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Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Mr. Cong Liang, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission 

Ms. Guo Tingting, vice minister of commerce 

Mr. Li Kexin, director general of the Department of International Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Chairperson:

Mr. Chen Wenjun, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

Oct. 10, 2023

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference. Today, the State Council Information Office (SCIO) has organized this press conference to release a white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future."

In line with the guiding principles of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the white paper systematically lays out the historic origin, concepts and vision, realistic pathways, practical achievements and global significance of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It also comprehensively introduces the fruitful outcomes of BRI cooperation since its inception 10 years ago, and sets forth China's determination and actions to promote high-quality BRI collaboration and jointly build a global community of shared future. 

The white paper is around 28,000 Chinese characters long. Its main body consists of five sections: "Proposed by China but Belonging to the Whole World," "Paving the Way Towards Shared Development and Prosperity," "Promoting All-Round Connectivity in Multiple Fields," "Injecting Positive Energy into World Peace and Development" and "Pursuing Steady and Sustained Progress in High-Quality BRI Cooperation."

The white paper is published in eight languages — Chinese, English, French, Russian, German, Spanish, Arabic and Japanese — by the People's Publishing House and Foreign Languages Press. It is available at Xinhua Bookstores across the country. 

To help you better understand the document, we have invited Mr. Cong Liang, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC); Ms. Guo Tingting, vice minister of commerce; and Mr. Li Kexin, director general of the Department of International Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to attend today's press conference. They will brief you on and interpret related contents of the white paper, and then take your questions.  

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Cong for his introduction.

Cong Liang:

Friends from the media, good afternoon. I'm very glad to join my colleagues from sister departments at today's press conference, as we release and interpret the white paper titled "The Belt and Road Initiative: A Key Pillar of the Global Community of Shared Future."

The white paper systematically lays out the principles, concepts, objectives and practices over the past decade of BRI cooperation. It exemplifies the thorough implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Xi Jinping Thought on Economy, and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. I hope the release of the document will help people from all walks of life and the international community to understand BRI collaboration in a deeper and more comprehensive manner.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's proposal of BRI cooperation. In 2013, President Xi Jinping creatively proposed jointly building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road based on his acute insights into the unprecedented global changes unseen in a century. BRI collaboration is rooted in history, responsive to reality and oriented towards the future. Promoting the BRI is not a solo endeavor by China, but a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders. The initiative has provided a critical platform for building a global community of shared future.

Over the past decade, under President Xi Jinping's personal planning, deployments and advancement, joint construction of the BRI has consistently adhered to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and upheld concepts of open, green and clean cooperation. In line with the initiative's objectives of high standards, sustainability and better lives, solid historic results have been achieved. These outcomes can be summarized in the following four respects:

In terms of "hard connectivity" in infrastructure, a number of signature projects including the China-Laos Railway, Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, Hungary-Serbia Railway and Piraeus Port have been built and put into operation. The China-Europe Railway Express service has provided a new Eurasian land transport route. The Silk Road Maritime Network has extended across the globe. A connectivity framework comprising "six corridors, six routes, and multiple countries and ports" has taken shape.

In terms of "soft connectivity," we have deepened cooperation with other BRI partner countries on establishing rules and standards. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement has come into effect among its 15 participating countries. China has signed 21 free trade agreements with 28 countries and regions, 107 standardization cooperation agreements with standardization bodies and international organizations in 65 countries, and conventions for the avoidance of double taxation (including arrangements and agreements) with 112 countries and regions.

In terms of "people-to-people connectivity," we have deepened cooperation in education, culture, sport, tourism, and archaeology with participating countries. We have signed agreements with 45 BRI partner countries and regions on the mutual recognition of higher education degrees and cultural and tourism cooperation documents with 144 BRI partner countries. We have carried out a series of "small but beautiful" brand activities, such as the establishment of the Chinese Government Scholarship - Silk Road Program, Luban Workshops, the Brightness Journey program, and the Juncao program. 

