Time to ascribe Silk Road plans a real meaning

But since Europeans, especially those in Western Europe, are not likely to appreciate the idea of pan-Asian connectivity despite desperately needing a way out of their economic quagmire, Rudd's suggestion might not elicit the expected response.

And even though Justin Yifu Lin, former World Bank chief economist and professor at Peking University, believes the term "The Belt and Road Initiatives" will be ultimately accepted and understood by the West, there remain doubts because it is a word-by-word translation of a pregnant Chinese expression. By ascribing the term a specific meaning in English, we are actually shearing it off of a beautiful and peaceful idea.

So, while giving the combined proposals a specific term in English, we should not translate them literally. For example, they can be called the "Modern Silk Road" proposals.

Better still, if we want to highlight connectivity and infrastructure construction, we can call them the "Asia-Africa-Europe Infrastructure Plan", because given Xi's thrust on reforming governance, establishing the rule of law, fighting corruption and using diplomacy for the common good of the international community, the Silk Road proposals have huge economic and peaceful connotations in terms of connecting the three continents through railways, roads, maritime routes and the Internet.

The author is China Daily chief correspondent in Brussels. fujing@chinadaily.com.cn