Silk Road perspective of an old 'China hand'(2)

As an ancient country that values peace and hospitality, China should explain itself to the Western world by different means, thus assuring that what China brings are positive contributions and opportunities, not intrusions or threats, he said.

"However, China and its numerous participants must also do their homework well, and must be cautious in carrying out the 'One Belt, One Road' projects in an orderly, organized, well trained and well educated, and culturally informed manner, paying attention to all the sensitivities they must consider, practicing the spirit of genuine best business practices and a true win-win attitude and game play, or the nationally well-intended peaceful initiatives could be misunderstood and even boycotted by other countries."

In the process of reviving the ancient trade routes, China could take the first step by improving its infrastructure, including railways, airports and ports, along the routes, he said.

As part of the initiatives, China opened a new rail route to European countries to transport made-in-China products, from laptops to Airbus parts, and made-in-Europe baby formula and wines in mid 2013.

Starting from Zhengzhou, a logistics center and transport hub in Central China's Henan province, the 10,214-kilometer Zhengzhou-Europe International Shuttle Train crosses the border at the Alataw Pass in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region before passing through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus and Poland on its way to Germany's Hamburg.

The new intercontinental rail route can save about 20 days compared with maritime transport and costs 80 percent less than air shipment. The 15-day journey offers an alternative to slower and riskier sea freight and much costlier air cargo.

"It's good news that China has deepened its ties with European countries through the new rail routes." Kamalabadi said. "It is yet another positive step toward a more interconnected and unified world."

The city of Kashgar, in Xinjiang, should be a transitional center for the China-Europe rail route, he said.

China still heavily relies on sea freight in its trade with Europe, and railways allow companies to avoid passing through the risky maritime routes.

Among the 110 million tons of goods exported to 13 major European countries in 2012, about 78 million were suitable for railway transportation. However, only 1.5 percent of trade volume was achieved via the railway, according to research by the China Railway Corporation.

China is now in negotiations on high-speed rail with at least 28 countries, most of which are located along the trade routes. The total track length on the agenda spans over 5,000 kilometers, according to Hua Chang Securities.

According to a proposal filed by the China International Economic and Exchange Center, a government think tank, Chinese companies are expected to build more than 20 railways in the coming years in an effort to revive the ancient trade routes.

Through railways, China could export its goods, equipment, and technologies to the countries on the routes, which will benefit the local economy, Kamalabadi said.

To finance the "One Belt, One Road" projects, capital from around the world, including those from the affluent Gulf Cooperation Countries, should be welcomed by Chinese government, he said.

On Feb 16, China's central bank announced that the Silk Road Fund, which aims to seek investment opportunities and provide monetary services throughout the "One Belt, One Road" initiatives, was active.

President Xi Jinping announced the creation of the $40 billion fund in November. It will invest mainly in infrastructure, resource development, as well as industrial and financial cooperation, in an effort to achieve common development and prosperity.

According to Kamalabadi, China's strategy of reviving the ancient Silk Road has provided a good chance for the exchange and communication of different cultures and civilizations, including between Confucian and Buddhist China and Asia, the Islamic Arabs and Persians, and the Christian West.