标签： 西安夜网论坛

Drawing the ＂Belt and Road Initiative＂ aviation and trade map to ＂navigate＂ for promoting economic and trade cooperation

　　Xinhua News Agency, Shanghai, September 3 Title: Drawing the "Belt and Road Initiative" Air and Trade Map to "Navigate" for Promoting Economic and Trade Cooperation

　　Xinhua News Agency reporter Jia Yuankun

　　The "Belt and Road Initiative" trade volume index, the "Belt and Road Initiative" freight volume index, and the "Maritime Silk Road" freight rate index, the three data streams are combined into a "Belt and Road Initiative" air trade map, which is the "Belt and Road Initiative" air trade index officially released by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange on July 11, 2017.

　　Like the "chart" used by ocean-going freighters, the "Belt and Road Initiative" air trade index has not only become a "barometer" that comprehensively and objectively reflects the economic and trade exchanges between countries and regions related to the "Belt and Road Initiative", but also enhances market transparency through information services, providing an important reference for promoting economic and trade cooperation.

　　Three data streams plot the "barometer" of air trade

　　The "Belt and Road Initiative" initiative brings new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation between relevant countries and regions. Where are the cooperation opportunities? How much flow of each product and where are the main markets? When information is not shared and demand is not communicated, the market is often in a wait-and-see state, and all parties need clear market information as a reference for decision-making.

　　In line with the original intention of providing information services for the market and enhancing market transparency, since 2015, the Shanghai Shipping Exchange has started to develop the "Belt and Road Initiative" air trade index.

　　"A single freight index cannot fully reflect the trade trends of countries and regions under the Belt and Road Initiative, and it is difficult to meet market demand. On the basis of developing the traditional strong freight index, the Shanghai Shipping Exchange has also explored the two dimensions of trade volume and trade volume. The purpose is to improve market transparency, truly reflect market supply and demand, and promote the long-term and healthy development of the market." Zhang Yi, president of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, said.

　　Due to the different types and values of goods, the relationship between trade volume and trade volume is not linear. For example, clothing, luggage and other trade volume is large, but the trade volume is relatively low, while the same volume of machinery and electronic products, the trade volume is much higher. The trade volume, trade volume data and the freight data of the corresponding route can comprehensively and objectively reflect the market active level and demand trend.

　　The "Belt and Road Initiative" shipping index information is comprehensive, covering 65 countries along the "Belt and Road Initiative", distributed in North Asia, Central Asia, South East Asia, West Asia, North Africa, Europe and Oceania and other regions. The index is not limited to containers, but also includes bulk materials such as coal, railway stones, and crude oil. The mode of transportation is not limited to sea freight, but also includes rail transportation.

　　To serve as a "barometer" of market trends, the authenticity and accuracy of information are essential. The "Belt and Road Initiative" air trade index data is widely collected by making full use of the membership advantages of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange. At present, the members of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange include about 130 well-known domestic and foreign shipowners, cargo owners and brokers from various transportation segments, and have high international recognition.

　　"Weathervane" for going out, please come in "Service Station"

　　The research and development of the "Belt and Road Initiative" air trade index is not only to serve shipping companies to open up routes and cargo owners to open up markets, but also to provide an information platform to enable enterprises in countries and regions along the route to communicate with each other, increase exchanges and promote trade.

　　Since its official release on July 11, 2017, it has been published by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange on the China "Belt and Road Initiative" website every month. The "Belt and Road Initiative" air trade index consists of both monetary indicators, which reflect changes in trade volume and overall scale, quantitative indicators, which reflect the growth of specific trade flows, and price indicators, which reflect changes in market supply and demand and competition.

　　"As a third-party platform, the freight index published by the Shanghai Airlines Exchange is highly influential, fair and just, and has been widely recognized by cargo owners and agents," said the shipping companies interviewed.

　　"Chinese companies need to understand market information to explore overseas markets, and foreign companies need scientific services to enter the Chinese market," Zhang said. "Through the air trade index platform, companies can grasp the trade demand and trend of the market, the import volume and export volume of a certain product, and which regions mainly flow to China. This data information is an important basis for foreign companies to understand the supply and demand of the Chinese market."

　　The "Maritime Silk Road" comprehensive index covers the freight rates of major cargo types, major routes, and major ship types of shipping. Its application is not only reflected in investment decisions, but also in risk avoidance, such as spot index linking and freight forward transactions.

　　"The freight index is a bellwether that reflects the market level. At present, 45% of coal shipments along China’s coast are subject to index-related agreements to varying degrees, laying a good foundation for the promotion and application of the Belt and Road Initiative’s air trade index," said Liu Yue, manager of the information department of the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.

