its develop- Ment space when it advances its cooperation with the vast western part of the Pearl River Delta region in Guangdong aft- er traffic begins to flow. “The western part of the del- ta region, which includes the prosperous cities of Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Yangyji- ang and Taishan, still has huge room for expansion and coop- eration with Hong Kong,’ Chen said on Tuesday. “Meanwhile, Zhongshan, SECURITY the hometown of Dr Sun Yat- sen; and Jiangmen and Tais- han, the hometowns of myriad overseas Chinese living around the world, have rich tourism resources for further development,’ he said. “The bridge will help accel- erate the development of Hong Kong’s international air- port and its ports and the development of Hong Kong’s Lantou Island area,’ Chen said. It is also expected to help Hong Kong’s airport and ports to attract more businesses, Chen said. Chen urged Hong Kong to build more major shopping centers and malls on Lantou Island, with its rich tourism resources, to meet the demand from the large number of mainland residents who are expected to visit Hong Kong after the bridge opens. Song Haiyan, associate dean of Hong Kong Polytech- nic University, predicted that the bridge will positively affect the economies of all three cities. Song said he does not believe the bridge will neces- sarily bring a great surge in tourist traffic, but it will have a positive effect overall, present- ing yet another option in addi- tion to plane, train or ferry for travel between Hong Kong and the mainland. Hong Kong lawmaker Lo Wai-kwok said the bridge will fortify Hong Kong airport's pivotal role in the region, con- necting the western Pear] Riv- er Delta and shortening the journey from Zhuhai to Hong Kong. Lo said he is confident the bridge will be finished on time, noting that the most difficult part is now complete. The 55-kilometer bridge includes a_ 6.7-kilometer underwater tunnel and a 22.9 kilometer bridge that passes over the sea, making it the longest cross-sea bridge in the world. Construction of the Y-shaped bridge started in 2009 and will cost more than 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). It is part of the country’s planned national highway network, linking the western and eastern banks of the Pearl River. Once in operation, the bridge will help shorten the current four-hour drive from Hong Kong to Zhuhai to half an hour. The service life of the bridge is expected to be China, India to enhance efforts against terrorism By ZHANG YAN ghangyan1@ chinadaily.com.cn China and India will enhance law enforcement cooperation to fight cross-bor- der terrorist attacks amid increasing threats to the region, according to the Minis- try of Public Security. The agreement was reached at the first China-India Dialogue on Counterterrorism and Secu- rity held in Beijing on Tuesday. During the conference, Chi- na and India expressed their concerns and_ exchanged views on combating terrorist attacks and conducting exten- sive security cooperation. They also reached consensus Canadian ADMISSIONS@CIS-BEIJING.COM International School of Beijing HG mPrAOK FB MONTESSORI NURSERY - IB PYP, MYP & DIPLOMA PROGRAMS - CANADIAN CURRICULUM 1000+ STUDENTS 60+ NATIONALITIES BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN CAMPUS VISLT OF APPLY TODAY! eG +86 10 64657788 =WWwW.CISB.COM.CN = oe 2002 <a oy "enon 08 on practical measures to cope with the threat. Establishing a China-India counterterrorism dialogue mechanism will play an essen- tial role in “enhancing their mutual trust and deepening pragmatic judicial coopera- tion to fight terror attacks, and in maintaining regional security and stability’, said Lan Jianxue, a researcher at the China Institute of Interna- tional Studies. Under such a complex secu- rity situation, it’s urgent for the two countries to “seize a rare opportunity to create a special dialogue, which will eliminate previous suspicions and guide them to implement their counterterrorism action plans’, Lan said. Last November, China and India issued a joint statement to strengthen their judicial cooperation to handle terrorist crimes. Although some _ achieve- ments have been made, chal- lenges still hinder progress in deepening judicial coopera- tion, observers say. “Tt’s necessary for us reach a consensus on terrorism’s definition and scope, and on conviction standards,’ said Su Qiang, a Beijing-based lawyer who specializes in researching regional security in South Asia and the Middle East. Above: Workers celebrate the completion of major construction work on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge on Tuesday. ZHONG FAN / FOR CHINA DAILY Left: The bridge stretches 22.9 kilometers over the water. Li JIANSHU 7 FOR CHINA DAILY Hong Kong-Zhuhai- Macao Bridge Guangdong ae South China Sea more than 120 years. Contact the writers at zheng- caixiong @ chinadaily.com.cn Briefly INFRASTRUCTURE Big money sought to connect Asia-Pacific By CHEN YINGQUN in Yangzhou, Jiangsu chenyingqun @ chinadai- ly.com.cn Joint efforts are needed by Asia-Pacific countries to create innovative financ- ing mechanisms to develop infrastructure, according to an official at a connectiv- ity symposium in Yangzhou, Jiangsu prov- ince, on Tuesday. Huang Mengfu, honora- ry chairman of the China National Committee for Pacific Economic Coopera- tion, said at the symposi- um — the International Symposium: Connecting the Connectivities in Asia Pacific — that in 15 to 20 years, global demand for infrastructure investment will reach $50 trillion. According to the World Economic Forum, annual demand globally is cur- rently $3.7 trillion, but as there is a $1 trillion short- age of investment, actual investment is about $2.7 trillion, Huang said. “No single economy or any international organiza- tion can afford to cover such a huge margin. I believe we especially need to mobilize the participation of private capital in connectivity, and we should make full use of public-private partner- ships,’ Huang told repre- sentatives from more than 20 Asia-Pacific countries and regions at the event. Zhou Qiangwu, head of the Ministry of Finance's International Economics and Finance Institute, said connectivity in the Asia-Pa- cific region currently lacks capital, as well as mecha- nisms to maximize its use. “Tt may take a long time for investors to make a profit by investing in infrastruc- ture projects in the connec- tivity area, and sometimes there are even political and technical risks. As a result, private capital is reluctant to invest in it,’ he said. However, there is cur- rently about $35 trillion in idle private capital in the Asia-Pacific region, Zhou said. Multilateral develop- ment organizations could bring in more private capi- tal and help reduce risks through creative financing tools, Zhou said. Huang, the chairman, added that the Asia Infra- structure Investment Bank could help channel finan- cial support to infrastruc- ture construction. BEIJING Website launched to broadcast trials China launched a website, tingshen.court.gov.cn, to broadcast court trials live on Tuesday. The live trials will involve various cases and bet- ter safeguard people's rights to know and to supervise, Zhou Qiang, head of China’s Supreme People’s Court, said at the launch ceremony. Police told to record activities Police forces across China must record the whole proc- esses of their law enforce- ment activities, under a guideline released on Tuesday by the State Council, China’s Cabinet. The regulation calls for police authorities to better digitalize officers’ activities, and present all cases on the internet, except those involv- ing State secrets. NINGXIA Mine explosion kills 12, traps 8 Twelve people were killed and eight others remain trapped on Tuesday evening after an underground gas explosion at acoal mine in Shizuishan, local authorities said. The explosion occurred around 7 am in amine run by Linli Coal Mining Co. Local author- ities launched an emergency rescue response and sent sen- ior officials to coordinate res- cue efforts at the site. XINHUA—CHINA DAILY HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023571