Belt and Road Initiative: A Blueprint for Global Growth and Connectivity

 China Media Group

2024–12–06 09:43:33

“We must adhere to one blueprint to the end, tackle one challenge after another, steadfastly promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and contribute more significantly to building a community with a shared future for mankind.” On December 2, General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the fourth Belt and Road Construction Work Seminar in Beijing, where he delivered a keynote speech laying out strategic plans for creating an even brighter future for Belt and Road cooperation.

Since the introduction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, Xi Jinping has attended four seminars, each demonstrating a steadfast commitment to achieving the goals set out and emphasizing the principle of “one blueprint to the end.” Current Affairs Micro-Observation provides insights into this strategic vision.

A Decade of Determined Effort

△ On December 2, 2024, General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the Fourth Belt and Road Construction Work Seminar and delivered an important speech in Beijing.

During his recent visit to Latin America, Xi Jinping announced eight actions to support global development, with “jointly advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation” being the top priority.

The ambitious BRI blueprint originates from China and belongs to the world. It is deeply rooted in history while focusing on the future.

  • For China, Xi Jinping once remarked: “The Belt and Road Initiative is about equipping China, the giant roc, with two powerful wings. Once fully developed, the roc will soar higher and farther.”
  • For the world, Xi emphasized: “The Belt and Road Initiative thrives on the principle of collective effort and mutual assistance. It embodies the spirit of shared prosperity and aims to achieve interconnectedness and mutual benefit, fostering global development and win-win cooperation.”

△ On November 14, 2024, at Chancay Port, north of Lima, Peru, automated equipment loads containers at the dock.

Achieving this long-term vision requires relentless dedication. Transforming grand blueprints into “construction plans” and “real-life results” demands perseverance, working on one project after another and advancing year by year.

Four Seminars: Building the Belt and Road with Consistency

In 2016, during the Belt and Road Construction Work Seminar, Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of a nail-by-nail approach to steadily advance the initiative for the benefit of all participating nations.

In 2018, at the Fifth Anniversary Seminar of the Belt and Road Initiative, Xi stressed incremental progress with tangible results to deepen and solidify the initiative’s impact and contribute to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

By 2021, at the third seminar, facing an increasingly complex international environment, Xi underscored the need to proactively address challenges and forge ahead with resolve.

As of today, over 150 countries and 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents, aligning the initiative with their national development strategies. This East-West bridge of cultural and economic exchange continues to expand.

Opportunities and Challenges

While international uncertainties such as unilateralism, protectionism, and regional conflicts persist, Xi Jinping made an important assessment at the fourth seminar: opportunities outweigh challenges in promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. He called for strategic confidence, resolve, and action to create an even brighter future for the initiative.

Transforming Trade Corridors into Prosperity Paths

△ The Horgos Railway Port in Xinjiang remains busy, even at midnight. From January to October, the port handled 38.01 million tons of cargo, a 10% year-on-year increase.

  • Starting in Chongqing in southwest China, the New Western Land-Sea Corridor now connects over 120 countries and regions via rail, sea, and road, establishing a vibrant international economic artery.
  • The Trans-Caspian China-Europe Express has officially launched.
  • The “Silk Road Maritime” routes added 10 new lines, now reaching 145 ports in 46 countries and regions.
  • The “Air Silk Road” covers over 200 cities worldwide.
  • The China-Europe Railway Express has surpassed 100,000 cumulative trips, with a service network extending across the Eurasian continent.

The Belt and Road Initiative has become the world’s most extensive and largest international cooperation platform. Over a decade, it has demonstrated resilience, vitality, and vast potential for growth.

Looking Ahead: The Next Golden Decade

At the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023, Xi Jinping proposed advancing the initiative into a new phase of high-quality development. At the fourth seminar, he detailed specific measures to achieve this:

  1. Four Combinations
  • Combine high-quality development with high-level security.
  • Combine government guidance with market operations.
  • Combine strategic planning with dynamic optimization.
  • Combine quantitative growth with qualitative improvement.

2. Three Coordinations

  • Coordinate hard connectivity of infrastructure, soft connectivity of rules and standards, and people-to-people connectivity.
  • Balance major flagship projects with “small yet impactful” livelihood initiatives.
  • Consolidate traditional partnerships while expanding new collaborations in emerging fields.

3. Nine Mechanisms

  • Improve coordination mechanisms for Belt and Road cooperation planning.
  • Enhance coordination for “hard,” “soft,” and “heart” connectivity.
  • Strengthen industry and supply chain collaboration mechanisms.
  • Advance international cooperation in emerging fields.
  • Develop diversified financing mechanisms.
  • Improve internal and external risk prevention mechanisms.
  • Strengthen mechanisms to protect overseas interests.
  • Foster mechanisms for high-level international communication.
  • Promote integrity in Silk Road partnerships.

△ Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Zhejiang Province.

Reflecting on the past decade, the Belt and Road Initiative has achieved remarkable growth. Looking forward to the next golden decade, adhering to a consistent blueprint, steady effort, and unwavering commitment to high-quality development will transform the Belt and Road into a pathway of peace, prosperity, openness, sustainability, innovation, and cultural exchange, contributing significantly to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

#BeltAndRoadInitiative
#BRI2024
#GlobalConnectivity
#OneBlueprintToTheEnd
#HighQualityDevelopment
#EconomicCooperation
#SustainableGrowth
#XiJinpingLeadership
#InternationalCollaboration
#CommunityOfSharedFuture

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