Against the backdrop of deep adjustments in the global economic landscape and coexistence of challenges and opportunities, a data is particularly eye-catching: in 2024, China's direct investment in countries jointly built the "Belt and Road" was US$50.99 billion, a significant increase of 22.9% year-on-year. This data not only demonstrates China's firm determination and positive actions in promoting the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" initiative, but also sends out many positive signals, injecting a "booster" into global economic development.

China has extremely far-reaching significance for the significant increase in direct investment in countries that jointly build the "Belt and Road" countries. From an economic perspective, this provides strong financial support for the construction of infrastructure, industrial upgrading and economic development of the jointly built country. A large amount of funds flowing into infrastructure fields such as transportation, energy, and communications can effectively improve the local investment environment, reduce logistics costs, and enhance industrial competitiveness. Taking the China-Laos Railway as an example, the railway invested and built by China not only greatly improved Laos' traffic conditions, drove the vigorous development of tourism, logistics and other industries along the route, but also created a large number of job opportunities, giving wings to Laos' economic takeoff.

In terms of promoting industrial cooperation, Chinese enterprises' investment helps jointly build the country to optimize the industrial structure and promote diversified industrial development. Chinese manufacturing enterprises are jointly building state-owned enterprises to invest and set up factories, bringing advanced technology and management experience, and driving local related industries from nothing to something, from weak to strong. In Ethiopia, Chinese textile and garment companies invested in and built factories, helping the local area to establish a relatively complete textile industry chain, increased product added value, and promoted the local industrialization process.

From the perspective of international cooperation, investment growth has promoted mutual benefit and win-win and deep integration among all countries. It strengthens the economic ties between China and the co-construction countries and forms a close cooperative relationship of sharing interests and sharing risks. This cooperation model will help break trade barriers, promote regional economic integration, and contribute to the construction of an open world economic pattern.

Behind this growth, there are multiple driving factors. First of all, the continuous promotion and in-depth implementation of the "Belt and Road" initiative has provided a solid policy guarantee and a broad development platform for investment and cooperation. Countries have made continuous progress in policy communication, facility connectivity, smooth trade, financial and social communication, etc., which has reduced investment risks and enhanced corporate investment confidence. Secondly, after years of development, Chinese enterprises have continuously improved their comprehensive strength and have stronger ability and willingness to "go global". Driven by the inherent demand of expanding overseas markets and seeking complementary resources and technology, enterprises are actively engaged in the investment wave of jointly building the "Belt and Road" countries. Furthermore, the joint construction country has actively improved the business environment and introduced preferential policies to attract foreign investment, creating good conditions for Chinese enterprises to invest.

Looking ahead, as the construction of the "Belt and Road" continues to deepen and implement, China's direct investment in countries jointly built is expected to continue to maintain a good growth trend. China will continue to uphold the principles of consultation, joint construction and sharing, work together with the countries that jointly build, continuously expand investment fields, innovate investment methods, and improve investment quality and efficiency. There is broad room for investment and cooperation in infrastructure construction, green energy, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation and other fields. At the same time, Chinese enterprises will pay more attention to integrating with local economic and social development, fulfill their social responsibilities, and achieve sustainable development.

China's significant increase in direct investment in countries that jointly build the "Belt and Road" is a vivid portrayal of the common development of China and the countries that jointly build. It injects strong impetus into global economic recovery and prosperity, and also lays a solid foundation for building a community with a shared future for mankind. In the future journey, I believe that this investment cooperation will continue to bear fruitful results and write more exciting chapters of mutual benefit and win-win results. (Zhang Jie)