The Belt and Road Initiative (or One Belt And One Road) , abbreviated as “OBAOR”; or One Belt One Road, abbreviated as “OBOR”; or Belt And Road, abbreviated as “BAR”) is “ Silk Road Economic Belt and 21 The Maritime Silk Road of the Century The abbreviation of “”, September 2013 The months of July and October by the Chinese President Xi Jinping Propose the construction of “ New Silk Road Economic Belt and 21 The Maritime Silk Road of the Century the strategic vision.

The “Belt and Road” is not a physical entity or mechanism, but rather a concept and initiative for cooperative development. It relies on the existing bilateral and multilateral mechanisms between China and relevant countries, as well as on established and effective regional cooperation platforms, with the aim of drawing on the ancient... Silk Road a historical symbol, firmly upholding the banner of peaceful development, proactively fostering economic partnerships with countries along the Belt and Road, and jointly building a community of shared interests, a community of shared destiny, and a community of shared responsibility characterized by political mutual trust, economic integration, and cultural inclusiveness.

The Belt and Road Initiative’s greatest appeal to the world will not merely lie in the amount of investment and profits it generates; more importantly, it has the potential to set a new global trend—making equal cooperation, cultural exchange, and economic prosperity, rather than military hegemony, the other major pillar of the future world order.

[ Regarding the English abbreviation for the “Belt and Road” initiative

     This website believes that, The current abbreviation has many issues. We advocate adopting “1B&1R.” This abbreviation is non-overlapping (avoiding ambiguity), logically consistent (easily understood worldwide), and visually appealing (facilitating media promotion).

Which provinces, autonomous regions, and countries are involved in the Belt and Road Initiative?

Finalize the region

2 cores:

Xinjiang, Fujian

18 provinces:

Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Guangxi, Yunnan, Tibet, Shanghai, Fujian, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Hainan, Chongqing

7 highlands:

Xining, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Nanchang, Hefei

15 port constructions:

Shanghai, Tianjin, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Shantou, Qingdao, Yantai, Dalian, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Haikou, Sanya

2 international hub airports:

Shanghai, Guangzhou

Involved countries

The Belt and Road Initiative covers 65 countries, including China, Russia, Mongolia, the five Central Asian countries, eight South Asian countries, 16 countries in West Asia and North Africa, 11 Southeast Asian countries, 16 Central and Eastern European countries, and six other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. It is divided into six major economic corridors: the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the New Eurasian Land Bridge Economic Corridor, the China-Singapore Economic Corridor, and the China-Iran-Turkey Economic Corridor.

Key priorities for cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative

The countries along the route have diverse resource endowments and strong economic complementarity, leaving ample potential and room for mutual cooperation. With... Policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds. As the main content, we will strengthen cooperation with a focus on the following areas.

I. Policy Communication

Strengthening policy communication is a crucial guarantee for the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative. We should enhance intergovernmental cooperation, actively establish multi-level mechanisms for macro-policy communication and exchange among governments, deepen the integration of interests, foster mutual political trust, and reach new consensus on cooperation. Countries along the Belt and Road can engage in thorough exchanges and alignment on economic development strategies and countermeasures, jointly formulate plans and measures to advance regional cooperation, consult and resolve issues arising from cooperation, and collectively provide policy support for pragmatic cooperation and the implementation of large-scale projects.

II. Infrastructure Connectivity

Infrastructure connectivity is a priority area in the Belt and Road Initiative. On the basis of respecting the sovereignty and security concerns of relevant countries, countries along the Belt and Road should strengthen alignment in infrastructure planning and technical standard systems, jointly promote the construction of international backbone corridors, and gradually establish an infrastructure network that connects various subregions in Asia as well as Asia, Europe, and Africa. We should also enhance the green and low-carbon development and operational management of infrastructure, fully taking into account the impacts of climate change during the construction process.

Focus on key corridors, critical nodes, and priority projects within transportation infrastructure; prioritize the completion of missing road segments, unblock bottleneck sections, and enhance road safety protection facilities as well as traffic management equipment and systems, thereby improving overall road accessibility. Promote the establishment of a unified, end-to-end transportation coordination mechanism to facilitate seamless integration of international customs clearance, cargo handling, and multimodal transport, gradually developing harmonized and standardized transport regulations to achieve greater convenience in international transportation. Advance the construction of port infrastructure, ensure smooth land-water intermodal transport channels, promote collaborative port development, increase the number of maritime routes and service frequencies, and strengthen information-based cooperation in maritime logistics. Expand and establish platforms and mechanisms for comprehensive civil aviation cooperation, and accelerate the upgrading of aviation infrastructure.

Strengthen cooperation on interconnectivity of energy infrastructure, jointly safeguard the security of transportation channels such as oil and gas pipelines, advance the construction of cross-border power and transmission lines, and actively engage in regional grid upgrade and renovation cooperation.

Jointly promote the construction of cross-border fiber-optic cables and other key communication networks, enhance the level of international communication interconnectivity, and ensure the smooth flow of the Digital Silk Road. Accelerate the development of bilateral cross-border fiber-optic cables and other such infrastructure, plan and build intercontinental submarine fiber-optic cable projects, improve aerial (satellite) information channels, and expand information exchange and cooperation.

