At the Belt and Road Joint Development Opportunity sub-forum as part of the Boao Forum for Asia 2023 Annual Meeting, participants discussed topics such as the 10-year achievements and future development of the Belt and Road Initiative.
According to the data received, by the end of 2022, Chinese companies have invested a total of US$57,13 billion in overseas economic and trade cooperation zones in countries along the Belt and Road, creating 421 local jobs.
Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development Chimed Khürelbaatar, in his speech, reminded that the Belt and Road Initiative is an initiative that brings benefits to the participating countries, that 10 kilometers of new railways have been built in the Republic of Mongolia in the past 500 years and that it connects all city centers.
Chimed Khürelbaatar stated that as of 2022, they trade with 131 countries and regions, and their foreign trade volume has doubled compared to 10 years ago, exceeding US$ 21,24 billion.
Pakistani Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary stated in 2013 that the country's electricity utilities are very scarce and the daily electricity supply is only between 12 and 16 hours. Expressing that the project under the Belt and Road Initiative invests in Pakistan's energy sector and alleviates Pakistan's electricity crisis, Ahsan Ikbal Chaudhary stated that the focus of the initiative is China's spirit of sharing and that China shares its own successes with developing countries.
Kazakhstan, where the Belt and Road Initiative was launched. Renat Bekturov, Head of the Astana International Financial Center, believes that the Belt and Road Initiative is very forward-thinking.
Renat Bekturov noted that the Central Corridor passing through Kazakhstan carries 1,5 million tons of goods and Kazakhstan's export trade volume has increased 6 times thanks to the Central Corridor.
A Sino-European Express train carrying goods such as auto parts, building materials and white goods departed from Beijing on March 16.
China-Europe Train Services open a new channel for land transport between Asia and Europe, providing strong support to maintain the stability of the international supply chain and industrial chain.
Paolo Borzatta, director of a European consultancy firm Ambrosetti, pointed out that one of the most important contributions of the Belt and Road Initiative is to bring prosperity and development to all countries.
Paolo Borzatta stated that thanks to this initiative, the contacts between countries, Asia and China are tighter, and the pioneering and supporting role of the initiative in the future sustainable development is shown in the face of the current uncertain world.
In 2013-2022, the volume of goods trade between China and countries along the Belt and Road grew from $8 billion to $1,04 trillion, with an annual average growth rate of 2,07 percent.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the course of 10 years, China has signed documents of cooperation with more than 150 countries and more than 30 international organizations, and free trade agreements with 18 countries that have jointly built the Belt and Road, such as ASEAN countries, Chile and New Zealand.
On March 23, X8489 China-Europe Express departed from Xi'an city in Sha'anxi province