Yang Yang,  Zhang Guilin, Cong Riyun, Ren Hongsheng (Professors at School of Political Science and Public Administration, China University of Political Science and Law Beijing)

China's rise has attracted an ever bigger attention within political and academic circles in the last few years. But how do we understand China's rise? How does China use its power?  What role does the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) play in this rise? China, without trying to create a sphere of influence, focuses on positive development and strives to create opportunities for a win-win cooperation with those ready to join the BRI. However, many countries have fear of China becoming an Eurasian hegemon. This divergence in understanding of the BRI can be explained by at least three levels of challenges existing between Chinese and Western perspectives. Adjustments in developmental models and stages of development are crucial for understanding the BRI.