The world is far from tranquil these days, warm and cold we share together. In Europe, the Ukraine crisis has dragged on for nearly one year and eight months. In the Middle East, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is escalating continuously and is at risk of losing control. In China, the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was successfully held. The forum was attended by over 10,000 registered representatives from 151 countries and 41 international organizations. The scale of participation has once again showcased the great success of the combined efforts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which will always bring bright prospects of peace, cooperation, development and prosperity to today's turbulent world.
Over two millennia ago, the Silk Road connected China and the world, where different civilizations met and paved the way towards prosperity, and shaped the Silk Road spirit characterized by peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit. Two thousand years later, China put forward the BRI, which enriched the ancient Silk Road, formed the golden rule of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefits, and the concept of open, green and clean cooperation, which is garnering growing support globally, and invigorating new vitality to the Silk Road spirit.
The BRI originated in China, but the opportunities and achievements it creates belong to the whole world. Over the past decade, focusing on global development, the BRI has enhanced policy, infrastructure, trade, financial and people-to-people connectivity, and produced fruitful outcomes.
Over the past 10 years, the BRI has attracted more than three-quarters of the world's countries. The China-Europe Railway Express has reached 217 cities in 25 European countries, and become a new business card for Eurasian cooperation. The BRI has driven nearly one trillion US dollars in investment, formed more than 3,000 cooperation projects, created 420,000 jobs for countries along the route, lifted nearly 40 million people out of poverty, and two-way investment has exceeded 270 billion US dollars, supporting countries to eradicate poverty, increase employment and improve people's livelihood.
The BRI has always given full play to the complementary advantages of the participating economies and innovated the cooperative options. In addition to the traditional economic and trade cooperation, the BRI has strengthened cooperation in emerging industries such as ecological governance, clean energy, and digital economy according to the actual needs of the participating countries, which has strongly promoted the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and made great contributions to the progress of human society.
At present, The global economic recovery is weak, the regional security hotspots keep flaring up, local conflicts and turbulence occur frequently, and the international community is confronted with multiple risks and challenges. In today’s uncertain and unstable world, there is an urgent need for countries to settle their differences through dialogues, and promote development through cooperation.
Different countries may be in geographical location, history, culture, social system, size of economy, and development stage, alignment with the idea of a global community of shared future enables them to seek common ground while shelving differences, reinforcing cooperation, pursuing peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes.
The successful convening of the Third Belt and Road Forum has once again showcased the tremendous appeal and global influence of Belt and Road cooperation. In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced eight major steps China will take to support our joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, which has opened up a new path for exchanges among countries, and established a new framework for international cooperation.
China will enter into free trade agreements and investment protection treaties with more countries, remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, and further advance high-standard opening up in cross-border service trade and investment.
China will continue to deepen cooperation in areas such as green infrastructure, green energy and green transportation, and step up support for the BRI International Green Development Coalition. The China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China will each set up a RMB 350 billion financing window. An additional RMB 80 billion will be injected into the Silk Road Fund. This will build a new platform for international economic development and practical cooperation.
During the forum, a total of 458 outcomes were achieved. The CEO Conference held during the forum saw the conclusion of agreements worth 97.2 billion U.S. Dollars, which will help generate jobs and growth in relevant countries. These tangible results of cooperation will certainly provide new opportunities and sustained impetus for global growth and common development across the world.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The mainstream of China-Europe ties is cooperation, and the relations are win-win in nature.
As the world's two major forces, two major markets and two major civilizations, China-Europe relations matter to the stability of the global landscape and the prosperity of the Eurasian continent.
China looks forward to working with European countries, including Malta, to explore ways for stronger cooperation on green development, digital economy, clean energy and artificial intelligence, share new opportunities for win-win cooperation, and make positive contributions to the global peaceful development and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.