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SLCJF Strengthens Media Ties with China Media Group

In an effort to enhance bilateral relations and encourage closer media collaboration, senior members of the Sri Lanka China Journalists Forum (SLCJF) met with representatives from China Media Group during their recent visit to Sri Lanka.

Led by Mr. Nalin Aponso, President of SLCJF, along with Treasurer Mr. Sudewa Hettiaarachchi and Executive Committee Member Mr. Saranga Wijeyaratne, the meeting focused on discussions regarding the evolving media landscape in both Sri Lanka and China.

Key figures from China Media Group, including Liao Li, Deputy Director, Chen Sunyi, Administrative Supervisor, and Tian Daming, Marketing Director, took part in the dialogue aimed at exploring avenues for collaboration and mutual benefit.

The discussions covered various aspects of media cooperation, including sharing content, exchanging journalists, and initiating joint projects to promote cultural understanding between the two nations.

Established in May 2001, the SLCJF has played a significant role in nurturing strong ties between Sri Lanka and China through journalism and media engagement. It serves as a platform for facilitating meaningful exchanges and partnerships within the media industry.

Mr. Aponso stressed the importance of such collaborations in fostering greater understanding and goodwill between the two countries. He highlighted the pivotal role that SLCJF plays in promoting bilateral relations and enhancing mutual cooperation in the field of journalism.

The meeting concluded with a consensus on further strengthening media ties between Sri Lanka and China, with both parties expressing their commitment to exploring new avenues of collaboration in the future.

World reporters gain insights at two sessions

As the two sessions drew to a close, foreign reporters agreed that covering the annual gatherings of China’s top legislative and political advisory bodies has allowed them to observe Chinese democracy up close, without the biased outlook of certain Western media outlets coloring their judgment.

They said the two sessions and the interviews on the sidelines allowed Chinese policymakers to speak about their decisions, thus better clarifying the country’s policies and reducing misunderstandings.

“Coming here and seeing for oneself helps a lot, because you get a real sense of how the Chinese political system works,” said Ernest Miloi, who covers international relations for the Botswana Guardian.

Working as a journalist for the last 30 years, Miloi said that though he has written extensively about the world’s second-largest economy over the course of his career from a local perspective, it was the first time that he was in China to report on the two sessions.

Miloi said that media access to such events is very crucial because the world is “so used to the Western media narrative about China”, which he felt is biased.

Fernando Capotondo, a reporter with Telam, Argentina’s national news agency, said that he is still learning about China’s political system, which is very different from Argentina’s, even though this is the third time he is covering the two sessions since 2015.

“I think here you have more democracy than what people have in Western countries,” he said, adding that in many instances, voters in a Western country have to vote for someone who does not really represent them. However, deputies to the National People’s Congress are elected from all walks of life. “It’s very important to be here and see this difference.”

Ali Abbas Ramay, a Pakistani reporter, said that before covering the two sessions, he used to believe that the Communist Party of China made all the decisions according to its own intentions. However, being present at the gatherings made him realize that all sectors and political parties are involved in the decision-making process.

The annual two sessions have long served as a window to China’s unique system and commanded global attention.

Official figures show that about one-third of the 3,000 reporters who registered to cover this year’s two sessions are from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas, a level on par with previous years.

Freidder Alfonzo, from the Venezuelan news outlet Correo del Orinoco, said, “The two sessions helped us to know the plans, projects and proposals the government puts forward for the coming year and the goals it sets for different sectors.” Such information is very important for people in Venezuela and beyond due to the extensive cooperation between the two countries, he added.

He said he is impressed with China’s resolve to maintain peace and promote win-win cooperation.

After a news conference attended by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Mahdi Faraj Hamid, who works for Iraqi television network Rudaw, said, “Everything is nice and positive, especially the intentions of China.” He added that the minister’s views shed light on China’s stance on the ongoing conflicts in the world.

Yang Ran, Pan Yiqiao and Qiao Yuhao contributed to this story. (By LI LEI)

Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese Thursday at a reception in Beijing.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at the gathering at the Great Hall of the People, greeting Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese.

The outgoing Year of the Rabbit marked the beginning of the full implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress on all fronts, Xi said, noting that the country faced an exceptionally complicated international environment and arduous tasks of reform, development, and maintaining stability.

