The Belt and Road Forum for Int’l Cooperation

Editor’s note:

China.org.cn presents you with live coverage of the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) on May 14, 2017. More than 1,500 leaders and experts are expected to participate in the forum.

Please stay tuned for our live updates on this event.

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[13:13] State Councilor Yang Jing: Heads of 14 countries and representatives of international organizations have delivered speeches, exchanged ideas and reached a consensus on the Belt and Road cooperation. Two hundred ministers, representatives from international organizations, and well-known figures from leading think tanks will be invited to the meetings in the afternoon. Here concludes the High-level Plenary Meeting of the Belt and Road Forum.

[13:13] Klaus Schwab: If you seek prosperity, build connectivity.

[13:11] Klaus Schwab: The initiative’s spirit can be a model for other regions.

[13:05] Klaus Schwab: The initiative is based on a stakeholder approach. The initiative seeks to leverage market forces. The initiative allows for fast technological changes. The initiative is a pioneer of the open platform concept.

[13:03] Klaus Schwab: Great progress has been made in realizing the initiative’s goals.

[13:02] Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab addresses the high-level meeting.

[13:02] Roberto Azevedo: We will continue to promote the development of the world.

[13:02] Roberto Azevedo: Global economic cooperation is more important than ever.

[13:00] Roberto Azevedo: Clearly, there are many challenges today in the world. We must work harder to narrow the gaps.

[12:59] Roberto Azevedo: The benefits of the Belt and Road Initiative will be felt by the people in most developing countries.

[12:58] Roberto Azevedo: The Belt and Road Initiative is hugely important.

[12:57] Roberto Azevedo: The Belt and Road Initiative is a historic endeavor.

[12:55] The World Trade Organization Director-General Roberto Azevedo addresses the high-level meeting.

[12:54] Christine Lagarde: Delivering the [initiative’s] promises is not an easy task. But doing so will bring enormous benefits, including high-quality infrastructure, better and greater inclusiveness and stronger economic cooperation.

[12:52] Christine Lagarde: The Belt and Road Initiative is about connecting cultures. It’s about connecting communities. It’s about enriching economies and improving the standard of living of people. It’s also about adding new economic flavors by creating new infrastructure projects, both hard and soft.

[12:50] IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde addresses the high-level meeting.

[12:48] Jim Yong Kim: The World Bank Group is studying the economics of the initiative.

[12:45] Jim Yong Kim: The World Bank Group is dedicated to the development of countries along the Belt and Road.

[12:44] Jim Yong Kim: The Belt and Road Initiative can provide greater connectivity for Asia and other regions.

[12:43] Jim Yong Kim: The World Bank Group supports the Belt and Road Initiative.

[12:42] World Bank President Jim Yong Kim addresses the high-level meeting.

[12:40] Peter Thomson: There can be no sustainable development without sustainable peace.

[12:38] Peter Thomson: The initiative will boost sustainable development goals.

[12:36] Peter Thomson: The initiative will bring enormous benefits to all involved.

[12:34] U.N. General Assembly President Peter Thomson addresses the high-level meeting.

[12:33] Brigitte Zypries: Connectivity requires a multilateral approach.

[12:32] Brigitte Zypries: Protectionism must be tackled.

[12:31] Brigitte Zypries: Asia and Europe have a common interest in globalization and free trade.

[12:30] Brigitte Zypries: The Belt and Road Initiative will bring the world’s two largest trading bodies closer.

[12:30] German Minister of Economic Affairs Brigitte Zypries addresses the high-level meeting.

[12:29] Jean-Pierre Raffarin: The notion of win-win results has to be at the core of this multilateral initiative.

[12:28] Jean-Pierre Raffarin: France is willing to work with China and other partners to bring about the success of the initiative.

[12:26] Jean-Pierre Raffarin: The Belt and Road Initiative will create new opportunities to remedy the lack of infrastructure in Asia.

[12:24] Jean-Pierre Raffarin: Globalization is a course that needs to be encouraged and sustained, while meditating its negative effects, in order to bring its benefits to all countries.

[12:22] Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin addresses the high-level meeting.

[12:19] Philip Hammond: China and the U.K. have a long trading history. Britain will be a natural partner of this initiative.

[12:17] Philip Hammond: Trade plays a vital role in China’s growth.

