Walking together with the road, the Silk Road is long coiled through the east and west; sharing the destiny, the wave of cooperation is rushing forward.

In 2013, General Secretary Xi Jinping pioneered the initiative of jointly building the "Belt and Road". As a major measure for my country to expand its opening up to the outside world, jointly building the "Belt and Road" has become the world's largest, most extensive and most influential international economic cooperation platform.

The world has entered a new period of turbulence and change, and mankind has once again stood at the crossroads of history. Faced with the ever-increasing global peace deficit, development deficit, security deficit and governance deficit, my country has fully implemented the Silk Road spirit of "peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit and win-win" and responded to the question of the times of "what is wrong with the world and what should we do?" by jointly building the "Belt and Road".

Over the past 12 years, the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has become wider and more practical, becoming an international public product that embodies Chinese wisdom and is widely popular.

First, the infrastructure "hard connectivity" is continuously optimized. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" focuses on the construction of economic corridors and international channels, and project cooperation as the carrier to basically form a pattern of integrated interconnection between land, sea and sky networks. The construction of cross-border highways, railways, ports and aviation hubs has been continuously accelerated, and a series of landmark projects have been built to effectively improve regional logistics efficiency and industrial coordination capabilities. Promote the production and operation of major projects such as cross-border oil and gas pipelines, ensure energy security, and lay a solid foundation for development.

Second, the rule standard "Soft Unicom" is becoming increasingly sound. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" focuses on deepening the docking of rules and standards, continuously improving the "soft connectivity" mechanism platform, and building a bridge for interconnection between rules and standards among countries.

China has signed cooperation documents on jointly building the "Belt and Road" with more than 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations. The initiative to jointly build the "Belt and Road" is deeply connected with the development strategies of multiple countries, and establish a multi-level, multi-platform and multi-subject communication channel. In 2024, the trade volume of goods between my country and countries jointly built the "Belt and Road" reached 22.1 trillion yuan, accounting for more than 50% of my country's import and export for the first time.

Third, the "heart connectivity" with the people of the country is becoming increasingly deepening. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" takes the "heart-to-heart connectivity" of the people of the country as an important foundation, continue to improve cooperation platforms in the fields of culture, tourism, education, etc., support folk exchanges, and form a multi-interaction and a blooming exchange pattern.

Fourth, cooperation in new fields is progressing steadily. my country and its partners adapt to the new global development trends, actively build new platforms for multilateral and bilateral cooperation in the fields of green and innovation, establish an international alliance for green development of the "Belt and Road" and implement the "Belt and Road" scientific and technological innovation action plan. Promote the conclusion of the "Global Data Security Initiative" and "One Belt, One Road" Digital Economy International Cooperation Initiative, and initiate the "Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative".

The Belt and Road Initiative has embodied valuable Chinese wisdom and is highlighted in the following aspects:

First, adhere to peace. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" will transcend the jungle law and hegemony order based on strength confrontation, abandon the zero-sum logic of winning and losing, living and death, break out of the Cold War mentality of ideological opposition and geopolitical game, take the path of peaceful development, and strive to fundamentally solve the problems of permanent peace and universal security.

The second is to highlight openness. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" is not about starting a new beginning or starting over, but about a beneficial supplement and improvement of the existing international mechanism; it is not a "solo" of China, but a "chorus" of all parties. From Eurasian continent to Africa, America, and Oceania, no matter what kind of political system, history, culture, religious belief, ideology, or development stage, as long as you have the willingness to develop together, you can participate in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road".

The third is to practice equality. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" is based on consultation, joint construction and sharing, and advocates equal participation, communication and consultation, and brainstorming based on voluntariness, to build consensus to the greatest extent, and to provide a consultation and cooperation platform for economies at different stages of development to carry out dialogue and cooperation and participate in global governance.