“We pooled strength from Chinese modernization, kept in mind both domestic and international imperatives, overcame multiple difficulties and challenges, and made solid progress on a new journey toward building China into a modern socialist country in all respects,” Xi said.

Li Qiang presided over the reception. Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng were also present at the event.

Over the past year, China adhered to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability and promoted economic recovery, Xi said.

Listing the progress made, Xi said the country’s total grain output reached a new high, employment and prices have been kept generally stable, and breakthroughs were made in scientific and technological innovation.

Reform and opening up continued to deepen in China, a new round of reform of Party and state institutions has been basically completed, the country’s ecological environment continued to improve, and new steps have been taken on modernizing national defense and the armed forces, he said.

Xi also praised deepened efforts on exercising full and rigorous Party self-governance and fighting corruption.

By putting the people first, authorities worked hard to address the pressing difficulties and problems that concerned people most, and made all-out efforts in responding to natural disasters and advancing post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, thus maintaining overall social stability, Xi said.

“We actively support Hong Kong and Macao in better integrating into the overall situation of national development, firmly oppose separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ and interference by external forces, and vigorously defend our country’s sovereignty, security and development interests,” Xi said.

Xi, Belgian PM meet in Beijing, agreeing to enhance ties

 Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium Alexander De Croo in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Belgium relations, Xi said bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results and benefited the two peoples since the establishment of diplomatic ties 53 years ago.

China and Belgium are both beneficiaries of economic globalization and share common interests in resisting protectionism and safeguarding free trade, Xi said.

China appreciates De Croo’s open opposition to the decoupling or severing of industrial and supply chains on many occasions, welcomes Belgian companies to invest in China, and stands ready to provide them with a sound business environment, Xi said, expressing his hope that Belgium will also provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.

Xi said the two sides can combine their respective strengths to expand cooperation in traditional areas such as transportation, logistics and biopharmaceuticals, and explore new growth areas for cooperation such as green development and digital economy.

He called on the two sides to encourage government departments, legislatures, and sub-national areas to strengthen exchanges and dialogue, expand tourism and exchange of students, organize large-scale cultural activities in each other’s country, and carry out research on giant panda protection.

Xi said China is willing to strengthen communication with Belgium within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and carry out cooperation on issues such as climate change and biodiversity protection.

Stressing that China maintains long-term consistency in its policy toward Europe, Xi said China has always regarded Europe as a partner and hopes that Europe will play a positive and constructive role as an important force in a multipolar world.

In the face of the changing and volatile international situation, China and Europe need to build more “bridges,” he added.

Xi said the two sides should work more closely to promote an equal and orderly global multipolarity and an economic globalization that benefits all, and jointly promote world peace, stability and prosperity.

China is willing to work with the European Union (EU) to foster progress in China-EU relations in the new year and hopes that Belgium, as the EU rotating presidency, will play a positive role in this regard, Xi added.

De Croo said the Belgium-China relationship is a pacesetter in European countries’ ties with China in many aspects, noting that Belgium will continue to abide by the one-China policy, and have candid dialogue with China to deepen understanding and push for continuous development of bilateral relations in political, economic and other fields.

De Croo said Belgium opposes decoupling or severing of industrial and supply chains, welcomes Chinese enterprises to carry out cooperation in Belgium, and hopes to strengthen personnel and cultural exchanges with China.

De Croo noted that he was deeply impressed by President Xi’s vivid description of “bridges” during his visit to Belgium a decade ago.

Amid the changing and turbulent international situation, the world needs China and Europe to work as partners and strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas such as promoting world economic growth, addressing climate change and building a more stable world, De Croo said.

Belgium, as the rotating presidency of the EU, is willing to play an active role in the development of EU-China relations and hopes that this visit will help elevate Belgium-China and EU-China relations, he added.

Social media fuels tourism boom in China

An artificial moon illuminating the St. Sophia Cathedral, hot air balloons gracefully floating over the Songhua River, a dazzling ice-snow theme park wowing visitors, the Oroqen ethnic minority people and their reindeer adding a unique cultural touch… Welcome to the enchanting winter wonderland that Harbin has passionately crafted for all to experience.