[12:15] Philip Hammond: This initiative is truly ground-breaking in its scale of ambition.

[12:13] Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond addresses the high-level meeting.

[12:11] Nawaz Sharif: The CPEC is a core project of the initiative.

[12:09] Nawaz Sharif: The initiative fosters inclusion and promotes cultural diversity.

[12:07] Nawaz Sharif: The initiative creates win-win partnerships for all.

[12:05] Nawaz Sharif: The initiative accelerates economic growth in developing countries.

[12:03] Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses the high-level meeting.

[12:00] Alexis Tsipras: Greece highly values the importance of the Belt and Road Initiative.

[11:58] Alexis Tsipras: The Belt and Road Initiative is important and is conducive to the connectivity of energy, trade, transport and the internet across the world.

[11:57] Alexis Tsipras: Greece is glad to participate in the Belt and Road cooperation, and is willing to promote cooperation between China and European countries.

[11:55] Alexis Tsipras: Presently, Greece is expanding its role in various sectors and fields.

[11:53] Alexis Tsipras: Coordination with other regional frameworks adds value to the Belt and Road Initiative.

[11:53] Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras addresses the high-level meeting.

[11:53] Hailemariam Desalegn: Through the Belt and Road Initiative, China advocates an open and win-win approach to economic cooperation. Ethiopia is willing to be part of this vision.

[11:48] Hailemariam Desalegn: Africa views China as an important friend in its fight against poverty and quest for prosperity.

[11:44] Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn addresses the high-level meeting.

[11:37] Milos Zeman: The Belt and Road Initiative is the most fascinating project in modern history.

[11:35] Czech President Milos Zeman addresses the high-level meeting.

[11:32] Bachelet: Chile reaffirms cooperation and friendship with China.

[11:30] Bachelet: Asia and Latin America are more connected.

[11:27] Yang Jing: Let’s invite Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to deliver a speech.

[11:04] The High-level Plenary Meeting of the Belt and Road Forum begins. Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli is addressing the meeting.

[10:40] Zhang Gaoli: That brings us to the end of the opening ceremony.

[10:33] Guterres: With the UN and the world’s support for the Belt and Road Initiative, developing countries will achieve faster growth and better meet the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

[10:31] Guterres: The world should draw experiences from the ancient Silk Road and take that spirit to new heights for the benefit of all.

[10:30] Guterres: The Belt and Road Initiative opens new corridors for goods and dialogues.

[10:28] Guterres: The ambitious cross-continental initiative is rooted in a shared vision for broad development.

[10:26] Zhang Gaoli: Now let’s welcome U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to deliver a speech.

[10:25] Zhang Gaoli: Thank Turkish President Erdogan for his speech. Turkey is a very important country along the Belt and Road.

[10:23] Erdogan: The success of the projects depends on trade facilitation and collaboration among countries. Extensive cooperation can enable objectives to be met.

[10:22] Erdogan: Located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Turkey is an important country along the Belt and Road trade routes, and the country is willing to work with China under the initiative.

[10:21] Erdogan: The Belt and Road Initiative connects Europe, Asia, Africa and even America.

[10:20] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivers a speech.

[10:10] Russian President Vladimir Putin: Russia salutes China’s large-scale initiative which can help the country seize opportunities in the region. Given the country’s geopolitical status, Russia is willing to cooperate with China in various sectors.

[10:04] Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the Belt and Road Forum.

[10:03] Zhang Gaoli: Let’s welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin to deliver a speech.

[10:02] Chinese President Xi Jinping concludes his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum at the China National Convention Center on May 14. His speech has received more than 40 rounds of applause.

[10:02] Chinese President Xi Jinping wishes for the success of the Belt and Road Forum at the end of his keynote speech.

[10:00] President Xi: All countries, from either Asia, Europe, Africa or the Americas, can be international cooperation partners of the Belt and Road Initiative. Pursuit of the initiative is based on extensive consultation and its benefits will be shared by all countries involved.

[09:59] President Xi: The Belt and Road Initiative focuses on the Asian, European and African countries, but is also open to all other countries.

[09:58] President Xi: China will also provide relevant international organizations with US$1 billion to implement cooperation projects that will benefit the countries along the Belt and Road.

