By Yuling Chen, Yiling Wang, iChongqing News
Chongqing - After the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development, 11 distinguished guests from both at home and abroad, shared their views and contributed their wisdom on how to jointly build a global partnership based on connectivity, on June 3, 2019.
Danilo Türk, former president of Slovenia, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Danilo Türk, former president of Slovenia, regarded the event as a significant meeting by saying, "The Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development provides us an important opportunity."
"Chongqing plays a unique role in the Belt and Road," he continued. "Chongqing, in midwest China, enjoys an advantageous location and is an essential node of China Railway Express to Europe."
When talking about what to do in the future and concrete projects and tasks, the former president pointed out that people need to remind themselves that trade war, unilateralism, and protectionism bring no benefit. "We need interconnectivity and cooperation," he stated.
The forum serves as a very globalized platform, and its creation is under the Belt and Road Initiative. "BRI expresses the vision of global importance. Projects within the BRI can, as experiences have shown, conform environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and culturally sensible."
Deng Qingbo, Vice Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
The successful Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation this April started a new journey for jointly building the high-quality development of the Belt and Road. As Chinese President Xi Jinping stated at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the key for joint construction of the B&R lies in interconnectivity.
Singapore and China signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to develop the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor under the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstrative Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI-ILSTC) last year.
Deng Qingbo, Vice Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, said, "ILSTC works as an important part of the interconnected network, enhances interconnectivity of economic corridors in countries in such as Indochina Peninsula, Eurasia land, West Asia and Central Asia, and links the B&R."
The agency aims to formulate strategic guidelines, plans and policies for foreign aid, coordinate and offer advice on major foreign aid issues, advance the country's reforms in matters involving foreign aid, and identify significant programs and supervise and evaluate their implementation.
"China International Development Cooperation Agency is ready to work with relevant parties for interconnected land-sea development and make greater contributions to the UN's 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and a community of shared future for mankind."
Artem Semenov, Member of Central Committee of United Russia, Vice President of Council for Local Cooperation of Russia-China Friendship Committee for Peace and Development, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Artem Semenov, Member of the Central Committee in Russia, Vice President of Council for Local Cooperation of Russia-China Friendship Committee for Peace and Development, introduced the progress and achievements regarding the BRI in his perspective in Chinese.
Russia and China are the largest neighbors. Russia-China relations are a model of world power relations. Maintaining a high level and strong cooperative relationship between Russia and China not only serves the interests of both sides but also helps maintain world peace and protect the international strategic balance. At present, the two-way trade volume exceeded USD100 billion, and the prospects for future development is bright.
We will continue to develop and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, continue to build friendships between the two peoples, strengthen communication among the people, promote pragmatic cooperation in bilateral affairs to new highs.
"We attach great importance to the development of flight routes. Moreover, we are considering the possibility of creating a route connecting Northeast Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe via the 21st Maritime Silk Road."
Zhao Baige, Vice Chairman of 12th National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of RDI Expert Committee, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
"I agree with what Danilo Türk, former president of Slovenia said that the whole world is like a village and everyone benefits in globalization."
Zhao Baige, Vice Chairman of 12th National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of RDI Expert Committee, described a new type of globalization in four aspects. This kind of globalization upholds peace and development. It is in line with the principle of broad consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits.
"China has spent 40 years for its reform and opening up and has established a new reform system involving politics, economy, society, culture, and ecology, and the Belt and Road Initiative is only six years old," she said and added, "For such a new life full of vitality, let us embrace with the utmost enthusiasm because BRI represents the voice of the people of the world."
Sichalcune Somphone, Vice Minister of International Liaison Department of Lao People's Revolutionary Party, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Sichalcune Somphone, Vice Minister of International Liaison Department of Lao People's Revolutionary Party, noted that, "I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and congratulations to the Communist Party of China for creating such a very good and precious platform for the exchange of ideas between the CPC and Southeast Asian countries.
People know it is necessary to strengthen the leading work of political parties, strengthen cooperation between political parties, and promote relations between countries, both in bilateral and multilateral ways."