Fourth, emphasize mutual benefit. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" will not do force buying and selling that is superior to others, nor will it engage in a "center-edge" dependence system, nor will it pass on problems, harm neighbors, or harm others for self-interest. The goal is to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and common development and prosperity. We must firmly grasp the greatest common divisor of development, give full play to our respective potentials, stimulate our automatic energy, and jointly create more development opportunities and space.

The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has not only developed China, but also benefited the world. In a world with increasing uncertainty and instability, the contemporary value and world significance of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative are becoming increasingly prominent.

First of all, it brings tangible benefits to jointly building a country. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" focuses on solving the shortcomings and bottlenecks that restrict development, implement a large number of infrastructure construction projects, and improve local production and living conditions and development environment through jointly building transportation, energy and basic public service infrastructure, and enhance the hematopoietic function of economic development. Actively promote the "small but beautiful" and "benefit but practical" people's livelihood projects and people's hearts projects, and help local people solve urgent needs through agricultural and fishery cooperation, increasing the proportion of local employees, etc., improve living conditions and improve people's livelihood and well-being, bringing a real sense of gain, happiness and security.

Secondly, the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has added new vitality to the global economy. The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" is committed to achieving the world's interconnectedness and coordinated development, opening up the main artery of economic globalization, smoothing the flow of information, capital, technology, product, industry, and personnel, promoting a larger-scale and higher-level international cooperation, and making it bigger and better the "cake" of economic globalization. Through infrastructure connectivity, promote international investment, stimulate global infrastructure enthusiasm, expand international division of labor, expand the world market, and inject sustained impetus into world economic growth. Improve the level of liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, build a comprehensive, multi-level and compound trade smooth network, and strive to create an efficient and interconnected international channel.

Third, jointly building the "Belt and Road" has provided new solutions to improve global governance. We adhere to true multilateralism, practice the global governance concept of consultation, joint construction and sharing, adhere to dialogue without confrontation, demolish walls without building walls, integration without decoupling, tolerance without excusing, and providing a new paradigm for exchanges between countries and promoting the development of the global governance system in a more just and reasonable direction. The core concept of jointly building the "Belt and Road" has been written into important documents of international organizations and mechanisms such as the United Nations and the APEC. Accelerate the construction of governance mechanisms in emerging fields such as innovative, digital, green and healthy with partners, enrich and expand the connotation and practice of multilateralism, enhance the voice of emerging market countries and developing countries in global governance, and help improve global governance reform and improvement. We fully respect the differences between countries, do not preset rules and standards, and do not draw lines with ideology. Instead, based on the cooperation demands and actual situations of all parties, through full consultation and in-depth exchanges, we jointly study and create rules for new issues in practice, effectively improving the global governance system.

Fourth, jointly build the "Belt and Road" to gather civilized power for the progress of human society. We adhere to the civilization concept of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness, adhere to the promotion of the common values ​​of all mankind, jointly build a path of civilization exchanges and mutual learning with each other, and promote the formation of a new situation of cultural exchanges, cultural integration, and people-to-people communication among countries around the world.

We will follow the trend, win the hearts of the people, benefit people's livelihood, and benefit the world. Looking forward, we must take the eight actions to jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality as a guide, comprehensively improve the quality and efficiency of pragmatic cooperation, deepen institutionalized and systematic construction, and promote the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" to move forward steadily and for a long-term way.

From the "hard connectivity" of infrastructure to the "soft connectivity" of rules and standards to the "heart connectivity" of people in jointly building the country and the people, China will continue to strengthen itself in its integration into the development of the world, and promote world development with its own development. China is willing to work with all parties to always stand on the right side of history and human progress, make the "Belt and Road" a happy road to benefit the world, and make greater contributions to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Case 1

Logistics smoothly, goods delivered to the point-to-point

Narrator: Sulu (Kazakhstan) General Manager of Xi'an Tidakant International Logistics Co., Ltd.

Someone asked me why I chose to start a business in Xi'an, Shaanxi? The answer is hidden in the trajectory of the "Iron Camel Caravan".