In terms of trade and investment, we have collaborated with other BRI partner countries to foster a mutually beneficial trade and investment partnership. The fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE) was successfully convened. We have advocated the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Silk Road Fund, creating a long-term, stable, sustainable, and risk-controlled investment and financing system. From 2013 to 2022, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and BRI partner countries reached $19.1 trillion, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4%. The cumulative two-way investment between China and other BRI partner countries reached $380 billion, including $240 billion from China.

In the past decade, the BRI has transitioned from concept to action and from vision to reality. It has led to the creation of a new form of global connectivity, pioneered a new path towards development and prosperity for all, and explored new methods for the reform of a global governance system. The BRI has facilitated the smooth flow of goods, fostered political stability and social harmony, achieved mutual benefits and win-win cooperation, and promoted development for all. It has become a popular international public goods and international cooperation platform. More than 150 countries and 30 international organizations joined the BRI family, increasing the sense of gains and happiness among the people in the BRI partner countries. It is a remarkable innovation that benefits all of humanity.

Looking ahead, the future of BRI cooperation holds great promise. China remains committed to working with other BRI partner countries to forge stronger partnerships in health, connectivity, green development, opening up, innovation, and clean government. Together, we will promote high-quality BRI cooperation in a sound and sustained manner, gathering stronger momentum and vitality to accelerate the building of a global community of shared future.

That concludes my introduction. Next, my colleagues and I will answer your questions. Thank you!

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you, Mr. Cong. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the news outlet you represent before asking your questions.

Nanfang Daily, Nanfang Plus:

Since the initiation of the BRI, a large number of infrastructure connectivity projects have been implemented. Could you provide an update on the present status of the facility connectivity? Additionally, what impact have these projects had on the local areas? Thank you.

Cong Liang:

In March of 2015, the NDRC, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce released the Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road. It put forward the building of six major international economic cooperation corridors, which are the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the New Eurasian Land Bridge, the China-Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor, the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor, and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor. In recent years, these economic corridors have achieved significant progress, especially the building of international arterial routes with BRI partner countries and an infrastructure network that connects subregions in Asia as well as the continents of Asia, Europe, and Africa. The white paper elaborated on this in detail in the third chapter titled "Promoting All-Round Connectivity in Multiple Fields."

The first case is the China-Laos Railway. Since it began operation in December 2021, the China-Laos Railway has improved both the quality and quantity of passenger and cargo transport. As of early September, it had handled over 20.9 million passenger trips and transported over 25.36 million tons of goods. This railway, as a "Golden Channel" for local people, is making contributions to the economic and social development of not just Laos, but also ASEAN countries.

In terms of economic and trade cooperation, 25 provinces in China have opened international freight trains on the China-Laos Railway and transport services covering Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Singapore, greatly boosting economic and trade exchanges between China and Laos and strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and ASEAN countries. In terms of connectivity, the China-Laos Railway has truly turned Laos into a land-linked hub, ensuring the convenient and fast transport of more products between China, ASEAN countries, and European countries.

In terms of people's well-being, since it began operations, the China-Laos Railway has recruited more than 3,500 Laotian staff and indirectly created over 100,000 jobs in various industries, including logistics, transportation, commerce and trade, and tourism. The railway has also provided new opportunities for ASEAN countries to better utilize new advantages brought by the entry into force of the RCEP agreement and created closer regional industrial and supply chains.

The other case is the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway. Some time ago, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway was opened to the public for free trials, and the train was full nearly every time. I watched a video online in which a reporter made a coin stand on its edge on a table of the train, and it remained steady as the train traveled at speeds of up to 350km/h. This video went viral, and relevant comments demonstrated the wide acclaim received for the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway from all sectors of Indonesian society. In fact, not only has the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway greatly facilitated the travel of people along the railway line, it has also created 51,000 jobs for local people, trained 45,000 Indonesian staff, cultivated a batch of technicians and workers for high-speed railway construction and operations, and continues to deliver real and tangible benefits to local people.

Next, we will continue to adhere to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, synergize our policies, mechanisms, and projects with BRI partner countries, and keep building quality landmark projects so as to improve the outcomes of cooperation and benefit people of BRI partner countries. Thank you.

National Business Daily:

Economic and trade cooperation is a crucial part of the BRI cooperation. Over the past decade, what achievements have been made in economic and trade cooperation under the BRI framework? What will be done to further advance the cooperation in the future? Thank you. 