　　Launch a shipping service brand and build an international cooperation platform

　　Air trade information is a service product. To further promote its application and win the trust of enterprises in countries and regions along the route, it is necessary to use its comprehensiveness and scientificity to launch this shipping service brand. "The application of the Belt and Road Initiative air trade index has just started, and it is still necessary to continuously optimize and expand the connotation of the index. We also expect other national institutions to participate in the compilation and expand the application scope of the index." Zhang Page said.

　　In addition to shipping and railways, in terms of transportation methods, the "Belt and Road Initiative" air trade index will include road and air transportation in the index system in the future; in terms of route layout, transportation routes between "Belt and Road Initiative" countries and regions will also be developed.

　　At the same time, the Shanghai Shipping Exchange will also accelerate the application of the "Belt and Road Initiative" shipping index in the economic and trade fields of countries and regions related to the "Belt and Road Initiative", encourage traders and shippers in various countries to use the "Belt and Road Initiative" shipping index for index linking when signing trade and transportation contracts, and make the index a hedging tool for managing market volatility risk.

　　The establishment of the information platform relies on a wider range of information sharing to create a data aggregation effect. In the process of promoting the application of the index, the Shanghai Airlines Exchange has simultaneously recruited other national institutions to participate in the compilation of the "Belt and Road Initiative" trade and freight index between countries and regions.

　　"Behind the realization of policy communication, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people connectivity, the flow of data and information is covered. Relying on the index platform and related information, jointly developing with countries and regions along the route, and creating the’Belt and Road Initiative ‘trade and freight big data platform will further upgrade data and information services," Zhang Page said.

To satisfy whose ＂interest＂？ A female beach volleyball player was fined for not wearing a bikini

The highly anticipated Tokyo Olympic Games has just come to an end, and people haven’t recovered from the hearty competition, and the sports world is once again in turmoil. According to reports, several European sports organizations demanded the resignation of the presidents of international and European handball federations, accusing them of asking female athletes to wear bikinis as "blatant gender discrimination", and public opinion was in an uproar. Previously, at the European Beach Handball Championship held in July, Norwegian women players were fined 1,500 euros for violating the regulations because of "improper dress".

It is worth noting that the "improper dress" here is not because the athletes are exposed too much or wearing strange clothes, but because they are not wearing bikinis! It is stipulated in this sport that female athletes must wear bikini trunks, while male athletes can wear shorts. After the penalty, the Norwegian Handball Federation filed a formal complaint against the regulation, but eventually paid a fine for each player. This matter is constantly fermenting on the Internet, and netizens said that it is hard to imagine that "there will be such a stupid idea now". This medieval mentality is simply a mockery of sportsmanship. In the end, the European Handball Federation was forced to refund the fine. However, anger has swept the sports world, and many sports organizations have jointly asked the person in charge of the event to step down.

This kind of behavior is just like the previous "Ukrainian female soldiers were asked to wear high heels to participate in the military parade". The purpose is nothing more than to make some people feel pleasing to the eye. Isn’t the double dress requirement for female athletes ignoring sportsmanship? As the president of the Italian Association for the Promotion and Defence of the Rights of Female Athletes said, shameful gender discrimination is destroying the sport and the reputation of international sports federations.

In fact, female athletes have always been featured when they participate in sports competitions. In 2011, the International Badminton Federation asked female athletes to wear short skirts or trousers to help restore people’s declining interest in women’s badminton. Coincidentally, in track and field, beach volleyball and tennis, women are required to wear more revealing clothes. In the long run, female athletes’ choice of what clothes to wear when participating in sports has been faced with judgments from all walks of life. However, the "dress code" of these female athletes has become the main obstacle for some women to pursue sports. Beach volleyball players were required to wear bikinis in the Olympic Games before 2012, but this violated the traditions of some Muslim countries, so athletes from these countries could not show their strength and grace on the international stage.

Fortunately, in order to show that sports are more culturally inclusive, FIVB began to change the rules and add various clothing combinations. For example, in the 2016 Olympic Games, Egyptian women’s volleyball players competed in trousers and long sleeves. At the European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in April this year, German gymnasts did not wear traditional triangle costumes, but wore tight jumpsuits, which were still elegant and beautiful. The media called her move "sportswear revolution". What Norwegian female athletes want is "shorts freedom", and they just want to choose the most comfortable clothes to compete. In other sports, female athletes have the same demands and have been making efforts to this end.

In a word, the dress code of competitive sports should not exploit women’s rights, and it is understandable to have clear dress code for professional athletes, but double standards are absolutely unacceptable. The dress code should serve the athletes and help them to perform better in the competition, instead of becoming a stumbling block. It doesn’t matter what a female athlete wears, what matters is her strength. It is the first thing to show the beauty of sports and the spirit of human beings beyond the limit.

Reporting/feedback