Dickenson Sy, a Manila-born economics student at Beijing's Tsinghua University, sees China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as a 'bridge connecting futures' between his homeland and the Chinese mainland. The 24-year-old shared insights with myglobalnews.net about how the landmark infrastructure project is reshaping Southeast Asia's economic landscape.
'From modernized railways in Luzon to solar energy projects in Visayas, BRI investments are unlocking opportunities we couldn't imagine a decade ago,' Sy said. He highlighted the Port of Cebu's recent expansion – a joint Philippines-China project – which increased cargo capacity by 40% while creating 2,300 local jobs.
Tourism emerges as another bright spot, with Chinese visitor numbers to the Philippines growing 15% annually since 2020. 'Every beachfront homestay owner and jeepney driver I meet back home has felt this growth,' Sy noted, adding that cross-cultural exchanges are strengthening people-to-people bonds.
With Chinese enterprises investing $1.2 billion in Philippine infrastructure last year alone, Sy emphasizes the human impact: 'My cousin's welding business near a BRI industrial park tripled its workforce. This is how development translates to dinner tables.'
As Sy prepares to graduate, he envisions a new generation of leaders leveraging BRI partnerships: 'When students from Manila to Mindanao can access high-speed rail and clean energy, that's when we'll see true shared prosperity.'
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
