Professor Min Ye, Professor of International Relations at the Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University; gave a seminar on 14 October 2024 titled “Commerce, Coalition, and COVID-19: The Rise of the Green Belt and Road Initiative in China.”
Prof Ye explained that while the original Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was driven by economic needs and strategic importance, the Green Belt and Road Initiative (GBRI) focuses on promoting green technology, renewable energy, and sustainable development. She highlighted how state-firm dynamics evolved, with Chinese firms initially targeting Western markets while the state prioritised geopolitical ties. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and US-China trade war shifted these interests, pushing Chinese firms to seek opportunities in BRI countries and rely on state support. The Chinese government also increased investments in green technology and expanded the BRI to include sustainable projects.
Prof Ye dismissed notions like “Green Washing” and argued that the GBRI is rooted in domestic priorities and responses to external shocks, rather than geopolitical strategies. She noted some key implications such as: the BRI is becoming less profitable, US-China conflict is likely as economic interdependence declines, and the Global South is gaining geopolitical importance in the green transition.
The seminar concluded with discussions on China’s leadership in green technologies and its impact on the Global South, noting countries like Indonesia as prime adopters of renewable energy through cooperation with China. Concerns were raised about the environmental impact of China’s resource extraction, and the geopolitical tensions faced by the Philippines and India regarding their ties with China. The discussion emphasised the growing divide in the global economy as nations navigate between trade blocs led by China and the US, based on their strategic priorities.
