Hu Kaihong:

Thank you, Mr. Song. Now, we open the floor to questions. Please identify the news organization you represent before asking your question.

People's Daily:

The Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) will be held in Beijing later this week. During the first BRF held in 2017, China and other involved parties reached a number of cooperation agreements and policy measures, resulting in more than 270 deliverables. Could you brief us on the implementation of those results in the past two years? Thank you.

Xiao Weiming:

Thank you for your question and careful attention to the results of the first BRF. Indeed, the forum achieved a remarkable outcome. I'm delighted to announce that, through concerted efforts, all of the 76 items comprising 279 concrete results in five key areas have been completed as planned, and some have even become routine works for further implementation. The accomplishment satisfying to all the concerned parties lays a solid foundation for the second BRF.

I think the 279 concrete results can be summarized as follows:

First is the fresh progress made in policy consultation through closer cooperation and a broader consensus. The Belt and Road cooperation documents signed between China and more than 10 other countries or international organizations during the first BRF have been implemented, effectively enhancing policy connectivity, political trust and the convergence of interests. The BRF Advisory Council and Liaison Office have both been officially established. The Facilitation Center for Building the Belt and Road within the National Development and Reform Commission has begun operation. The ability of the official Belt and Road Internet portal to engage in international communications has been significantly improved.

The second aspect lies in promoting infrastructure connectivity focusing on key projects. We have implemented a large number of infrastructure cooperation projects in such fields as transport, energy and water resources, and gained financing support for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway, Colombo Port City, Hungary-Serbia railway and Line 2 of the Hanoi light rail network, etc. The agreements signed between China and Russia, Belarus, Germany, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Poland to deepen cooperation in promoting China-Europe regular railway cargo services is being implemented, with an international mechanism for the cooperation playing an important role.

Third is enhanced liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment through expanded industrial investment. China has signed production capacity cooperation agreements with 41 countries, set up platforms of investment and financing such as those linking China-Latin America and China-Africa, and successfully hosted the first China International Import Expo. We have deepened cooperation for connectivity in regard to standards, metrology, customs, inspection and quarantine. Six ports, including Khorgos have started to implement the Convention on International Transport of Goods Under Cover of TIR Carnets. Under the BRI framework, China has fostered agricultural cooperation with Serbia, Chile, Egypt and other countries.

Fourth involves the efforts being made in diversifying systems of financial connectivity through strengthened financing support. China has worked with other concerned parties to jointly formulate guidelines for financing Belt and Road-related development projects, in an effort to establish a stable and sustainable financial safeguard system controlling risk. The Asian Financial Cooperation Association now has more than 100 members, offering special lending schemes worth RMB 380 billion equivalent to support Belt and Road cooperation in infrastructure, industrial capacity expansion and financing. The Silk Road Fund has been expanded by RMB 100 billion.

Fifth is the enhancement of people-to-people exchanges through more interactions. We have deepened cooperation in culture, media, environmental protection with other Belt and Road countries, offered more than 800 short-term research visits to China for foreign scientists, and developed new people-to-people exchange platforms such as a network for cooperation among NGOs in countries along the Belt and Road, a music education alliance and think tank networks. Thank you.