Editor’s note:
China issues its first book of data on the “Belt and Road” Initiative – “Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Report 2016” in Beijing on October 28. The book is supervised by the General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative, released by the State Information Center (SIC) and published by the Commercial Press.
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[11:01] That’s it for the live blog. Thanks for following along with us.
[11:00] Moderator:
Thank you, Prof. Zhai Kun. After hearing the comment from Dr. Liu and Prof. Zhai, we hope this report will develop towards a better future. Now let’s start the last part of today’s event, launching the book. Let’s welcome Mr. Tian Jinchen and Mr. Du Ping to come to the stage to unveil the book. Let’s also welcome Mr. Zhou Hongbo, Mr. Du Yong, and Ms. Li Na to witness the moment.
This is the end of today’s event. Thank you all once again for coming.
[10:52] Zhai Kun:
I am honored to comment on the book. I’d like to look into the book from an academic perspective. First, the book boosts the development of the overall evaluation system of the “Belt and Road” Initiative in the following aspects. a) Authoritative. The book is compiled under the guidance of the General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Buildingof the Belt and Road Initiative. b) Innovative. We’ve never had such a system before and got a preliminary evaluation system now as presented in the book. c) Long lasting. The book may be published every year. d) Sharing. e) Constructive. The evaluation is made for the reference of governments and enterprises, who will have a basis in making decisions with the big data.
As for my second comment. We hope the book will have positive reviews. We should select more strategic data. Just now, Dr. Liu also said that new data sources should be explored and we enjoy academic support. Since we have the support from the CAS and Peking University, we will have a better future. Thank you.
[10:50] Moderator:
Thank you, Director Liu Weidong, for your praise on the report and suggestions for us. Now, let’s give floor to Professor Zhai Kun from the School of International Studies of Peking University.
[10:39] Liu Weidong:
Honorable leaders, guests and friends from the media,
Being a scholar focusing on Belt and Road research for three years, I am honored to attend the event today. I believe that the release of the report is a landmark moment for Belt and Roa” construction and its research.
With authority and global vision, the report combines traditional data collection with modern big data in a perfect way and has the advantage of open interactions. It not only analyzes the present situation but also shows future trends through indexes. I’m fond of the analyses of specific issues behind the report, which are profound and valuable, and serve as a supplement for the general judgment. Now I have some suggestions.
First, our current assessment mainly focuses on the connectivity between China and other countries. In fact, our vision towards the Euro-Asia Continent can be broadened, for instance, we can do research on the connectivity between China and the whole Africa. Secondly, apart from the big data of IZP, I recommend to use remote sensing data in the future. Thirdly, I think the report can include transport part in the future and transport connectivity inside a country can also be taken as an assessment index. To conclude, I think the report is very valuable and offers a good basis for scholars and decision makers.
[10:37] Moderator:
Thank you, Ms. Li Na. I noticed that in Ms. Li’s remark, she gave a more detailed plan of what Mr. Du Yong’s visions of the future. I also hope that in the future, we could turn the blueprint into reality with our cooperation with the government of Karamay Municipal government, IZP Group, and the Commercial Press. Here I hope you all will support our work and publicize what we do.
Today’s activity consists of three parts.
Now the first part is over. In the second part, we will invite two experts to comment and interpret our report. First, let’s give the floor to Liu Weidong, director, research fellow and Ph.D. tutor of the Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Dr. Liu has been dedicated to the research on the Belt and Road in recent years. He presided over dozens of researches on the strategic planning and implementation plans on the Belt and Road, including that on building the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor. On August 17 this year, at the working conference on the construction of the Belt and Road, which President Xi presided over, Dr. Liu was the only representative to deliver a speech. Now, let’s welcome Dr. Liu.
[10:33] Li Na:
We are now cooperating with other agencies and enterprises in the industry to research on consultation service products on legal-person credit assessment analysis, enterprises’ overseas reputation rating, investment environment risk analysis in different countries, national, provincial and municipal governments’ involvement assessment, and Chinese products’ overseas sales analysis.
The big-data service website launched on Feb. 26 provides one-stop services on data, information, laws, finance and language, etc. It is a comprehensive service system covering many kinds of industries and fields.
