Think tank report highlights Belt and Road role in open world economy

This photo shows copies of the think tank report titled "Building an Open World Economy Through Belt and Road Cooperation." (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative is playing a key role in building an open world economy, according to a report released Tuesday by Xinhua Institute, a high-end think tank affiliated with Xinhua News Agency.

Titled "Building an Open World Economy Through Belt and Road Cooperation," the report includes a preface, three chapters and a conclusion, reviewing the initiative's achievements and outlining its future direction in promoting sustained global openness.

Since China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013, it has moved from concept to action, from vision to reality, and from "sketching the outline" to "filling in the details," the report says, adding that it has opened new avenues for global economic growth and contributed to the well-being of people around the world.

China has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations. A connectivity framework consisting of six corridors, six routes, and multiple countries and ports has largely taken shape, with signature projects including the China-Europe Railway Express, the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and Chancay Port already operational and delivering tangible results, the report notes.

By June 2026, the China-Europe Railway Express had operated more than 130,000 train services, carrying goods worth over 520 billion U.S. dollars and reaching 236 cities in 26 European countries. In 2025, China's trade with Belt and Road partner countries reached 23.6 trillion yuan (about 3.51 trillion U.S. dollars), up 6.3 percent year on year and accounting for 51.9 percent of China's total foreign trade.

The report highlights the expansion of Belt and Road cooperation into digital, green and scientific fields, saying the Digital Silk Road and Green Silk Road are flourishing while numerous "small yet smart" livelihood projects are delivering benefits to local communities.

By the end of 2025, the Cross-border Interbank Payment System served more than 5,000 legal entities in 190 countries and regions, and China had signed memorandums of understanding on investment cooperation in the digital, green and blue economies with more than 50 Belt and Road partners.

Acknowledging headwinds facing the global economy, including rising unilateralism, protectionism, geopolitical conflicts and supply chain disruptions, the report argues that isolation offers no path forward while openness enables mutual success. It says Belt and Road cooperation provides concrete action against decoupling, supply chain disruption and bloc confrontation.

Looking ahead, the report says Belt and Road cooperation is moving from major corridors to extensive networks, and is being driven by digitalization and the green transition, adding that it will deepen institutional opening-up, strengthen soft connectivity in rules and standards, and promote inclusive development so that the benefits of growth reach more people more equitably worldwide.