Delegate of Australia | World Bank Committee
Topic: Contending with the Belt and Road Initiative

Representing Australia in the World Bank Committee at Yale Model United Nations Taiwan 2025, I led a cross-national coalition of delegates from Germany, India, the Philippines, and the Netherlands to draft and negotiate a comprehensive resolution addressing the economic and ethical challenges of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

As the lead author of the final resolution, I coordinated research, moderated intra-bloc discussions, and unified divergent national positions into a single framework emphasizing sustainability, debt transparency, and equitable global development. Our proposal later adopted by the committee with broad consensus included:

• Establishing a $500 million World Bank fund to support debt relief and extend low-interest credit to developing nations;
• Recommending the integration of blockchain technology to prevent corruption and ensure transparent, traceable international loan systems;
• Encouraging greater participation of Least Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) in financial decision-making to promote inclusive global growth.

During the negotiation process, our bloc encountered significant disagreements, particularly over the extent of the World Bank’s involvement in BRI projects. Acting as a mediator, I reframed the debate around shared goals of transparency and sustainability. I initiated an informal caucus, encouraged quieter delegates to contribute, and proposed a compromise clause balancing both fiscal and developmental priorities. This approach diffused tension, rebuilt trust within the bloc, and led to the successful consolidation of a unified, well-supported resolution.

Leading this initiative taught me how technical policy design, diplomatic strategy, and emotional intelligence converge in international problem-solving. It was a defining experience in turning complex economic debates into actionable, cooperative reform.