Interview: BRI provides dialogue platform for various countries, expert says

by Xinhua writer Li Jia

MINSK, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) provides a dialogue platform for countries with different traditions and cultures to find development solutions, which is of great significance to maintaining world stability, a Belarusian expert has said.

The BRI includes economic and cultural cooperation, and countries involved in the Belt and Road construction, no matter how big or small, would not be forced to accept certain interests or models, but would receive support to promote economic development, said Dmitry Zhuk, head of Belarus Segodnya publishing house, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

According to Zhuk, a new type of international relations is taking shape in the world. "The BRI is finding, or at least trying to find, some kind of new cooperation model between countries that takes into account the economic and humanitarian interests of all project participants," Zhuk said.

On Belarus's participation in the BRI, Zhuk said the bilateral relations have been developing at a high level and serve as the foundation on which both countries jointly build the Belt and Road.

He said Belarus's participation will not only expand the country's foreign trade, but help translate its scientific research results into real productivity, jointly promoting the implementation of the initiative.

It is of great significance for countries along the Belt and Road routes to carry out think tank exchanges, and regular exchanges between think tanks can help people work together to find the best solutions, he said.

"Exchanges enhance understanding among think tanks of different countries, helping countries avoid mistakes and unnecessary conflicts," Zhuk added.

According to him, media play an important role in promoting the implementation of the BRI.

Actively publicizing the BRI could raise public attention, advance their understanding about the initiative, attract more participation in the Belt and Road construction, and contribute to a successful implementation of the initiative, Zhuk said.

"We attach great importance to all kinds of reports on the Belt and Road. For us, this is a very important topic, ... because this topic interests our readers," he said.

On the upcoming second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing, Zhuk said he expects fresh and interesting ideas from it.