The official website of the “Belt and Road” Initiative we are beijing built is expected to be launched at the end of this year. It has six languages: Chinese, English, Russian, French, Arabian and Spanish, and includes a new-media platform, to foster communication and mutual understanding with countries and regions along the Belt and Road.
In the future, the big data company, under the principle of sharing and joint construction, will organize a global big-data alliance through making the standards of big-data collection, to help relevant countries invest at home and abroad.
We will build regional big-data centers in different countries, and extend the big data network, along with the extension of the Belt and Road, from East Asia to Central Asia, West Asia, Persian Gulf and Europe, forming the big-data alliance across the world.
We will also pay attention to professional data of different industries, and let all alliance members to use the platform to realize global big data sharing, forming data ecological circle featuring inter-connectivity and openness.
Big data is IZP’s core business. We will use our exclusive regional settlement technology to deploy the next generation’s financial settlement network around the world, to provide global trade enterprises and individuals with point-to-pint, 7×24 hours, multi-currency, and real-time capital clearing and settlement.
We will try our best to facilitate trade in the countries along the Belt and Road, including establishment of global harbor alliance and construction of the Silk Road Post, which will have 29 harbors and 55 ports around the world.
Three years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the “Belt and Road” initiative for the first time, and the proposal was warmly welcomed by the international community. Under the guidance of the principles of negotiation, sharing, and joint construction, and Silk Road Spirits, which include peace, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual beneficial and win-win cooperation, and with the purpose of building community sharing the same fate and interests, the Belt and Road has been transformed from an initiative inIto concrete actions and realities, showing robust vitality and strong attraction, achieving remarkable progress and fruits beyond expectations.
IZP is realizing its dream, and responding to the national with new technologies. In the process of implementing the Belt and Road strategy, we look forward to linking up infomration, trade and capital, so as to let information become blood, let big data become engine, and let convenient payment become wings to help Chinese enterprises expand around the world, and help relevant countries and regions pursue prosperity.
May this event a success.
Thank you all.
[10:29] Li Na:
Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests and journalists:
Good morning.
Congratulations on the State Information Center’s publishing of its new book Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Report 2016. As an author and main data supplier of the book, IZP Group appreciates your supports for the project.
As a leading big-data, cross-border trade and financial group, we are committed to facilitating trade through big-data mining. We have PCT patents, core technology and rich experience in bigdata and distributed-data mining.
We have provided China’s Central Television with big-data services in its broadcasting of China’s annual Two Sessions of its top legislators and political advisory body for two years consecutively. We have deployed big-data platforms in more than 90countries and regions around the world and have provided serves to many global corporations.
We started cooperating with the State Information Center (SIC) and Karamay Municipal government in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to set up the Belt and Road Big Data Center. Together with the SIC, we founded a company in charge of the Belt and Road operation, to manage a big data base, a service website and a news portal website related to the Belt and Road initiative. The purpose is to provide the countries and regions along the Belt and Road with comprehensive big data services, and establish important information infrastructure for the Belt and Road Initiative.
The comprehensive data base’s first-phase project has been finished, which consists 12 content modules — comprehensive information, economy and industry, policies and rules, planning and plan, projects, etc. — one general base plus 14 sub-bases, totaling more than 500 data indexes.
We have formed normalized monitoring analysis report submission mechanism, and established a data and big-data analysis service system, developed big-data analysis report products on project, enterprises, industries, national conditions, network public opinion situation, etc.
[10:28] Moderator:
Thank you, Mr. Du Yong. Mr. Du reiterated the feature of this report, that is, the big data. We got the support from IZP Group in data section and we included more than 300 billion pieces of data. Now we are honored to invite and welcome Ms. Li Na, vice president of IZP Group, to give us a speech.
[10:26] Du Yong:
The “Belt and Road” Initiative big data base has been basically established after a year’s efforts. A supporting platform for national decision-making has emerged. A universal service platform, bigdataobor.com was officially launched on February 26, 2016, which is a milestone event. It means the Big Data Center for the “Belt and Road” Initiative has started to provide comprehensive information services.
Today, our big data report on the “Belt and Road” Initiative represents another milestone. The data will be applied to various areas including finance, trade, health, education and culture. We are working hard to collect information about the “Belt and Road” Initiative to build a comprehensive data base. It will be a systematic, strategic and overall platform for international exchange and cooperation. Wish the success of the book launching.
