(April 27, 2019)

Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China

Dear Colleagues,

We are about to start the first session of the meeting to discuss the theme of “Boosting Connectivity to Explore New Sources of Growth”.

Connectivity is the main feature of the Belt and Road Initiative. Leaders from various countries exchanged views on this theme at the Leaders' Roundtable of the First Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and believed that connectivity played an important role in breaking logjams in economic growth, promoting relevant industries, and strengthening the momentum for development of all countries.

Over the past two years, on the basis of the consensus reached at the first forum, China and all the other parties have been actively promoting cooperation in the field of connectivity and made substantial progress, and a large number of infrastructure projects in the fields of road, railway, and port have been activated and borne fruit. The multiplying effects in infrastructure development, industrial clustering, economic growth, and improvements in living standards are gradually emerging.

In the context of the current complex world economic situation, the increase in instability and uncertainty, the lack of momentum for growth, and the pressure of economic downturn, it is all the more important to strengthen international cooperation on connectivity. To urge the international community to address the issue seriously, we have to think carefully about how to ensure high-quality, resilient and sustainable infrastructure projects, and how to coordinate and promote all-round connectivity in both hardware and software.

In December last year, the Advisory Council of the forum, composed of a number of eminent international figures, held its first meeting and presented a report on policy proposals for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative. The report provides valuable views and suggestions on promoting connectivity, strengthening policy synergy, and facilitating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which also provides a reference for our topic today. The report was transmitted to you through diplomatic channels prior to this meeting.