Yangzhou hosts expert meeting on BRI development

2021-04-29 15:13:00

Yangzhou City hosted a meeting on the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on April 28.

The BRI, proposed by China in 2013, refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aimed at building trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe, Africa and beyond.

At the meeting, top researchers, senior diplomats and well-known economic experts exchange ideas on issues related to the development strategy.

Chen Kaihong, executive vice mayor of Yangzhou, said the city established the BRI Development Promotion Association last year to improve the sharing of information, resources and funding for local enterprises involved in BRI projects.

In recent years, Yangzhou has sought to play a bigger role in the initiative, and these efforts have boosted foreign trade and deepened international exchanges. Yangzhou has entered into sister-city relationship with five cities and friendly exchange relationship with 14 cities in countries along BRI.

Up to now, Yangzhou has invested in 151 projects in 28 countries along the Belt and Road, with the agreed investment of $661 million, accounting for 34.3% of the city's total foreign investment.

Meanwhile, Yangzhou has also improved the service to help local companies go global and get deeply involved in BRI projects. It also launched the BRI International Youth Football Championship in 2019 and other popular events to promote people-to-people exchanges.