In the 1950s, British business figures represented by Stephen Perry's father, Jack Perry, embarked on an "ice breaking journey".
Stephen Perry, chairman of 48 group clubs in the UK, said in an exclusive interview with China Business News that the "the Belt and Road" has linked China with the world, Asia, Europe and Africa, and the whole world will open up trade in an unprecedented way.
Connecting the world through enhanced trade and investment is a way to improve people's living standards, as well as a way to establish interdependence and lead to peace and stability, "Perry said.
First Finance: Last month, when you gave a video speech at the 9th Nishan World Civilization Forum, you recalled what you saw in Sri Lanka and said, "The spacious roads built by Chinese companies have opened up the arteries of Sri Lanka's development and promoted the development of various industries along the way." Can you share this story?
Perry: I visited Sri Lanka for two weeks and noticed a north-south highway jointly built by China and Sri Lanka. Prior to this, it took three days for the products of villages in northern Sri Lanka to be sold to the south. Now the roads are open, driving economic and trade development along the way, which is known as ribbon development.
I believe that the "the Belt and Road" has linked China with the world, as well as Asia, Europe and Africa. I have noticed that China is not only thinking about the connection between the East and the West, but also about establishing a north-south connection from Norway, Finland and Sweden to Greece, Türkiye and the Mediterranean Sea. The entire world will open up trade in an unprecedented way.
Taking Africa as an example, once its electricity, raw materials, energy, telecommunications, and transportation are smoothly connected and become a supplier and buyer in the Eurasian region, it will bring huge changes to Africa and promote economic and trade development in the Eurasian region.
Connecting the world through enhanced trade and investment is a way to improve people's living standards and establish interdependence, leading to peace and stability.
In 2014, when I attended a relevant business conference in Madrid, a representative from a Chinese company spoke and said that it would take 38 days to transport goods from China to Madrid, but without customs procedures and train tracks, the time required could be reduced to 31 days.
I realized that the reason he embarked on this journey was to find ways to shorten the transportation time for goods between China and Europe. Just as there is a fable in China that goes, 'Foolish Lord moves mountains,' we will always overcome these challenges.
In fact, a large number of regional links have confirmed that the "the Belt and Road" initiative has increased the regional trade volume of relevant regions.
First Finance and Economics: Since the "the Belt and Road" initiative was put forward ten years ago, China has continuously deepened economic and trade cooperation with the co construction countries. What do you think of this?
Perry: I think this concept reflects working together with other countries to solve poverty problems and deliver resources and labor to where they are needed.
Eliminating poverty is a global challenge, and China proposes cooperation as the solution. Therefore, the word that comes to my mind is sharing. So, I think co construction" The Belt and Road; It is a long-term solution to world problems.