What they say

Qu Yingpu, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily

The world has entered a new era of turbulence and change. Both geopolitical tensions and evolving economic dynamics have exerted a negative impact on global development and cooperation. As the world has come to another historical crossroads, it is more essential than ever for us to strengthen communication and cooperation. First, to safeguard international fairness and justice and work for greater democracy in global governance. Second, to follow a path of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, and promote the development and modernization of all countries.

Zhao Qi, secretary-general of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

The world's major economies unveiled massive stimulus policies in the wake of the pandemic. Currently, the policy space that underpins economic recovery and societal development has greatly narrowed amid mounting risks from high levels of global public debt and increasingly tight monetary policies. In the face of such difficulties and challenges, we should practice true multilateralism, strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, jointly create a favorable international environment for development and promote the building of a new paradigm for global development governance that is inclusive and interconnected.

Alessandro Teixeira, former minister of tourism of Brazil

We cannot solve the problems of a world that is changing with old solutions. We need to reform our global governance. This reform needs to incorporate the developing countries' voice. It's clear that the G7 is no longer the place to discuss the future of economics, and the future of world economic development needs to be done in the G20 and G24. We need to embrace mechanisms such as the Belt and Road, BRICS and RCEP. Through these mechanisms, we can give a voice to those who need to speak.

Michele Geraci, former undersecretary of state of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development

We are in a situation where Europe is going to suffer economically because we are a continent that does not have enough energy resources, raw materials and land. It is very difficult for Europe to decouple from Asia. Decoupling from China means decoupling from the rest of Asia. It doesn't make sense for Europe to pick an economic fight with people that have resources that Europe needs, which we do not have. As a trade economist, I see the benefit of trade. I think that China should bolster the Belt and Road Initiative, as it is an initiative that brings peace and prosperity.

Liu Shijin, deputy director of the Committee on Economic Affairs of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

We advocate to exercise better control over both the amount and intensity of carbon emissions and achieve a win-win situation for carbon reduction and economic growth. We need to develop a short-term plan as well as a medium-to-long-term plan, actively implement a carbon reduction strategy that is innovative and incorporate a new type of innovative carbon reduction into the carbon reduction accounting system and steadily promote the green energy transformation.

Joshua Thomas, distinguished fellow of the Centre for Public Policy Research based in India

India, China and the ASEAN member states have close relations. While there were huge land and ocean barriers, ideas could travel from India to change lives in ASEAN and China. Now the land and sea barriers are no more with the onset of several initiatives and intercontinental corridors, based on regional and sub-regional cooperation. But the minds are apart. Therefore, we need to work exhaustively with smart power to bring together what people can do on the ground. It is not always possible for the state and government to achieve that. People-to-people meetings and exchange programs between universities and educational institutions, think tanks and media will bring language, culture and relationships closer for global development and win-win cooperation. This will promote brotherhood, peace and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Jeffrey Sachs, professor with the School of Public Affairs, Columbia University, US

There's a kind of hysteria that China went from being an interesting country to a rising economy to a competitor to a threat, and also to an enemy sometime within a 10-year period … When the United States imposes export bans on semiconductors, nobody asks anywhere in the West, "Is this compatible with the World Trade Organization?" The only question is, "Will it stop China?"

Fukunari Kimura, chief economist of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia

We have to watch carefully for market stability, in particular what would happen with inflation. That's also a problem for some less-developed countries. However, if we look at the East, the Asian economies are still moving very vigorously ... The role of the WTO (World Trade Organization) is very important. We have a serious problem in the (WTO) appellate body. We have to do something.

Amine El Kabbaj, program manager and researcher at the Center of Analyses and Publications of the Amadeus Institute, Morocco

The intensification of China-Africa relations would only be due to the symmetry of balance of power, equality, mutual benefit, sovereignty and noninterference. The implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative is projected to advance connectivity across the African continent and stimulate intra-African commerce, which is very important. Additionally, it could generate a massive frame of opportunities for infrastructure development as the BRI aims to help advocate for the African Union's Agenda 2063 by opening new financial avenues for the continent's main integration projects.

Yu Yongding, an academic division member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

In 2023, the economies of all countries in the world will face a relatively difficult time. It is extremely important to strengthen economic cooperation and economic policy coordination among countries and regions, and avoid "beggar thy neighbor "acts. For instance, the trade, tariff and technology disputes between China and the United States will not only hurt their economy but also the world economy. Although China and the US are competitors, both countries are in the same boat and neither side should rock the boat.