On September 9, Gong Jiong, a China Forum expert and vice president for research at UIBE Israel, gave an interview to CGTN America, in which he took stock of the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative over the past decade.

The Belt and Road Initiative, which has highlighted infrastructure construction in developing countries, has empowered China’s foreign direct investment in countries along the routes as well as their growth and foreign trade, and driven Chinese businesses to go global, said Professor Gong.

This is the first time in history that such a large-scale global business network has been set up through peaceful, equal market business negotiations, led by Chinese enterprises. In the interview, Professor Gong also refuted accusations regarding China’s peaceful rise such as the so-called “neocolonialism” and “debt trap” theories.

CGTN America is the Washington News Bureau for China Central Television (“CCTV”), which, through a division named the China Global Television Network (“CGTN”).