By Mewati Sitaram
The third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) is scheduled to take place in Beijing in October, as announced by China’s Foreign Ministry (FM) in a regular press conference. This event is significant as 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the initiation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Wang Wenbin, FM spokesperson, highlighted that the BRI aims to establish a fresh platform for international economic cooperation and generate impetus to bolster global economic growth. The upcoming 2023 forum will hold considerable importance in recognizing a decade of the BRI’s role as a global cooperation platform.
Over the past ten years, China has collaborated with over 150 countries and 30 international organizations, signing agreements for joint implementation of the BRI. Wang stated that this collaboration has led to more than 3,000 cooperation projects, attracting nearly $1 trillion in investment and stimulating robust growth in partner countries. Wang emphasized the diversified sectors of civilian interest, including poverty reduction, agricultural technology, and vocational education, impacted positively by various BRI projects. He highlighted that if all transport-related projects under the BRI become operational, global income could increase by 0.7-2.9 percent by 2030, benefiting around 7.6 million people by lifting them out of extreme poverty.
In terms of environmental protection, Wang noted that China has signed approximately 50 agreements with relevant parties under the BRI platform over the past decade. The BRI Partnership on Green Development, jointly launched with 31 countries, reflects the commitment to environmental sustainability.
Wang concluded by reaffirming China’s dedication to ensuring the sustained high-quality development of the BRI in collaboration with its global partners.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
