Silk Road spirit still pioneering path to an inclusive and interconnected world: China Daily editorial

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing on Wednesday, President Xi Jinping not only elaborated on the experience drawn from the Belt and Road cooperation achievements over the past decade, but also put forward a new action plan for Belt and Road cooperation in the future.

His audience of dignitaries from around the world will no doubt have examples of their own to offer that demonstrate the remarkable achievements that the initiative has made over the past 10 years, and what can be drawn from them.

Stressing that the hallmark of the initiative is cooperation, President Xi stressed that the evolution of the Belt and Road over the past decade, from the sketching of the outline to the filling in of the details, has opened up a new path for exchanges among countries, a path toward a community with a shared future.

Like its ancestor and inspiration, the modern incarnation of the ancient Silk Road embodies a spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit. It transcends differences between civilizations, cultures, social systems, and stages of development. Cooperation is the most important source of strength for the Belt and Road, and the key to the initiative's success.

International relations should not be defined by zero-sum games, confrontation, protectionism or beggar-thy-neighbor practices. No country can do well at the cost of others. Countries should learn from the pioneers of the ancient silk routes who won their places in history not as conquerors by force of arms, but as friendly emissaries and traders.

Opening its door wider to the world, with its inland regions turning from "fullbacks" into "forwards", China has become a main trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions and a primary source of investment for more countries. That promotes the common development of China and other countries.

As Xi said, when countries embrace cooperation and act in concert, a deep chasm can be turned into a thoroughfare, land-locked countries can become land-linked, and a place of underdevelopment can be transformed into a land of prosperity.

It is the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit that has served as and will continue to prove to be the vital lifeblood of the initiative. Connectivity, mutual benefit, common development and win-win outcomes, not ideological confrontation, geopolitical rivalry and bloc politics, characterize the Belt and Road Initiative. China resolutely stands against unilateral sanctions, economic coercion and decoupling and supply chain disruption.

Carrying on the legacy of the past decade, the action plan Xi put forward, that is based on extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, focuses on resolving the crucial problems countries face in pursuit of high-quality and sustainable development.

As those attending the forum will know first-hand, China's strong executive power regarding Belt and Road projects is the guarantee that the vision for the initiative's further development in the future can be made a reality, ensuring the world advances with the times in the right direction.