ChinaDaily:Belt and Road International Day Press Conference Held in Beijing

On December 16, scholars from home and abroad as well as young volunteers held a press conference for the Belt and Road International Day at the China Hall of Science and Technology in Beijing. Yang Zhengquan, former Deputy Director of the State Council Information Office, and Luo Kaifu, former Chairman of China National Foreign Trade Transportation (Group) Corporation, attended the event. Chen Entian, former Chairman of the International 73 Society and Lifetime Senior Advisor of the Hong Kong Federation of Literary and Art Circles, represented 1,216 scholars born globally in the 1970s to propose designating December 16 as the Belt and Road International Day and launch the Volunteer Programme for Belt and Road International Day. Dr. Niu Xiong, researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council, Tang Yuan, President of the China Academy of Responsibility, and Dr. Yue Fenglan from the National Academy of Administration delivered keynote speeches successively. Chen Can, a young guqin performer, was invited to play The Common Road, the theme song of the Belt and Road created by Chen Entian and inscribed by Tian Jiyun. Inheriting the spirit of the ancient Silk Road, the Belt and Road starts from China, runs through Central Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and parts of Europe. It links the Asia-Pacific economic circle in the east and connects the European economic circle in the west, making it the world’s longest economic corridor. The participating scholars held that people-to-people bond serves as the foundation for the Belt and Road Initiative. December 16 falls in the season when countries worldwide bid farewell to the old and welcome the new and carry out friendly exchanges. Its Chinese pronunciation also echoes “the Belt and Road”, which helps people across the world understand and engage in the Belt and Road. The establishment of the Belt and Road International Day (12/16) enables China and countries along the Belt and Road to carry out economic and cultural activities, including cultural connectivity, academic exchanges, talent mobility, media cooperation and group interactions. The volunteer programme in particular helps foster people-to-people bonds between countries along the Belt and Road and lay a solid public opinion foundation for bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Volunteers stated: The Belt and Road International Day is a day of openness left by history and a day of friendship bestowed by the world. The Second World Internet Conference was held on the Belt and Road International Day, further demonstrating that it is an interconnected, harmonious and auspicious international day of great significance worthy of support. As young volunteers, we are ready to actively participate in activities for the Belt and Road International Day, contribute to advancing economic and cultural exchanges and harmonious development among countries and regions along the Belt and Road, and look forward to more volunteers joining us.