Silk Road perspective of an old 'China hand'

"China is going West, but the Western world is still doubtful about China's sincerity. The countries, mostly having religious belief and moral ideals, including Christianity and Islam, remain unclear about China's values, motives, practices and in total whether China is a reliable partner and responsible stakeholder or not."

To them, the ancient and poetic name of China, Shen Zhou, the Divine Land, can present a new image of China as equally prompted by ideal motives, high integrity, and faith, he said.

Moreover, China's national "go west" strategy should become an invitation and for multilateral cooperation and universal participation, which must be coupled with consultation.

"For example, when local Chinese authorities hold forums and seminars themed on 'One Belt, One Road' projects, they should also invite mayors and their counterparts from foreign countries to attend in mutual exchange," he said.

As an ancient country that values peace and hospitality, China should explain itself to the Western world by different means, thus assuring that what China brings are positive contributions and opportunities, not intrusions or threats, he said.

"However, China and its numerous participants must also do their homework well, and must be cautious in carrying out the 'One Belt, One Road' projects in an orderly, organized, well trained and well educated, and culturally informed manner, paying attention to all the sensitivities they must consider, practicing the spirit of genuine best business practices and a true win-win attitude and game play, or the nationally well-intended peaceful initiatives could be misunderstood and even boycotted by other countries."

In the process of reviving the ancient trade routes, China could take the first step by improving its infrastructure, including railways, airports and ports, along the routes, he said.

As part of the initiatives, China opened a new rail route to European countries to transport made-in-China products, from laptops to Airbus parts, and made-in-Europe baby formula and wines in mid 2013.

Starting from Zhengzhou, a logistics center and transport hub in Central China's Henan province, the 10,214-kilometer Zhengzhou-Europe International Shuttle Train crosses the border at the Alataw Pass in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region before passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland on its way to Germany's Hamburg.

The new intercontinental rail route can save about 20 days compared with maritime transport and costs 80 percent less than air shipment. The 15-day journey offers an alternative to slower and riskier sea freight and much costlier air cargo.