economistbangla.com POP sustainability goals: little sisters outrace big brothers: cgtn china & bangla 7 india & myanmar

china launched belt road as worldwide collaboration in 2015 by first summit in beijing may 2017 over 65 national leaders partnering; next belt road summit beijing april 2019 - there are arts movements along belt road eg 1 and a lively chamber of commerce movement -whenever countries birders are newly bridged china tries to sustain youth celebrations though exchanges and where practical it hubs or special economic zones geared to sustainability interests and youth livelihoods - there are digital silk roads ....

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2 months ago chinese foreign minister wang yi mentions bangladesh will be 9th country to use alipay as part of belt road collaboration https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414e3159444e78457a6333566d54/share_p.html

please see sidebar for videos
here are some highlights
2 months ago chinese foreign minister wang yi mentions bangladesh will be 9th country to use alipay as part of belt road collaboration https://news.cgtn.com/news/3d3d414e3159444e78457a6333566d54/share_p.html

Myanmar

Myanmar can join the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, but could benefit more from China, which has been a leader in green and alternative energy technologies.

By adopting a wider definition of “green financing”, the belt and road recognises the importance of electricity in achieving sustainable development by acknowledging power generation as a central component.

The Myitsone dam project, which was abruptly put on hold in 2011. Photo: The Washington Post

Beijing’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ will benefit the world

Unlike Western institutions, China includes clean coal technology and funding for high-efficiency transport fuel production. This approach enables a country like Myanmar, with a large rural population, to create a sustainable development platform.

Applying first-world and Western-centric standards to financing would have probably meant that the Myitsone dam would not have received funding or potentially low-cost, high-efficiency coal-powered generation. Moreover, increased electrification will reduce the high rates of lung disease associated with wood-based energy sources used in Myanmar.

It makes sense for Myanmar and other developing countries to see the belt and road project as a sustainable development opportunity. Each country needs to play to its strengths and harness help to address shortcomings. In Myanmar’s case, these need to be articulated and reinforced in the upcoming memorandum of understanding discussions on the joint economic corridor.

Andre Wheeler is CEO of Asia-Pacific Connex, with more than 25 years’ experience in international business. He is working towards his doctorate on the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on infrastructure and logistics in the Asean region