37 Heads Of State Participated At A BRI Roundtable Discussion with President Xi

Thirty-seven heads of state and government yesterday participated at a roundtable discussion with Chinese President Xi Jinping marking the close of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

Discussion theme

Discussions centred around the theme “Boosting Connectivity to Explore New Sources of Growth” and also on the implementation of projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Main focus

President Xi said the main focus of cooperation under the Belt and Road is connectivity.

He said he was confident that with joint efforts from world leaders the BRI will bring greater benefits for people and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

He stressed the need to seriously consider ways to direct greater international attention to connectivity.

This is how to ensure high quality, resilient and sustainable infrastructure development projects and how to coordinate hardware and software connectivity in achieving all round connectivity.

“We hope to work with all parties to further substantiate the guiding principles for high quality development of Belt and Road cooperation,” President Xi said.

Extensive consultation

“We must implement the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to ensure that all have their voices heard or reach their full potential and all stand to benefit.”

BRI

“The Belt and Road Initiative must be open, green and clean and follows a high standard, people centred and sustainable approach.”

World leaders

World leaders were encouraged by President Xi to support the United Nations 2O3O agenda for Sustainable Development as an integral part of belt and road cooperation.

They were also reminded to align their cooperation with universally accepted rules, standards and best practices and pursue economic growth, social progress and environmental protection in a balanced way.

Common development

“The BRI should be beneficial to all and deliver common development.”

Adding that China hopes to work with all parties to identify priority areas of cooperation in their endeavour to strengthen all round connectivity.

Key priority

President Xi highlighted that key priority areas include smart manufacturing and digital economy to achieve innovation driven development.

Enhance trade and investment

He said countries should open their markets wider and enhance trade and investment facilitation for unimpeded flow of goods and services.

And build diversified financing systems and multi-tiered capital market, promote extensive people to people exchange and undertake more cooperation projects that help improve people’s lives.

“All in all we need to achieve all round connectivity that produces multiplying effects in infrastructure developments, industrial clustering, economic growth and people's well being,” he said.

Cooperation mechanisms

“China hopes to work with all parties to bolster cooperation mechanisms.

“And foster partnerships on connectivity and build an open world economy and reject protectionism.

“We must make continued efforts to enhance the complementarity and synergy between the belt and road cooperation.

“And the development strategies and agenda at national, regional and international levels through bilateral, tripartite and multilateral cooperation.”

“We need to encourage the full participation of more countries and companies thus expanding the pie of common interests.”

Multilateralism

“In the spirit of multilateralism, we need to earnestly advance institution building for belt and road cooperation to provide a strong underpinning for practical cooperation in various fields.”

He said a large number of roads, railways, ports and other infrastructure development projects are up and running or underway.

Multiplying effects

Adding that the multiplying effects in infrastructure development, industrial clustering, economic growth and people’s well- being were evident.

He said it is important that countries step up cooperation on connectivity because of growing downward pressure, rising uncertainties and destabilizing factors in the world economy.

BRF Policy

The advisory council of the Belt and Road Forum recently released a Policy Recommendation Report on Belt and Road Cooperation.

President Xi said the report includes many valuable views and recommendations on greater connectivity, policy synergy and the implementation of the UN 2O3O agenda for Sustainable Development.

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