[10:24] Du Yong:
Honorable leaders, guests and friends from the media, Good morning. I appreciate that you can take time to be with us today. On behalf of the municipal Party committee and the government of Karamay, I extend my warm welcome and sincere thanks to all of you.
Since the “Belt and Road” Initiative was put forward, governments at all levels, including local governments, enterprises and public institutions, many authoritative research institutions, media, experts and scholars from both home and abroad have done a lot of analyses, research, surveys and reports on it. The great initiative has drawn world-wide attention and become a hot subject for research. Over the past three years, with the development of infrastructure construction, a great amount of data have formed in the economic and diplomatic activities, so how to deal with and use the big data has become an important subject for China’s high-level decision makers.
As a major city in core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt and a new industrial city of key construction in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Karamay has been going through rapid development and solid construction in the past 60 years and accumulated a solid industrial base. The central government has proposed the “Belt and Road” Initiative and proposed to create a core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt in Xinjiang, which also created a rare external opportunity for Karamay to be built into a world-level oil city. With its own advantages, Karamay is promoting the construction of oil center and information center of the Silk Road Economic Belt. In December 2015, Karamay Municipal People’s Government, joined by the State Information Center and IZP Group, initiated and established the Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Center of the State Information Center. It aims to build a top-level global collection system of data resources by integrating resources and giving full play to their respective advantages. It will build a global big data union and become a new platform for international exchanges.
[10:23] Moderator:
Thank you very much, Mr. Zhou Hongbo. The Karamay Municipal People’s Government is another important contributor to the report. I’d like to invite Mr. Du Yong, member of the Municipal Standing Committee of People’s Government of Karamay, to deliver his speech.
[10:21] Zhou Hongbo:
In recent years, we have published the annual report on the “Belt and Road” Initiative together with the “Belt and Road” 100 Forum and plans to set up an academy on the Initiative. We have also published “The World Is Connected: Logic of the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative,” latest work by Professor Wang Yiwei. We are going to publish another book, “The Manual to Languages and National Conditions of Countries along the ‘Belt and Road.’ We are very glad to continue cooperation with the State Information Center to brand the big data report and look forward to more books on the Initiative. Thank you.
[10:17] Zhou Hongbo:
The book answers questions in a satisfactory way about cooperation between China and other countries and pays close attention to issues on Internet. So, it is a comprehensive report and a think tank of big data which offers references for countries and regions along the Belt and Road, enterprises, investors and research institutes.
We received instruction and support from the National Development and Reform Commission and General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative. The book was complied by the national big data center of Belt and Road Initiative and State Information Center, and received strong support from the big data center, IZP Group and the Karamay Municipal People’s Government. We are particularly grateful to the State Information Center for giving us the opportunity to publish the book.
In the next year, the Commercial Press will celebrate its 120th founding anniversary. We will continue to drive the social progress with ideas. In our opinion, the “Belt and Road” Initiative has become one of biggest theme in the publishing circle, an important part of the civilized ideas and knowledge in contemporary China and will become an important part in the world-famous system of knowledge.
[10:15] Moderator:
Thank Mr. Du so much for his detailed explanation for the big data report and State Information Center offering service for the National Development and Reform Commission and General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative. Thanks. The publishing of the report receives support from the Commercial Press. I now invite Editor-in-Chief of the Commercial Press, Zhou Hongbo, to address the meeting.
[10:12] Du Ping:
First, solidifying the basis, which involves information collecting, modeling and product development, bases on big data. The products developed will be served as instruments, used as modules and could be customized. Then they can be applied to different sectors, serving as the basis for policymaking of the government.
We have a few tasks. One is our website, which is being constructed. The website Yidaiyilu.gov.cn will better showcase the Belt and Road Office, which is our superordinate agency. We will have more interactions with different sectors through this website. Another is the second phase of the Belt and Road comprehensive database. As I mentioned just now, the first phase has been launched. In this phase, the main task is to complete it with more data items, and there will be also some new types of information tailored to some companies. The database will probably take a distributed form. We will mull building the 1+N, which means that we will incorporate a number of cooperators on the platform, and see how this can connect with our database. Then we will file some reports.
