Dr. Bahaa Helmy Writes: The Silk Road and the New Principles of Trade with Africa

The Belt and Road Initiative adopted by China to build the Silk Road marks a new era and lays the foundations for a strong, coherent global economic order based on fairer principles and values than the policy of using force and dominating the world economy, which has left emerging economies and poor countries to bear many negative effects of those policies, in addition to the effects of savage globalization and the depletion of natural resources for the benefit of Western countries. China has been clearer in announcing the new principles and values of world trade through the Silk Road, which it has called a road of peace and free trade and of strengthening ties between the peoples of different countries, and of realizing the dream of national renaissance through cooperation between countries under the umbrella of “the dream of building a global community with a shared future, shared interests and shared responsibility”, far from military and political conflicts and without interference in the affairs of states – instead of the control of money lobbies and the United States imposing protectionist methods and steering international trade according to its policy under the slogan (America First), and casting doubt on global trade initiatives in order to keep its grip on the joints of the world economy. The vision of China, the world's second-largest economy, has so far succeeded, through its calm and purposeful policy, in attracting the largest number of countries to take part in the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve the hoped-for development for their peoples, while benefiting from the billions of dollars China is offering to support African countries for use in infrastructure projects instrumental in completing the Silk Road, called the new development corridor for trade, culture and the establishment of peace among nations. The success of China's declared vision of these principles is due to its having learned from past experiences and lessons of Western interference in the internal affairs of many countries and of stirring up and fueling conflicts in many parts of the world to impose control and hegemony and to limit the progress of others, especially in the face of the rise of the coming Chinese economic giant. The declared principles and values on which trade in the Belt and Road Initiative will be based are the very foundations on which Egypt's strategy to regain its standing in Africa, particularly in the economic field, can rely. The Silk Road is not merely a development route or a free-trade corridor through the Suez Canal or with Egypt alone; it extends to many other African countries that are new markets for goods coming from all the countries within the scope of the Silk Road. Egypt was present and effective at the 2018 Forum on China–Africa Cooperation summit, presenting the Suez Canal Axis for development and global investment and showcasing the legislation, procedures and infrastructure projects for roads and energy it has completed to create a safe investment climate in Egypt. The success of Egypt's strategy to regain its African standing requires further effort from Egyptian diplomacy and work to build a new economic partnership based on common interests, preparing the necessary studies on the requirements of those markets from now on, and preparing the commodities and goods needed to market them via the Silk Road, as well as the importance of joint cooperation with Sudan to make use of all land crossings and routes to move goods, establish trade relations with African countries and revive cultural relations; and studying the possibility of setting up satellite channels broadcasting various programs to bring peoples closer, consolidating Egypt's role and strengthening its partnership with African countries while respecting the national sovereignty of each state – rather than relying on the saying that “Egypt is Africa's gateway for trade” without real work on the ground. Ambitions will only be realized through sincere work and effort at every level – political, cultural, social and commercial – to achieve sustainable development and preserve the common interests of all countries, serving the country's general interest.