China stands ready to forge even closer Belt and Road partnerships with various sides and follow a path of unity, cooperation, connectivity and joint development to jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

Xi made the remark in a written message delivered at the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation, a meeting that brought together via video link over 30 parties, including officials from Asia-Pacific countries and representatives of international organizations.

The president said he proposed the Belt and Road Initiative with the aim of passing down the Silk Road spirit and jointly building an open cooperation platform to provide fresh impetus for the cooperation and development of different nations.

Over the past eight years, 140 countries have signed cooperative agreements with China on jointly building the Belt and Road, he noted.

The different parties involved have proactively promoted connectivity in policy, infrastructure, trade and capital and brought people closer, with a large number of projects launched for pragmatic cooperation and public livelihoods, Xi said.
They have established an all-round partnership of connectivity and created a new horizon for common development, he said.

In the face of the sudden COVID-19 pandemic, the different sides involved have stood in solidarity and pulled through the difficult times together, continuing to move forward with the BRI and passing on confidence and strength to the international community, Xi said.

The president reaffirmed the principles of extensive consultations and joint contributions for shared benefits during the joint building of the Belt and Road.

It is important to uphold an open, green, clean and cooperative concept and stay committed to a goal of cooperation that pursues high-standard and sustainable development that benefits the people, he said.

With China entering a new development phase, carrying out a new development philosophy and fostering a new development paradigm, the nation will offer more market opportunities and opportunities for investment and growth for its Belt and Road partners, Xi said.