From November 13 to 15, 2019, a delegation led by Prof. Tao Yitao attended the 2nd International Cheng Ho Festival (ICHF) and delivered a keynote speech. Prof. Tao is director of the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), president of the Belt and Road Research Institute of Shenzhen University (SZU), and also president of the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRI). Also attending ICHF were experts, scholars and government officials from China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, among other countries.
In her speech titled "The Value and Meaning Behind Inclusive Development", she indicated that the implementation of the "Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)" is a non-economic issue for which culture and institution outweigh capital and technology, and the institutional-cultural constraints are the most fundamental ones. Overcoming the institutional-cultural constraints and establishing an inclusive and operable institutional-cultural cognition eco-system are practical and wise considerations that precedes the effective implementation of BRI, in both logical and practical sense. Prof. Tao elaborated on the value and meaning behind inclusive development from ten aspects. Citing the rich historical facts of Zheng He's seven voyages to Southeast Asia, she said that both Chinese and western cultures are profound and full of wisdom. Inclusive development requires the cultivation and establishment of value identity. The Silk Road is not only a trade route but also a common market in economic sense. Value identity is the rule for deeper and wider collaboration in the future.
Prof. Tao is giving a keynote speech titled "The Value and Meaning Behind Inclusive Development"
Prof. Tao attends the seminar and discusses with the speakers.
Prof. Tao's delegation attends the 2nd ICHF
Prof. Tao exchanges view with members of the Indonesian royal family and president of the International Zheng He Society.
The organizer of the seminar presents souvenirs to BRRI.
Prof. Zhao Zhigang, Deputy Secretary-General of China Zheng He Society, presents a book to BRRI.
Prof. Zhong Ruoyu of the CCSEZR also attended the seminar. Prof. Zhong presented a paper titled "Study on Measurement of Trade Facilitation in Countries Along the Belt and Road and Its Impact on Bilateral Trade" (by Ma Xinyuan and Zhong Ruoyu). Mr. Yang Xianghong, Chairman of Shenzhen Yueyuan Culture Development Co., Ltd., a member of "the Belt and Road Enterprise Alliance" of BRRI, also attended the seminar. During the seminar, the delegation also attended events arranged by the organizer, including visit of Zheng He's Cultural Museum, reception hosted by the Melaka state government, and exchanges and discussions.