[09:58] President Xi: China will launch 100 “happy home” projects, 100 poverty alleviation projects and 100 health care and rehabilitation projects in countries along the Belt and Road.

[09:57] President Xi: China will provide emergency food aid worth 2 billion yuan to developing countries along the Belt and Road and make an additional contribution of US$1 billion to the Assistance Fund for South-South Cooperation.

[09:57] President Xi: China will provide assistance worth 60 billion yuan (US$8.7 billion) in the coming three years to developing countries and international organizations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to improve people’s well-being.

[09:56] President Xi: China will also set up a big data service platform on ecological and environmental protection, and proposes the establishment of an international coalition for green development on the Belt and Road and will provide support to related countries in adapting to climate change.

[09:56] President Xi: In the next five years, China will offer young foreign scientists 2,500 short-term research visits to China, train 5,000 foreign scientists, engineers and managers, and set up 50 joint laboratories with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative to enhance cooperation on innovation.

[09:56] President Xi: We will launch the Belt and Road Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan, which consists of the Science and Technology People-to-People Exchange Initiative, the Joint Laboratory Initiative, the Science Park Cooperation Initiative and the Technology Transfer Initiative.

[09:55] President Xi: China will contribute an additional 100 billion yuan (about US$14.5 billion) to the Silk Road Fund.

[09:55]  Infographic: What benefits will the B&R Initiative bring?

[09:54] President Xi: We have no intention to form a small group detrimental to stability. What we hope to create is a big family of harmonious co-existence.

[09:54] President Xi: Pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative will not resort to outdated geopolitical maneuvering. What we hope to achieve is a new model of win-win cooperation.

[09:53] President Xi: We should strengthen international counter-corruption cooperation so that the Belt and Road will be a road with high ethical standards.

[09:51] President Xi: We should uphold the multilateral trading regime, advance free trade areas and promote liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.

[09:50] President Xi: China welcomes efforts made by other countries to grow open economies, participate in global governance and provide public goods. Together we can build a broad community of shared interests.

[09:50] President Xi: The Belt and Road Initiative should be an open one that will achieve both economic growth and balanced development. We should build an open platform of cooperation and uphold and grow an open world economy. We should jointly create an environment that will facilitate opening up and development, establish a fair, equitable and transparent system of international trade and investment rules and boost the orderly flow of production factors, efficient resources allocation and full market integration.

[09:49] President Xi: Infrastructure connectivity is the foundation for cooperation and development. We should make great efforts to promote land, maritime, air and cyberspace connectivity, focus on key passageways, cities and projects, and connect networks of highways, railways and sea ports.

[09:48] President Xi: We should establish a stable and sustainable financial safeguard system that keeps risks under control, create new models of investment and financing, encourage greater cooperation between government and private capital and build a diversified financing system and a multi-tiered capital market.

[09:47] President Xi: The Belt and Road should be built into a road of prosperity. In pursuing the Belt and Road Initiative, we should focus on the fundamental issue of development, release the growth potential of various countries and achieve economic integration and interconnected development and deliver benefits to all.

[09:45] President Xi: Some regions along the ancient Silk Road used to be a land of milk and honey. Yet today, these places are often associated with conflict, turbulence, crisis and challenge. Such state of affairs should not be allowed to continue. We should foster the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and create a security environment built and shared by all.

[09:44] President Xi: All countries should respect each other’s sovereignty, dignity and territorial integrity, each other’s development paths and social systems, and each other’s core interests and major concerns.

[09:43] President Xi: We should foster a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation; and we should forge partnerships of dialogue with no confrontation and of friendship rather than alliance.

[09:43] President Xi: The Belt and Road should be built into a road for peace. The ancient silk routes thrived in times of peace, but lost vigor in times of war. The pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative requires a peaceful and stable environment.

[09:37] President Xi: A multi-dimensional infrastructure network is taking shape, underpinned by economic corridors such as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor and the New Eurasian Continental Bridge. The network features land-sea-air transportation routes and information expressway and is supported by major railway, port and pipeline projects.

[09:37]

[09:36] President Xi: China has engaged in the construction of several major projects to improve infrastructure connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative.

[09:36] President Xi: China, in cooperation with relevant countries, has accelerated the building of Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, China-Laos railway, Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway and Hungary-Serbia railway, and upgraded Gwadar and Piraeus ports.

