[Belt&Road] Xi Jinping: Build the Belt and Road into a road for peace, prosperity, openness, innovation and civilization

On May 14, 2017, the opening ceremony of the two-day Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in Beijing. A total of 29 foreign heads of state and government are attending the forum. Other delegates include officials, entrepreneurs, financiers and journalists from over 130 countries, and representatives of key international organizations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He reviewed the progress of the Initiative and called for joint efforts to build the Belt and Road into a road for peace, prosperity, openness, innovation and civilization.

Xi said that the cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative is open to all friends, no matter where they come from. The construction of the Belt and Road needs extensive consultation and the benefits will be shared by all parties.

One plenary session and six parallel sessions are being held. The parallel discussions focus on policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, people-to-people bonds and so on. On May 15, the Leaders Roundtable will be held, in which coordination of policy and development strategies will be discussed.