Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and delivers a keynote speech at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 18, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday that the Belt and Road Initiative represents humanity's joint pursuit of development for all.
It has opened up a new path for exchanges among countries, and established a new framework for international cooperation, Xi said while delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in the Chinese capital, Beijing.
Pointing out that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the initiative he proposed, he said the BRI aims to enhance policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity, inject new impetus into the global economy, create new opportunities for global development, and build a new platform for international economic cooperation.
FULL TEXT: President Xi’s keynote speech at Belt and Road forum for International Cooperation
Over the past 10 years, the Belt and Road cooperation has progressed from "sketching the outline" to "filling in the details," and blueprints have been turned into real projects, said the Chinese president.
Ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry and bloc politics are not a choice for us. What we stand against are unilateral sanctions, economic coercion and decoupling and supply chain disruption.
Xi Jinping, President, China
When COVID-19 struck, the Belt and Road became a life-saving road, he said.
China provided more than 10 billion masks and 2.3 billion doses of vaccines to other countries and jointly produced vaccines with over 20 countries, making a special contribution to BRI partners' efforts in fighting COVID-19. And China also received valuable support from more than 70 countries when it was hit hard by the pandemic, he said.
A large number of signature projects and "small yet smart" people-centered programs have been launched, said Xi.
The Belt and Road international cooperation has gotten off the ground, grown rapidly and produced fruitful outcomes in the past 10 years, he said.
The cooperation has extended from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America, and more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed cooperation documents, he said.
Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share, he said.
The global network of connectivity built under the BRI has injected fresh vitality into the millennia-old Silk Road in the new era, Xi said.
Silk Road spirit
The Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit is the most important source of strength for Belt and Road cooperation, he said.
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"I once said that the pioneers of the ancient silk routes won their place in history not as conquerors with warships, guns, horses or swords. Rather, they are remembered as friendly emissaries leading camel caravans and sailing ships loaded with goods.”
Chinese President Xi Jinping and distinguished guests arrive to attend the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 18, 2023. Xi on Wednesday attended the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and delivered a keynote speech. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
"Belt and Road cooperation is based on the belief that flame runs high when everyone adds wood to the fire and that mutual support can get us far," he added.
Xi noted that such cooperation seeks to deliver a good life not only to people of just one country, but to people in other countries as well. It promotes connectivity, mutual benefit, common development, cooperation and win-win outcomes.
"Ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry and bloc politics are not a choice for us. What we stand against are unilateral sanctions, economic coercion and decoupling and supply chain disruption," he added.
Community with shared future
Stressing that humankind is a community with a shared future, Xi said, “China can only do well when the world is doing well. When China does well, the world will get even better.”
Through Belt and Road cooperation, China is opening its door even wider to the world, with its inland regions turning from "fullbacks" into "forwards," and coastal regions scaling new heights in their opening-up, he said.
Countries taking the lead in economic development should give a hand to their partners who are yet to catch up.
Xi Jinping
China has become a main trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions and a primary source of investment for more countries. Both Chinese investment overseas and foreign investment in China have boosted friendship, cooperation, confidence and hope, according to Xi.
Win-win cooperation
President Xi said win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all.
He pointed out that when countries embrace cooperation and act in concert, a deep chasm can be turned into a thoroughfare, land-locked countries can become land-linked, and a place of underdevelopment can be transformed into a land of prosperity.
"Countries taking the lead in economic development should give a hand to their partners who are yet to catch up. We should all treat each other as friends and partners, respect and support each other, and help each other succeed," Xi said.
As the saying goes, "when you give roses to others, their fragrance lingers on your hand." In other words, helping others is also helping oneself, he said.
Viewing others' development as a threat or taking economic interdependence as a risk will not make one's own life better or speed up one's development, said the Chinese leader.
New stage of high-quality development
China will work with all parties involved to usher Belt and Road cooperation into a new stage of high-quality development, and make relentless efforts to achieve modernization for all countries, said Xi.
Global modernization should be pursued to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation and bring prosperity to all, he said.
China is endeavoring to build itself into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. “The modernization we are pursuing is not for China alone, but for all developing countries through our joint efforts.”
Advancing practical cooperation for BRI
China will carry out practical cooperation for the BRI, promoting both signature projects and "small yet smart" livelihood programs, he said.