Second, expanding cooperation. As for the book itself, this is the first installment. We will unveil a new edition each year, trying to shape it as a brand in a few years’ time, so that people will think of us and the Commercial Press whenever they want to review material on big data analysis. Thank you all.
[10:08] Du Ping:
From the point of evaluation, accommodation of funds depends on projects. For example, the Silk Road Fund and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) are different in financing. As for the infrastructure connection, China’s neighboring countries have made more efforts in this respect. The top five countries that have best connection of infrastructure are surrounding China. With regard to the participation of provinces, some local governments may have different considerations. We provide a frame of reference by which you can make improvements if necessary. The last but not least, we would like to look into the future on the basis of the book.
[10:05] Du Ping:
Here I won’t bother you with the details of our selection scope.
What the “multi-dimensional and all-round” index means is to integrate with the help of the big data technology the international and domestic factors, and the statistic and un-statistic data. We add two aspects to it, namely, international and regional evaluation, and opinions of netizens including their expectations, wishes and criticism.
Our book looks into the top five countries based on their scores. There are four categories regarding the extent of cooperation between nations: extensive cooperation, increasingly growing cooperation, cooperation with incremental advances, and cooperation that needs to be strengthened. I believe the fourth category reflects the mood of netizens who are willing to see a strengthened relationship between two nations.
[10:01] Du Ping:
Overall, I am proud to share with you the big data. Big data draws a line between us and other professional organizations. Many experts with personal brands are doing extensive research on the “Belt and Road” Initiative and they are achieving good results. We hope to act as a supplement to them as big data is our biggest advantage.
I want to say two things:
First, the comprehensive evaluation system. We have mentioned two aspects: the first one is the index of cooperation between nations; the second is the index of participation by provinces, cities and regions.
Referring to the level of cooperation between China and other countries, we have respective primary indexes and secondary indexes. Most text data have no quantitative concept. A large number of unstructured things matched to form the concept of quantity. Through quantitative processing, we established assessment model. Another index system will be used in assessment of the participation of provinces, cities and districts such as combined influence, trade cooperation, culture exchange, policy environment and supporting infrastructure.
We have several index systems, ranging from the first, the second and the third level. We will finally have a total index. From different points of views, different places will have different evaluation. This is our first edition and we will listen to the voice from each place with an open mind. We will probably get the international evaluation as our information is provided in four languages in our data base. We seek to develop more than ten languages in the data base in the future. Up to now, we are focusing on the bilingual information and our index system will be continuously amended, improved and enriched. In two to three years, when each place joins in the “Belt and Road” construction, we will evaluate its words and actions by a neutral and objective index system. It will also become a reference for leadership.
[09:57] Du Ping:
Particular mention should be given to the amount of data we have used, 350 billion pieces, and I told Luo Feng, president of IZP Group, that we found the right cooperator. IZP has great competitiveness in data collection as quantification, timeliness, and cross-region and cross-country coverage are all very important during the process. Data count a lot in our era as they are the basis for policy making. Mr. Tian just gave credit to our book on behalf of the General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative and also put forward some suggestions, and we’ll make further efforts. The Commercial Press, which has a long history and high public recognition, serves as our publisher this time. The book is divided into two main parts: the trial comprehensive appraisal report and the part of key issues. Our report has abridged the sensitive and secretive related issues.
The book covers many sectors of people’s concern with three characteristics. First, big data is in full use. We have applied big data technology to put together six types of data sources, including structured, unstructured, semi-structured, conventional statistical and unconventional statistical ones. Second, a comprehensive assessment viewpoint from the domestic and abroad is adopted, involving more than 60 countries along the Belt and Road. Third, it features a wide coverage, including different sections, regions and countries.
[09:53] Du Ping:
The overall deployment has something to do with the book we launch today. The book just records one phase of the development and records it from one perspective. I am saying that we should do more. Then we have the Belt and Road comprehensive database. It is the first-phase of development. In the database we have an isolated space for government information, and the overall structure is larger and is in the shape of a hexagon to ensure stability. But there will be more since our work covers many aspects.
Our data volume is huge. From the Internet perspective, the volume of our data update reaches 20PB and 150TP. The volume is extremely big. It will be difficult for us to expand the storage by merely increasing servers, thousands and tens of thousands servers, if we don’t use cloud. This is the condition for the first phase of our database.
