File Photo: Agencies.
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has become a popular international public good and the largest cooperation platform since China launched it seven years ago, said Wang Wenbin, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on Thursday at a routine press briefing.
China has signed cooperation agreements with 138 countries under the BRI, and launched over 2,000 projects, which has offered jobs for tens of thousands of people, Wang said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many BRI projects contributed to the economic and social recovery of relevant countries, he added.
Dignitaries during the opening ceremony of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, April 26, 2019. /Xinhua Photo
A total of 78 percent of the participants provided positive feedback on Chinese enterprises, Wang said, citing a survey of 12 BRI countries on the overseas image of Chinese enterprises. Almost 70 percent appreciate Chinese enterprises’ role in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic and poverty in their own countries. 60 percent said they are impressed by Chinese enterprises’ efforts to put health of staff in the first place. Over half of the interviewees believe that China contributed to the development of infrastructure, education and medical care of their own countries.
“China will follow the principle of extensive consultation, joint efforts and shared benefits, pursue open, green and clean cooperation, and work towards high standard, people-centered and sustainable development. We will work to deliver more tangible benefits to people and countries through international cooperation under the framework of BRI”, said Wang.
(Compiled by Zhan Huilan and Lu Dong)
