Economic cooperation is the most solid and fruitful area for the prosperity of the Belt and Road Initiative, and will continue to enrich the development of global industrial, service, supply and value chains, said Gao Yan, chairperson of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

"Companies from home and abroad will sign a number of cooperation agreements today, covering a wide range of areas and regions," she said at the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road CEO conference held in Beijing.

"Under the backdrop of rising protectionism and unilateralism, the Belt and Road Initiative provides a Chinese solution to the global governance system," Gao  said, adding that the trade promotion institution from each country needs to work together to build more platforms to facilitate and diversify trade activities.