Guo Tingting:

Over the past 10 years, the Ministry of Commerce has fully implemented the guiding principles of President Xi Jinping's speeches on the BRI cooperation and worked with relevant parties to deepen practical cooperation in the fields of economics and trade with BRI partner countries, jointly promoting mutual benefits for all countries and effectively advancing open cooperation at the global level. The achievements are mainly demonstrated in the following three aspects. 

First, both the quantity and the quality of trade cooperation have been improved. Just as the white paper points out, from 2013 to 2022, China's trade in goods with BRI partner countries has reached $19.1 trillion, with an annual growth rate of 6.4%, which is higher both than the overall growth rate of China's foreign trade and that of the global foreign trade over the same period. China is the main trading partner of over 110 BRI partner countries and has signed 14 free trade agreements with 20 BRI partner countries, with trade liberalization and facilitation continuing to be advanced.

Second, fruitful outcomes have been made in two-way investment. From 2013 to 2022, the two-way investment between China and BRI partner countries has totaled over $380 billion. Direct Chinese investment in BRI partner countries has topped $240 billion, covering diverse areas concerning social and economic development. China has also worked with BRI partner countries to build a series of economic and trade cooperation zones. As of the end of 2022, the total accumulated investment had exceeded $60 billion. At the same time, BRI partner countries also actively made investments in China and shared China's development opportunities. Over the past decade, the cumulative investment in China has exceeded $140 billion, and about 67,000 new enterprises have been set up in China. 

Third, construction projects have witnessed steady progress. From 2013 to 2022, the average annual turnover of China's contracted projects in BRI partner countries reached around $130 billion. We have witnessed the construction of a host of landmark projects, including the China-Laos Railway, the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway, and the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, effectively improving the infrastructure conditions of their host countries and significantly reinforcing connectivity. Moreover, we have launched a series of small and beautiful projects, including the cooperation project involving Juncao, a Chinese-invented technology using grass to grow mushrooms, to benefit people's lives. We have also stepped up efforts to promote cooperation in green and digital development. In the first eight months of this year, the value of newly signed project contracts with BRI partner countries related to energy conservation and environmental protection increased 22% year on year. 

In addition, we have made continuous efforts to set up trade and investment platforms to promote BRI cooperation. We successfully held the China International Import Expo, the China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), the China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), and the China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), as well as a host of regional exhibitions. All of these have provided a strong boost to economic and trade cooperation among BRI partner countries.

Going forward, we will strictly implement the decisions and deployments made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council and ramp up our efforts to deepen and substantiate Belt and Road economic and trade cooperation in the following four aspects.

First, we will make efforts to form a new structure of opening up. We will expand and facilitate the import and export of quality goods, ensure the success of major exhibitions, and deepen trade cooperation with BRI partner countries. We will take multiple measures to foster the Invest in China brand and make greater efforts to attract foreign investment. We will continue to improve the structure of outbound investment and improve the quality and efficiency of investment cooperation with BRI partner countries. We will build pilot free trade zones and free trade ports of higher standards and align domestic rules with international economic and trade rules by high standards.

Second, we will raise industrial and supply chain cooperation to a new level. We will further improve the efficiency of China-Europe freight trains and accelerate the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. We will work with BRI partner countries to set up more working mechanisms to facilitate and ensure unimpeded trade, investment cooperation, and trade in services, make more effort to promote policy communication and strategy synergy and ensure stable and unimpeded industrial and supply chains for the Belt and Road cooperation.

Third, we will foster new drivers of economic growth. We will advance key projects as well as small and beautiful projects in a coordinated manner to help reinforce the development basis for BRI partner countries and improve their people's well-being. We will promote investment, construction, and operations in a comprehensive manner and build a host of high-quality engineering projects. Moreover, we will establish a pilot zone for Silk Road e-commerce cooperation and host the Global Digital Trade Expo successfully, sharing various development dividends with other countries.