Since the start of this year’s ice and snow season, short videos showcasing these incredible scenes in the northeastern Chinese city have gone viral on social media platforms across the world.

“My wife and I had thought about going to Thailand for a winter trip, but we were attracted by the viral short videos depicting ice-and-snow fun in Harbin. So, we are here now,” said Sun Chengzhe, a tourist from east China’s Fujian Province.

UNPARALLELED HOSPITALITY

Dubbed as China’s “ice city,” Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province, boasts a history of more than six decades of celebrating the ice and snow festival. The first ice lantern exhibition was held here in 1963.

To attract more tourists, the city has stepped up its efforts this year. The Ice and Snow World, a prominent theme park situated on the northern bank of the Songhua River, has expanded to 810,000 square meters, marking its largest scale since it first opened in 1999. A total of 250,000 cubic meters of ice and snow were harvested from the river to build fairy-tale castles, towers and slides.

An array of activities, including live performances, firework displays, intangible heritage culture shows and concerts, have been introduced. In addition, a series of measures have been rolled out to improve the city’s dining, accommodation, travel, shopping and entertainment so as to enhance the visitor experience.

The city’s residents have also pitched in to showcase their hospitality, with locals volunteering to offer free rides at train stations and on streets to tourists.

“I am deeply touched by the local people’s warmth and friendliness. From the moment I got off the train, taxi drivers and restaurant owners I’ve encountered along the way have constantly recommended places to visit. What’s more amazing is that during the peak tourist season, you can ride the subway for free,” said Xing Xinyu, a tourist from Shanxi Province.

Thanks to the concerted efforts, Harbin’s popularity among tourists has skyrocketed. During the three-day New Year holiday, it received more than 3 million visitors, raking in 5.91 billion yuan (about 831.97 million U.S. dollars) of tourism revenue. Both the number of tourists and the amount of tourism revenue surpassed the figures for 2019, marking a historical peak.

According to the “top 10 cities for ice-snow tourism in 2024” released earlier this month by China Tourism Academy, Harbin has claimed the top spot.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Becoming the standout tourism attraction is not merely a stroke of luck, but the result of meticulous planning and focused efforts.

“Since the past year, we have continuously enhanced our market-oriented thinking and service awareness,” said He Jing, director of the provincial culture and tourism department, adding that the promotion of tourism through social media platforms was piloted in early 2023.

He noted that related departments attach great importance to tourists’ demands on social media platforms and make timely adjustments. For instance, in response to tourists expressing a desire to take photos at the St. Sophia Cathedral, a former Russian Orthodox church, against the backdrop of a radiant moon, local authorities installed a large artificial moon above the Neo-Byzantine architecture.

One of the most popular short videos showcasing winter tourism in Harbin features a group of young tourists aged between three and six years old from the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, attracting nationwide attention.

As Guangxi is a major producer of tangerines and the young tourists wore orange-colored coats, they have been called “little sweet tangerines” by netizens.

To show their gratitude for the warmth extended to the Guangxi children, Guangxi announced the exemption of tickets at its 45 tourist attractions for people from the northeastern regions.

“I had heard about tourism in the northeastern regions long before, but the short videos have encouraged more people, including me, to practically experience it,” said Deng Xiao, a tourist traveling in Yanji, Jilin Province.

Experts believe that the online interaction between Heilongjiang and Guangxi has not only promoted tourism in both regions but also introduced local specialties such as Guangxi tangerines and Heilongjiang cranberries, unlocking a mutually beneficial approach for promoting the cultural and tourism development of cities.

“The surge in ice-snow tourism in Harbin is closely related to promotions on social media platforms, especially short video platforms. Through ‘internet thinking,’ such as gathering public opinions online and creating online and offline interactions, Harbin as a ‘celebrity city’ has become even more popular as a tourist destination,” said Tian Lei, a professor of journalism and communication at Heilongjiang University.

Many regions have been inspired by Heilongjiang’s success and plan to follow suit to boost the winter tourism and ice-and-snow economy. “This serves as a good example of China driving economic development and stimulating consumption through ‘internet thinking,'” Tian added.

Social media platforms have also played a crucial role in revitalizing the tourism market in other cities like Chongqing, Chengdu and Zibo.

“The promotion of culture and tourism needs the support of online traffic, yet it goes beyond mere online presence. Ensuring the longevity of popularity and maintaining lasting appeal can only be achieved through the continuous improvement of services and the introduction of innovative cultural and tourism products,” said Zhu Baokun, operations director of a popular tourism attraction in Jilin.

CMG’s annual awards ceremony shines spotlight on Chinese TV drama

The second China Media Group (CMG) Annual Chinese TV Drama Ceremony was held on Friday night in Beijing.

Shen Haixiong, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and president of CMG, attended the event and awarded honors for outstanding works of the year. Eighteen honors were awarded at the event and keywords related to the development trends of Chinese TV dramas in 2024 were released.

During the event, CMG launched a series of support plans to help the high-quality development of China’s TV drama industry from the aspects of drama support, talent training, and cultural and tourism co-creation.

The event’s live audience on all platforms across CMG exceeded 25 million.

The main cast members of the TV series “Fan Hua” (Blossoms Shanghai) reviewed the shooting process, talked about their feelings about character shaping, and sent New Year blessings to the audience.

Before the event, the main creators of TV series such as “Three-Body,” “The Knockout,” “Blossoms Shanghai,” “The Heart,” “A Long Way Home” and “The Youth Memories” gathered on the red carpet, sharing stories about their respective shows. They expressed confidence and expectations for the continued high-quality development of China’s TV drama industry.

The second CMG Annual Chinese TV Drama Ceremony will be rebroadcast on CCTV-1 and CCTV-8 during the Spring Festival holiday in the Year of Loong and synchronized with new media platforms such as the Yangshipin app and CCTV.com.

2023 APEC: Xi, Biden tackle pressing issues

Leaders agree to initiate more contacts on military, AI, climate, air travel, exchanges

President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden agreed to enhance dialogue and cooperation in various fields during a summit on Wednesday, with both sides pledging to initiate intergovernmental talks on artificial intelligence, step up counter-narcotics cooperation and jointly tackle the climate crisis.

These consensuses between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies were reached during their hourslong meeting at Filoli, a historic estate south of San Francisco, California. The summit included several sessions, a working lunch and a brief walk after the lunch.

The two presidents agreed to, on the basis of equality and respect, resume high-level military-to-military communication. This includes the China-US Defense Policy Coordination Talks and the China-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings, as well as telephone conversations between theater commanders.

They also agreed to commit to working toward a significant increase in scheduled passenger flights early next year, and expand educational, student, youth, cultural, sports and business exchanges.

President Xi Jinping meets with US President Joe Biden at Filoli Estate in the US state of California, Nov 15, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

They welcomed recent positive discussions between special climate envoys from Beijing and Washington. These included plans for national-level actions to reduce emissions in the 2020s, common approaches toward a successful COP28 and operationalization of the Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s.

The two presidents also stressed the importance of both countries treating each other with respect and finding ways to live alongside each other peacefully. They also emphasized maintaining open lines of communication, preventing conflict, upholding the United Nations Charter, cooperating on areas of shared interest and responsibly managing competitive aspects of the relationship.

During Xi’s first visit to the United States in six years, he told Biden that there are two options for China and the US in this era of global transformation that is unseen in a century. The two sides can either enhance solidarity and cooperation and join hands to meet global challenges and promote global security and prosperity, or they can cling to the zero-sum mentality, provoke rivalry and confrontation, and drive the world toward turmoil and division.

President Xi Jinping meets with US President Joe Biden at Filoli Estate in the US state of California, Nov 15, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

The two choices point to two different directions that will decide the future of humanity and Planet Earth, he said.

“For two large countries like China and the US, turning their back on each other is not an option,” Xi stressed.

“It is unrealistic for one side to remodel the other. And conflict and confrontation have unbearable consequences for both sides.”

He went on to say that major-country competition is not the prevailing trend of current times and cannot solve the problems facing China and the United States or the world at large.

“Planet Earth is big enough for the two countries to succeed, and one country’s success is an opportunity for the other,” he said.

The president said that China will not take the old path of colonization and plundering, or the wrong path of seeking hegemony with growing strength as it forges ahead with the Chinese path to modernization, adding that it does not export its ideology or engage in ideological confrontation with any country.

He stressed that China does not plan to surpass or unseat the US, and, likewise, the US should not scheme to suppress or contain China.

The two nations are fully capable of rising above their differences and find the right path to get along, as long as both sides respect each other, peacefully coexist and pursue win-win cooperation, he said.

While recalling pledges made by Biden during their meeting in Bali, Indonesia, last year, Xi highlighted the necessity for Beijing and Washington to assume a new vision and build five pillars of China-US relations.

The first pillar, he said, is to jointly develop a right perception of each other. Beijing is consistently committed to having a stable, healthy and sustainable relationship with Washington. Meanwhile, the nation has interests that must be safeguarded, principles that must be upheld and red lines that must not be crossed.

Second, he called upon both nations to manage their differences effectively, saying that they should look for ways to build bridges to meet with each other halfway. Beijing and Washington should appreciate each other’s principles and red lines, and refrain from flip-flopping, provocation and crossing lines, the Chinese president said.

Third, both countries should work together to promote mutually beneficial cooperation, the president said. He underscored the broad common interests between China and the US, including in such traditional areas as the economy, trade and agriculture, as well as in such emerging areas as climate change and AI.

Both sides should make full use of restored and new mechanisms in foreign policy, economics, finance, commerce, agriculture and other fields, and carry out cooperation in such areas as counter-narcotics, judicial affairs, law enforcement, AI, and science and technology, he added.

Fourth, the Chinese president called upon both sides to jointly shoulder responsibilities as major countries, saying that they should lead by example, step up coordination and cooperation on international and regional issues, and provide more public goods for the world.

He also appealed for stronger people-to-people exchanges, which serve as the fifth pillar.

Xi elaborated on China’s principled position on the Taiwan question, calling for the US side to take real action to honor its commitment of not supporting “Taiwan independence”, stop arming Taiwan and support peaceful reunification.

China will realize reunification, and this is unstoppable, he stressed.

He pointed out that US actions against China regarding export controls, investment screening and unilateral sanctions seriously hurt China’s legitimate interests.

Stifling China’s technological progress is nothing but a move to contain China’s high-quality development and deprive the Chinese people of their right to development, he said.

It is important that the US side take China’s concerns seriously and adopt tangible steps to lift its unilateral sanctions to provide an equal, fair and nondiscriminatory environment for Chinese businesses, he said.

Biden, in his opening remarks at the summit, said his meetings with Xi have always been “candid, straightforward and useful”.

“I think it’s paramount that you and I understand each other clearly, leader to leader, with no misconceptions or miscommunication,” Biden said.

“We also have a responsibility to our people — and the world — to work together when we see it in our interest to do so. And the critical global challenges we face, from climate change to counter-narcotics to artificial intelligence, demand our joint efforts.”

He later tweeted on the social media platform X that the two leaders “made real progress” during the talks.

China successfully launches Tianhui-5 satellite

(Xinhua) — China successfully launched a satellite on Wednesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China’s Shanxi Province.

A modified version of the Long March-6 carrier rocket carrying the satellite Tianhui-5 lifted off at 6:50 a.m. (Beijing Time).

The satellite has entered its preset orbit. It will be used for geographic mapping, land resource survey, scientific experiments and other missions.

The launch was the 494th mission undertaken by the Long March rocket series.

Global AI Governance Initiative: A Chinese proposal to shape the future

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming societies and economies around the world. With great opportunities come great risks. How can humanity reap the benefits of AI while mitigating potential harms? China has put forward its vision for global AI governance, reported Global Times.

In a keynote speech at the 2023 Belt and Road Forum, President Xi Jinping announced China’s Global AI Governance Initiative. This proposal aims to promote the sound, orderly, and secure development of AI worldwide.

The initiative rests on a foundation of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. It stresses equal emphasis on development and security for all countries. Building consensus through dialogue and cooperation is key. The goal is for AI to benefit humanity and contribute to a shared future.

People must be at the centre of AI governance. Technologies should be developed to serve human civilisation. The initiative upholds national sovereignty and mutual respect between countries. It opposes ideological divides or monopolies that could manipulate public opinion and infringe on sovereignty.

Open, fair and efficient governing mechanisms are proposed. Developing countries should have greater representation in AI governance. The United Nations could potentially establish an international AI governance institution. Specific principles are suggested around data, algorithms, ethics and more.

AI brings both promise and peril. It requires responsible governance to create a better future. China has contributed its vision and wisdom. Through extensive consultation and joint efforts, shared benefits can be achieved. Together, we can shape AI that empowers humanity.

10 years on, fruitful Belt and Road cooperation moving to new stage

(Xinhua) — After fruitful ten years of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday announced new moves to usher the initiative into another “golden decade” with relentless efforts to achieve modernization for all countries and build an open and inclusive world.

From further improving connectivity to supporting an open world economy, Xi unveiled eight major steps to bring Belt and Road cooperation to a new stage of higher-quality and higher-level development in a keynote speech at the opening of a high-profile forum.

Xi vowed to speed up high-quality development of China-Europe Railway Express and, together with other parties, build a new logistics corridor across the Eurasian continent linked by direct railway and road transportation.

China will enter into free trade agreements and investment protection treaties with more countries and remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, Xi said.

Both signature projects and “small yet smart” livelihood programs will be promoted with more financing support. Two Chinese policy banks will each set up a 350 billion yuan (48.75 billion U.S. dollars) financing window, and an additional 80 billion yuan will be injected into the Silk Road Fund, according to Xi.

The president also pledged more commitment into green development, scientific and technological innovation, people-to-people exchanges, integrity-based Belt and Road cooperation, and the institutional building for international Belt and Road cooperation.

The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held on Tuesday and Wednesday was the most significant celebration for the 10th anniversary of the BRI.

RESONATING WITH AUDIENCE

Attendees of the opening ceremony spoke highly of Xi’s speech.

“It was an inspiring speech. It delivered clear messages on the future of the Belt and Road cooperation and how China’s robust economic growth will benefit the world as well as foreign investors like us,” said Atakan Bozkurt, chief executive officer of Burger King China.

“President Xi’s vision is appreciated by so many people in the world,” said Vito Rosario Petrocelli, president of Italy BRICS Institute. “The BRI is the best initiative to make the Global South better and can give a lot of opportunities to developing countries and play a very big role in protecting the environment.”

Ismail Hakki Musa, ambassador of Türkiye to China, said few imagined that the BRI would have such influence and force to transform the world in economic, infrastructure and development areas. “Today everyone is aware of the fact that this is an unprecedented achievement.”

Xi consecutively proposed building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in 2013. The pairing later came to be known as the BRI.

Over the past 10 years, the BRI has evolved from ideas into actions and from a vision into reality.

Speeding trains and trucks have become trade symbols in the new era, just like camel caravans in the past. Hydro stations and wind plants have helped in removing the development bottleneck for developing countries. Brand new airports, harbors, and industrial parks have brought fresh momentum to regional growth.

By promoting the Belt and Road cooperation, China is pursuing modernization not for itself, but for all developing countries through joint efforts.

ENVISAGING GLOBAL MODERNIZATION

“Global modernization should be pursued to enhance peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation and bring prosperity to all,” Xi said.

So far, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation agreements, with the initiative extending from the Eurasian continent to Africa and Latin America.

Jiri Paroubek, former prime minister of the Czech Republic, said the Belt and Road will help many countries of the developing world to increase their development, and also the living standards of the people.

The BRI transcends differences between civilizations, cultures, social systems, and stages of development, and has opened up a new path for exchanges among countries, and established a new framework for international cooperation, Xi said.

Looking back at the past decade, Xi said the achievements demonstrate that the Belt and Road cooperation is on the right side of history. “It represents the advancing of our times, and it is the right path forward.”

ELUCIDATING SILK ROAD SPIRIT

“China can only do well when the world is doing well. When China does well, the world will get even better,” Xi said, noting that China, opening its door even wider to the world, has become a main trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions and a primary source of investment for more countries.

Xi said that win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all, and that the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit is the most important source of strength for Belt and Road cooperation.

“Ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry and bloc politics are not a choice for us. What we stand against are unilateral sanctions, economic coercion and decoupling and supply chain disruption,” said the Chinese president.

“Today the world needs a common and collective approach to tackle the tremendous challenges we all have, and I think the BRI puts everyone in connection,” said Miguel Moratinos, high representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations. Â