China to host 3rd Belt and Road Forum next week

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China will host the third Belt and Road Forum “for international cooperation” next week, Beijing announced on Wednesday.

Hua Chunying, spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, said the two-day forum will be held in Beijing next week on Wednesday and Thursday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the forum which is being held under the theme “High-quality Belt and Road Cooperation: Together for Common Development and Prosperity.”

Beijing launched the multi-trillion-dollar transnational Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and has said it will become “more open” as it marks 10 years since its launch in 2013.

The forum is the first high-level BRI forum to be held since 2019.

Representatives from 130 nations and 30 international organizations are expected to attend the forum which will include three high-level forums on connectivity, green development, and digital economy, as well as six seminars.

A conference of entrepreneurs is also scheduled to be held on the sidelines.

Details shared by Beijing reveal that the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and BRI partner countries reached $19.1 trillion, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4%, from 2013 until 2022.