III. Smooth Trade

Investment and trade cooperation is a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative. We should focus on studying and addressing issues related to investment and trade facilitation, removing barriers to investment and trade, and fostering a favorable business environment both within the region and in individual countries. We should also actively work with countries and regions along the Belt and Road to jointly establish free trade zones, thereby unlocking and unleashing cooperative potential and making the “cake” of cooperation bigger and better.

Countries along the route should strengthen customs cooperation in areas such as information exchange, mutual recognition of regulatory standards, and mutual assistance in law enforcement, as well as bilateral and multilateral cooperation in inspection and quarantine, certification and accreditation, standardization and metrology, and statistical information. This will help promote the entry into force and implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Trade Facilitation. We should improve the facilities and conditions at border crossings, accelerate the development of “single-window” systems at border ports, reduce clearance costs, and enhance clearance efficiency. We should also strengthen cooperation on supply-chain security and facilitation, advance coordination of cross-border regulatory procedures, promote international online verification of inspection and quarantine certificates, and carry out mutual recognition of “Authorized Economic Operators” (AEOs). Furthermore, we should reduce non-tariff barriers, jointly enhance transparency in technical trade measures, and raise the level of trade liberalization and facilitation.

Broaden trade sectors, optimize trade structures, tap into new growth areas for trade, and promote trade balance. Innovate trade methods and develop new business models such as cross-border e-commerce. Establish and improve a sound promotion system for service trade, consolidate and expand traditional trade, and vigorously develop modern service trade. Integrate investment and trade in an organic manner, using investment to drive trade development.

Accelerate the process of facilitating investment and remove investment barriers. Strengthen consultations on bilateral investment protection agreements and double taxation avoidance agreements to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of investors.

Expand areas of mutual investment and carry out in-depth cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries; agricultural machinery and equipment; and the production and processing of agricultural products. Actively promote cooperation in fields including mariculture, distant-water fisheries, aquatic product processing, seawater desalination, marine biopharmaceuticals, marine engineering technology, environmental protection industries, and marine tourism. Intensify cooperation in the exploration and development of traditional energy resources such as coal, oil and gas, and metallic minerals, and actively advance cooperation in clean and renewable energy sources including hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, and solar energy. Promote cooperation in the on-site and nearby processing and conversion of energy resources, thereby forming an integrated upstream-to-downstream industrial chain for energy resource cooperation. Strengthen cooperation in advanced processing technologies, equipment, and engineering services for energy resources.

Promote cooperation in emerging industries, guided by the principles of complementary advantages and mutual benefit, and encourage countries along the Belt and Road to deepen collaboration in emerging sectors such as next-generation information technology, biotechnology, new energy, and new materials. Also, facilitate the establishment of venture capital cooperation mechanisms.

Optimize the division and layout of industrial chains, promote coordinated development of upstream, downstream, and related industries, and encourage the establishment of integrated R&D, production, and marketing systems to enhance regional industrial supporting capabilities and overall competitiveness. Expand mutual openness in the service sector and accelerate the development of regional service industries. Explore new models of investment cooperation, encourage joint construction of overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, cross-border economic cooperation zones, and other types of industrial parks, and foster the development of industrial clusters. In investment and trade activities, emphasize the concept of ecological civilization, strengthen cooperation on ecological environment protection, biodiversity conservation, and climate change response, and jointly build a Green Silk Road.

China welcomes enterprises from all countries to invest in China. It encourages domestic enterprises to participate in infrastructure development and industrial investment in countries along the Belt and Road. China promotes enterprises to operate and manage according to the principle of localization, actively supports local economic development, creates more jobs, improves people’s livelihoods, proactively assumes social responsibilities, and strictly protects biodiversity and the ecological environment.

IV. Financial Intermediation

Financial connectivity is a vital support for the Belt and Road Initiative. We should deepen financial cooperation and promote the establishment of a stable Asian monetary system, an investment and financing framework, and a credit system. We should expand the scope and scale of bilateral local-currency swaps and settlement arrangements among countries along the Belt and Road. We should also foster the opening up and development of the Asian bond market. Together, we will advance the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank of the BRICS countries, and relevant parties will hold consultations on setting up a financing institution under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. We will accelerate the establishment and operation of the Silk Road Fund. We will deepen practical cooperation within the China-ASEAN Banking Association and the SCO Banking Association, engaging in multilateral financial cooperation through syndicated loans and bank credit lines. We will support governments of countries along the Belt and Road, as well as enterprises and financial institutions with high credit ratings, in issuing RMB-denominated bonds within China. Eligible Chinese financial institutions and enterprises may issue RMB-denominated bonds and foreign-currency bonds overseas, and we encourage the use of raised funds in countries along the Belt and Road.

Strengthen cooperation in financial regulation, promote the signing of bilateral memoranda of understanding on regulatory cooperation, and gradually establish an efficient regulatory coordination mechanism within the region. Improve institutional arrangements for risk response and crisis management, build a regional financial risk early-warning system, and establish mechanisms for collaborative exchanges and cooperation in addressing cross-border risks and managing crises. Enhance cross-border communication and cooperation among credit information management authorities, credit reporting agencies, and rating agencies. Fully leverage the roles of the Silk Road Fund and sovereign wealth funds of various countries to encourage commercial equity investment funds and social capital to jointly participate in the construction of key projects under the Belt and Road Initiative.

