Riding on fruitful forum, confident Xi takes Belt & Road to next level
BEIJING - A two-day forum of world leaders ended Monday with promises and high hopes that the Belt and Road Initiative will be the beginning of the building of a better world.
The initiative was first envisioned by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 to create a new platform for international cooperation. Nearly four years later, the plan came to a crucial juncture this past weekend with the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. Facing dozens of reporters at the scenic Yanqi Lake on the outskirts of Beijing Monday, Xi said the forum graced by leaders of 30 countries concluded with a positive signal that “all are united behind the initiative, and on course for the shared future of mankind.” “Through the initiative, we hope we can find new driving forces for growth, create a new platform for global development, and re-balance economic globalization,” Xi said. China has rallied support from all over the world to champion globalization and multilateralism at a time when the world’s largest economy the United States retreats to focus on domestic affairs. The call was well received and not just from the developing world. Major economies including G7 countries all sent representatives. Also present were people from Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa members of the BRICS group; other emerging economies like Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey; and oil-rich Middle Eastern states of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin said the initiative helped boost economic cooperation and exchanges among countries. The 130 plus countries represented, including the host China, have more than two thirds of the global population. Their combined gross domestic product accounts for 90 percent of the world’s total. Jose Vinals, chairman of Standard Chartered PLC, said the forum marked the start of the Belt and Road 2.0. “We reached the consensus, set the way forward, and outlined an action plan,” Xi told reporters. According to Xi, 68 countries and international organizations signed cooperation deals with China to carry forward the Belt and Road. Many were inked during the forum. But the progress did not just end there. Xi said an outcome list of more than 270 items was formulated at the Leaders Roundtable of the forum, setting the way forward.
(Xinhua bericht)