Light is endless.
The Silk Road has also seen long-lasting exchanges.
Let's use light to portray “the road to happiness.”
Northwestern Chinese city Xi'an is the east starting point of the ancient Silk Road.
In 2013, The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has opened a new chapter in Chinese and global economic development. Over the past decade, Harmonious cross-border ties and exchanges have yielded fruitful outcomes. The Silk Road Economic Belt is radiating benefits across the world.
Connectivity, leads to smooth operation. Down-to-earth efforts ensures sustainable development.
BRI partner countries leverage projects in five major fields to extend cooperation network, building an all-round and comprehensive connectivity partnership. A pan-regional cooperation pattern is in the making.
Connectivity of infrastructure and facilities ensures the smooth flow of the veins of economic operation. Connecting the two neighboring countries, China-Laos Railway creates new opportunities for development.
The railway is a golden channel between China and Laos. With a length of 1,035 kilometers,the railway connects China and the ASEAN by building a convenient international logistics gateway. By September 2023, China-Laos Railwayhad see over 20.9 million passenger trips, and a robust cargo transportation.
Unimpeded trade promotes balanced and win-win trade development.
The Great Stone Industrial Park connects the Eurasian continent with industrial development. Located in Minsk, Belarus, the industrial park is China's largest overseas economic and trade cooperation zone with the highest level of cooperation.Since its establishment, the park has attracted the settlement of over 100 firms, and has been hailed as “a pearl on the Silk Road Economic Belt.”
Financial integration improves the diversified investment and financing mechanism.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has supported many countries' development in various fields. Since its opening, the AIIB has leveraged its multilateral platform to support the joint development of BRI. So far the AIIB has 106 members, and has approved 227 projects, including sectors of energy, transportation, urban development and public health.
Closer people-to-people ties deepen the diverse and interactive grass-root exchanges.
Luban Workshop is a signature Chinese vocational skills training project. Named after the ancient Chinese craftsman Lu Ban, the workshop has built a new platform for international exchanges and cooperation in vocational education, serving as another bridgeto facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world. Chinese colleges have co-built a batch of Luban Workshops with counterparts in over 20 BRI participating countries, cultivating many professionals for local economic and social development.
Policy coordination plays a leading and catalytic role in enhancing the communication among national standardization agencies.
Launch vehicles rise from the ground, China has worked closely with the international community to revise the international standards for launch of carrier rockets. The launch process has been simplified, and the success rate of launch has been lifted. International cooperation on standards in civil aviation, climate change, agricultural food and other fieldsare progressing effectively.
By June 2023, China has cooperated with more than 150 countries on five continents and 30-plus international organizations with the signing of over 200 BRI cooperation documents.
According to the World Bank, by 2030, the joint development of BRI is expected to lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million people out of moderate poverty worldwide. Meanwhile, BRI partners might see their trade grow 2.8 percent to 9.7 percent.
Trust means staying sincere and walking the talk. The BRI is a road of mutual respect and mutual trust, a road of cooperation and mutual benefits, and a road of mutual learning among civilizations. The joint development of BRI entails sincerity and integrity to promote mutual trust and boost confidence.
Xi'an was a witness to the glories of the ancient Silk Road. Over 2,000 years ago, Chinese envoy Zhang Qian began his expedition to the Western Regions, which opened up a trade route that later became the Silk Road, leaving a splendid chapter in the exchange history of human civilizations. Today, China is working with partners to promote the high-quality development of BRI, making “the road to happiness” with shared dividends wider and longer.
The BRI's “light” is radiating.
