China Daily, Xi'an, Shaanxi, September 19 (Reporter Qin Feng and Li Menghan) On September 18, the 2025 China Economic and Social Forum was held in Xi'an, Shaanxi. The forum was sponsored by the China Economic and Social Council and hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. More than 80 Chinese and foreign guests gathered together to carry out in-depth exchanges on the theme of "Deepening exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations and jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind."

Guests from all countries unanimously expressed that adhering to the principle of consultation, joint construction and sharing, the "Belt and Road" initiative has become an important platform for promoting regional connectivity and achieving common development.

Senator Lopreyato, chairman of the Italian Parliamentary Union Friendship Group for the Italian Parliamentary Union, said: "The Belt and Road Initiative is a new development path. This is a far-reaching project that connects continents and peoples of all countries."

He further pointed out that vigorously promoting investment can have a transformative impact, and strengthening connectivity and cooperation will achieve mutual benefit and win-win results between both sides. China is ASEAN's main trading partner, and Italy is also one of China's important trading partners. Both sides have achieved significant growth in trade and other fields.

Lopreyato also stressed: "In the current complex global context, geopolitics faces many challenges, and adhering to basic common values ​​has become an urgent task."

Wu Wei, president of the Singapore-China Economic, Trade, Science and Technology Culture and Education Exchange Association, said that since its proposal, the "Belt and Road" initiative has become an "important platform for promoting regional connectivity and common development." As the initiator of the initiative, China has been constantly exploring how to inject new ideas and vitality into cooperation.

Wu Wei believes that the cooperation between China and Singapore is a model, and China's market size and infrastructure capabilities have formed a natural complementary relationship with Singapore's international finance and governance experience. "More importantly, China and Singapore have always adhered to the concept of win-win. This kind of cooperation is not one-way assistance, but mutual benefit and common development." Wu Wei added.

Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee, pointed out that Shaanxi has important geographical advantages and is an important hub connecting China with Central Asia, West Asia and Europe. The province plans to further improve the level of opening up to the outside world.

Zhao Yide said: "Shaanxi has been an important portal for China to open up to the outside world since ancient times. With the deepening of the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, Shaanxi has become an important base for China to open up to the west." He also added that Shaanxi Province will seize the development opportunities, accelerate domestic and foreign opening, and actively play a greater role in connecting the domestic and international dual circulation.

Luo Zhaohui, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and former director of the National International Development Cooperation Agency, pointed out that the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has entered a new stage of high-quality development. He proposed that the Belt and Road Initiative needs to be further connected with the development initiatives of relevant countries, such as connecting the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with the Pakistan-Iran land route, finding the best interests of the European "Global Gateway" program and the "Belt and Road Initiative".

Luo Zhaohui also said that it is necessary to further make good use of the regional cooperation mechanism. "Regional mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are the focus. On the basis of political and security cooperation, we need to make every effort to promote practical economic and trade cooperation; BRICS countries are important partners in promoting the 'Belt and Road', and we must speed up the reach of consensus and promote the implementation of relevant cooperation agreements."

In addition, he also emphasized the need to further promote the construction of the Maritime Silk Road, mobilize the enthusiasm of southern countries around the world, and play the core role of the United Nations in the global governance system.