On the Victory of the Belt and Road Initiative

I attended the Communist Party of China (CPC) and World Parties Summit on Tuesday, July 6, in the magnificent Fanghua Yuan Hall at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. Along with all the ambassadors and representatives of international organizations stationed in Beijing, about 300 of us watched the Summit on a giant screen. I was invited to the event by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges—under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China—in my capacity as President of the Turkish-Chinese Business Council of DER.

All ambassadors from developing countries were present in the hall. In addition to ambassadors from Asian, African, and South American nations, diplomats of various ranks were seated with care. However, Turkey’s Ambassador to Beijing, Emin Önen, was absent because he had scheduled his annual leave for these dates. Our embassy was represented by First Secretary Mr. Alp Atakcan, who naturally sat toward the back. It was a notable omission that our Ambassador was not there on such an important anniversary in China’s history.

Respect for XI JINPING around the world​

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CPC General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping addressed the world from the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. As soon as President Xi’s image filled the big screen in the State Guesthouse, every ambassador stood to salute him. Officials from the CPC’s Department of Foreign Affairs, there to escort the foreign guests, followed suit. A tremendous round of applause erupted in the hall—and it continued even after Xi took his seat. The delight of the Chinese officials at witnessing such respect for President Xi was extraordinary.

Xi Jinping’s sincere, humble, wise, and bold speech generated deep satisfaction among the diplomats. Once more, the CPC General Secretary illuminated minds and warmed hearts. The respect shown to Xi went beyond admiration for the extraordinary achievements of the Chinese Revolution; it also signified trust in the leadership of the emerging “New World.”

The summit's surprise: Cuba's new president canel

In addition to President Xi, 21 other country representatives spoke at the Summit. Eighteen of the speakers were heads of state or government. Instead of President Putin, it was decided that Dmitry Medvedev would speak for the Russian Federation. Among the two speakers who were not current heads of state or government were George Papandreou, as President of the Socialist International, and José Luis Centella, leader of the Communist Party of Spain—currently a governing coalition partner. It became clear that the Communist Party of Spain, the largest communist party in Western Europe, is the closest European party to the CPC.

The most dazzling speaker at the Summit was Miguel Díaz-Canel, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic of Cuba. Born in 1960, Díaz-Canel assumed this office just two and a half months earlier on April 19, 2021. This Summit marked his first major international appearance, and the Cuban President demonstrated that he is worthy of his position with a revolutionary, enthusiastic, and mature address.

Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and former President, delivered a comprehensive speech declaring that he walks alongside the CPC toward the same goals.

Giving voice to the Palestinian people

Another noteworthy speaker was Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine and Chairman of the Fatah Movement. Speaking in front of an image of the Dome of the Rock, Abbas recalled China’s consistently pro-Palestinian stance and fiercely criticized Israel’s Zionist policies. As he spoke, participants from three different Palestinian cities were projected onto the main screen—a powerful message to the world.

At the Summit, Asia was represented by seven heads of state and one former head of state; Africa by seven heads of state; the Americas by two heads of state and one former head of state; and Europe by one head of state, one party leader, and one international organization chief.

The lone Turkish speaker was former Kazakh President and New Otan Party Chairman Nursultan Nazarbayev. All eyes had been searching for President Erdoğan of Turkey.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić’s reference to Mao Zedong, the leader of the Chinese Revolution, was significant. Apart from Medvedev—who spoke instead about Deng Xiaoping—most speakers invoked Mao Zedong.

Africa at the forefront at the world

It was also striking that more African heads of state spoke than the total from the Americas and Europe. Following Xi Jinping’s opening remarks, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was the first to deliver a speech. He was followed by the heads of Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan, all of whom gave powerful addresses. A common theme of their speeches was China’s COVID-19 vaccine assistance to Africa and the development opportunities provided by the Belt and Road Initiative. The fact that these calls targeting imperialism came predominantly from Africa was meaningful. The Summit demonstrated that African nations will lead in dismantling imperialist hegemony and building the new world.

Diverse ideologies, common goal

Of the twenty-one speakers who praised the CPC, only eight came from various communist parties. The other thirteen represented different ideological and political movements, yet each emphasized shared objectives with the CPC. These included Argentina’s President and Peronist Justice Party leader Alberto Fernández Ángel; Pakistan’s President and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan; the Philippines’ President and PDP–Laban chairman Rodrigo Duterte; Morocco’s Justice and Development Party leader and Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani; Cambodia’s People’s Party leader and Prime Minister Hun Sen; Kazakhstan’s New Otan Party chairman Nursultan Nazarbayev; and even Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan—a country established with U.S. encouragement. All underscored that despite ideological differences, they share the CPC’s objectives.

Unanimous praise at the BRI

The most important consensus at this historic Summit was the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). All speakers expressed their contributions to and praise for the BRI. José Luis Centella of the Communist Party of Spain noted that it is the largest initiative in human history in terms of participating countries. The principle of “development through sharing” once again proved to be the common aspiration of nations. It was affirmed that uniting countries’ strengths for development is the key to a more just, equitable, and prosperous world. First announced by Xi Jinping in Kazakhstan in 2013, the BRI has come a long way in eight years. The Summit’s achievement will be recorded in history as the victory of the BRI. Turkey, having joined the Initiative early on, must seize the opportunities before it to further develop its role.

The 'great humanity' movement

The Summit felt like a declaration of a new world order. The cause of Great Humanity has gained momentum. International conditions are becoming favorable to leave no poor nation behind and to help oppressed peoples achieve their national aspirations. Turkey has a great responsibility to take its place at the forefront of the new Asian civilization, and that duty falls to the Patriotic Party. In the rising cause of Great Humanity, Turkey will undoubtedly assume a pioneering role. This is both the right and the duty of the Turkish nation.