Beijing, 17 October 2023 (TDI): The 3rd Belt and Road Forum (BRF) for International Cooperation kicked off on October 17, in Beijing and will be dated till October 18, aiming at revitalizing and enhancing international cooperation and collective development.
The 3rd Belt and Road Forum is centered on the theme of “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity.”
This year’s forum also marks 10 years since Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled the multi-trillion-dollar transnational Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013.
The Forum is not only centered on commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative but also serves as a vital platform for all partners to plan high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
As per the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Hua Chunying, the President of China, Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the forum, deliver a keynote speech, hold a welcoming banquet and bilateral events for the guests attending the forum.
The Forum will be attended by Presidents, Vice Presidents, Prime Ministers, and other representatives of about 140 nations and 30 plus international organizations worldwide.
Besides that, more than 4,000 participants are expected to engage in different activities, at the Forum.
The most notable attendees of the Forum include Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, Egyptian Prime Minister, Mostafa Madbouly, Pakistani Prime Minister, Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, and leaders from Sri Lanka, the Republic of Congo, and Nigeria.
Apart from the opening ceremony of the 3rd Belt and Road Forum, three high-level forums will be held simultaneously for in-depth discussions on connectivity, green development, and the digital economy.
Furthermore, six thematic forums will be conducted in parallel under the topics of trade connectivity, people-to-people bonds, think tank exchanges, clean Silk Road, subnational cooperation, and maritime cooperation.
Also, a CEO Conference will be held during the 3rd Belt and Road Forum.
A Chair’s statement will be issued to achieve the consensus reached by participants and lay out the future direction and key areas of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
Moreover, a List of Multilateral Cooperation Deliverables and a List of Practical Projects will also be released to present the outcomes reached under the framework of the three high-level forums and six thematic forums.
The 3rd Belt and Road Forum is expected to produce substantial outcomes, both in the forms of cooperation documents, initiatives, and mechanisms, and in terms of projects, funds, and measures.
Also read: 3rd Belt & Road Forum highlights global impact
In this regard, the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Ma Zhaoxu in an interview stated that as the result of the 3rd BRF, the total number of achievements will be likely to exceed those of the previous two Belt and Road Forums.
Since June 2023, China has signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with over 150 countries and 30-plus international organizations across five continents, yielding several signature projects and small-scale yet impactful projects.