Xi vowed more financing support for BRI projects on the basis of market and business operation in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
The China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China will each set up a 350 billion yuan ($48.75 billion) financing window, and an additional 80 billion yuan will be injected into the Silk Road Fund, he said.
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The country will carry out 1,000 small-scale livelihood assistance projects, and enhance vocational education cooperation through Luban Workshops and other initiatives, he said, adding that more efforts will be taken to ensure the safety of BRI projects and personnel.
The CEO Conference held during the forum saw the conclusion of agreements worth $97.2 billion, he said.
Integrity-based B&R cooperation
President Xi proposed promoting integrity-based Belt and Road cooperation.
Together with its cooperation partners, China will release the Achievements and Prospects of Belt and Road Integrity Building and the High-Level Principles on Belt and Road Integrity Building, and establish the Integrity and Compliance Evaluation System for Companies Involved in Belt and Road Cooperation, he said.
"We will also work with international organizations to carry out research and training on promoting integrity in Belt and Road cooperation.”
Green development
China will continue to promote green development as one of the major steps to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, said the Chinese leader.
He said the country will further deepen cooperation in areas such as green infrastructure, green energy and green transportation, and step up support for the BRI International Green Development Coalition.
Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with distinguished guests attending the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 18, 2023. Xi on Wednesday attended the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and delivered a keynote speech. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
"China will continue to hold the BRI Green Innovation Conference, and establish dialogue and exchange mechanisms for the solar industry and a network of experts on green and low-carbon development," Xi said.
He added that China will implement the Green Investment Principles for the Belt and Road, and provide 100,000 training opportunities for partner countries by 2030.
Sci-tech innovation
China will continue to advance scientific and technological innovation as one of the major steps to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, President Xi said, adding that the country will continue to implement the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, and hold the first Belt and Road Conference on Science and Technology Exchange.
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China will also increase the number of joint laboratories built with other Belt and Road parties to 100 in the next five years, and support young scientists from other countries to work on short-term programs in China, he said.
We stand ready to increase exchanges and dialogue with other countries and jointly promote the sound, orderly and secure AI development in the world.
Xi Jinping
China will put forward the Global Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance at this year's forum. "We stand ready to increase exchanges and dialogue with other countries and jointly promote the sound, orderly and secure AI development in the world.”
Strengthening institutional building
Proposing strengthening the institutional building for international Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said China will work with its Belt and Road Initiative partner countries to strengthen the building of multilateral cooperation platforms covering energy, taxation, finance, green development, disaster reduction, anti-corruption, think tank, media, culture and other fields.
China will continue to host the BRF and establish a secretariat for the Forum, he said.
Rapid growth in B&R cooperation
Belt and Road international cooperation has gotten off the ground, grown rapidly and produced fruitful outcomes over the past 10 years, said Xi.
The cooperation has extended from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America, and more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents, according to him.
Three sessions of the forum have been held, and over 20 specialized multilateral cooperation platforms under the BRI have been established, Xi said.
Belt and Road cooperation has progressed from "sketching the outline" to "filling in the details," and blueprints have been turned into real projects, Xi said, noting that a large number of signature projects and "small yet smart" people-centered programs have been launched.
Guiding principles
Xi highlighted the guiding principles for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in his speech.
"Important guiding principles for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation have been laid down, which include the principle of 'planning together, building together, and benefiting together,' the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, and the goal of pursuing high-standard, people-centered and sustainable cooperation.”
Covering the land, the ocean, the sky and the Internet, the global network of connectivity built under the BRI has injected fresh vitality into the millennia-old Silk Road in the new era, he said.
Belt and Road cooperation transcends differences between civilizations, cultures, social systems, and stages of development. It has opened up a new path for exchanges among countries, and established a new framework for international cooperation, Xi said.
Multidimensional connectivity network
President Xi said China will build a multidimensional Belt and Road connectivity network in joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
China will speed up high-quality development of the China-Europe Railway Express, participate in the trans-Caspian international transportation corridor, and host the China-Europe Railway Express Cooperation Forum.
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China, together with other parties, will build a new logistics corridor across the Eurasian continent linked by direct railway and road transportation, he said.
"We will vigorously integrate ports, shipping and trading services under the 'Silk Road Maritime,' and accelerate the building of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and the Air Silk Road," he said.”
