China will host a forum this week showcasing the Belt and Road Initiative, launched a decade ago to boost trade and investment by improving China’s transport links with the rest of the world.
China welcomes representatives of some 130 countries, including Russia, on Monday for the imminent New Silk Roads forum, a major diplomatic event for Beijing.
THE New Silk Roadsor initiative “The Belt and Road” according to its official name, are an ambitious project launched 10 years ago under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It aims to improve development and trade links between Asia, Europe and Africa through financing the construction of ports, railways, airports or industrial parks via billions of dollars in Chinese loans .
More than a dozen leaders from Africa, Asia and the Middle East flew to Beijing on Monday, following the arrival of Chilean President Gabriel Boric and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Sunday. Others will arrive on Tuesday.
Under the Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Mr. Xi, Chinese companies have built ports, roads, railways, power plants and other infrastructure around the world to stimulate trade and economic growth.
A wave of diplomacy is expected on the sidelines of the third “Belt and Road” forum, the main events of which take place on Wednesday. Orbán met Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Sunday, Hungarian state news agency MTI said. The forums were also held in 2017 and 2019.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to attend the forum, as are representatives of the Taliban government in Afghanistan.
Leaders arriving Monday include Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet .
2023-10-16 12:15:04
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