"Over the past six years since it came into being, the BRI has transformed from a vision into a tangible project and continues to develop. BRI brings more high-quality development and meanwhile contributes to sustainable development and mutual benefits and win-win outcomes."
Low Yen Ling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower, Singapore, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Low Yen Ling, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Education and Ministry of Manpower, Singapore, said that "China and Singapore have reached consensus in many areas: infrastructure construction, land-sea connectivity, and legal affairs."
CCI is the third intergovernmental cooperation project between China and Singapore. It is aimed to accelerate the development of western China by reducing local financing and logistics costs. "CCI is a demonstration project of the BRI, which will help us continuously explore the potential of western China and strengthen interconnectivity."
ILSTC shortens the time it took for goods to be transported from western China to southeastern China, decreasing from the previous three weeks to one week. "ILSTC will make contributions to the BRI and provides a broader market for Western China and ASEAN countries. So what I want to say that BRI is indeed a win-win initiative," she said.
Hu Jianhua, Board Director and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee China Merchants Group, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Hu Jianhua, Board Director and Deputy Secretary of CPC Committee China Merchants Group, addressed at the plenary session from the perspective of the enterprise and the level of practice.
Mr. Hu introduced the work of the China Merchants Group on B&R and shared experiences in three aspects.
“In 2018, we launched a total of 802 international trains, accounting for 13% of the national total. The investment in the China-Railway Express (Chongqing) to European starts in Chongqing.”
“The countries along B&R have a solid foundation and great potential for mutually beneficial cooperation, can share the fruits of cooperation and achieve win-win and win-win results and can build a community of shared future through sincere cooperation,” he concluded.
Jose Luis Centella, President of the Communist Party of Spain, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Jose Luis Centella, President of the Communist Party of Spain, praised that the work done by the Chinese Embassy in Spain has contributed to a constant improvement of economic, cultural and social relations between China and Spain and above all to value the Chinese community in all its dimensions, from economic to social and cultural.
“In particular, it is important for us to move closer toward BRI, in favor of cultural, economic and social cooperation between different cultures, economies and social realities, so that all peoples win,” he said.
“This is a great opportunity that we must take advantage of because we are in a historic moment to take a great forward leap in seeking an international cooperation framework and solidarity among all the State of the Planet.”
Simona Surinao, Member of the Constitutional Affairs Committee, Chamber of Deputies, Italy, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Simona Surinao, Member of Constitutional Affairs Committee, Chamber of Deputies, Italy, said, “The Eurasian route has lasted for centuries, and the reopening of a different one is the correct and natural answer to the needs of the contemporary world.”
A route that is firstly an expression of the exchange of ideas and good practices on the basis of strong principles such as sustainable development and of all those directives of the 2030 Agenda, of the Paris Agreement on climate change and which is in harmony with the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation and with the European Union strategy for Eurasian Connectivity.
“From a strategic point of view, the Silk Road is not only important for flows of capital but also for the free movement of people and the dissemination of culture,” she continued.
She wished that this might be the beginning of a long road and dialogue to become increasingly productive with Italy and Europe.
Wang Huiyao, councilor of the State Council and president of Center for China and Globalization, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Wang Huiyao, councilor of the State Council and president of Center for China and Globalization, noted, “If fully implemented, BRI will have an enormous revolutionary impact on global infrastructure.” It is a new function of our globalization after more than 70 years of development, and it represents great achievements in infrastructure reform after China’s reform and opening up for more than 40 years. And these achievements are shared with the world via BRI.
Charles Onunaiju, Director of Center for China Studies, Nigeria, addresses at the Belt and Road Forum for Interconnected Land-Sea Development in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 3, 2019. (Photo by Hu Jie)
Charles Onunaiju, Director of Center for China Studies, Nigeria, said, “If we promote BRI better, we will not only be able to resolve the various conflicts in the international community better but also enable us to advance the future better.”
The Director added, “Under the framework of BRI, China-Africa cooperation will bring more opportunities for both sides. Moreover, BRI can connect more stakeholders at different levels, including communities, governments, non-government, workers, and society. It is very important for people from all walks of life to find their place in BRI."
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