Promoting mutual trust and win-win cooperation

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

Today, we gather together here in Xi'an, a birthplace of the Chinese civilization and also the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Looking back into history, we can see in our minds' eye pictures of envoys and merchants of different countries bustling in the streets of this ancient capital and scenes of friendly interactions between the Chinese and people of other countries along the trade route. During this seminar, the organizers will invite our guests to visit the Tang West Market, where money coins and goods from ancient Greece, Byzantine, Western Roman Empire and ancient India are exhibited, displaying the prosperity of the largest market in the world more than 1,000 years ago. The ancient Silk Road connecting Asia and Europe was an important bridge for friendly contacts and civilization exchanges between the East and the West. The flowers of ancient civilizations have blossomed in the course of mutual learning and have become the collective memory of countries along the routes, which have been an inexhaustible source of energy for the dynamic development of the Silk Road.

Today, the building of the Belt and Road aims to realize the connectivity of roads, as well as people's hearts. In the past three years, China and the countries involved have jointly held a variety of activities, such as culture year, tourism year, expos, art festivals, book fairs, movie and TV product exhibitions. They have also launched writing exchange programs, inviting writers from China and other countries along the routes to exchange their works, and facilitated dialogues between think tanks and the media, in the hope of establishing long-term and stable cooperation and better conveying the ideas and information of win-win cooperation. The relevant countries have also carried out active cooperation in culture and in programs of public good. The joint application between China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to inscribe the portion of the Silk Road that passed through these countries to the World Heritage List was successful. The joint archaeological project between China and Uzbekistan also achieved a remarkable outcome. The Studying in China program has been launched and the Silk Road Education Fund has been set up. China and the relevant countries have also strengthened cooperation in talent training and in education, which has been an important promoter of Belt and Road development. Practice shows that enhanced people-to-people connection and mutual-learning among different civilizations will draw people along the routes much closer together and further promote friendship between countries, and will provide positive energy to the joint efforts for building the Belt and Road.

Diversity adds to the splendor of civilizations, and exchanges among them will facilitate their advancement. We should attach same importance to both economic cooperation and people-to-people exchange when pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative. The diversity and peaceful coexistence of civilizations should be maintained through mutual learning, common development and cooperation with shared fruits. In strengthening cultural cooperation, we need to encourage exchange, support equality, protect heritage and value innovation. China will expand cooperation with other countries in all fields including education, culture, journalism, sport, tourism and archaeology, in order to promote friendly interaction among peoples along the routes, and boost mutual understanding. With the joint effort of all parties, the foundation of connectivity between roads and people's hearts will be consolidated. It will help people from different continents with different cultures and beliefs to join forces in building the Belt and Road. During this process, we will bring forth a situation where people of all countries along the route get to know each other better, foster friendship become more appreciative and respectful of one another.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

The Belt and Road Initiative connects history with the future; China with the world. The development of the Belt and Road needs sincerity and resolution, and the vision of all parties as well. The relevant countries not only need to better coordinate their development strategies, plans, projects and actions, but also need to strengthen cooperation in brainstorming and media exchange. This seminar gathers politicians, think tank members, media leaders and entrepreneurs together. It includes one main forum and three topical discussions. It is going to be an occasion for wisdoms, opinions and actions get connected. I hope that all guests at the seminar will fully participate in the exchanges and dialogues, expand mutual understanding and consensus, and provide more thoughts and solutions to the Belt and Road development, turning our vision into reality.

Finally, I wish this seminar a complete success.