Chu Shijia, Director of the Comprehensive Department of the Ministry of Commerce, said at a special conference held by the Ministry of Commerce on the 29th that so far, China has signed 205 cooperation documents with 171 countries and international organizations to jointly build the "Belt and Road".

 

Since 2020, in the face of the complex international situation, especially the impact of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, China and relevant countries have watched and helped each other to overcome the difficulties, and promoted the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” to achieve new progress and new results, and a number of major projects were progressing steadily. In particular, the construction of the "Healthy Silk Road" and the "Digital Silk Road" has achieved remarkable results. The "Belt and Road" circle of friends is getting bigger and bigger. This fully demonstrates that the idea of ​​jointly building the “Belt and Road” initiative and building a community with a shared future for mankind is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. Over the past year, the Ministry of Commerce has conscientiously implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, worked hard to cope with the impact of the epidemic, continuously deepened economic and trade cooperation under the "Belt and Road", and made new contributions to the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road". Mainly reflected in four aspects:

 

First, trade exchanges have maintained growth. The annual trade volume of goods with countries along the route was US$1.35 trillion, a year-on-year increase of 0.7% (1.0% in RMB), accounting for 29.1% of my country’s total foreign trade. The role of the major trade channel of China-Europe express trains is even more prominent, with more than 12,000 trains operating throughout the year, a year-on-year increase of 50%, reaching 92 cities in 21 countries overseas, an increase of 37 from the end of 2019. The construction of new international land-sea trade channels has been accelerated, and the preparation of cooperation plans and other related work has been solidly advanced.

 

The second is the continuous deepening of investment cooperation. In the whole year, non-financial direct investment in countries along the route was US$17.79 billion, an increase of 18.3%, accounting for 16.2% of the country's foreign investment; the turnover of contracted projects in countries along the route was US$91.12 billion, accounting for 58.4% of the country's foreign contracted projects. A large number of overseas projects and park construction are progressing steadily while overcoming the epidemic. Major projects such as the China-Laos Railway and the Yawan Railway have made positive progress. There are 13 new enterprises in the China-Belarus Industrial Park. At the same time, companies from countries along the route are also optimistic about China's development opportunities, with 4,294 new companies established in China, with a direct investment of US$8.27 billion.

 

Third, new breakthroughs have been made in the construction of the free trade zone. The "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" (RCEP) was successfully signed, becoming the world's largest free trade zone and the most important achievement of East Asian regional integration in the past 20 years. Signed a free trade agreement with Cambodia, signed the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement, and officially implemented the tariff concession arrangements for the second phase of the China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. This week, the protocol for upgrading the free trade agreement with New Zealand was officially signed.

 

Fourth, the mechanism platform has become more complete. Up to now, China has signed 205 cooperation documents for jointly building the "Belt and Road" with 171 countries and international organizations. In 2020, we have established new trade unimpeded working groups with Myanmar, Mexico, Chile, and Belarus, and we have also promoted the establishment of investment working groups, service trade working groups and e-commerce cooperation mechanisms with more countries. At the same time, we have also successfully held a series of important exhibitions, including the China International Import Expo, Service Trade Fair, Canton Fair, China-ASEAN Expo, etc., which has effectively promoted economic and trade exchanges with relevant countries and regions.

 

We also tell the story of the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" in a variety of ways. Compiled and published the second and third series of the "One Belt One Road" story series of "Common Dream". Currently, the series has more than 310,000 offline copies and more than 44 million online readings, including more than 17 million overseas readings.

 

In 2021, the Ministry of Commerce will conscientiously implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, adhere to the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, uphold the concept of green, open, and clean, and focus on high standards, people's livelihood, and sustainable goals, and actively respond to the epidemic. The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative will further strengthen international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic, further strengthen the docking of strategies, plans and mechanisms, further enhance the level of economic and trade cooperation in the “Belt and Road”, focus on promoting the construction of a new development pattern, and promote the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” high-quality development, Go deeper and be solid, steady and far-reaching.