Malaysian former official praises GDI

In a speech on Wednesday, a former senior Malaysian official gave China credit for serving as a staunch defender of multilateral international cooperation amid the prevailing tide of de-globalization and geopolitical rivalry.

In his remarks to the Vision China event, Ong Tee Keat, founding chairman of the Center for New Inclusive Asia, a Malaysian think tank, congratulated the Communist Party of China on the successful convening of its 20th National Congress last month, saying it was an impactful milestone that would bring huge significance to the world.

Officials said in a report delivered at the congress that China is dedicated to promoting a community with a shared future for mankind and deepening and expanding global partnerships based on equality, openness and cooperation.

The China-proposed Global Development Initiative is "a vivid embodiment of the Chinese vision of building'a community with a shared future for mankind' to realize common development through international cooperation", said Ong, who once led Malaysia's Ministry of Transport.

He deemed the GDI "a practical solution that serves the contemporary needs of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations" and "a multidimensional platform for deepening and broadening collaboration" between China and ASEAN beyond economic cooperation.

Calling the initiative "a refreshing model", he said the GDI "can serve as a viable means for confidence building, managing disputes and addressing the trust deficit" and contribute to building peace amid the current rising tensions and uncertainties.

He said he believed the GDI is "a good enabler in helping China to build trust with ASEAN, thus paving the way for establishing a regional community with a shared future".

Last year, China and ASEAN elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, which Ong said signified the high level of maturity in their relationship.

China has been the biggest trading partner of the bloc for the past 13 years, while ASEAN surpassed the European Union as the largest trading partner of China amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Ong cautioned that "ASEAN should not allow itself to be unduly distracted by the West's risk-portrayal narratives about it being drawn into the orbit of Chinese partnership diplomacy."

He dismissed anxiety among Western countries over the so-called growing sphere of Chinese influence through programs such as the connectivity-driven Belt and Road Initiative, which was put forward in 2013, or the more encompassing GDI.

He said that ASEAN would continue to benefit from the inclusive and symbiotic BRI "as it has presented to the region and the world a stable, resilient and egalitarian model of international cooperation".

Referring to the GDI, Ong said it is consistent with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and has "resonated well among the international community, notably among the developing countries".

More than 100 countries and many international organizations have supported the GDI, which has been incorporated into cooperation documents between China and ASEAN, and Central Asia, Africa, Latin America and Pacific Island countries.