UPDATE - Belt and Road Forum 'magnificent' chapter in promoting connected world: China's president

CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK, LEDE; UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM XI JINPING

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – China’s President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that the 3rd Belt and Road Forum held in Beijing is a “magnificent chapter in promoting a connected world and charting a path for all to prosper individually and collectively.”

The president’s remarks came during the opening ceremony of the forum in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

The governments, businesses, and individuals, which are part of the Belt and Road Initiative, have made these accomplishments achievable through their "hard work, wisdom and courage,” Xi stressed.

"Let us take this opportunity to salute all those who have participated in and contributed to Belt and Road cooperation," he added.

Stressing the initiative's focus on development, win-win outcomes, and inspiration, he said: "We must embark with drive and enthusiasm on the new journey toward another golden decade.”

Earlier, Xi Jinping hosted world leaders, including his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, for the third Belt and Road Forum.

Xi also met leaders of Uzbekistan, Serbia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Hungary, Ethiopia, Serbia, Chile, and Kazakhstan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Pakistani Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, and leaders from Sri Lanka, the Republic of Congo, and Nigeria are attending the forum.

A group picture posted on X by China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying showed some 25 foreign leaders, including Putin, standing alongside Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan.

Beijing is hosting the two-day forum, which is expected to see the participation of over 4,000 representatives from around the world.

The event will host six seminars and three high-level forums on connectivity, green development, and digital economy. An entrepreneurs' conference is also scheduled on the forum's sidelines.

The Belt and Road Initiative, billed as recreating the ancient Silk Road to boost global trade infrastructure, was proposed by Xi in 2013 to connect China with the markets of Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

With more than 200 cooperation agreements spread across 150 countries and 30 international organizations, the cumulative value of imports and exports between China and the partner countries has reached $19.1 trillion, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4% from 2013 until 2022.