2017年CRI Ethiopian Ambassador to UN: Belt and Road Initiative comes at the right time

 

Ethiopian Ambassador to UN Tekeda Alemu takes interview with Chinese media outlets¹ to discuss China’s Belt and Road Initiative in New York on May 10th. [Photo: China Plus/Qian Shanming]

China's Belt and Road initiative has come at just the right time, according to the Ethiopian Ambassador to UN, Tekeda Alemu. He was speaking in New York to a group of UN-based Chinese media outlets in advance of the upcoming Forum² in Beijing. Our reporter Qian Shanming heard what he had to say.

With world attention turning to the Belt and Road Forum taking place in Beijing, the Ethiopian Ambassador to UN, Tekeda Alemu, sought to underline the importance of the project for a world facing multiple challenges such as sluggish³ economic growth, a backlash against globalization, and rising uncertainties⁴.

"It has come at the right time. At a time when xenophobia, at a time when differences among people are highlighted, exaggerated, at a time when there is great need for people to come together. The fact that this initiative is designed to enhance cooperation among countries and peoples is a major advantage of the initiative. It's coming at the right time."

Alemu believes the international community has accorded such prominence⁵ to the Belt and Road Initiative because it's established on the basis of equal access to all and is designed to strengthen international cooperation and win-win development.

"One of the very good aspects of the initiative is that no country is excluded, that is a major aspect of the initiative. No countries excluded, no people excluded. All those who would be interested to be active in the process in the initiative are welcomed. It's conducted on the basis of this principle that everybody should benefit from the initiative. Therefore, that is a source of the attraction of the initiative."

Referring to the UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions in support of the implementation⁶ of the Belt and Road Initiative, Alemu said that the UN firmly supported the initiative because it encourages people and countries to come together.

Alemu said the initiative would also accelerate the realization⁷ of UN Sustainable Development Goals, by providing genuine and concrete support for developing countries such as his own.

"The Belt and Road Initiative has great importance, great significance from the point of view of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In order to be able to carry out those objectives, a lot of resources are required. As I said, many countries, including Ethiopia, are not in a position or don't have the capacity to mobilize resources domestically. Therefore, the Belt and Road Initiative comes with a lot of resources which would be beneficial to countries such as Ethiopia, and to all those countries that are going to be involved in this process. That is also the significance in terms of the 2030 development agenda."

Alemu went on to say that poor infrastructure⁸ has been a major impediment to development in many countries such as Ethiopia, hindering contact among people, and placing obstacles in the way of market expansion and regional connectivity. However, the Belt and Road Initiative brings forth⁹ opportunities to make a difference.

Alemu cited the Addis Ababa Rail project in Ethiopia as an example. The 475 million US Dollar urban rail project in Ethiopia's capital city, funded by China and constructed by Chinese companies, is one of the most obvious signs of China's support for infrastructure development.

"The Belt and Road Initiative would have enormous significance in Africa in terms of speeding up the process of development in Ethiopia and in other countries. It would enhance the value of China's partnership¹⁰ in the development of not only the developing countries, also this initiative would connect Asia with Europe and Africa, and therefore it has a global significance. It's not only in connection with the developing world such as Ethiopia; it also has enormous important significance for the global community as a whole."

Alemu believes that even though the initiative stemmed from China, the benefits will eventually reach all parts of the world.

For CRI, this is Qian Shanming from New York.

1 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

4 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

5 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

6 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

7 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

8 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

9 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

10 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。