A Chinese engineer and a Bangladeshi worker work together at a construction site of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project in Keraniganj on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh on Jan 31, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING - Economic and trade ties between China and countries along the Belt and Road have grown significantly over the past decade, a commerce official said on Thursday.

China's trade in goods with Belt and Road countries doubled from $1.04 trillion in 2013 to $2.07 trillion in 2022, with an average annual growth rate of 8 percent, Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce, said at a press conference.

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By the end of 2022, Chinese enterprises had invested $57.13 billion in economic and trade cooperation zones in countries along the Belt and Road

Two-way investment between China and Belt and Road countries exceeded $270 billion during the period, Chen said.

By the end of 2022, Chinese enterprises had invested $57.13 billion in economic and trade cooperation zones in countries along the Belt and Road, creating 421,000 jobs for local residents, he said.

Proposed by China in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

Going ahead, China will expand imports of quality goods, improve its two-way investment structure and conclude free trade agreements with more countries along the Belt and Road, said Chen.
He added that China will actively negotiate and sign bilateral cooperation agreements on green development, digital economy and blue economy with countries along the Belt and Road.

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