With authorization from the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Commerce recently jointly issued the “Initiative to Jointly Build the Silk Road Economic Belt and…” 21 The Vision and Action on the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road (hereinafter referred to as “Vision and Action”) explicitly states that cooperation with countries along the route will be strengthened in five key areas: policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds. Notably, enhancing cooperation in the exploration and development of traditional energy resources such as coal, oil and gas, and metallic minerals has been included as one of the key areas of collaboration.

“Vision and Action” points out that the world today is undergoing complex and profound changes. The deep-seated impact of the international financial crisis continues to be evident, the global economy is recovering slowly while experiencing divergent development paths, and the landscape of international investment and trade as well as multilateral rules governing investment and trade are poised for profound adjustments. The development challenges faced by countries remain severe. Jointly build... “ The Belt and Road ” The goal is to promote the orderly and free flow of economic factors, efficient allocation of resources, and deep integration of markets, thereby fostering economic policy coordination among countries along the route and enabling broader, higher-level, and deeper regional cooperation. Together, we will build a regional economic cooperation framework that is open, inclusive, balanced, and beneficial to all.

Regarding the five key areas of cooperation, numerous specific measures cover sectors such as energy and resources. The "Vision and Action" document points out that countries along the Belt and Road have diverse resource endowments and strong economic complementarity, leaving ample potential and room for mutual cooperation. Infrastructure connectivity is... “ The Belt and Road ” Priority areas for development. In terms of infrastructure connectivity, we should strengthen cooperation on interconnectivity of energy infrastructure, jointly safeguard the security of transportation corridors such as oil and gas pipelines, advance the construction of cross-border power and transmission channels, and actively engage in regional grid upgrading and modernization cooperation.

In terms of smooth trade, the "Vision and Action" document proposes expanding areas of mutual investment, intensifying cooperation in the exploration and development of traditional energy resources such as coal, oil and gas, and metallic minerals, and actively promoting cooperation in clean and renewable energy sources including hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, and solar energy. It also calls for advancing cooperation on the local and nearby processing and conversion of energy resources, thereby forming an integrated upstream-to-downstream industrial chain for energy resource cooperation. Furthermore, it emphasizes strengthening cooperation in advanced technologies, equipment, and engineering services for the deep processing of energy resources. Finally, it advocates fostering cooperation in emerging industries, guided by the principles of complementary advantages and mutually beneficial outcomes, to encourage countries along the Belt and Road to deepen their collaboration in emerging sectors such as next-generation information technology, biotechnology, new energy, and new materials, and to promote the establishment of venture capital cooperation mechanisms.

It is understood that, over the past year and more, the Chinese government has been actively promoting... “ The Belt and Road ” We have built and strengthened communication and consultations with countries along the Belt and Road, and promoted practical cooperation with these countries. In areas such as infrastructure connectivity, industrial investment, resource development, economic and trade cooperation, financial cooperation, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, ecological protection, and maritime cooperation, we have advanced a number of key cooperation projects that are already well-prepared and ready for implementation.