(Photo 1: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) meets with his Kazakh counterpart Erlan Idrissov in Almaty, Kazakhstan, May 21, 2016.)
ASTANA -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that in more than two years, "One Belt One Road" initiative took off smoothly with a good beginning, and achieved a series of important early-stage harvests, during his interview with Chinese and Kazakhstan journalists in Almaty on May 21.
"Silk Road Economic Belt" proposal was first put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazakhstan. Later Xi proposed to build "21st-Century Maritime Silk Road" in Southeast Asia. The proposal of "One Road One Belt" is in accordance with people's common hope to develop and cooperate in different countries in Asia and Europe, and is in accordance with the world's trend of development. It is both a major step in China's all-round reform and opening-up under new historical circumstances, and a most important public-service provided by China to Asian and European continent. The important early-stage harvests of "One Belt One Road" initiative includes:
There is a rise in international consensus. More than 70 countries and organizations expressed their support and willingness to join, exceeding the traditional area of "One Belt One Road", essentially forming an international cooperation frame with extensive influences. At the same time, 34 countries and international organizations signed inter-governmental cooperation agreements with China to build "One Belt One Road", on the basis of which detailed cooperation plans will be formed.
Financial support mechanism is starting to work. Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) started to operate at the beginning of this year. Silk Road Fund formally launched its first batch of investment projects. Countries along the line are actively discussing the establishment or the expansion of bilateral cooperation funds of all kinds.
Connectivity net is in the gradual formation. Improving the land, marine and air connection on Asian and European continent will create better conditions for co-operations. Presently, constructions of railway between Hungary and Serbia, and High-speed railway in Indonesia have started. Construction of railway networks connecting China and Laos, China and Thailand have been launched, as well as a number of high-way projects. At the same time, maritime connectivity is ready to go.
The development in industrial capacity cooperation has been accelerated. China has signed agreement with more than 20 countries to initiate systematic industrial capacity cooperation. A great many of important projects took roots in different countries. So far, various bilateral and multilateral industrial capacity cooperation fund built by the Chinese side have amounted to more than 100 billion U.S. Dollars. China and Kazakhstan are pioneers in industrial capacity cooperation, with 52 projects in early-stage harvests, which amount to more than 27 billion U.S. Dollars of investment.
Significant development has been made in economic corridor construction. China, Mongolia and Russia have reached consensus in building economic corridor and are working quickly to formulate plans and outlines. China-Pakistan economic corridor started early and developed fast, with a number of major projects launched. New eurasia continental bridges corridor, China-Bangladesh-India-Myanmar economic corridor is steadily developing.
The China-Europe train brand has been formed. So far more than 1500 trains have successfully traveled between China and Europe. Only last year 815 trains were launched between China and Europe, which is 2.7 times the number of 2014. Ten cities in China are launching trains with 7 countries along the line as destinations, with the system of regular transportation forming up.
Trade and investment has been greatly increased. Most of the "One Belt One Road" countries are at the crucial stage of industrialization and urbanization. Since the implementation of "One Belt One Road" proposal, there has been a fierce growth in regional trade and investment, with annual increase rate double the global average. In 2015, Chinese enterprises made direct investments to 49 countries related to "One Belt One Road", with a total amount of 15 billion U.S. Dollars.
Closer humanity communications have been achieved. China founded Silk Road Chinese Government scholarship, held culture year, art festivals with "One Belt One Road" countries. The implementation of "Silk Road Movie Bridge Project" and "Silk Road Book Project" all yielded positive results. Silk Road joint application for the List of World Heritage has been a success. Maritime Silk Road joint application for the List of World Heritage has been launched.
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