Australia joining AIIB contributes to Asia cooperation: expert

Australia should have made the decision to join the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) earlier, as it is a great thing for Asian cooperation, Kerry Brown, executive director of the China Studies Centre in the University of Sydney, told the People’s Daily on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia on Friday.

The Australian government said it is ready to become a member of the AIIB, according to media reports on Wednesday.

As to the oppositional role the United States played before Australia made the decision, Brown said he felt the existence of two contradictory Americas – one busy with calling for China to shoulder more responsibilities on the world stage, the other trying to make sure China’s action follow US instructions.

The incident has made it clear that we should not rely too much on the US. Although the US is still playing a leading role in many areas, it does not mean the most sophisticated thinking lies in the US. Today, the deepest thinking is more likely to emerge in Asia, or Africa and Latin America. People need a more diversified environment of various ideas. The economic modes and political modes also need to keep diversity, said Brown.

Speaking about the economic development in China, Brown said the country is going through a transformation. One of the main tasks is to create a more mature and sustainable development mode. Now China’s economy has been seeing an increasing proportion of service industries, which is a positive sign, he said.

Brown said the Chinese government has been putting out a series of reform measures, which gives the public the impression that the government has clear goals and is determined to solve problems. He emphasized the importance of public trust toward the government.

Brown said he is optimistic. For example, in the area of environmental protection, there are agreements as well as action plans, the enforcement is also strengthened. He said he believes the process of problem solving will also speed up.

(People’s Daily)