Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, calling for economic cooperation focused on connectivity and aimed at achieving win-win outcomes.
The BRI is an example of China’s determination to support globalization as the world faces uncertainties, such as rising protectionist forces.
The initiative has taken center stage at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in the past few years. In 2015, Xi elaborated on the concept to Boao Forum's guests, saying countries along the route and from across the world are all welcome to join.
Chinese President Xi Jinping gives a keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2015 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 28, 2015. /Xinhua Photo
The BRI will help countries align their development strategies and form complementary plans, with no intention of replacing existing mechanisms or initiatives for regional cooperation, Xi told the forum in 2015.
At this year’s BFA, the initiative is expected again to be a key topic. From a vision to reality, what has the Belt and Road Initiative brought to Asia as the region seeks to build a more closely integrated community?
From concept to reality
Named after the historic Silk Road, the BRI aims to chart new opportunities for international cooperation by building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the Silk Road's ancient routes.
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23 March 2018