This photo taken on Oct. 14, 2023 shows flower arrangements for the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) near the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will be held in Beijing from Oct. 17 to 18 as 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In the fall of 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled his proposal to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, called the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past decade, it has become a popular global platform for public welfare and international cooperation. Over the years Xi Jinping articulated the essence and characteristics of the initiative through a number of captivating phrases. These phrases serve as windows into the deep insights that underlie this transformational effort.
LARGE FAMILY, NOT AN EXCLUSIVE BLOCK
Xi Jinping made it clear at the first BRF in 2017 that the BRI was not driven by outdated geopolitical maneuvering. Instead, he stressed, the initiative aims to create a new model of win-win cooperation and a "big family of harmonious coexistence" rather than creating a "small group detrimental to stability." Over the past decade, the BRI's circle of friends has steadily expanded to include countries in different regions, at different stages of development, and with different cultures, ideologies and social systems. By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organisations on five continents.
DEVELOPMENT AS THE MAIN KEY
"Development is the main key to solve all problems," Xi Jinping said at the opening ceremony of the BRF in 2017, stressing the need to focus on the core issue of development, unlock the growth potential of different countries, achieve economic integration and connectivity, and bring benefits to all in promoting the BRI. Over the past decade, the Belt and Road Cooperation has kick-started up to US$1 trillion of investment globally and created more than 3,000 projects and 420,000 jobs for participating countries, facilitating the implementation of a number of national landmarks, livelihood projects and cooperation milestones. As its reach has expanded, BRI has become the world's largest international cooperation platform with the broadest coverage.
CONNECTIONS LIKE ARTERIES AND VEINS
Xi Jinping emphasised the compatible and mutually reinforcing nature of the BRI and the respective connectivity efforts, saying: "If the Belt and Road are likened to the two wings of a rising Asia, then connectivity is like their arteries and veins." To promote greater connectivity through BRI cooperation, China has continued to strengthen "hard connectivity" in infrastructure, "soft connectivity" through harmonized rules and standards, and people-to-people ties.
THE EXPANDING PIE OF COMMON INTERESTS
At the second BRF in 2019, Xi called for continued efforts to strengthen complementarity and synergies between Belt and Road cooperation and development strategies and agenda at the national, regional and international levels. "Through bilateral, tripartite and multilateral cooperation, we need to encourage the full participation of more countries and companies to expand the pie of common interests," He said.
WIDE STROKES VARNISHED, TIME TO ADJUST DETAILS
Xi Jinping described the BRI's progress as akin to the creation of an image "with meticulous care". He said: "The sketch has been drawn; now we have to fill in the fine details." With the aim of achieving high standards, sustainability and better lives, BRI is raising standards of cooperation, investment efficiency, quality of delivery and development resilience in the years ahead, delivering real and substantial results for all stakeholders.
THE PATH TO HAPPINESS
Xi Jinping stressed that the ultimate goal of the BRI is to explore new ways for countries near and far to achieve common development. He envisioned the initiative as "the path to happiness", that will benefit the whole world. Through foreign aid, China actively supports small but effective projects that benefit people's lives. From Asia to Africa, Latin America to the South Pacific, building roads, railways, schools, hospitals and agricultural facilities
(en.people.cn/Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun/USA)
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