In 2021, I came to Xi'an and took root in this city because it is an important hub of China-Europe Express - China-Europe Express (Xi'an), with annual operation volume, ranking among the top in China, efficiently connecting major hub nodes between Central Asia and Europe. At the same time, the policy support and efficient services of Xi'an International Port Area allow start-ups to "go lightly".

The China-Europe freight train carries development opportunities. As a cross-border logistics company, our monthly business involves about 100 import and export trains. From daily necessities, home appliances to new energy vehicles, goods can be delivered to the point. We replicate our successful experience in Xi'an, have established branches in Qingdao, Shandong, and plan to set up branches in Shanghai and Chengdu, Sichuan.

The visa-free policy, direct flights and cross-border payments make personnel exchanges between Kazakhstan and China more convenient, not only promotes tourism consumption and economic and trade exchanges, but also reflects the mutual cooperation between the two countries in jointly building the "Belt and Road".

From Astana, Kazakhstan to Xi'an, China, I have become one of the participants in jointly building the "Belt and Road".

China's security, vitality and tolerance have made me root deeper and deeper here, and have also made me deeply aware that China is not only a market, but also a stage for realizing my dreams.

Case 2

Financial and financial communication to help green development

Narrator: Shen Hua, General Manager of Trade Finance Department, Johannesburg Branch, Bank of China

South Africa is facing power shortages. In 2024, the Oasis Energy Storage Project, which was tendered by the South African government and undertaken by China Power Construction, was signed. After the project is completed, it can store 1,000 megawatt hours of electricity, meeting the electricity needs of about 100,000 households in one day.

China Power Construction was selected as the contractor this time, which is inseparable from the financial guarantee provided by Bank of China. As the credit guarantor, Bank of China issued a letter of guarantee to the owner that complies with South African market practices to guarantee the performance of China Power Construction. This not only ensures that the contractor can successfully obtain advance payments and promote project construction, but also helps the owners avoid risks and enhances the professional image of Chinese enterprises in international projects.

South Africa is the first African country to sign a memorandum of understanding on the cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative with China, and green development and energy cooperation are key areas supported by Bank of China in South Africa.

In 2022, the Johannesburg Branch of Bank of China issued green bonds led by Chinese banks; in 2024, we provided 30 million yuan in financing to China Construction South Africa to support the renovation and expansion of the Durban Expressway; in July this year, we reached a new agreement with BAIC South Africa factory to support the construction of its new energy vehicle project. Finance and Finance is an important support for the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and will further help the development of the two countries.

Case Three

Close cooperation and cultivate skilled talents

Narrator: Huang Keying (Thailand) teacher at Tianjin Bohai Vocational and Technical College

In 2013, I received a scholarship from the Chinese government and came to Tianjin to study. After graduating from graduate school in 2016, I decided to stay in China and join the Tianjin Bohai Vocational and Technical College to work in the Luban Workshop project in Thailand.

The Luban Workshop in Thailand was established in 2016 by the Ayutthaya Technical College and the Tianjin Bohai Vocational and Technical College. To date, the Luban Workshop has trained more than 2,000 technical and skilled talents for Thailand and supported more than 460 Thai students to study in China.

Witnessing the growth of students and cultivating friendly messengers between the two countries is the most fulfilling thing in my work. Thai students who graduated from Luban Workshop are very "popular" in the employment market. This directly improves the economic conditions of some students and their families, and is a reflection of jointly building the "Belt and Road" to improve people's livelihood and welfare.

Luban Workshop provides assistance in the cultivation of skilled talents in Thailand. Taking the new energy vehicle industry as an example, the second phase of the Luban Workshop in Thailand opened a new energy vehicle technology major. Tianjin Bohai Vocational and Technical College provided a lot of equipment and also sponsored Thai teachers to come to China for training, so that they can master the latest knowledge and technology.

The joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has changed my life trajectory. I met my husband at Luban Workshop. We are both family and colleagues. If we summarize it in one sentence, I want to say - a family in Thailand and China!