Fourth, we will explore new spaces for economic and trade development. We will actively endeavor to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), as well as ensure the high-quality implementation of the RCEP. We will speed up the alignment of rules, regulations, and standards. We will also support enterprises from Hong Kong and Macao to participate in BRI cooperation and build an important functional platform for the BRI. We will promote cooperation in green development and the digital economy with BRI partner countries and achieve sustainable development together.

Thank you. 

Bloomberg: 

What are the newly focused regions for BRI going forward to increase and build projects? Secondly, what are the plans for development of BRI in the Central Asian nations specifically? How might it be different in any way? And also I'd like to ask, how does China see the competition from similar initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC)? And just one last add-on to that: Do you have the dates for the forum next week? Can you tell us what those might be? Thank you so much.

Guo Tingting:

In the 10 years since the introduction of the BRI, we have signed BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries, including those in Central Asia, and over 30 international organizations. We have always upheld the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefit, stayed committed to achieving mutual benefits, win-win outcomes and common development, and continuously deepened economic and trade cooperation with participating countries. From 2013 to 2022, our total direct investment in participating countries exceeded $240 billion.

Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and market demands with BRI participating countries. Stressing enterprises' role as the main players, market orientation, government guidance and compliance with international rules, we aim to inspire the enthusiasm of all parties to actively participate in BRI cooperation, elevate the level of cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, promote poverty eradication, increase employment and improve people's livelihoods. We endeavor to ensure that the benefits of the BRI are more widely shared among the peoples of all participating countries. Thank you.

Li Kexin:

Infrastructure plays a crucial role in promoting global economic growth and advancing the well-being of people in various countries. Since President Xi Jinping introduced the BRI in 2013, Laos has converted itself from a "landlocked" to a "land-linked" nation; the Maldives has inaugurated its first cross-sea bridge; Indonesia has stepped into the high-speed rail era; and East Africa now takes pride in its first transnational electrified railway – the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway. All these have contributed to substantial improvements in the lives of local people.

In recent years, under the impetus of the BRI, global focus on infrastructure development has intensified. This resonates with the prevailing trends in global economic development and aligns with the immediate aspirations of numerous developing countries. China invites all parties to increase their investments in infrastructure in developing countries and promote projects that genuinely benefit the people. We are willing to cooperate with all parties on a foundation of openness, inclusivity, equality and mutual benefit, jointly advancing global connectivity, and providing the world with more high-quality international public goods.

Regarding the question about the upcoming BRI forum, China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing this October. Not only will this be a most grandiose event commemorating the 10th anniversary of the BRI's inception, but it will also serve as a vital platform for all parties to discuss high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road framework. As of now, representatives from more than 130 countries and over 30 international organizations have confirmed their participation. The activities during the forum will include an opening ceremony, three high-level forums on connectivity, green development and the digital economy, as well as six themed forums on unimpeded trade, people-to-people bonds, think-tank exchanges, Clean Silk Road, local collaboration and maritime cooperation. An entrepreneurs' conference is also on the agenda. The exact dates of the forum will be announced in due course. Thank you.

CNBC:

I have two sets of questions. First, what is the situation of railway operations under the BRI? What are the situations for both freight and passenger transport? How does the current situation differ from that of five and 10 years ago? Second, the Boston University Global Development Policy Center estimated that China reduced loans to Africa in 2021 and 2022. What are the reasons for this reduction? Considering the slow growth of the global economy, how will China's loans to foreign governments be impacted? Are there any changes expected in China's existing or future loan terms? Thank you.

Cong Liang:

Thank you for your questions. In terms of railway operations, our enterprises have built and operated a number of railway projects in collaboration with other BRI countries over the past decade. Notable examples include the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Hungary-Serbia Railway. The opening of these railways has provided more convenient travel experiences for local people and injected new and strong impetus into economic and social development along the routes. I would like to share a specific example: the China-Europe Railway Express, a significant outcome of BRI cooperation. Since its opening, it has consistently maintained safe, stable, and smooth operations. This has made positive contributions to the economic and social development of countries along its routes, earning widespread participation and recognition from the international community.

