This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The 2023 Belt and Road Forum for Land-sea Interconnected Development is scheduled to take place in Southwest China's Chongqing from May 17th to 18th. 

The forum is focused on gaining a more profound understanding of the guiding principles of the BRI, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative while exploring strategies for fostering new growth drivers and building a community of development.

Under the theme of Shaping a New Shared Future for Interconnected Land-Sea Development, this year's forum will feature a variety of main activities such as an opening ceremony, a plenary session, parallel meetings, achievement releases, visit and inspection, and symposiums.

Parallel seminars will be arranged on topics such as the Interconnected Development of Regional Economies in the Construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, Cooperation between Emerging Industries during the Building of the BRI, and People-to-People Bond during the Building the BRI.

Over 50 leaders representing political parties think tanks, and the business community from Belt and Road partner countries will attend the forum.

At the 20th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping advocated for accelerating the construction of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC). In response, Chongqing has strategically planned and advanced the ILSTC's construction in harmony with China's modernization drive, aiming to transform the ILSTC into a critical platform actively participating in the BRI.

As a significant task and a notable achievement of new Chongqing's journey in this new era, the ILSTC holds strategic importance. This year marks the second year of the forum. The first edition of the Belt and Road Forum for Land-sea Interconnected Development took place in June 2019, where parties agreed to release the Belt and Road Forum for Land-sea Interconnected Development—Chongqing Initiative and establish the Chongqing Think Tank for International Exchange.

Notably, the first forum was a pivotal project for implementing the deliverables of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. To date, the ILSTC has established a transportation network encompassing 393 ports in 119 countries and regions globally.

As a national central city, Chongqing serves as a crucial node of the BRI and the operation and organization center of the ILSTC. Hosting the second forum on this special occasion of the Belt and Road Initiative's 10th anniversary can foster more substantial strategic alignment and common development among participating countries, unlock the complementary advantages of land and sea corridors, and facilitate global connectivity partnerships. Simultaneously, it can assist the Belt and Road Initiative achieve substantive, steady, and sustained development, providing greater benefits to people worldwide.

The forum is co-hosted by the Belt and Road Think Tank Cooperation Alliance, initiated by the International Department of the Central Committee of CPC and the People's Government of Chongqing Municipality, and co-organized by the China Center for Contemporary World Studies of the International Department of the Central Committee of CPC and the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Chongqing Municipality.