Participation in BRI will benefit Japan, expert says

The Belt and Road Initiative will be a big boost to future world development, and Japan should revitalize itself by participating in the BRI, collaborating with China in developing markets of other countries involved in the initiative, said Eiichi Shindo, director-general of the Belt and Road Initiative Japan Research Center.

Shindo told China Daily in an interview that many Japanese scholars believe that despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the BRI has still achieved significant results because transportation channels between China and Europe, and between China and Southeast Asia, had already been established, and preparations for promoting economic development had been made.

He noted that the BRI concept is, first and foremost, to boost connectivity. The building of the railways and the development of infrastructure have helped to improve logistics. The initiative also aims at achieving sustainability, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges.

"China has made sustainable development a focus of its economic growth, and this model has extended to countries involved in the BRI. In the future, the BRI will certainly have broader development not only in Southeast Asia but also in Europe, connecting the entire world," said Shindo, who is also a professor emeritus at the University of Tsukuba.

He emphasized that if the 20th century was dominated by the United States, the 21st century would be led by Asia. In terms of social, economic, diplomatic and political spheres, Asian countries are becoming increasingly powerful and Asia's cultural influence on the world is also growing.

"I believe that after COVID-19, the world's development will shift from the era of the US to the era of Asia. Against the backdrop of changing times, Japan should break free from the trap of viewing China as a threat and establish a united East Asia," Shindo said.

'Good inspiration'

"The Belt and Road Initiative provides us with good inspiration for the concept of building an East Asian community. The initiative serves as the path to practically implement this concept. The cornerstone of the BRI is the establishment of a strong market, promoting the development of logistics and the economy," he added.

"I think Japan should build a sustainable society like China and not just look within Japan but shift its focus from Asia to the world, exploring new markets and new fields. Japan must undergo this shift in mindset and revitalize itself by participating in the BRI. Our research center aims to play a role in this regard."

Some Japanese government officials, such as Naoya Imai from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, have proposed a plan for Japan and China to collaborate in developing markets in third countries involved in the BRI.

For example, Japanese and Chinese companies could collaborate in investing in and using new technologies to develop an energy-efficient smart city in Thailand. Besides smart cities, there are many other areas where the two countries can develop new markets, Shindo said.

Japan should join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which presents a great development opportunity for the country, he added.

Some Western experts have accused China of pursuing "debt trap diplomacy" by providing unsustainably large amounts of loans for infrastructure projects to exert influence over some countries participating in the BRI, but Shindo said such criticisms fly in the face of facts. In Sri Lanka, for example, China's total investment there is less than Japan's.

The Belt and Road Initiative Japan Research Center is a think tank established by intellectuals and journalists in Japan in 2017.