Firstly, it has fostered a new model of international transport between Asia and Europe. The China-Europe Railway Express has improved the land transportation network spreading across Asia and Europe, opening up a new logistics channel running across the two continents that is characterized by all-weather accessibility, high volume, environmental sustainability, low carbon emissions, safety, and smooth operations. This has resulted in a spatial layout that connects sea and land transport and extends in multiple directions. By the end of September, the China-Europe Railway Express had reached 217 cities in 25 European countries, completing over 78,000 trips and transporting more than 7.4 million TEUs. The cargo transported by these trains has increased from 1.5% of the total China-Europe trade volume in 2016 to 8% in 2022. 

Second, we have ensured the stability of international industrial and supply chains. Characterized by safety, stability, and resilience, the China-Europe Railway Express has significantly expanded the variety of goods transported. Initially focusing primarily on digital products, it now handles more than 50,000 types of goods across 53 categories. In particular, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the China-Europe Railway Express achieved trend-bucking growth, with an average annual increase of 26.3%, defying disruptions to global logistics systems. It transported nearly 15 million pieces of pandemic-related materials and was recognized as a "lifeline" for international pandemic cooperation.

Third, the China-Europe Railway Express has promoted economic and social development among BRI partner countries. This express service has established a new platform for economic and trade cooperation along its route, facilitating the transportation of over $300 billion worth of goods. New business formats such as "cross-border e-commerce trains," "postal trains," as well as combinations such as "trains + parks" and "trains + ports," have continued to emerge, bringing numerous development opportunities for partner countries across various sectors, including industry, trade, investment, and employment, among other aspects.

In September this year, the first China-Europe Railway Express International Cooperation Forum was held, and attended by national representatives from 29 countries, resulting in 48 cooperation agreements. It provided a significant platform for deepening the development of the China-Europe Railway Express. In the future, we will adhere to the approach of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, collaborating with BRI partner countries to develop and preserve this important global public asset, injecting fresh vigor and vitality into the world's economic recovery. Our emphasis will be on establishing the "four major systems."

First, we need to build an efficient transportation system. We will intensify our efforts to strengthen the alignment of strategic planning, accelerate the improvement of multilateral and bilateral inter-governmental cooperation mechanisms for the China-Europe Railway Express, coordinate and resolve issues at ports, customs clearance, transportation routes, and other junctures, and continuously consolidate the foundation for international cooperation.

Second, we need to establish a robust safety governance system. Our focus will be on strengthening safety risk management along the China-Europe Railway Express route, deepening information exchange and law enforcement cooperation, collectively enhancing emergency response capabilities, and proactively shaping an international transportation safety model.

Third, we need to build a multi-channel system. In addition to constructing and efficiently utilizing existing transportation routes, we will jointly explore new international transportation channels and accelerate the development of a diversified China-Europe Railway Express transportation network. We will continue to leverage various investment and financing channels to provide relevant support for channel construction.

Fourth, we need to innovate the development system. We will collectively advance the informatization, digitalization, and intelligent construction of the China-Europe Railway Express, actively explore and develop new models such as "people-to-people express" and "tourism express" services, and expedite the adoption of green and environmentally friendly technologies to ensure that the China-Europe Railway Express brings greater benefits to the people along its routes.

Regarding your concerns about loans, China, as a responsible major developing country, will remain committed to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. We will adhere to international conventions, market principles, and debt sustainability principles. We will collaborate with relevant countries to consistently enhance a long-term, stable, sustainable, and risk-controllable investment and financing system, actively innovate investment and financing models, expand investment and financing channels, improve the stability, transparency, and quality of our capital guarantee system, and make positive contributions to promoting the common development of all countries.

Thank you. 

CRNTT:

Silk Road e-commerce has become a prominent aspect of BRI cooperation. What advantages does Silk Road e-commerce offer for the development of China and BRI partner countries, and what are its future prospects? Thank you.

Guo Tingting:

After more than six years of development, international cooperation through "Silk Road e-commerce," an essential measure for BRI implementation, has become a new platform for multilateral and bilateral economic and trade cooperation as well as a new highlight for the high-quality joint pursuit of the BRI. Currently, bilateral e-commerce cooperation memorandums have been signed with 30 countries. At the same time, tangible achievements have been made through e-commerce cooperation dialogues between China and Central and Eastern European countries, as well as with five Central Asian countries. Tangible progress has also been made in e-commerce cooperation under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and other mechanisms. The achievements can be summarized as "three joint efforts."