Relying on the database is a basis but more importantly, we should have products on this basis. It is like that a theater may be important, but what operas will be performed on the stage is more important. We will provide network-based services, including value-added services to our cooperators through web links.
From our perspective, we provide products. Products on one hand are mature ones, ready to be put into the market. The book mentioned many commercialized products, whose basic algorithms and basic standards are verifiable. Products on the other hand are the development just completed and yet to be rolled out. For example, the book put forward two indices: the index on national cooperation and the index on provincial and municipal participation. We have finished related research and development of them. The reason why we aren’t in a hurry to put them into the market is that we hope the two indices will return to simplicity in a couple of years. In other words, it will mature up by then. It is because an index is like a research achievement, which should be duplicated and verifiable.
[09:50] Du Ping:
The data base has integrated more resources, including information from the government and Internet, as well as the customized information from many cooperative enterprises. Based on this more comprehensive data base, we would like to develop in two aspects. On one hand, based on China’s data base or platform, we hope to have more cooperative partners who would develop many sub-platforms from perspectives of industry demand and industry big data applications. Finance, trade, medical treatment, education, culture, and even corresponding third-party services, including translation, law and consultation, are all included.
As China has a vast territory, all the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions can join in the construction of Belt and Road from different angles, forming several domestic branch centers, like what Karamay is doing now in Xinjiang. At the same time, we will cooperate with countries and regions along the Belt and Road to form more branch centers and realize openness, sharing and cooperation. On the basis of the philosophy, we will form a general two-wing layout like this in the future.
[09:49] Du Ping:
Therefore, we signed the above-mentioned strategic agreement. There is a bigger picture in our mind. We are in the DT time where computing and clouding technologies are closed integrated. The idea of clouding aims to build a core data base to provide services for the government. As part of the government data is restored in this data base, there must be security guarantee. To make full use of this data base, the General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative is collecting and upgrading data. We are building an official website for the “Belt and Road” Initiative. It will be launched in the near future.
[09:46] Du Ping:
We have done a lot of work for that. We strengthened cooperation with IZP Group to form the ‘powerful alliance.’ In order to find a space for the big data storage, calculation and Belt and Road information processing, we cooperated with the Karamay Municipal People’s Government and jointly set up the big data center. We were asked to provide for the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce, information and special report, which we collected to offer basis for the government’s decisions on one hand, and achievement through the information processing will be made available to the public on the other hand.
[09:45] Du Ping:
As for the book’s introduction, my colleagues summarized them in five aspects and I would like to choose some of them to brief you. First is the background of our work. The Belt and Road covered dozens of countries that have different cultures, religions, political and economic systems, and ethnic groups. Regional difference is huge among them. Now that China proposed the Initiative that we want to develop jointly with countries along the Belt and Road and share the achievements from the development. So, how do we do it? I think one precondition is that we know ourselves, which in modern words means allowing information to flow extensively, conveniently, timely and objectively, and further, to facilitate interaction based on communication. How do we ensure the exchange and sharing is the first issue.
[09:44] Du Ping:
Dear guests and friends from the press. I wish very much that you, friends from the press, to come up with intensive coverage of today’s book launch, along with your comments, including your criticism. This is one of the main goals of our briefing today.
First of all, prior to my briefing, I would like to express my appreciations to the moderator Yu Shiyang. He is the vice director of the Information-application Research Department. He is in charge of the NDRC Internet Big Data Analysis and Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Center of the State Information Center. Just now he already gave us a comprehensive introduction and I agree with what he said. But still I want to reiterate that I sincerely thank them.
[09:43] Moderator:
We are very grateful for Mr. Tian’s approval of our work and his expectation for our future. Now let’s give the floor to Mr. Du Ping, executive deputy director of the State Information Center and Party secretary of the State Information Center. He will give an introduction to the book.
[09:41] Tian Jinchen:
It is our sincere wish that the center and its staff can obtain more achievements, have bigger influence and make bigger contributions in reflecting, analyzing, researching and predicting the implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative with big data technologies.
Thank you all.
