On 17 January, H.E Mr. Liu Weimin, Chinese Ambassador to Tonga published an article named “Belt and Road Cooperation Provides a Strong Boost to World Development” in Tongan media outlet “TALANOA ‘O TONGA”, to introduce the latest progress and achievements of Belt and Road cooperation. The full article as follows:
In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), marking a milestone in the history of human development. Thanks to concerted efforts, Belt and Road international cooperation has gotten off the ground, grown rapidly and produced tangible and fruitful outcomes over the last 10 years. As the world’s largest program that covers the widest range of international cooperation, the BRI has brought win-win results for partner countries, provided a strong boost to world development, and become an important platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
First, mechanisms for international cooperation become better structured. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China noted that China will improve the mechanisms for high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, pointing the way forward for elevating Belt and Road cooperation toward higher quality. The Secretariat of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was officially established, which provided strong support to the Forum’s work. In the past year, over 30 multilateral cooperation platforms was set up in special areas of energy, taxation and disaster relief. Belt and Road cooperation has been expanded with a greater scope, higher cooperation level and stronger international appeal, influence and cohesiveness.
Second, global connectivity reaches a new level. Guided by the principles of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, a good number of signature projects were put into use. The China-Europe Trans-Caspian Express was officially launched, which marked the official completion of a multidimensional connectivity network integrating highways, railways, airlines and pipelines. After Chancay Port’s inauguration, it will reduce the sea shipping time from Peru to China to 23 days, thus cutting logistics costs by at least 20 percent. The China-Europe Railway Express has run over 100,000 trips in total, shipping over 11 million TEUs of goods worth more than USD 420 billion. Over 800,000 TEUs of goods were shipped this year through the new western land-sea corridor train service, which links 542 ports in 125 countries and regions around the world. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation had enabled partner countries to realize and benefit from connectivity with the world, written a magnificent chapter in promoting a connected world and charting a path for all to prosper individually and collectively.
Third, the global trend of green and low-carbon development maintains strong growth momentum. The Belt and Road cooperation contributed a lot to green development. China has worked with BRI partner countries to launch the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development, propose the Green Investment Principles for the BRI, and establish the BRI International Green Development Coalition as part of the effort to build platforms for extensive exchange and cooperation on green development and build up international consensus. China has also signed 53 South-South cooperation documents on climate change with 42 partner countries, rolled out nearly 100 climate mitigation and adaptation projects, set up a number of low-carbon demonstration zones and issued ed the International Zero-Carbon Island Cooperation Initiative. The Belt and Road cooperation provides experience and pathways for partner countries in their effort to enhance environmental protection, tackle climate challenge and implement the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, showing strong vibrancy.
Forth, the local economy and people’s livelihood of partner countries benefit a lot. In the first ten months of 2024, trade in goods between China and partner countries reached USD 2.31 trillion, up by 6.2 percent. Meanwhile, small but beautiful projects, such as the Luban Workshop, programs on Juncao technology, the renovation of water purification systems, and solar power stations have greatly improved local people’s living standards and enhanced their sense of gain, happiness and security. Currently, China had signed over 200 Belt and Road cooperation documents with over 150 countries and 30 international organizations, established more than 3,000 cooperation projects, galvanized nearly USD 1 trillion of investment and lifted 40 million people out of poverty. The BRI brings the hope of development and prosperity to the Global South, presents a symphony played by all parties.
The friendship between China and the Pacific Island Countries(PICs) goes way back, surmounts mountains and oceans. China has signed MOU on BRI cooperation with all of the eleven Pacific Island Countries having diplomatic relations with it. Fruitful outcomes have generated under the principle of respecting the PICs’ sovereignty and independence, and their will, cultural traditions and effort to seek strength through unity. China have rolled out close to 500 projects with various kinds of aid to help Pacific Island countries build roads, bridges, ports, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure, and trained over 10,000 professionals. What’s more, China has made active effort to support Pacific Island countries in implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, built new platforms according to their national conditions for climate response, agricultural cooperation, poverty alleviation and development, and kept exploring new areas for cooperation.
The BRI cooperation between China and Tonga leaves its footprints everywhere in Tonga. Tonga High School Complex Project has become a popular landmark for the locals to visit and take photos. Wind turbines stand at Lapaha will promote Tonga’s green energy transition. Vaipua Bridge greatly improved traffic and connected people's happy lives in Vava’u. The Chinese Medical Team provided free medical services to communities and outer islands, agricultural experts shared advanced experience in vegetable planting and poultry breeding without reservation, Chinese teachers taught Chinese and promoted traditional Chinese culture, which bringing tangible benefits to Tongan people and forging closer bonds between our two peoples.
Belt and Road cooperation is on the new journey toward next golden decade. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping attended the fourth symposium on Belt and Road c