The first joint effort is to seize market opportunities together. We have assisted "Silk Road e-commerce" partner countries in expanding sales channels for high-quality featured products with a series of activities, including online shopping festivals featuring quality African products, "Buy BRICS," and the promotion of premium ASEAN products. These activities have received positive feedback from governments and businesses in their respective countries. Additionally, we encourage domestic enterprises to "go global," thereby accelerating the growth of e-commerce markets and industries in partner countries.

The second joint effort is to promote digital development together. We have offered practical and tailored training courses for partner country governments and businesses to enhance their capability to develop e-commerce. Through our "online classrooms," we have conducted widely-welcomed livestreaming training courses for over 80 countries.

The third joint effort is to advance regulatory connectivity together. We have consistently prioritized connectivity of regulations and norms. We have hosted over 100 meetings to promote government-enterprise dialogue and cooperation among enterprises. We have shared our experience in e-commerce development through these engagements. Furthermore, we encourage enterprises to facilitate the "soft connectivity" of technologies and standards through industrial chain cooperation.

Going forward, we will align with global digital economic development trends and leverage "Silk Road e-commerce" to enhance economic and trade cooperation in the digital field with our partner countries. On the one hand, we will consistently optimize the cooperation platform, actively support partner countries' aspirations, and promote deeper collaboration through platforms such as the Global Digital Trade Expo. We will also expedite the establishment of the "Silk Road e-commerce" cooperation pilot zone and explore new measures and approaches for cooperation. We will also continuously expand the scope of our cooperative fields as well as strengthen policy dialogue, industrial connection, sub-national cooperation, and capacity building. We will also accelerate the development of emerging sectors, including digital payment and intelligent logistics. With these endeavors, we hope to foster digital development and share these opportunities with partner countries. Thank you.

Phoenix TV:

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is about to commence, and there has been a significant amount of discussion about the BRI recently. Some commentators have suggested that China's promotion of the BRI is driven by geopolitical considerations. May I ask if there is any response regarding this point from China? Thank you.

Li Kexin:

The BRI is an international economic cooperation initiative. We adhere to the principles of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation, and win-win outcomes and advocate for achieving shared growth through consultation and collaboration. We welcome the participation of all like-minded partners. Over the past decade, the BRI has achieved fruitful results and expanded its network of friends. This fully demonstrates that the BRI is not about creating closed and narrow cliques but goes beyond the outdated mindset of geopolitical competition. It has pioneered a new paradigm for international cooperation and has truly become a "development belt" and a "road to happiness" that benefits people in all countries. On Sept. 26, the Chinese government released a white paper titled "A Global Community of Shared Future: China's Proposals and Actions." The BRI is a significant practice and successful endeavor in building a community with a shared future for mankind, together with the international community.

Thank you.

ThePaper.cn:

International economic cooperation corridors are among the important carriers of BRI cooperation. How has the development of major international economic cooperation corridors been? What progress has been made in building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)? Thank you.

Cong Liang:

Thank you for your questions. I just introduced the vision of developing six major international economic cooperation corridors. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CPEC. I will give an overview of its development over the past decade.

Through joint efforts and close coordination between China and Pakistan, the "1+4" cooperation structure proposed by President Xi Jinping, with the Economic Corridor at the center and the Gwadar Port, energy, infrastructure, and industrial cooperation being the four key areas, has evolved from an inspiring blueprint into reality. On the one hand, the foundation for achieving further development has been consolidated. The Gwadar Port, as the CPEC's flagship project, has become fully functional, with the work of attracting investment in the start-up area of its Free Zone basically completed, and support facilities constantly improved. Fourteen energy projects with an installed capacity of approximately 8.02 million kilowatts have entered commercial operation, serving as CPEC's source of power. An increasingly improved comprehensive and multi-dimensional transport connectivity network has become the CPEC's transport arteries. Several signature projects, including the Karakoram Highway Phase II and the Lahore Orange Line Metro, have been built and opened to traffic. We have also promoted industrial cooperation under the CPEC in an orderly manner. The Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation under the CPEC has been signed. Good progress has been made to attract investment in the Rashakai Special Economic Zone after it was launched as a priority under the CPEC. On the other hand, our cooperation has been continuously expanded to new areas. Exchanges and cooperation in agriculture and science and technology have been continuously deepening. Cooperation in the information technology sector is also booming. The two countries also help each other with sincerity in areas that are important to people's lives and are further strengthening international coordination and security cooperation so as to enrich the content of CPEC cooperation.

