Beijing (TDI): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday emphasized the importance of advancing high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), stressing the need to strengthen strategic confidence and maintain focus on the initiative’s future.
Xi made these remarks during the fourth symposium on Belt and Road construction work.
He urged participants to act with a sense of responsibility and courage to shape a brighter future for the initiative, according to Xinhua.
Since its inception in 2013, the BRI has made significant strides, enhancing China’s ties with participating countries and contributing to their economic and social development, Xi said.
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However, he noted that the world has entered a new phase of turbulence and change, urging efforts to manage risks and address the impact of geopolitical conflicts while advancing high-quality cooperation.
Xi highlighted the need to balance the fulfillment of participating countries’ needs with safeguarding China’s interests, calling for measures to protect China’s overseas ventures.
Cooperation Under BRI
To date, China has signed cooperation documents with over 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations under the BRI.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, Chinese companies have established 17,000 overseas enterprises in BRI countries, with direct investments exceeding $330 billion.
The initiative has also helped create 530,000 local jobs in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones.
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During the symposium, Xi emphasized that Belt and Road cooperation has entered a new phase of high-quality development.
He called for adherence to the principles of joint planning, building, and benefiting, promoting open, green, and clean cooperation.
The goal, he said, is to pursue sustainable, people-centered cooperation that enhances connectivity and drives win-win development.
Xi also stressed the importance of improving the planning, coordination, and management mechanisms to ensure the successful implementation of high-quality projects.
He urged all parties to turn ambitious blueprints into reality and persist in overcoming challenges to make significant contributions to global development.
Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Ding Xuexiang, Chinese Vice Premier and symposium chair, also attended the event.
Ding emphasized Xi’s strategic guidance and urged local authorities and organizations to foster influential projects to generate exemplary achievements in the coming decade.
