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(Photo: People's Daily)
The inaugural Belt and Road CEO Conference opened in Beijing on Thursday as part of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
The forum has already received 900 representatives from governments, enterprises, business associations, and international organizations from 88 countries and regions.
The CEO conference will offer plenary sessions, signing ceremonies, meetings between Chinese and foreign companies, and a closing ceremony.
The event will serve as a platform for deepening communication, exchanges, and cooperation for BRI countries and regions.
During the event’s first plenary session, Gao Yunlong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, pointed out that China has signed over 170 intergovernmental cooperation agreements with 124 countries and 29 international organizations since BRI was introduced six years ago.
(Photo: People's Daily)
Trade between China and BRI member nations has exceeded $6 trillion, and China's non-financial direct investment has exceeded $90 billion.
More than 80 overseas cooperative zones were established in BRI countries, generating over $2 billion in tax revenue.
BRI development projects have also created 300,000 new jobs.
Xiao Yaqing, director of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, said more than 85 percent of employees at Chinese state owned enterprises established in BRI countries are locals.
According to Wang Yilin, chairman of China National Petroleum Corporation, PetroChina has invested more than $55 billion in BRI countries, and has paid nearly $20 billion in taxes to host countries through cooperative projects.
Living up to its social responsibilities, PetroChina has invested more than $100 million benefiting some 3 million local people.