The achievements under CPEC are the epitome of the overall development of the six major international economic cooperation corridors in the past decade. From this new starting point, aiming to achieve high standards, sustainability, and improve people's lives, we will continue to bolster the quality and efficiency of developing the six corridor economies and further unlock their potential for development, making them a demonstration project of the high-quality BRI cooperation. Thank you.

Cover News:

Cooperation mechanisms are essential to safeguarding the steady and sustained progress of BRI cooperation. The past decade witnessed many achievements under BRI cooperation. What progress has been made in establishing international cooperation mechanisms? Thank you.

Li Kexin:

In the past decade, China has worked in collaboration with partners to establish a composite international cooperation architecture, which is led by the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation and supported by various bilateral, trilateral, and multilateral cooperation mechanisms. The cooperation has yielded fruitful results.

First, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation has played a leading role. China hosted the first and second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2017 and 2019. During the two forums, participants had in-depth exchanges and reached extensive consensus on the direction for and key areas of BRI cooperation. The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing this month.

Second, bilateral cooperation mechanisms have been strengthened. With the global partnership network of the BRI expanding annually, China has signed BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations. The BRI aligns with the development strategies of more than 30 countries and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and it synergizes with the development plans of ASEAN, the African Union, the Eurasian Economic Union, and other regional organizations.

Third, multi-sector and multilateral cooperation platforms have been upgraded. Over the past 10 years, China has worked with other parties to establish more than 20 multilateral cooperation platforms under the BRI framework, covering sectors such as energy, taxation, finance, culture, and green development. These platforms have advanced coordinated policy communication and practical cooperation. It's worth noting that these multilateral mechanism platforms have endured the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with dozens of international conferences being held annually. This resilience and vitality have allowed them to further build international consensus for BRI cooperation.

Generally, jointly building the Belt and Road has realized all-round and balanced progress in cooperation philosophy, mechanisms and practical actions. Through hosting the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, China, in collaboration with all parties, is committed to delivering new accomplishments of high-quality BRI cooperation, contributing more to the development and prosperity of all countries and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Thank you!

Chen Wenjun: 

The last two questions. 

International Business Daily: 

Unimpeded trade cannot be possible without the construction of trade channels. The Ministry of Commerce is the main department responsible for the collaborative construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor. Could you please provide an update on the progress of this construction and the benefits it has brought to the participating countries?

Guo Tingting: 

Thank you for your question. General Secretary Xi Jinping has placed great emphasis on the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and has provided crucial instructions multiple times, offering guidance for our work. The Ministry of Commerce has followed this spirit and implemented the cooperation plan for the corridor in collaboration with related departments. By steadily advancing the project, we have facilitated the opening up and development of central and western China, and created more development opportunities for relevant countries. Since its launch in 2018, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has become an important bond of cooperation between China and other participating countries after five years of development. It possesses the following three distinctive features:

First, it encompasses a wide range of countries and regions. With Chongqing and Singapore serving as two major hubs, the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor uses key western Chinese cities including Nanning, Chengdu, Kunming, and Guiyang as multiple domestic fulcrums, and provides access to 465 ports in 120 countries and regions, thus becoming a pivotal gateway connecting central and western China with the rest of the world.

Second, it offers multiple logistic modes. The New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor thrives through the development of multi-modal transport, encompassing several logistic modes such as rail-sea freight trains, cross-border highway regular lorry services, and international railway express services. Furthermore, services like the Air Corridor and customized trains also help improve regional cargo transport capacity.

