The Belt and Road Initiative, which is about win-win cooperation and common development, is not a solo performance or a zero-sum game, said China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang here Wednesday.
In a keynote speech at the Belt and Road Summit sponsored by the Hong Kong SAR government, Zhang said China is the initiator, but this is not a one man's show. "The Belt and Road are not private exclusive roads but wide and open avenues for us all," said Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
In March 2015, China's National Development and Reform Commission, joined by other government departments, issued the Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.
The Belt and Road Initiative is a major move of China to pursue all dimensional opening-up under the new historical circumstances, said Zhang, adding that it will align China's development with that of the countries along the routes, and combine the Chinese Dream and the dream of their peoples. "Following this road map, we had a good beginning during the past year," Zhang said.
Between China and the countries along the routes, there were frequent high-level visits as well as closer interactions between governments, parliaments, political parties and at sub-national levels. Common understanding was reached in a number of areas, and over 30 cooperation agreements were signed. China and those countries worked hand in hand to seek the largest denominator in win-win cooperation and common development, said Zhang, noting that a package of major projects has started in the building of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The top legislator also mentioned that an overall plan is being made for the China-Mongolia-Russia economic corridor, partnering a number of cooperation projects.In pursuit of infrastructure connectivity, China's international cooperation on production capacity is well underway in more than 10 key areas, including equipment manufacturing, automobile and electronics. Over a thousand container trains have traveled between China and Central Asia or Europe. A functional international transport mechanism linking the two ends of the Eurasian continent is up and running, he said.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has entered into operation, and the Silk Road Fund and several other multilateral or bilateral cooperation funds are providing continuous financing support to the Belt and Road Initiative. The RMB cross-border trading has expanded, Zhang pointed out.
The joint application to inscribe the portion of the Silk Road that passes through China and Central Asia on the World Heritage List was successful, and the application for the maritime Silk Road has been made. Interactions have increased in culture, education, science and technology, tourism, business and other areas, he said.
All these have proved that the Belt and Road Initiative enjoys a promising future, Zhang said.
Zhang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is here from May 17 to 19. He is also set to inspect the Hong Kong SAR during the trip.
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