Macky Hashim addresses China South Asia Business 10th Annual Forum

China South Asia Business 10th Annual Forum was held at Kunming City in China recently to promote and develop the trade and commerce activities between China and South Asia. SAARC Chamber of Commerce Past President and China-South Asia Business Forum Founder Chairman Deshabandu Macky Hashim, was invited to speak on the theme of the forum: ‘Promote the construction of Silk Road Economic Belt; accelerate the pace of business cooperation’.

 

Following is his speech:

I feel greatly honoured and privileged in sharing views at the 10th edition of the China-South Asia Business Forum at this beautiful and mesmerising city of Kunming, where we love to come again and again.

I am happy to note that the China-South Asia Business Forum, which was jointly initiated in 2004 by CCPIT and the SAARC CCI during my presidency, has grown from a platform to an institutional arrangement, wherein, not only the business leaders of China and South Asia are actively involved in promotion of trade between two great civilisations of the world but has also attracted political leaders of China and South Asia.

Since time allocated for my speech is only five minutes, please allow me to straightforwardly come to the topic, which is ‘Promote the construction of Silk Road Economic Belt; accelerate the pace of business cooperation’.   

Ladies and gentlemen, this topic is quite important in many respects:

Firstly, it reminds us as a network of trade and cultural transmission routes that were central to cultural interaction through regions of the Asian continent connecting the West and East by merchants, pilgrims, monks, soldiers, nomads and urban dwellers from China and India to the Mediterranean Sea during various periods of time.

Secondly, its significance for promotion of economic cooperation as such historical information reveals that trade on the Silk Road was a significant factor in the development of the civilisations of China, the Indian subcontinent, Persia, Europe, the Horn of Africa and Arabia, opening long-distance, political and economic relations between the civilisations.

Thirdly, the Silk Road served as a means of carrying out cultural trade among the civilisations along its network.

Fourthly but most importantly, its length, extending to 6,437 kilometres, which is really enormous!

Now just imagine the pace of development, if we encourage and promote construction of the Silk Route Belt. The recently signed agreement to construct the China-Pakistan economic Corridor and signing of MoUs and agreements worth $ 24 billion between India and China are very positive and timely initiatives, which I regard, as an important step forward and will help revive the silk route. I am glad to share that although the newly elected Government of Sri Lanka has reviewed and stopped many projects with USA, Australia and other countries, it decided to carry on projects with China, which shows commitment of Sri Lanka to deepen socio-economic ties with our Chinese brothers.

The revival of the Silk Route as an ‘economic corridor’ will not be the first in history. Rather, as Headrick points out, the use of sea and land routes have assisted in the globalisation process of opening Asia, as early as the 19th century. The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, acted to aid the empires of great powers during the time. The canal through the Sinai Peninsula made trade and empire faster but also economical. The world’s superpower of the time, Great Britain, made great strategic use of it, by transport of goods, officials and soldiers to Bombay and other key colonial hubs in an easier and affordable manner.

Similarly, revival of the Silk Route as an economic corridor would achieve the same goals in a cooperative and democratic manner. The road and rail links and development alongside the Silk Routes will further strengthen the existing bond of brotherhood, cultural infusion, and strong and deeper relationship between China and South Asia.

I take this opportunity, to urge upon the Governments of SAARC nations to take appropriate measures on priority basis and allocate sizeable budget for mega projects to construct roads, rail networks, dry and seaport, value chain, etc.

We all are aware that adequate and efficient infrastructure is a strong indicator of development. Unfortunately, the infrastructure in South Asia is not up to mark. Whether it is tele-density, logistics performance index and road networks accessibility, South Asia lags behind. To attain required level of development, the region needs investment. Although, the Government of China is engaged in several projects in all South Asian countries, we invite Chinese enterprises of both the public and private sector to further invest in South Asia.     

I am of the strong opinion that China and South Asia together, working in unison, shared vision, and close collaboration can not only bring economic leadership and renaissance to Asia but also bring true and sustainable leadership of China and South Asia in the Asian Century.