Third, its business is experiencing rapid growth. In 2022, the trade volume of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, with Chongqing as the embarkation and destination port, increased by 147% compared to that of 2019. This signifies that trade cooperation has been taken to new height between China's central and western regions and the countries along the corridor.

Next, the Ministry of Commerce, in accordance with the policy decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, will work closely with relevant departments and localities to solidly promote the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and create a benchmark for high-quality cooperation in the joint construction of the BRI. First, we will encourage more ASEAN countries to participate in the corridor's construction, constantly enhancing its resilience and vitality. Second, we will implement the RCEP to a high quality, accelerate negotiations for the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, and promote mutual reinforcement and common development between the corridor and trade. Third, we will expedite the implementation of cooperation plans, striving to establish a multi-dimensional modern network of interconnectivity that is efficient, open, secure and stable by 2035.

Thank you.

CCTV:

Building the digital Silk Road is an important area of cooperation in the joint construction of the BRI. What achievements have been made in this area? How will we expand digital cooperation in the future? Thank you.

Cong Liang:

In recent years, we have implemented President Xi Jinping's important initiative to build the digital Silk Road and actively promoted cooperation regarding digital economy and other related areas to achieve new progress and achievements. On one hand, policy exchanges have been continuously deepened. Initiatives such as the Initiative on Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace and the Belt and Road Digital Economy International Cooperation Initiative have been launched, fostering sustained cooperation with countries involved in the BRI in areas such as digital infrastructure construction, digital technology innovation and digital transformation of industries. Memorandums of understanding to strengthen cooperation in the construction of the digital Silk Road (digital economy) have been signed with 20 countries, providing an avenue for aligning development strategies, enhancing policy coordination and promoting practical cooperation among enterprises.

On the other hand, pragmatic cooperation is steadily advancing. Cooperation between China and ASEAN countries in the construction of smart cities is deepening. The construction of smart cities between Shenzhen and Singapore is continuously expanding. The online Silk Road cooperation between China and Arab countries is steadily progressing in Ningxia. At the same time, cooperation in digital infrastructure construction is continuously improving connectivity efficiency, enabling a variety of high-quality goods, technologies and products to go global. Cross-border e-commerce has become a new engine driving the growth of goods trade. In 2022, China's cross-border e-commerce import and export volume reached 2.11 trillion yuan. Chinese enterprises have provided greater convenience for people across the globe through cloud platforms and other services as well as projects such as those offering satellite TV services in remote African villages. 

Moving forward, we will continuously strengthen exchanges with other BRI countries in the field of digital economy and expand pragmatic cooperation, with the aim to share development dividends with people in different countries. To achieve this goal, we will deepen efforts in three aspects: First, deepening international consensus on digital economy. We will rely on bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms to promote exchanges and cooperation in the field of digital economy. Actively participating in negotiations on digital economy issues within multilateral mechanisms and international organizations, we will promote accession to the DEPA. Within frameworks such as the World Trade Organization and the RCEP, we will drive the establishment of rules for digital economy governance and foster broad consensus on development. Second, deepening international cooperation in the digital industry. Building on the existing mechanisms of the digital Silk Road construction and cooperation, we will strengthen collaboration with other countries participating in the BRI in areas such as network infrastructure and digital industries. We will continuously expand the breadth and depth of international cooperation in the digital industry. Third, deepening efforts to make sure the benefits of digital economy are shared by all. We will pragmatically promote exchanges and cooperation in the digital economy, encouraging high-quality collaboration between Chinese and foreign enterprises in areas such as e-commerce, mobile payments, smart cities, telemedicine, digital education and digital transformation of industries. We will leverage digital technologies to drive high-quality economic development, improve people's livelihoods and enable people in BRI countries to better share in the dividends of digital economy development. Thank you.

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you to all the speakers and friends from the media. Today's press conference is hereby concluded. Goodbye.

Translated and edited by Wang Qian, Xu Xiaoxuan, Li Huiru, Zhang Rui, Yuan Fang, Yang Xi, Yan Bin, Liu Caiyi, Cui Can, Xu Kailin, Gong Yingchun, Zhang Junmian, Zhang Tingting, Liu Sitong, Wang Ziteng, Mi Xingang, Li Xiao, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.