Work Together to Build “One Belt, One Road” (Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road)

In May 14, 2017, the “One Belt, One Road Forum for International Cooperation” meeting was held in Beijing.

President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech entitled “Work Together to Build ‘One Belt, One Road’” at the opening ceremony.

The speech reviewed the fruitful achievements in building “One Belt, One Road” since the Initiative was launched, in terms of policy communication, in terms of facility connectivity (infrastructure), smooth unimpeded trade flow, capital integration and people-to-people exchanges, and put forward his views on promoting the long-term development of the “One Belt, One Road”.

It was pointed out that the “One Belt, One Road” should be built into a road of peace, a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at its core, and a partnership of dialogue rather than confrontation and as well as partnership rather than alliance targeting others. All countries should respect each other's sovereignty, dignity and territorial integrity, each other's development path and social system, and each other's core interests and major concerns. We should establish a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept and create a security environment built and shared by all.

We should build the “One Belt, One Road” into a road of prosperity, 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. We should build the “One Belt, One Road” into a road of opening up that will achieve both economic growth and balanced development. Together, we can build a broad community of shared interests and make economic globalization open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all. We should build the “One Belt, One Road” into a road of innovation, pursue innovation-driven development, pursue the new vision of green development and build a sound ecosystem so as to realize the goals set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We should build the “One Belt, One Road” into a road connecting different civilizations. We should ensure that when it comes to different civilizations, exchange will replace estrangement, mutual learning will replace clashes, and coexistence will replace a sense of superiority. This will boost mutual understanding, mutual respect and mutual trust among different countries.

The speech emphasized that “China has reached a new starting point in its development endeavors. Guided by the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and inclusive development, we will adapt to and steer the new normal of economic development and seize opportunities it presents.” China will enhance friendship and cooperation with all countries involved in the “One Belt, One Road” Initiative on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. We are ready to share practices of development with other countries and we hope to achieve a new model of win-win cooperation and create a big family of harmonious co-existence. We will work to launch cooperation projects, that have already been reached, at an early date and see that they deliver early benefits.

China will scale up financing support and work with Asian Foundation, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the BRICS New Development Bank, the World Bank and other multilateral development institutions to support “One Belt, One Road” related projects. China will endeavor to build a win-win business partnership with other countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, enhance trade and investment facilitation with them, and build “One Belt, One Road” free trade network. China will enhance cooperation on innovation with other countries. We will launch the “One Belt, One Road” Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation Action Plan consisting of 4 parts which are Science and Technology People-to-People Exchange Initiative, the Joint Laboratory Initiative, the Science Park Cooperation Initiative and the Technology Transfer Initiative. China will provide assistance worth RMB 60 billion to developing countries and international organizations participating in the “One Belt, One Road” Initiative to launch more projects to improve people's well-being.

China will put in place the following mechanisms to boost “One Belt, One Road” cooperation: A liaison office for the Forum's follow-up activities, the Research Center for the “One Belt, One Road” Financial and Economic Development, the Facilitating Center for Building the “One Belt, One Road”, the Multilateral Development Financial Cooperation Center in cooperation with multilateral development banks, and an IMF-China Capacity Building Center.