[09:38] Tian Jinchen:
Following the deployment and requirements of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the State Information Center takes advantage of its strengths in information collection and big data application to innovate big data analyses related to the “Belt and Road” Initiative’s implementation. With the support from the NDRC and the General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative, the center has published a series of big data analysis reports that serve as reference for decision-making.
Meanwhile, the center uses big-data technologies to create a set of comprehensive evaluation method system and reports on the implementation of the “Belt and Road” Initiative. On that base, the center published the book, which is rich in content, detailed in data and unique in analysis. I believe the book provides the society with a new angle and a new view on the “Belt and Road” Initiative.
[09:37] Tian Jinchen:
This year is the third anniversary of the Initiative. So far, more than 100 countries and international organizations have expressed their supports and willingness to participate into the project. And China has signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries, and started industrial cooperation with more than 20 countries. The construction of Belt and Road projects is faster and more fruitful than expected, because these projects show the spirits of peace, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. These are the essence of the Silk Road Spirits. China’s proposals are in line with the countries’ interests.
But it is more than business. Cultural communication is an important part of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, because these countries are different from each other in economic development level, political system, resources, infrastructure, investment environment and customs.
An important basic work is to collect relevant information and data, and analyze them, so as to eliminate the information asymmetry in the project.
[09:36] Tian Jinchen:
Ladies and gentlemen:
I am glad that you take part in the launch of the new book Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Report 2016.
Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the “Belt and Road” Initiative in 2013. This is an important open-up decision of the Party in the new era that balances both domestic and oversea situations, as well as a top-level design of China’s new open-up economic system. China takes the initiative to participate into and improve the global governance through executing the plan, which is also an important measure to realize the Chinese Dream.
The Chinese Dream and World Dream are an integral one. The construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road bridges the two dreams together, meets the needs of relevant countries and regions’ appeals for development and peace, and is winning supports from more and more countries and international organizations.
[09:35] Moderator:
I also want to thank journalists from CCTV, People’s Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China National Radio, Global Times and others. Thank you for your hard work.
Now, first, let’s give the floor to Mr. Tian Jinchen, Director-General of the Department of Western Region Development of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), to deliver his speech.
[09:34] Moderator:
Now let me introduce the leaders and guests here today: Tian Jinchen, director-general of the Department of Western Region Development of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Du Ping, executive vice director of the State Information Center and Party secretary of the State Information Center Committee, Du Yong, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Karamay Committee, Zhou Hongbo, editor-in-chief of the Commercial Press, and Li Na, vice president of IZP Group.
[09:32] Moderator:
We had drafted for related authorities a series of “Belt and Road” Initiative big data reports in big data analytical approach based on the “Belt and Road” Initiative database. The report released today is supposed to meet the needs of various countries. The report is compiled on the guidance by the General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative and with the support from the Commercial Press, IZP Group and Karamay Municipal People’s Government. The State Information Center has organized the compilation and publishing of part of the report.
[09:30] Moderator:
Distinguished leaders, ladies and gentlemen, friends from the press, good morning! Welcome to attend the press conference on the book launching of the “Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Report 2016.” Since Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the “Belt and Road” Initiative, the State Information Center has been actively cooperating with this major strategy, and supporting the work of the General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Road and Belt Initiative established under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), while implementing the country’s big data strategy in that we set up the Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Center last year.
[09:26] Book launching ceremony info
Instructor: General Office of the Leading Group for Advancing the Building of the Belt and Road Initiative
Sponsor: State Information Center
Organizers: Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Center, State Information Center,
the Commercial Press
Co-organizers: IZP Group
Karamay Municipal People’s Government
Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Technology Co., Ltd
Moderator: Yu Shiyang, vice director of the Information-application Research Department, and executive vice director of the Belt and Road Initiative Big Data Center, the State Information Center
[09:15] 
China Wiki: The Belt and Road Initiative (一带一路) is used to refer to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.
The Silk Road Economic Belt concept was introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Kazakhstan in September 2013. It is slated to boost cooperation along the ancient Silk Road trade route that stretches northwest from China’s coastal area through Central Asia, the Middle East and on to Europe.
The 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road concept first emerged during President Xi’s trip to Southeast Asia in October 2013 when he called for increased maritime cooperation between China and ASEAN member countries during a speech to the Indonesian parliament.