V. Connecting Hearts and Minds

People-to-people connectivity is the social foundation of the Belt and Road Initiative. By inheriting and promoting the spirit of friendly cooperation along the Silk Road, we should extensively carry out cultural exchanges, academic interactions, personnel exchange and cooperation, media collaboration, exchanges between young people and women, volunteer services, and other such activities, thereby laying a solid public opinion base for deepening bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Expand the scale of mutual student exchanges and launch collaborative educational programs. China will provide 10,000 government scholarship places annually to countries along the Belt and Road. Countries along the Belt and Road will mutually host cultural years, art festivals, film festivals, television weeks, and book fairs, and collaborate on the creation and translation of high-quality radio and television dramas and films. They will jointly apply for World Cultural Heritage status and work together to protect World Heritage sites. Deepen exchanges and cooperation in talent development among countries along the Belt and Road.

Strengthen tourism cooperation and expand the scale of tourism by mutually hosting tourism promotion weeks, publicity months, and other similar events. Jointly develop high-quality international tourism routes and products with Silk Road characteristics, and enhance the convenience of visa procedures for tourists from countries along the route. Promote cooperation in cruise tourism along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Actively engage in sports exchange activities and support countries along the route in bidding to host major international sporting events.

Strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries in areas such as sharing information on infectious disease outbreaks, exchanging prevention and control technologies, and cultivating professional personnel, thereby enhancing our capacity to collaboratively respond to public health emergencies. Provide medical assistance and emergency medical support to relevant countries, engage in practical cooperation in key infectious disease areas including maternal and child health, rehabilitation for persons with disabilities, and diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and expand cooperation in the field of traditional medicine.

Strengthen scientific and technological cooperation by jointly establishing joint laboratories (research centers), international technology transfer centers, and maritime cooperation centers; promote exchanges among scientific and technological personnel; collaborate on tackling major scientific and technological challenges; and jointly enhance our capacity for scientific and technological innovation.

Integrate existing resources and actively explore and promote practical cooperation with countries along the route in areas of mutual concern, including youth employment, entrepreneurship training, vocational skills development, social security management services, and public administration.

Fully leverage the bridging role of political parties and parliamentary exchanges, and strengthen friendly interactions among legislative bodies, major political parties, and political organizations in countries along the Belt and Road. Promote city-to-city exchanges and cooperation, welcoming important cities along the Belt and Road to establish sister-city relationships with each other. Focus on people-to-people exchanges, highlight practical cooperation, and create more vivid examples of collaboration. We also welcome think tanks from countries along the Belt and Road to conduct joint research and co-host forums.

Strengthen exchanges and cooperation among civil society organizations along the Belt and Road, with a particular focus on grassroots communities. Widely carry out various public welfare and charitable activities in areas such as education, healthcare, poverty alleviation and development, biodiversity, and ecological conservation, thereby promoting improvements in the living and production conditions of impoverished regions along the route. Enhance international exchanges and cooperation in culture and media, actively leverage online platforms, and make good use of new media tools to foster a harmonious and friendly cultural ecosystem and public opinion environment.

Belt and Road cooperation mechanism

Currently, global economic integration is accelerating, and regional cooperation is thriving. We should actively leverage the existing... Bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms Promote the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and foster the vigorous development of regional cooperation.

Strengthen bilateral cooperation, conduct multi-level and multi-channel communication and consultations, and promote the comprehensive development of bilateral relations. Push for the signing of memoranda of cooperation or cooperation plans, and establish a number of model bilateral cooperation projects. Establish and improve bilateral joint working mechanisms, and study and advance implementation plans and action roadmaps for the Belt and Road Initiative. Fully leverage the roles of existing bilateral mechanisms such as joint committees, mixed committees, coordination committees, steering committees, and management committees to coordinate and promote the implementation of cooperative projects.

Strengthen the role of multilateral cooperation mechanisms, and leverage the strengths of existing multilateral platforms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the China-ASEAN “10+1” initiative, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia (CICA), the China-Arab Cooperation Forum, the China-GCC Strategic Dialogue, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) economic cooperation, and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC). Relevant countries should enhance communication and encourage more nations and regions to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Continue to leverage the constructive role of regional and subregional international forums and exhibitions along the Belt and Road, as well as platforms such as the Boao Forum for Asia, the China-ASEAN Expo, the China-Eurasia Expo, the Eurasian Economic Forum, the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, the China-South Asia Expo, the China-Arab Expo, the China West International Expo, the China-Russia Expo, and the Qianhai Cooperation Forum. Support local and civil entities in Belt and Road countries to explore and tap into the historical and cultural heritage of the Belt and Road, jointly organize specialized investment, trade, and cultural exchange events, and successfully hold the Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, the Silk Road International Film Festival, and the Book Fair. Propose establishing a high-level international summit forum for the Belt and Road Initiative.