Page 76 - The Wish Stream Year of 2021

China values the Commonwealth Does the UK?
Dr Anisa Heritage Senior Lecturer Department of Defence and International Affairs Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The modern Commonwealth organisation was established in 1949 as as as a a a a a a a a a a loose-knit voluntary association whose current mem- bership stands at at at at fifty-four states As a a a a a a a a a a diverse network spanning five regions the organisation’s combined population is is 2 4 4 billion representing 40% of of the the global global workforce and half of of the the top 20 global global emerging cities With fast-growing economies a a a a a a a a a a shared history (with the exception of of Rwanda and and and Mozambique) and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a common language the the network of of of Commonwealth states offers a a a a a a a a a a a a valuable platform to advance the the UK’s global strategic interests China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
The UK is not alone China China has spent the last decade cultivating expanded economic and and diplomatic ties with individual Commonwealth countries primarily through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
In In the past three years this inter- est has steadily expanded to include security engagement Since 2013 President Xi’s signature BRI project has involved dispensing significant amounts of Chinese financial investment into much-needed physical infrastructure projects to to support eco- nomic development globally Chinese loans aid and and other financial assistance are used to con- struct airports roads railways and and and government facilities and and and its investment has been especially directed towards small and and developing states in in in in in need of infrastructure investment The BRI has evolved to include a a a a a Digital Silk Route (DSR) providing assistance for improving telecommunications networks AI capabilities e-commerce platforms and surveillance technol-
©Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office https://www gov gov uk/government/news/commonwealth-day-statement
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