[09:34] President Xi: The pursuit of the Belt and Road Initiative is not meant to reinvent the wheel. Rather, it aims to complement the development strategies of countries involved by leveraging their comparative strengths.

[09:32] President Xi: History is our best teacher. The glory of the ancient silk routes shows that geographical distance is not insurmountable. If we take the first courageous step towards each other, we can embark on a path leading to friendship, shared development, peace, harmony and a better future.

[09:32] President Xi: The ancient cities of Alma-Ata, Samarkand and Chang’an, ports of Sur and Guangzhou, the Roman Empire, Parthia and Kushan Kingdoms, as well as Han and Tang Dynasties of China, became flags of prosperity boosted by the routes.

[09:31] President Xi: The spirit of mutual benefit. The ancient silk routes witnessed the bustling scenes of visits and trade over land and ships calling at ports. Along these major arteries of interaction, capital, technology and people flowed freely, and goods, resources and benefits were widely shared.

[09:29] President Xi: More importantly, the exchange of goods and know-how spurred new ideas. For example, Buddhism originated in India, blossomed in China and was enriched in Southeast Asia. Confucianism, which was born in China, gained appreciation by European thinkers such as Leibniz and Voltaire. Herein lies the appeal of mutual learning.

[09:28] President Xi: In addition, Buddhism, Islam and Arab astronomy, calendar and medicine found their way to China, while China’s four great inventions and silkworm breeding spread to other parts of the world.

[09:28] President Xi: The spirit of mutual learning. Not for trade only, the ancient silk routes also boosted flow of knowledge. Through these routes, Chinese silk, porcelain, lacquerwork and ironware were shipped to the West, while pepper, flax, spices, grape and pomegranate entered China.

[09:28] President Xi: This part of history shows that civilization thrives with openness and nations prosper through exchange.

[09:27] President Xi: They enabled people of various civilizations, religions and races to interact with and embrace each other with open mind and foster a spirit of mutual respect.

[09:26] President Xi: The spirit of openness and inclusiveness. The ancient silk routes, spanning the valleys of the Nile, the Tigris and Euphrates, the Indus and Ganges, and the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, are also regarded as an emblem of openness and inclusiveness. The routes connected the birthplaces of the Egyptian, Babylonian, Indian and Chinese civilizations as well as the lands of Buddhism, Christianity and Islam and homes of people of different nationalities and races.

[09:25] President Xi: These pioneers won their place in history not as conquerors with warships, guns or swords. Rather, they are remembered as friendly emissaries leading camel caravans and sailing treasure-loaded ships. Generation after generation, the silk routes travelers have built a bridge for peace and East-West cooperation.

[09:25] President Xi: In the early 15th century, Zheng He, a famous Chinese navigator in the Ming Dynasty, made seven voyages to the Western Seas. That is a feat still remembered today.

[09:24] President Xi: Centuries later, in the years of Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties, such silk routes, both over land and at sea, boomed. Great adventurers, including Du Huan of China, Marco Polo of Italy and Ibn Batutah of Morocco, left their footprints along these ancient routes.

[09:24] President Xi: The spirit of peace and cooperation. In China’s Han Dynasty around 140 B.C., Zhang, a royal emissary, left Chang’an [Xi’an nowadays] and traveled westward on a mission of peace, opening an overland route linking the East and the West.

[09:24] President Xi: Spanning thousands of miles and years, the ancient silk routes embody the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit. The Silk Road spirit has become a great heritage of human civilization.

[09:19]

[09:18] Chinese President Xi Jinping begins to deliver a keynote speech. 

[09:16] Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli hosts the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum.

[09:15] The opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) kicks off at the China National Convention Center in Beijing on Sunday morning.

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[May 14, 08:32]

[15:20] In Pictures: Breathtaking scenery of Yanqi Lake in Beijing

[15:00] Sabena Siddiqui, a foreign affairs journalist and lawyer based in Pakistan, told China.org.cn:

Undoubtedly, the Belt and Road Forum is a significant event from an economic, political and geopolitical perspective. It also marks China’s emergence as a global leader with its own large initiatives.

[14:59] BRF agenda

[14:50] SCIO briefing on trade and economic cooperation under B&R Initiative

[14:49] So-Xixi Jacky@weibo.com:
With the Chinese roses in full bloom, Beijing in May is extraordinarily beautiful. As the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is approaching, the weather in the past few days has been awesome, and I hope it can be continued and sustained.

