In a pivotal speech on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of advancing high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), setting the stage for the initiative’s next decade. Addressing the fourth symposium on Belt and Road construction work, Xi outlined a vision for the future that calls for strategic confidence, focus, and a courageous sense of responsibility to foster a brighter future for global collaboration.
“It is imperative to strengthen strategic confidence, maintain strategic focus, and act courageously with a sense of responsibility,” Xi stated, highlighting the need to create a future where the BRI can continue to thrive despite global turbulence.
Since its inception in 2013, the BRI has made significant strides, enhancing China’s relationships with over 150 countries and over 30 international organizations. The initiative has not only promoted economic and social development in participating countries but also led to the establishment of 17,000 overseas enterprises by Chinese companies, with direct investment stock exceeding $330 billion. These efforts have resulted in the creation of 530,000 local jobs in various countries.
Xi noted the increased challenges in recent years due to global turbulence and change, urging effective management of risks and geopolitical conflicts. “We must appropriately manage all types of risks and challenges and effectively address the impact of geopolitical conflicts while advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation,” he said.
The Chinese President also stressed the importance of balancing the sense of fulfillment among participating countries with benefits for China, calling for concrete measures to safeguard China’s overseas interests. “It is necessary to properly handle the relationship between strengthening participating countries’ sense of fulfillment and ensuring the benefits for China,” Xi emphasized.
The symposium, which Xi has attended in its previous editions in 2016, 2018, and 2021, marks the BRI’s transition into a new period of high-quality development. He outlined key principles for this new era, including adhering to “planning together, building together, and benefiting together,” as well as embracing open, green, and clean cooperation. The goal is high-standard, people-centered, and sustainable development.
“Focusing on enhancing connectivity, efforts should be made to continuously create new space for win-win development at a higher level and with greater resilience and sustainability,” Xi asserted. He also underscored the need to strengthen mechanisms for high-quality BRI cooperation, improving planning, coordination, and management to ensure the successful realization of the initiative’s objectives.
Xi called for perseverance and courage to overcome all kinds of risks and challenges, urging unwavering advancement of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. “We must turn blueprints into reality and make greater contributions to the development of a human community with a shared future,” he concluded.
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Xi Jinping stresses advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation
cgtn.com
