The Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative – China’s proposal to build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in cooperation with related countries – was unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visits to Central and Southeast Asia in September and October 2013. The initiative focuses on promoting policy coordination, connectivity of infrastructure and facilities, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and strengthened people-to-people ties through a consultative process and joint efforts, with the goal of bringing benefits to all. The initiative covers primarily East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia, Central Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe. It reflects a convergence of interests and an increasing need for regional and global cooperation. The response from countries along the proposed Belt and Road has been enthusiastic. By the end of 2016 over 100 countries and international and regional organizations had expressed an interest in participating, and more than 40 of them had signed cooperation agreements with China.

“一带一路”

“一带一路”是“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的简称。2013年9月和10月，中国国家主席习近平出访中亚和东南亚时，分别提出了与相关国家共同建设“丝绸之路经济带”和“21世纪海上丝绸之路”的倡议。该倡议以实现“政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通、民心相通”为主要内容，以共商、共建、共享为原则，实实在在地造福沿线国家和人民。“一带一路”主要涵盖东亚、东南亚、南亚、西亚、中亚和中东欧等国家和地区。“一带一路”建设符合有关各方共同利益，顺应地区和全球合作潮流，得到了沿线国家的积极响应。截止到2016年底，已有100多个国家和国际、地区组织表达了支持和参与“一带一路”建设的积极意愿，40多个国家和国际组织与中国签署了共建“一带一路”政府间合作协议。