[14:48] So-Jiangxijie Community @weibo.com:
Prior to the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled to open on May 14, the Chinese Language Day of the United Nation was hosted in Vienna, Austria, on May 8th. The spectacular cultural event focused on the cultures of Belt and Road countries, reflecting and reviewing the customs and histories of the different ethnic groups considered to be full of historic and practical values.

[14:46]  Infographic: Why is the BRF attracting so much attention?

[14:37] So-Called King ZZZ@weibo.com:
The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is scheduled to be held May 14-15 in Beijing. The summit will be the most important international convention since the Initiative was proposed in 2013. The forum, led by five guidelines, including, international cooperation, joint construction and win-win development, will focus and deliberate on eight sectors, such as, infrastructure, real economy investment, economic and trade cooperation, resource-sharing and financial collaboration.

[14:33] Why BRF is held?

China will use the forum to build a more open and efficient international cooperation platform; a closer, stronger partnership network; and to push for a more just, reasonable and balanced international governance system.

[14:31] Who will be present at BRF:

–    Chinese President Xi Jinping

–    29 heads of state and government leaders

–    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

–    World Bank President Jim Yong Kim

–     IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde

–    More than 1,500 delegates, including officials, scholars, entrepreneurs, representatives of financial institutions and media organizations from 110 nations, as well as representatives from more than 60 international organizations.

[14:28] What to expect at BRF:

–    A document defining goals and principles and refining cooperative measures will be issued.

–    China will sign cooperative documents with nearly 20 countries and more than 20 international organizations.

–    China will work with countries along the routes on nearly 20 action plans, concerning infrastructure, energy and resources, production capacity, trade and investment.

–    All parties will identify major cooperative projects, set up working groups and establish an investment cooperation center.

–    China will work with all parties on a set of measures, including an improved financial cooperation mechanism; a cooperation platform for science, technology and environmental protection; and enhanced exchanges and training of talent.

–    Participants will sign financing agreements to support their cooperative projects.

[14:23]  Manisha Chakraborty：
India could develop its cooperation with China in a broader context and it would maximize benefits of the One Belt One Road initiative due to the country’s strategic location.

[May 13, 14:20] Chronology of Belt and Road Initiative

Sept., 2013: The Silk Road Economic Belt concept was introduced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his speech at Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan.

Oct., 2013: Xi proposed building a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in his speech at the Indonesian parliament. Xi also proposed establishing the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

May 2014: The first phase of a logistics terminal jointly built by China and Kazakhstan went into operation in the Lianyungang port in east China’s Jiangsu Province. The terminal is considered a platform for goods from central Asian countries to reach overseas markets.

Oct., 2014: Twenty-one Asian countries willing to join the AIIB as founding members signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Establishing AIIB.

Nov., 2014: During the Beijing APEC meetings, Xi announced that China will contribute US$40 billion to set up the Silk Road Fund.

Dec., 2014: Thailand approved a draft memorandum of understanding between Thailand and China on railway cooperation.

Jan., 2015: The number of AIIB founding members, many of which are important countries along the Silk Road routes, rose to 26.

Feb., 2015: China outlined priorities for the Belt and Road Initiative, highlighting transportation infrastructure, easier trade and investment, financial cooperation and cultural exchanges.

March 2015: China released an action plan on the principles, a framework, and cooperation priorities and mechanisms of the Belt and Road Initiative.

May 2015: China and Russia agreed in Moscow to integrate the former’s Silk Road Economic Belt with the latter’s vision of a trade and infrastructure network across Eurasia.

Nov., 2015: Five Central and Eastern European Countries — Poland, Serbia, Czech, Bulgaria and Slovakia — signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with China on jointly promoting the Belt and Road Initiative.

Jan., 2016: China and Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran agreed to expand cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a China-initiated multilateral bank, started operation.

June 2016: China agreed with Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan to enhance Belt and Road cooperation during Xi’s visits to the three countries.

Jan., 2017: Xi said at the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s annual meeting in Davos that more than 100 countries and international organizations have given their warm responses to the initiative, and over 40 countries and organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China.

May 14-15 2017: The Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing.