Xi Jinping and B&R Initiative

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed to build the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road in 2013.

The Belt and Road Initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

China has invested more than US$50 billion in the Belt and Road countries since the initiative was proposed.

The initiative has achieved a great number of early harvest results and won support from more than 100 countries and international organizations, with nearly 50 cooperation agreements signed between governments.

In the spirit of regional connectivity, China is working in aviation, power, rail, road and telecommunications projects with participating countries.

The initiative has not only boosted trade and investment between China and economies along the routes, but offered a solution to global economic difficulties.

China’s trade volume with the Belt and Road countries reached 6.3 trillion yuan (US$917 billion) in 2016, up 0.6 percent from 2015, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

By the end of 2016, Chinese companies had helped build 56 economic and trade cooperation zones in 20 countries along the routes with a combined investment surpassing US$18.55 billion, generating US$1.07 billion in tax revenue and 17,700 jobs in those countries.

A total of 1,082 enterprises have settled down in these cooperation zones, with combined output value of US$50.69 billion.

2017

Chinese President Xi Jinping joins a panel discussion with deputies to the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) from Shanghai Municipality at the annual session of the NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Mar. 5, 2017--President Xi Jinping urged Shanghai, a pioneer in reform and opening up, to do more in deepening free trade zone (FTZ) reforms and turn the FTZ into a zone of openness and innovation to serve the Belt and Road Initiative and help the country's businesses expand overseas during a panel discussion with deputies to the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) from Shanghai Municipality at the annual session of the NPC.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 22, 2017. (Photo: Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Feb. 22, 2017--President Xi Jinping said China welcomes France's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and supports companies of both countries to cooperate in this framework.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) meets with Peter Thomson (L), president of the 71st session of United Nations General Assembly, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

Jan.18,2017--President Xi Jinping said the reason that China launched the Belt and Road Initiative is to share development opportunities and results with other countries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Jan. 18,2017--President Xi Jinping said China welcomes the WHO's active participation in the construction of the Belt and Road, and of a 'healthy' Silk Road. China and the WHO pledged to step up health cooperation under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. A memorandum of understanding in this regard was signed between the two sides.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Jan.18, 2017--President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the United Nations Office at Geneva and called for building a community of shared future for mankind and achieving shared and win-win development amid growing challenges and risks.