InSeptember2013whenXivisitedcountriesinCentralAsia,heraisedtheinitiativeofjointlybuildingtheSilkRoadEconomicBelt;andweekslaterwhenhevisitedSoutheastAsiancountries,heproposedjointlybuildingthe21st-CenturyMaritimeSilkRoad.CollectivelycalledtheBeltandRoadInitiative,theschemeaimstoincorporatethedevelopmentstrategiesofcountriesalongtheroutes,socomplementingoneanother鈥檚strengths,andpromotingcommondevelopment.
TheinitiativebringsnewopportunitiestobothChinaandtherestoftheworldbyhelpingmanyAsiancountriestoimprovetheirinadequateinfrastructureandsoenabletheirdeeperandmoreequitableparticipationintheglobalmarket.
TheinitiativepassesdownandenrichesthespiritoftheancientSilkRoad.Itpromotespolicycoordination,facilitiesconnectivity,unimpededtrade,financialintegration,andpeople-to-peoplebonds,emphasizingwin-wincooperation,inclusiveness,fairness,andbenefitsforall.
Overthepastthreeyears,theinitiative,whichembracesglobalization,hasseenremarkableprogressandachievementsfarbeyondpeople鈥檚expectations.Over100countriesandinternationalorganizationshaveparticipatedintheinitiative,amongwhich40havesignedcooperationagreementswithChina.RelevantresolutionsanddocumentsoftheUNGeneralAssembly,theUNSecurityCouncil,theUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific,theAsia-EuropeMeeting,andtheGreaterMekongSubregionEconomicCooperationProgramallincludethecontentoftheinitiative.Asoftoday,infrastructureconstructionprogramswithinvestmentsexceedingUS$10billionhavebeencarriedoutandcompleted.RailwayshavebeenbuiltconnectingAsiaandEurope,andcommunicationandexchangeshaveincreasedamongpeopleinthecountriesalongtheBeltandRoad.
Inthepresentclimateofrisingtradeprotectionismandanti-globalization,ChinahasputforwardtheBeltandRoadInitiativeasitscontributiontowardsimprovedglobalgovernance.Theprojectshouldbejointlybuilt,throughconsultation,tomeettheinterestsofallconcerned.ItsupportsinclusiveglobalizationandurgestheinternationalcommunitytoabandonobsoleteColdWarthinkingandzero-summentality.Throughenhancinginterconnectivity,itpromotesthebuildingofacommunityofsharedinterestsandcommongoals,injectingnewvigorandvitalityintoglobalization.
Therefore,China鈥檚proposalisinfactanewmodelforgrowth.Inthatsense,theBeltandRoadInitiativemarksanewstartforChina鈥檚relationswiththerestoftheworld,andforthecommondevelopmentofhumansociety.Itushersinaneweraoflastingpeace,win-wincooperation,sharing,andcommonprosperity.
ByconveningtheBRFatthiscriticalstageoftheBeltandRoadInitiative,theChinesegovernmentclearlywantstomakeitanopportunitytoreviewthepastandplanforthefuture.Itiswillingtoholdjointdiscussionswithrelevantcountriesonbuildingnewplatformsforcooperationandsharingtheirfruits.Itmoreoverseekssolutionstotheproblemsfacingtheworldandregionaleconomiesandtoinjectnewenergyintointerconnecteddevelopment.
Fromthe2014APECEconomicLeaders鈥橶eekinBeijing,tothe2016G20HangzhouSummit,tothisyear鈥檚BRF(despitetheirdifferentthemes)Chinahasadheredtotheconceptsofopenness,inclusiveness,andwin-wincooperation,aswellastoitscommitmenttosharethefruitsofdevelopmentwiththerestoftheworld.
TheBRFisavehicleforourjointefforts,inthespiritofunity,win-wincooperation,mutualbenefit,andcommondevelopmenttopromotetheBeltandRoadInitiative,buildsolidfoundationsforglobaleconomicgrowthanddeepenedregionalcooperation,establishafairandinclusivenewinternationalordertobenefitpeoplearoundtheworld,andcreateabetterfuture.