The year 2020, an unforgettable year, is destined to go down in history. In this year, the COVID-19 epidemic wreaked havoc on the world, which not only had far-reaching impact on human society, politics, economy and other aspects, but also accelerated the process of the “Changes Unseen in a Century”. The Communist Party of China led the whole nation in actively fighting against the epidemic. As the first major economy in the world to resume growth since the outbreak of the epidemic, China leads the world in epidemic prevention and control and economic recovery, which demonstrated China’s strong resilience and vigorous vitality.
Standing at the historic intersection of the “Two Centenary” goals, China has completed the target of poverty alleviation in the new era as scheduled, established the new “Dual Circulation” development pattern and formed the development pattern with the Yangtze River Delta Region, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Region, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle, Bohai Rim Region, Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan Region as the main engine. The surging trend of the 4th Industrial Revolution has pushed forward the new technological revolution led by big data, AI and information technology, and the joint construction of the B&R with high quality has entered the stage of “Fine Brushwork” at which a magnificent picture of the new era is slowly unfolding.
In 2020, we have made good responses to the tests posed by this era together with our partners.
At the outbreak of COVID-19, we invited Professor Walter Ian LIPKIN, a famous virologist to China to help fight against the epidemic. We also organized multiple seminars, drafted systematic reports and offered important suggestions to the Central Government on epidemic prevention, control and response, public health emergency system, cooperation in epidemic prevention and science and technology with other countries, and implementation remedy measures for industrial chain. RDI platform enterprises’ technological advantages in 5G network, big data, AI, information technology and so on, also became sharp weapons to fight against the epidemic, among which rapid screening technology, new computing technology, intelligent auxiliary screening and epidemic monitoring system and telemedical technology all played an important role. At the same time, we actively organized international seminars to share and exchange China’s successful experience in fighting against it.
In 2020, we continued to promote the model of “Think Tank+ International Network + Government + Enterprise” and closely integrated think tank research results with the development of urban agglomerations, industrial clusters and international cooperation, which demonstrated RDI’s resource integration strength. This working mode has been further promoted in the Yangtze River Delta Region, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Region, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region, Bohai Rim Region and the Midwest.
In 2020, we actively participated in the Zhuhai-Macau cooperation. Since 2018, we have successfully organized three sessions of Shizimen Finance Week, gathering strength and resources from political circle, business community and think tanks. High-end forums, symposiums, joint conferences of finance and enterprises, and professional sub-forums were held and high-quality suggestions for financial innovation and development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) were put foward during the Shizimen Finance Week, which promoted the congregation of financial, industrial, technological and other resources and became a highlight of the financial development in GBA.
In 2020, we continued to enhance the B&R cooperation in Suzhou and Ningbo and actively promoted the international development towards Europe, the U.S. and the world. The high-level seminars revolving around construction and development of Xiong’an New Area held in Baoding and Zhuozhou fully reflected the important concept that wisdom leading value creation. In Qingdao, together with China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone and Shibei District of Qingdao, we explored the action plans for international development and the RCEP Qingdao Pilot Innovation Base for Economic and Trade Cooperation and promoted implementation of the new “Dual Circulation” development pattern. In Xining of Qinghai province, Fuzhou of Jiangxi province and Xiangtan of Hunan province, we constantly explored new modes of modern agriculture, low carbon & environmental protection, sustainable development and opening-up to the outside world.
In 2020, we organized a series of professional discussions on supercomputing, 5G technologies, high-end chip design, AI and other technologies, and systematic introducion of smart city. We facilitated the integration of green productivity technologies and standards and promoted the industrialization, standardization and marketization of scientific and technological achievements.
We have made a number of outstanding scientific research achievements on the development of the B&R regional and international cooperation, the technological development of the 4th Industrial Revolution and the index system of international business environment. We drafted systematic proposals for senior leaders of the Central Government based on each major inspection and seminar, and provided intellectual support for the decision-making officials at various levels. In 2020, five members of Advisory Committee of RDI were appointed as Member of the Distinguished Experts Group of the CPPCC, which shows that the Advisory Committee of RDI has the capability to provide advice and suggestions at the national level.
In 2020, the President of Pakistan awarded us Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s national medal of honor. Behind this honor lies both our determined efforts and years of close cooperation with our strategic partners at home and abroad, including political parties, governments, think tanks, enterprises, financial institutions, social organizations, media and international multilateral and bilateral institutions. We are always committed to building platforms for cooperation among governments, enterprises and think tanks and participating in the great historical journey of jointly building the B&R with high quality.
In 2020, our Secretariat also developed rapidly with a group of young talents born in the 1980s and 1990s joined our team. These young people with ideals, aspirations and knowledge show great enthusiasm and responsibility and did a very good job because of their love for the motherland and the people.
From 2015 to 2020, we had gone through extraordinary six years. During these period, we kept learning and innovation and continuously made progress. We will continue to adhere to the spirit of unity, innovation and hardworking, continue the great journey of jontly building the B&R with high quality and the new “Dual Circulation” development pattern together with our partners at home and abroad, courageously strive for the best, make contributions and achievements in the new era.
Baige ZHAO
Vice Chair of the 12th NPC Foreign Affairs Committee
Chair of Advisory Committee of BRI International Think Tank
Chair of Advisory Committee of RDI
March 8th, 2021
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