B&R Forum's high-level plenary meeting held in Beijing

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli has delivered a speech at the High-level Plenary Meeting of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Sunday morning.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde are among those who addressed the high-level meeting, sharing their views about the Belt and Road Initiative.

Zhang highlighted efforts to be undertaken in the future under the Belt and Road Initiative.

He outlined that endeavors will be made to achieve win-win cooperation and benefit all, including building a network of infrastructure, enhancing trade for a dynamic market, improving financial connectivity for a diversified investment and funding system, and building a bridge connecting countries and peoples along the routes."

‍‘Friends Circle’ hails the Belt and Road Initiative‍

· Chilean President Michelle Bachelet: We consider the Belt and Road as a path to shorten distances which will pave the way to a more equal, prosperous, just and inclusive society with developments for all. We believe this is the right time to seek new horizons.

· Czech President Milos Zeman: The Belt and Road Initiative is the most fascinating project in modern history.

· Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn: The initiative brings a unique opportunity for advanced cooperation and opens doors for emerging and developing countries to put their potential in trade and investment.

· ‍Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras: Greece highly values the initiative and is expanding its role as an important regional hub in the field of trade, transport, energy, telecommunications and logistics.

· ‍Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif: The Belt and Road Initiative makes win-win partnerships possible for all, integrating infrastructure, energy, trade and more. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is an economic undertaking open to all countries in the region with no geographical boundaries.

· ‍British Finance Minister Philip Hammond: The initiative is truly ground breaking in its scale of ambition. The UK can be a natural partner of the initiative and welcomes it as an opportunity to strengthen the bilateral ties between China and the UK.

· ‍Former French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin: Globalization is a force that needs to be encouraged and sustained. The notion of win-win has to be at the core of the initiative.

· ‍German Economic Affairs and Energy Minister Brigitte Zypries: The best foundation for deepening economic ties and rising growth is to open up the market even further. We welcome recent signals by Chinese leadership for free trade and open markets.

· ‍UN General Assembly President Peter Thomson: The Belt and Road Initiative will boost many of the sustainable development goals through economic growth, employment, poverty reduction and expansion of trade and investment among the countries along the Belt and Road.

· ‍World Bank President Jim Yong Kim: The initiative can provide greater connectivity with Asia and other regions and it requires innovative funding.

· ‍IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde: When I first heard about the Belt and Road Initiative, I thought about something simple and straightforward — like a fragrant cup of tea. The initiative is about connecting cultures, communities, economies, and people. It is about rejuvenating ancient trade routes and building new ones. Together, we can create something new — by combining proven policy ingredients with new economic flavors.

· ‍WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo: The Belt and Road Initiative will be hugely important in responding to the need for infrastructure.

· ‍World Economic Forum Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab: Great progress has been made in realizing the goals under the initiative, which sets a model for regional cooperation and development.